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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack North's Treasure Hunt, by Roy Rockwood
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Jack North's Treasure Hunt
+       Daring Adventures in South America
+
+Author: Roy Rockwood
+
+Posting Date: August 29, 2012 [EBook #7847]
+Release Date: April, 2005
+First Posted: May 22, 2003
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: DOWN THEY PLUNGED SIDE BY SIDE FROM THE ISLAND AND INTO THE
+WATER.]
+
+
+
+
+JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT
+
+Or,
+
+Daring Adventures in South America
+BY
+ROY ROCKWOOD
+
+Author of "The Rival Ocean Divers," "The Cruise of the
+Treasure Ship," "A Schoolboy's Pluck," etc.
+
+_Illustrated_
+
+THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO.
+CLEVELAND   NEW YORK
+
+Made in U.S.A.
+
+
+Copyright, 1907, by
+CHATTERTON-PECK COMPANY
+PRESS OF
+THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO
+CLEVELAND
+
+
+
+
+
+Contents
+
+
+
+
+     I.  A Chance for a Position
+    II.  The Test of Strength
+   III.  A Long Trip Proposed
+    IV.  Just in Time
+     V.  On the Island of Robinson Crusoe
+    VI.  A Terrible Mistake
+   VII.  A Plea of the Enemy
+  VIII.  The Lonely Pimento
+    IX.  Jack Becomes an Engineer
+     X.  A Narrow Escape
+    XI.  Under the Head of a Jaguar
+   XII.  Put to the Test
+  XIII.  Precious Moments
+   XIV.  The Attack on the Train
+    XV.  The Treasure Island
+   XVI.  At the Boiling Lake
+  XVII.  In the Nitrate Fields
+ XVIII.  An Alarm of Fire
+   XIX.  Chilians on Both Sides
+    XX.  Preparations for Departure
+   XXI.  A Panic on Shipboard
+  XXII.  The Fate of Plum Plucky
+ XXIII.  Jenny
+  XXIV.  Jack and the Ocelot
+   XXV.  In the Quicksands
+  XXVI.  A Night in the Jungle
+ XXVII.  Jack and the Big Snake
+XXVIII.  Back from the Dead
+  XXIX.  The Treasure of the Boiling Lake
+   XXX.  A Ride for Life--Conclusion
+
+
+
+
+Jack North's Treasure Hunt
+
+
+
+
+Chapter I
+
+A Chance for a Position
+
+
+
+"Where are you going, Jack?"
+
+"To the shops of John Fowler & Company."
+
+"To look for a job?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then you are in luck, for I heard this morning that they want another
+striker in the lower shop at once."
+
+"Then I'll _strike_ for the opening at once, and my name is not Jack
+North if I don't land it."
+
+"It will be John Slowshanks when you do get it, mind me!" cried out
+another voice, from an alley-way near at hand, and before Jack North or
+his companion could recover from their surprise the speaker, a tall,
+awkward youth of twenty, sped up the street at the top of his speed.
+
+The scene was in Bauton, a large manufacturing city of New England. The
+first speaker was a workman at the shops that had been mentioned, but
+beyond the fact that he placed the youth before him in the way of getting
+work, he needs no special introduction.
+
+The other person was a lad of eighteen, with brown, curly hair, blue eyes,
+and a round, robust figure. His name was John North, and he was the son of
+a couple in humble circumstances.
+
+"Take care!" cried the man, "that sneak will get in ahead of you, and then
+a snap of your little finger for your chance of getting the job at
+Fowler's."
+
+Jack North did not stop to hear his friend through. He was very much in
+need of a situation, and he knew the young man who had rushed in ahead of
+him as a bitter enemy. That fact, coupled with his desire to get work,
+caused him to dash up the street as fast as he could run.
+
+Naturally the appearance of the two running at such a headlong pace
+aroused the attention of the passers-by, all of whom stopped to see what
+it meant. Others rushed out of their houses, offices or workshops to
+ascertain the meaning of the race, until the street was lined with
+excited, anxious men, women and children.
+
+"Is it fire?" asked an old, gray-headed man, and another, catching only
+the sound of the last word, repeated it and thus a wild alarm was quickly
+spread.
+
+Meanwhile Jack North had found that he could not overtake his rival. He
+was not a fleet runner, while the other had gotten a start of him, which
+he could not hope to make up.
+
+But he was too fertile in his resources to despair. In fact he was never
+known to give up a contest which he had once fairly entered. This
+persistence in whatever he undertook was the secret of Jack North's
+wonderful success amid environments which must have discouraged less
+courageous hearts.
+
+Still it looked to his enemy, as the latter glanced back to see him
+leisurely turn into a side street leading away from their destination,
+that he had nothing further to fear from him.
+
+"Thought you would be glad to give in," cried out the delighted seeker of
+the situation at the engine shops, and believing that he had nothing
+further to fear, the awkward youth slackened his gait to a walk.
+
+Though Jack turned into the alley at a moderate pace, as soon as he had
+gone a short distance, he started again into a smart run.
+
+"I shall have farther to go," he thought, "but Fret Offut will think I
+have given up, and thus he will let me get in ahead of him."
+
+This seemed the truth, when, at last, Jack came in sight of the low-walled
+and scattering buildings belonging to John Fowler & Co., engine builders.
+
+Fret Offut was nowhere in sight, as Jack entered the dark, dingy office at
+the lower end of the buildings.
