“Then we are fools to stop here another minute,” protested Matt warmly. “I have no doubt that your father knows where you are by this time.” “We will go down and get some dinner before we leave; for we have paid five dollars, and haven’t had any thing yet. My father can’t get here before eleven o’clock; and we have time enough to keep out of his way. Let us have one good dinner, if nothing else, before we leave this big city.” “But we shall be caught if we fool with dinners,” Matt objected. “We shall be more likely to be caught if we stay in this room. We don’t have to go down to the office to get to the dining-room.” Matt was controlled, as usual, by his friend; and they went to the dining-room, where they dined upon the best the house afforded; and this was all they got for the five dollars they had advanced to pay their bills. They thought it was a dear dinner, but then it was a very nice one: at least Matt thought so, for he had never eaten a stylish dinner before; and Lon had to post him in regard to some things. When the dinner was finished, Lon led the way down stairs; and, giving the office a wide berth, they got out of the house without attracting the attention of any of the clerks. They walked briskly till they had placed a good distance between themselves and the hotel. “Where are we going now?” asked Lon. “I’m sure I don’t know. I don’t think we shall be safe in this city, if we intend to stay here,” replied Matt. “We are safe enough. This is a big city, and nobody could find us here.” “But we may blunder upon some one that knows us, the next minute. There are plenty of people from Midhampton in the city every day in the week.” “Well, where do you want to go?” “I don’t care where I go, if I only get where we are not in danger all the time.” “I’ll tell you what I should like first-rate,” added Lon, musing, as though he were not sure it was safe to tell what he would like. “What is it?” asked Matt, who was ready for any thing that would take them out of the city, where he did not feel safe a single minute. “I should like to go to sea.” “To sea!” exclaimed Matt; and this was certainly a bigger idea than he had ever harbored in connection with the runaway enterprise. “That’s the idea.” “Do you mean as sailors?” “Of course not: I mean as passengers. We have the money to pay for the voyage. Then, if we are gone two or three months, the folks at home will be all the more glad to see us; and we shall get off easy.” “Where do you think of going?” “I don’t know. I heard that the ship ‘Housatonic’ was going to sea very soon. You know Capt. Crogick, Matt?” “I only know that such a man lives in Midhampton when he is at home,” replied Matt, who was rather pleased with the idea of sailing in a ship on the ocean. “I saw him at his house this week; and he told me he should sail in a few days. You know he is the brother-in-law of the cashier of my father’s bank.”