ut the wireless
message that might put those on board the steamer on the track of Tom.

CHAPTER XVII

OFF FOR ALASKA

"What steamer was that?" questioned Dick and the clerk told him.

"I suppose we had better address the captain," said Sam. "Now, the
question is, What shall we say?"

"We'll give Tom's assumed name and a short description of him, and ask
that he be held for us at one of the ports," said Dick. "I don't know
what else to do."

"I don't think the captain will hold the young man on your say-so,"
said the clerk, on being questioned. "He would be afraid of getting
into trouble with the authorities. You had better get the police to
make the request."

"The trouble is, we don't want to make this too public," explained
Dick. "We'd rather keep it quiet. I'll risk the personal message to
the captain."

"I'll sign the message with you," said Jim Hendricks. "Maybe the
captain will know our family, at least by reputation."

"Who are you, if I may ask?" came from the clerk, curiously.

"I am James Hendricks, and my father is Colonel Wilby Hendricks."

"Oh, yes, I guess Captain Dwight knows of your father. Your name will
carry weight with him," added the clerk, for he knew that the colonel
was well-known and was rich.

After considerable trouble the message was made out and telephoned at
once to the wireless station. This accomplished, there was nothing to
do but to wait for an answer.

"When is the next sailing for Alaskan ports?" asked Dick.

"Our sailing, as I told you before, is day after to-morrow. But one of
the other lines has a sailing to-morrow, at nine P. M."

"They all seem to sail at nine o'clock at night," mused Sam.

"Yes, that is the usual hour," answered the clerk.

"Well, if we have to, we can take that boat at nine o'clock to-morrow
night," remarked Dick.

"Provided you can get accommodations," said the clerk.

"Oh, we'll get aboard somehow--if we really have to go."

Jim Hendricks insisted that the Rovers ride up to his house with him,
and away sped the touring car for the most fashionable quarter of
Seattle. Here the Hendricks had a beautiful mansion, and here the
newcomers were cordially greeted by Mrs. Hendricks, the colonel being
out of the city on business.

"You've just got to make yourselves at home," said Jim. "It won't do a
bit of good to fret so much. You are bound to get hold of poor Tom
sooner or later, and I can't see that this trip to Alaska