+
+A small sized man, with mutton chop side whiskers, engaged in overhauling
+a pile of musty papers, looked up at the entrance of our hero.
+
+"Want a job as striker, eh?" he asked, as Jack stated his errand. "I
+believe Henshaw does want another man. I will call him. What is your
+name?"
+
+"Alfret Offut, sir. It's me that wants the job, and it's me it belongs
+to."
+
+It was Jack North's enemy who spoke, as he paused on the threshold panting
+for breath, while glaring at our hero with a baleful look.
+
+"How come you here?" he demanded of Jack, a second later.
+
+"My feet brought me here, and with less slowness than yours, judging by
+your appearance," replied young North.
+
+With the arrival of the second person on the scene, the clerk had turned
+away to find Henshaw, and while he was gone the rival youths stood glaring
+upon each other.
+
+After a short time a big, red-faced, soot-be-grimed man appeared, saying
+as he reached them:
+
+"If Offut will come this way I will talk with him."
+
+"Henshaw," said the clerk simply, returning to his work, leaving the
+newcomer to attend to the visitors as he thought best.
+
+"Ha--ha!" laughed young Offut, softly, as he followed the foreman, "where
+are you now, Jack North?"
+
+Though Jack gave slight token of his feelings, he was more vexed at this
+usurpation of his rights than he cared to show. He lost no time in
+starting after the others in the direction of the shop. "I'm going on
+twenty-one," Offut said, as they stopped at the door, "and there ain't a
+chap as can outlift me."
+
+"Beg your pardon, Mr. Henshaw," said Jack, brushing up, "but it's I who am
+after the job and to whom it belongs. Mr. Jacobs--"
+
+"Is your name Alfret Offut?" interrupted the other youth sharply in the
+midst of Jack's speech. "I reckon Henshaw knows who he is talking to." "It
+was me Mr. Jacobs recommended the place to, and you are trying to steal it
+from me," cried Jack. "You are telling a likely story, Jack North, and if
+you say another word I'll hit you. Henshaw called for me, and it's me he's
+going to give work."
+
+Mr. Henshaw, who for the first time seemed to realize the situation,
+looked surprised, as he gazed from one to the other.
+
+Disliking to raise a fuss Jack remained silent at first, but he felt bound
+to say:
+
+"I was first at the office, and I claim--" "You'd claim the earth, as far
+as that is concerned, you miserable chick of nobody!" broke in Offut.
+
+The last was more than Jack could stand, and stepping quickly forward, he
+cried: "Stop, Fret Offut! you have said enough. I don't want any quarrel
+with you, but I am as good as you."
+
+"Are yer?" demanded the fiery Offut, whose greatest delight seemed to be
+in provoking a quarrel. "I can lick you out of your boots, and I will do
+it before I will let you get in here." By this time Mr. Henshaw, a rather
+rough man, as slow as he was of comprehension, was interested in the
+dispute, and not averse to encouraging sport of the kind, he said:
+
+"That's it, boys; fight it out. I'll hire the lad that downs the other."
+
+"Then the job is as good as mine!" cried Fret Offut, rushing at Jack with
+great bluster and no regard to fairness.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter II
+
+The Test of Strength
+
+
+
+If taken unawares, Jack North did not allow his enemy to get very much the
+advantage of him. As the other rushed forward, expecting to overpower him
+by sheer force, he met him squarely in a hand-to-hand struggle for the
+mastery.
+
+Mr. Henshaw seemed delighted, and he cried out:
+
+"Limber up, lads, limber up! A job to him that comes out on top! Hi,
+there!"
+
+Sundry other exclamations came from the excited foreman at every change of
+the situation, while several spectators, attracted to the place by the
+out-cries, gathered about the young contestants, lending their voices to
+the confusing sounds of the scene.
+
+While Fret Offut was taller and larger than Jack North, he lacked the
+latter's firm-set muscles, and what was of even greater account, his
+unflinching determination to win. Our hero never knew what it was to
+possess a faint heart, and that is more than half the battle every time.
+
+Thus when young Offut crowded him back against the wall of the building,
+and every one present felt sure he must be overpowered, Jack set his lips
+more firmly together and renewed his resistance with redoubled effort.
+
+Then, as he struck his foot against a piece of scrap iron and reeled
+backward in spite of all he could, his friends groaned, while Fret Offut
+cried, exultantly:
+
+"Ho, my fine cub, down you go this time! Henshaw--"
+
+But Mr. Henshaw never knew what was to be said to him, neither did the
+young bully ever realize fully just what followed.
+
+Jack, concentrating all the strength he possessed, rallied. He threw out
+his right foot in such a way as to catch his antagonist behind his left
+knee, when the latter suddenly found himself sinking. At the same time the
+grasp on his collar tightened, while with almost superhuman power he was
+flung backward. With such force did Jack handle his adversary that he sent
+him flying several yards away, where he fell in a pool of dark, slimy
+water.
+
+The spectators cheered heartily, while Mr. Henshaw clapped his grimy hands
+and shouted at the top of his voice:
+
+"Well done, my hearty! That's a handsome trick and well worth a job."
+
+Fret Offut arose from his unwelcome bath, dripping from head to foot with
+the nasty mess, presenting a most unprepossessing appearance.
+
+The foreman was turning back into the shop, followed by Jack, and the
+crowd was rapidly dispersing.
+
+"Hold on!" he bawled, "that wasn't fair. I tripped--stop, Henshaw! don't
+let my job go to that miserable thief."
