Cries, shouts and epithets of the vilest character rang through the place. Long before the light of the gas jets could be turned on, the boys and the dog were out on the pavement, making good progress toward a policeman in uniform, who appeared under an arc light not far away. The officer held up his heavy night stick as the boys approached him.
The sound of running feet came out and in a moment the officer and the two boys were surrounded by the wharf rats who had been in the restaurant. The officer promptly drew a revolver.
"What's doing here!" he demanded. "Who did that shooting back there?"
"These two boys did it!" Max promptly explained, pointing at Alex and Case. "They shot out the lights and robbed the till!"
The officer put up his revolver and his night stick, seized Alex and Case by the shoulders, and started off up the street, the toughs following at his heels. There was a patrol box on the next corner and the boys attempted no defence of their conduct until this was reached. As the policeman turned the key he glanced quickly from one face to the other.
"What have you boys got to say for yourselves?" he asked.
"We'll tell that to the judge," replied Alex.
"Come, now, don't get gay!" the officer said. "You don't look like boys who would be apt to get into a scrape like that."
The boys were so pleased at having escaped from the restaurant with whole heads that they did not much mind the arrest. In fact, just at that moment the officer was about the most welcome person who could have made his appearance, with the exception of Captain Joe, of course.
The dog now stood close by the patrol box showing his teeth and asking Alex for permission to take the officer by the leg.
"We haven't robbed any tills lately!" Alex said, wrinkling his freckled nose at the officer.
"Lookout!" one of the boys shouted from the crowd. "That bulldog will get you, officer. He chewed up two boys back in the restaurant.
"Good old Captain Joe," exclaimed Alex, patting the dog on the head.
The dog did not for a moment lose sight of a spot on the officer's thigh, which seemed to invite attack.
The officer released his hold on the boys and leaned against the patrol box. The police wagon was now in sight, racing down the street with a great jangling of bells, and the crowd around the officer began to thin. They had evidently seen that wagon before.