But he was afraid to take a train to some other town, and so remained
in the boarding house for nearly a week, under the assumed name of
Robert Brown.
At the end of the fifth day Dan Baxter became acquainted with a
seafaring man named Jack Lesher. Lesher was a rough fellow, who had
sailed to many ports on the Pacific Ocean. He had now obtained the
position of first mate on a large schooner which was to sail in a
few days from San Francisco to several ports in Australia.
"I'd like to go on that trip to Australia," said Baxter, thinking of
his distant relative. "Do you want a passenger?"
"I'll see about it, my hearty," replied Jack Lesher, and on the
following day said that Captain Blossom would take him for an even
hundred dollars. A bargain was struck at once, and Dan Baxter went
on board of the schooner _Golden Wave_ that afternoon.
"I'm glad I am out of it," he told himself, when snug on board of
the craft. "I'll get to Australia after all, and I'm considerably
richer than I thought I would be. More than that, I've got in on
those Rover boys in a way they won't forget in a hurry."
While the detectives looked for the thief, the boys had small heart
to go sight-seeing. Every time they, went out they looked for Dan Baxter.
"If only I could meet him!" cried Tom. "Oh, but wouldn't I just punch
him good before I passed him over to a policeman."
During those days the lads received several letters from home, and
also three communications from the Stanhopes and the Lanings.
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