+
+Getting no reply to his foolish speech, Offut followed the others into the
+shop. His appearance being so ridiculous he was greeted with cries of
+derision from the workmen, which only made him the more angry and
+belligerent.
+
+"I'll get even with you for this, Jack North!" he cried, "if I follow you
+to the end! My father always said your family was the meanest on earth,
+and now I know it is so. But you shall hear from me again."
+
+With these bitter words the defeated youth, who really had no one to blame
+but himself for his ill-feeling, disappeared, though it was not to be long
+before he was to reappear in the stirring life of Jack North, and bring
+him such troubles as he could not have foreseen.
+
+It proved that Mr. Henshaw was anxious for another workman, and after
+asking Jack a few questions, told the lad he might begin his task at once.
+
+The pay was small, less than five dollars a week, but Jack did not let
+that cause him to refuse the opportunity. He needed the money, for his
+folks were in poor circumstances, and he went about his work with a stout
+heart.
+
+He quickly proved an adept workman, observing, rapid to learn and always
+diligent, so much so that the foreman took a strong liking to him.
+
+Several days passed and it became evident to Jack that if he had left one
+enemy outside the shop, he had another within, who was ready to improve
+every opportunity to trouble him. This was a small, thinfaced man who
+worked with him, and whose name was Mires. Besides being physically unable
+to carry an even end with him, this workman was prone to shirk every part
+of his work that he could, this portion falling largely on Jack to do in
+addition to his own.
+
+Jack paid no heed to this, however, but kept about his work as if
+everything was all right, until a little incident occurred which
+completely changed the aspect of affairs.
+
+Unknown to our hero, there had been a practice of long standing among the
+workmen of "testing" every new hand that came in, by playing what was
+believed to be a smart trick upon him. The joke consisted in sending the
+new hand in company with a fellow workman to bring from a distant part of
+the shop a pair of wheels, one of which was of iron and weighed over four
+hundred pounds, while its mate was made of wood and finished off to look
+exactly like its companion. The workman in the secret always looked out
+and got hold of the wooden wheel, which he could carry off with ease,
+while his duped associate would struggle over the other to the unbounded
+amusement of the lookers-on.
+
+It heightened the effect by selecting a small, weak man to help in the
+deception, and Henshaw, liking this joke no less than his men, on the
+third day of Jack's apprenticeship, said:
+
+"North, you and Mires bring along them wheels at the lower end. Don't be
+all day about it either," speaking with unusual sharpness.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+In a moment every one present was watching the scene, beginning to smile
+as they saw Mires start with suspicious alacrity toward the wheels. Some
+of the men, in order to get as good a view as possible of the expected
+exhibition, stationed themselves near at hand, having hard work to
+suppress their merriment in advance.
+
+"Purty stout, air ye?" asked Mires, as he and Jack stood by the wheels.
+
+"I never boasted of my strength," replied Jack, beginning to wonder why so
+much interest was being manifested over so slight a matter. His surprise
+was increased at that moment by discovering Fret Offut among the
+spectators, his big mouth reaching almost from ear to ear with an idiotic
+grin.
+
+"Come to see the fun!" declared the latter, finding that he had been seen
+by Jack.
+
+"I'll take this one," said Mires, stooping over the nearest wheel which
+was half buried in dust and dirt.
+
+Then, without any apparent effort, the small sized workman raised the
+wheel to his shoulder and walked back from the direction whence they had
+come.
+
+"Now see the big gawk lift his!" exclaimed Fret Offut, who had somehow
+been let into the secret. Still ignorant of the deception being played
+upon him, Jack North bent over to lift the remaining wheel.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter III
+
+A Long Trip Proposed
+
+
+
+Having seen Mires carry off the other wheel with comparative ease, Jack
+naturally expected to lift the remaining one without trouble.
+
+His amazement may be therefore understood when, at his first effort, he
+failed to move it an inch from the floor.
+
+It lay there as solid as if bound down!
+
+His failure was the signal for Fret Offut to break out into a loud laugh,
+which was instantly caught up by the workmen, until the whole building
+rang with the merriment.
+
+"Baby!" some one cried. "See Mires carry his. North ain't got the strength
+of a mouse!"
+
+By that time Mires had reached the opposite end of the shop, and was
+putting down his burden to turn and join in the outbursts over the
+discomfiture of his young companion.
+
+Jack had now awakened to the realization that he had been the easy victim
+of a scheme to cast ridicule upon him.
+
+Mires could never have carried away this wheel. The thought of the trick
+which had been played upon him aroused all the latent energy he possessed.
+He did not believe the wheel could weigh five hundred pounds, and if it
+did not he would lift it, as he believed he could.
+
+Thus, with the shouts and laughter of the spectators ringing in his ears,
+Jack stooped for a second attempt to accomplish what no one else had ever
+been able to do.
+
+"I'll grunt for you!" called Offut in derision. "Spit on your hands!" said
+a workman. Jack compressed his lips for a mighty effort, and his hands
+closed on the rim of the wheel, while he concentrated every atom of
+strength he had for the herculean task.
+
+The cries of the onlookers suddenly stopped as they saw, to their
+amazement, the ponderous object rise from the floor, slowly but surely,
+until the young workman held it abreast of him. Not a sound broke the
+deathlike stillness, save for the crunching of his own footsteps, as Jack
+North walked across the shop and dropped his burden upon the wheel Mires
+had placed there.
+
+A loud crash succeeded, the heavy iron wheel having broken the imitation
+into kindling wood and smashed into the floor.
+
+The cries of derision were supplemented by loud calls of admiration, which
+rang through and through the old building until a perfect din prevailed.
+
+Fret Offut waited to see no more, but stole away unobserved by the
+stalwart iron workers, who crowded around their victorious companion with
+hearty congratulations. Jack had won the friendship of nearly all by his
+feat, while Henshaw at once boasted of the act.
+
+Mires, fancying that the laugh had been turned upon him, and he was about
+right, allowed all of the bitterness of his sullen nature to be turned
+against the young apprentice. In his wicked heart he vowed he would
+humiliate Jack in the eyes of his admirers in some way and at some time.
+But no opportunity came for him, as month after month passed.
+
+Jack showed a wonderfully industrious nature, and he never seemed idle.
+When not at work he was studying some part of the ponderous machinery
+about him, as if anxious to learn all there was to be known about it. The
+knowledge he thus obtained was to be of inestimable value to him in the
+scenes to come.
+
+This trait of his pleased Henshaw, who, if a rough man, was honest in his
+intentions, and he caused Jack's wages to be raised to seven dollars a
+week. This was done in opposition to his assistant, who had taken a
+strange dislike to him. His reasons for this will become apparent as we
+proceed. About that time Jack was surprised to find that Fret Offut had
+found employment in the building, though it was more as a helper than as a
+regular workman, his chief task being to wheel the scraps of iron and
+waste material away and to wait upon the boss of the big steam hammer.
+
+He did not offer to speak to Jack, but the latter soon saw him holding
+whispered conversations with Mires and the second boss, Furniss, when he
+felt certain by their looks and motions that he was the subject of their
+remarks. Once he overheard Offut tell a companion:
+
+"I sha'n't wheel scrap iron always and Jack North won't be boss, either."
+
+Jack had been at the engine works about six months, when he accidentally
+learned that the company were planning to ship one of their machines to
+South America, and that they were looking about for a suitable person to
+send with it, to help unload it properly and set it up. A few days later,
+as he was leaving the shop to go home, Henshaw came to him, saying:
+
+"Let me put a flea in your ear, Jack. John Fowler has got his eye on you
+for the one to go to South America."
+
+Scarcely any other announcement could have brought greater joy to Jack,
+for he had a great desire to travel, and this long journey would take him
+away from home for many months, he felt it would be a grand opportunity.
+But he knew that Furniss had been working for the place, and he could not
+realize that such good fortune was to fall to him, so he said to Henshaw:
+
+"I thought that Furniss was sure of the chance. I heard him say as much
+only yesterday." "A fig for Furniss! Old John had a long talk with me this
+morning, and I told him you were just the chap for the place, young and
+capable. He nodded his head and I could see that you were as good as
+taken. Of course we shall miss you, but it's a trip a youngster like you
+can't afford to miss."
+
+"I should like to go, Mr. Henshaw, and I thank you for your kind words."
+
+"Don't cost nothing," returned the bluff foreman, as he started homeward.
+
+Jack was too happy over his prospects to mind the baleful looks of Furniss
+the next day, or to hear the jibes of Fret Offut. Could he have foreseen
+the startling result he must have been bound with dismay.
+
+The following Monday, when the day's work was done and he was leaving the
+shop, Mr. Henshaw came along, and slapping him on the shoulder, said: "Let
+me congratulate you, my lad. It is just as I said; you are going to South
+America,--if you will."
+
+"It seems too good to be true, Mr. Henshaw." "It's the blessed truth and I
+know it I don't blame you for feeling well over such an appointment, for
+it is something any of us might be glad of. But you deserve it."
+
+The appearance of Furniss checked Jack's reply. He could see the other
+understood that he had lost. He had another proof of the fact before he
+got home from Fret Offut, who said:
+
+"Feel mighty stuck up, don't yer? But let me tell yer,'twon't do any
+good."
+
+This was the first time he had spoken to Jack since he had begun work in
+the shops, and our hero made no reply.
+
+The following day, as he was about to leave the shop at the close of his
+work, Jack was accosted by Furniss, who asked him to assist him a moment
+at the big hammer.
+
+Jack started at once to his help, noticing that the building was
+completely deserted at the time, except for the second boss and himself;
+even Henshaw, who generally stayed until after the workmen had left, was
+gone.
+
+His surprise may be imagined then when he saw Fret Offut step from behind
+a huge boiler as he approached. Still he did not dream of any sinister
+purpose in the minds of the two, and he was about to stoop to lift a piece
+of iron at the request of Furniss, when he discovered a bar of iron so
+suspended over his head from the cross timber that a slight movement on
+his part was sure to bring it down upon his head.
+
+No sooner had he seen his precarious situation than he started back, when
+Fret Offut flung a heavy slug at his feet. The effect was startling, for
+the concussion on the floor sent the menacing bar overhead downward with
+fearful force.
+
+Jack succeeded in dodging the blow so far that he escaped the full weight
+of the falling iron, which struck the floor endwise with a heavy thud. But
+before he could get beyond its reach the massive bar tipped over, falling
+in such way as to strike him in the side of the head, and felling him
+senseless to the floor.
+
+In a moment Furniss and Offut were bending over him with anxious looks on
+their grimy countenances.
+
+"Is he killed?" asked the younger of the twain.
+
+Jack answered the question himself by opening his eyes, though he was
+still too bewildered to attempt to rise.
+
+"What did you do that for?" he demanded.
+
+"Do what?" questioned Fret Offut. "You know well enough. You fixed that
+bar so it would hit me."
+
+"Hear the boy talk!" came from Furniss. "It is true. If I get the chance--"
+
+"Stop, you shan't get us into trouble," yelled the man, in a rage.
+
+"Not much," put in Offut. "Let's teach him a lesson he won't forget!"
+
+"So we will," answered Furniss; and both started forward to attack Jack.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter IV
+
+Just in Time
+
+
+
+Though still somewhat dazed by the blow on his head, Jack realized that
+the unprincipled twain in their desperation would stop short of no crime
+in order to carry out their purpose.
+
+Thus Furniss had barely laid his hand on him before he was on his feet
+ready to fight for his life if necessary.
+
+Flinging aside the second boss, he turned to meet the assault of Fret
+Offut, whom he caught by the collar and flung headlong upon a pile of
+scrap iron and ashes still warm from the furnace.
+
+Shrieking with pain the big youth scrambled to his feet and began to dance
+around as if he had a coal of fire in the heel of his shoe.
+
+Furniss rallied to grapple anew with Jack, but though a strong man he
+found his match. Used to hard work all of his life, Jack's sinews seemed
+like bands of steel and there was no breaking from his grasp.
+
+"Help, Offut--quick!" cried Furniss, as his head was jabbed into the midst
+of a box of coal. "He--he'll kill me!" spluttered the discomfited man.
+
+But Fret Offut failed for good reasons to heed the supplications of his
+friend.
+
+The next instant Furniss managed to get a hold on Jack which enabled him
+to throw him upon the floor.
+
+"Go to South America, will you?" cried the exultant Furniss. "Let that
+settle it," and he aimed a furious blow at his victim's head.
+
+But Jack was too nimble to remain still and receive whatever attack the
+other might rain upon him, and when Furniss' fist descended it missed its
+mark, to strike plump upon the sharp edge of a bar of iron, peeling the
+skin on its back from knuckle to wrist.
+
+At the same time Jack turned his adversary and, clearing him, vaulted to
+his feet, carrying the other backwards by the impetuous movement and
+sending him headfirst into a bucket of water.
+
+Before he could rise Jack had caught him by the throat with one hand, and
+he immediately began to "churn" the other's head up and down in the black
+water, while the discomfited wretch, trying in vain to break away,
+exclaimed in gasps:
+
+"Help--don't--you'll kill me! I--Of--ut--h-e-l-p--murder!"
+
+"Will you promise to let me alone after this?" demanded Jack, giving his
+victim another plunge in the bucket.
+
+"Yes. Let me go or I'll tell Fowler. Oh--oh!"
+
+"Tell Fowler, will you?"
+
+"No--no! Let me go!"
+
+"You promise it?"
+
+"Yes," spluttered the man as soon as he could speak.
+
+"I think that will be enough this time." declared the triumphant Jack. "If
+I could get my hands on you, Fret Offut, I would give you a dose of the
+same medicine."
+
+"I ain't done nothing!" cried the terrified youth. "Don't you dare to
+touch me!" and by that time he had reached the door, to disappear an
+instant later.
+
+Feeling that he had nothing more to fear from his enemies, Jack left the
+shop to go to his home, his mind soon occupied with thoughts of his South
+American voyage rather than with the more unpleasant memory of his recent
+trouble with young Offut and Furniss.
+
+Before going direct to his home to tell the news there, Jack sought
+another home that he might first break the account of his good fortune to
+one whose fair countenance had been in his mind's eye all the afternoon.
+
+He knew the hardest part of his starting on his long voyage would be in
+tearing himself away from a certain blue-eyed damsel named Jenny Moodhead.
+
+At her home he was met by the girl's mother, who, in answer to his
+inquiries for Jenny, said:
+
+"Jane is not here, and I do not see why you have not met her, as she said
+she was going to see you as you came from the shops. I am afraid something
+has happened to her."
+
+Without further loss of time, Jack started to retrace the way to the
+engine shops, though going by a different course from that which he had
+come.
+
+He had got about half way there, and was passing near an old ruined mill,
+which stood more than half over the river, when he was startled by the
+sound of a voice, which was too familiar for him not to recognize.
+
+"Don't you dare come any nearer, Fret Offut! Stand back, or the worst will
+be your own!"
+
+It was Jenny speaking, and as Jack dashed down to the side of the old mill
+he discovered her at the further extremity of the ruins defiantly facing
+young Offut, who was kept from approaching any nearer to her by a club she
+held in her hands, uplifted over her head.
+
+Between the two was a gulf of dark waters a dozen feet or more in width,
+but spanned by a plank over which the girl had evidently passed in
+reaching her place of retreat.
+
+"I'll take up the plank so you can't come back!" declared young Offut.
+"You see if you do not answer me in a becoming manner I can--"
+
+Fret Offut did not have the opportunity to finish his sentence before a
+stout hand was laid on his shoulder and he was plunged headfirst into the
+river. "Get out the best you can!" cried Jack North.
+
+He turned to the girl. "Has he dared so much as to lay a ringer on you,
+Jenny?"
+
+"Oh, Jack! I am so glad to see you! No, he had not touched me, though I
+don't know what he might have done if you had not come. You won't let him
+drown?"
+
+"It would serve him about right, if I did. But he will take care of
+himself. See, he is crawling out below the mill. Come with me, Jenny, for
+I have important news to tell you. I am going to South America!"
+
+"To South America! Oh, Jack, why?"
+
+"The firm want me to go, and they will pay me well for my services. I am
+to look after some machinery that is to be shipped."
+
+"But you will come back?" questioned Jenny, anxiously.
+
+"Sure, as soon as my task is done. But now tell me about Fret Offut."
+
+"Oh, there is not much to tell. He--he wanted to be sweet on me and--and I
+wouldn't have it. That made him angry, and he followed me to this place,
+and--you saw the rest."
+
+"I hope he won't bother you again."
+
+"I don't think he will," said Jenny. "Anyway, I'll keep my eyes open for
+him."
+
+After that Jack spent a pleasant hour in the company of the girl who was
+his dearest friend, and then went home to prepare for his trip of so many
+thousand miles.
+
+His parents already knew something about the proposed journey, so they
+were not much surprised. They had seen Mr. Fowler and talked it over with
+the manufacturer. Mrs. North did what she could to get Jack's outfit ready
+for him.
+
+"I'll be glad to leave such fellows as Fret Offut behind," said Jack, to
+his father.
+
+"Fret Offut is a bully and a fool," said Mr. North, who was a blunt-spoken
+man. "He will never get along in life."
+
+Jack had spoken without knowing the truth. He was not to get rid of Fret
+Offut just yet, as we shall soon see.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter V
+
+On the Island of Robinson Crusoe
+
+
+
+Ho! for South America!
+
+Bravely did the good steamer _Standish_ keep on her long, and, at
+times, stormy voyage to the far distant shore of Western South America.
+She escaped the severest storms of the Northern Atlantic, Grossed the
+equatorial line in fine shape, and stemmed the farious wrath of Cape Horn
+in safety. But every one on board felt freer and in better spirits, when
+at last they entered the Pacific regions where storms are of rare
+occurrence.
+
+The steamer's destination was Valparaiso, Chili, and the commander talked
+of getting into port shortly.
+
+Among those looking most hopefully forward to the termination of the
+voyage was our hero, who had been sent by his employers on the responsible
+errand of seeing that one of their engines was properly delivered and put
+into good running order. He fondly believed it was the great opportunity
+of his life.
+
+He was never more surprised than he was upon finding at the last moment
+that Fret Offut had been delegated to accompany him as helper.
+
+At first he could not believe it; but there the awkward youth was, and
+that he was sent for that purpose was plainly indicated by the order from
+John Fowler & Co.
+
+To his still greater surprise, the other seemed to have forgotten or
+overlooked their differences, and he greeted Jack with all the warmth of
+an old friend.
+
+"If he can afford to be friendly I can," thought Jack, who was not a
+person to cherish long any bitterness of feeling against another, and he
+resolved to treat Fret as well as possible.
+
+This, coupled with that bond of sympathy for an associate one is sure to
+have on leaving those dear to him far behind, made the two seem somewhat
+like friends.
+
+Had Jack known the truth, known the frequent and long conversations his
+deceitful companion had held with the plotting Furniss, and how the latter
+had worked to get Offut sent on this voyage with him, our hero would have
+felt different toward the other. The second boss's parting words had been:
+"Remember you owe this opportunity to me, Fret Offut, who might have gone
+but for my willingness to let you. Don't forget either that if, for any
+reason, North does not get to Valparaiso you will step into his place, and
+gain the honor he is anxious to get."
+
+This was spoken with such signs and indications as only one in the secret
+could understand, and young Offut nodded knowingly, as much as to say:
+
+"I understand perfectly, and will not fail in my part to gain our ends."
+
+It may have been that the looked-for opportunity did not come, as he had
+expected, or that his courage failed him in his cowardly purpose, for no
+harm befel Jack until on the evening before the day, which, if nothing
+unfavorable occurred, the commander had promised would bring them within
+sight of land. Jack stood by the quarter-rail a long time watching the sun
+sink into the distant water, and then the silent coming of the stars into
+the firmament overhead.
+
+It was a beautiful evening, though fleecy clouds were beginning to fringe
+the horizon, and he was certain the whole sky would be obscured soon.
+
+But his mind was more engrossed with thoughts of his parents and Jenny at
+home than with the calm grandeur of a tropical sea, and he was wondering
+how many months must pass before he should be able to meet her, when the
+sound of a cat-like step behind him arrested his attention.
+
+Thinking of no harm, he turned slowly to greet the one approaching, to
+find himself confronted by the tall figure of Fret Offut.
+
+A look of wild fierceness was on the other's features, and before Jack
+could speak his arms were uplifted, swinging overhead a belaying pin.
+
+Reading at a glance Offut's horrible purpose, Jack attempted to seize his
+upraised hands, but he had barely made a move before the weapon descended
+upon him!
+
+With an indistinct recollection of a dull sense of pain in his head, Jack
+knew no more until he was brought back to consciousness by the feeling of
+water around him and it slowly dawned upon him that he had been sent
+overboard from the ship into the sea by the blow from Fret Offut.
+
+It was too dark for him to see any distance, so he listened for some sound
+of the steamer.
+
+Once he thought he caught the regular swish, swish of the big wheel; but
+he must have been mistaken, for after a moment he realized that the
+_Standish_ was not within hearing.
+
+He had begun to shout for help, and this shouting he kept up until he was
+hoarse, and he felt that it would be better to save all of his strength in
+the great battle for life ahead.
+
+No one, who has not been there, can know the utter hoplessness of being
+castaway upon the great, boundless ocean with not even a plank to keep him
+from a watery grave.
+
+Jack North was brave and sanguine, but for a time he felt that it was
+useless for him to try and keep up. Then the thought of home and loved
+ones, with all the bright dreams and hopes of life, gave him the
+resolution to fight for victory over defeat until the very last. He had
+heard of sailors who had been cast away, and who had managed to keep
+afloat a whole night and day. Might not he keep from drowning until
+morning?
+
+At any rate he would not give up while he had the strength to struggle
+against fate.
+
+Buoyed up with hopes which he knew were groundless, he swam on and on
+through the dark expanse of waters girdling him.
+
+When he had gone as far as he deemed prudent he would turn upon his back
+and thus float upon the bosom of the great deep, borne by its ceaseless
+tide he knew not whither.
+
+Perhaps he was being carried further and further out to sea, or it might
+be he was slowly approaching the shore of the southern continent.
+
+That was the longest, most gloomy night Jack North ever knew. He saw nor
+heard nothing of the steamer during the long hours of darkness and
+desolation.
+
+With the first faint streak of daylight he scanned the surrounding sea
+with anxious, eager gaze. But whither he would look, north, south, east or
+west, not an object broke the monotony of the view.
+
+He felt that he was hopelessly lost, and he wondered in his despair if his
+true fate would be known.
+
+As it grew lighter he continued to watch the sea for some welcome sight,
+until he saw, away on his left, a dark rim on the horizon. Was it a cloud
+or--land?
+
+He dared not hope it was the latter at first, but as it grew plainer he
+felt a thrill of joy pass through his worn-out frame.
+
+"Land!" he cried, coming near drowning in the exuberance of his new-found
+discovery.
+
+Even after he had seen land it seemed he was doomed to disappointment.
+
+It did not appear that he had strength to reach it. Still the prospect
+ahead served to give power to his weary limbs and a new lease of endurance
+to his overworked body.
+
+As he swam nearer he saw that great pointed peaks pierced the sky wherever
+he looked, while abrupt walls of rock rose from the water's edge to the
+height of many hundred feet.
+
+These he realized could not be scaled by him, and as he gazed on the gray,
+moss-covered rocks dripping with the spray of the ocean that continually
+beat against their rugged sides, hopelessness again came near overpowering
+him.
+
+Above the granite front of this lonely island, as he believed it to be, he
+could see stupendous ridges of reddish earth rise in countless numbers and
+always running back toward the centre, with here and there green pastures
+of grass, but he looked in vain for a break in the adamantine barrier
+which made this ocean-bound realm unapproachable.
+
+In his despair he was nearly overjoyed to suddenly see a boat, with two
+men in it, come around an angle of the rock-bound shore.
+
+He shouted as loudly as he could in his exhausted state for help, and then
+gave up the battle, and sank.
+
+But strong arms were near, and the boatmen, hearing his cries, rowed
+rapidly to his assistance and picked him up as he was going down for the
+last time.
+
+When Jack recovered consciousness he found himself lying on a rude couch,
+with a friendly face looking into his and his hand held by the same
+person.
+
+"Well, here you are," said the man. "I had about given up looking for you
+to come out of it. You must have had a long, hard pull against the sea."
+
+"Where am I?" asked Jack. "Who are you?"
+
+"You are on the island of Robinson Crusoe. As to myself, I am an American
+by the name of William Pearce. Before I shall ask you even your name I
+shall advise you to keep quiet and go to sleep if you can. You are among
+friends."
+
+Jack was fain to follow this well-meant advice, and a few minutes later he
+was sound asleep.
+
+It was nearly night before he awoke, and even then his friend would not
+allow him to leave his couch.
+
+"Here is a dish of goat's milk and I will soon have some warm oat
+porridge."
+
+Jack felt stronger when he had partaken of the simple food offered him,
+but he was still too weak to move about very much, and in less than five
+minutes he was again asleep.
+
+He did not awake until the following morning this time, when he found
+himself in pretty good condition.
+
+His host being absent at the time, he had an opportunity to examine his
+surroundings. He found himself in a small hut built of the straw of wild
+oats, interwoven with long, slender sticks, while the roof was treated in
+the same way. Only a few rather primitive utensils of cooking and living
+were to be seen, and he was wondering what sort of a hermit he had fallen
+in with when the man entered.
+
+He was past middle life, with a sunburned, bearded and honest countenance.
+
+Upon seeing that Jack had awakened, his looks instantly brightened and he
+spoke cheerily:
+
+"Glad to see you looking so well. You will be all right in a day or two."
+
+"Is it possible that I am on the island where Robinson Crusoe spent his
+lonely years?"
+
+"It is so."
+
+"I can hardly believe it."
+
+"Nevertheless it is a fact."
+
+"If I ever get away from it I will read the story all over again."
+
+The man laughed.
+
+"That's natural.
+
+"But do you live here alone?"
+
+"Oh, no; there are six Chilian families here with me. But you are beating
+me at asking questions, for you have learned all there is to be learned of
+me, while I cannot name you from any descendant of old Adam."
+
+Without further delay Jack told his companion the story of his adventures.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VI
+
+A Terrible Mistake
+
+
+
+Jack found Robinson Crusoe's island a pleasanter place than he had
+expected. Among the ridges were many pretty valleys which were covered
+with patches of woods or grass. Everything bore a peculiar hue of green,
+from the groves of myrtle, pimento and corkwood to the grassy plots, the
+natural fields of oats and even to the moss-covered rocks of the spinelike
+mountains.
+
+The coast, as far as he could see, overhung the sea or rose perpendicular
+to such a height as to make it inaccessible, except at one place where a
+rent in the wall allowed man to enter the almost sacred domain.
+
+The rude, picturesque huts of Mr. Pearce and his associates stood in a
+romantic valley, where the American told him had stood the "castle" of the
+Crusoe inhabitant of the island, Alexander Selkirk, whose strange story
+has been read the wide world over.
+
+Jack had been at the island nearly a week, and he was looking forward to
+an opportunity to go to the mainland in a few days, when Mr. Pearce
+informed him that something singular had transpired during the night.
+
+"Though no vessel is in sight this morning, I am sure some one landed here
+last night between midnight and daylight."
+
+"Do you think there is anything to fear from such a visit, providing some
+one has been here?" asked Jack.
+
+"I don't know. This island was used several years as a penal colony for
+Chili, but an earthquake so upset things that the one hundred and fifty
+odd prisoners escaped, and since that no one has been sent here. But it
+has been the refuge of two or three outlaws since, as if the place had a
+strange fascination for them. Perhaps they think it is a safe place to
+flee to after what has occurred here. I have had no trouble with them
+worth mentioning."
+
+"Do you think one came last night?"
+
+"Looks like it. But I will find out before I am much older. I will get the
+Chilians to go with us and we will explore the cells."
+
+Jack was not kept in suspense long as to Mr. Pearce's meaning.
+
+Upon reaching the foot of a bluff about half a mile from the ruins of what
+looked like an old fort, but which was now embedded in banks of clay and
+overgrown with moss and rank weeds, he found that the whole structure had
+been built of stone.
+
+"It was done by the Chilian government in 1767," said Mr. Pearce, "and was
+undone by an earthquake in 1835. This you see here nearest was the front
+wall of the main rampart. But here is the greatest wonder in the hillside.
+This old building--fortress, as it might be truthfully called--was the
+abode of the officers and their men who were stationed here to watch and
+guard the island, while these other retreats which are marked by those
+black mouths were used for an altogether different purpose."
+
+Mr. Pearce pointed, as he spoke, to numerous dark openings in the side of
+the hill, there being many completely hidden by the rank ferns hanging in
+festoons at their entrance.
+
+"It was in these pits, dug into the earth to the depth of two or three
+hundred feet, that the Chilian government confined their convicts, and
+where, if all reports be true, they underwent tortures that made life a
+living death. The earthquake tore down all the heavy doors, as if the
+elements were in league with the poor captives, every one of whom thus
+managed to escape.
+
+"It is in these places the fugitives who seek this island for safety
+conceal themselves. We can find some sign at the mouth if any one has
+entered a cell since yesterday."
+
+He then led the way along the broken-down entrances of the underground
+excavations, now occupied by bats, toads and vermin, but where once
+miserable wrecks of manhood had found a terrible punishment for their
+crimes.
+
+A wild goat sprang out from one of the cells and bounded away, but no
+trace of a human being was found, until at last Mr. Pearce stopped before
+one cell which was reached by descending several stone steps.
+
+"This was one of the cells for exceptionally bad prisoners," said Mr.
+Pearce. "It is not as deep as some of the others, but reeks with a cold
+sweat, and the air is so damp and chilly as to make one shiver the moment
+he enters. Just think of the poor wretches confined here, where no ray of
+sunlight could ever reach them, and no living soul to pity them in their
+hopeless despair! This does not run into the earth more than twenty-five
+feet. Your eyes are younger and sharper than mine; see if those are not
+fresh footprints."
+
+"They are," replied Jack, as soon as he had made a hasty examination; "and
+I am sure they are made by an American shoe!"
+
+"Whew!" exclaimed Mr. Pearce, "that makes it more mysterious, and it
+behooves us to move with great caution. One of us had better remain on the
+outside, while the other makes an exploration of the den. Which will you
+do?"
+
+"I will go inside, if it makes no difference to you, only I wish you would
+let me have one of your pistols."
+
+"Of course, and you can take this knife, too. Move cautiously, for if
+there is an American run to earth in there, you may count on it that he
+will fight for his life. It will be different from facing one of those
+Chilians, who make a good deal of noise and but a little resistance."
+
+Jack promised to act with caution, and taking the weapons tended him by
+his companion, he boldly pushed his way down the rough stairway leading to
+the dark dungeon.
+
+"Give the signal at the least sign of danger, and I will be there in a
+trice," were Mr. Pearce's parting words. "Meanwhile if you hear me
+whistle, don't fail to come back as quickly as possible."
+
+By this time Jack was at the foot of the descent, and parting the damp
+ferns that overhung the mouth of the cell, he was about to enter the
+dismal passage, when his foot struck something that rustled.
+
+Reaching down in the darkness, his hand touched a sheet of paper or
+parchment, which he picked up.
+
+He had hardly done this before Mr. Pearce gave a shrill whistle, which
+caused Jack to return to his side, wondering what had happened.
+
+His surprise may be imagined when he saw a squad of armed men drawn up in
+front of them!
+
+"They are Government soldiers in search of the fugitive," whispered Mr.
+Pearce. "Don't do anything rash if you value your life. Let me speak to
+them."
+
+A short consultation then followed in Spanish, the new-comers all the time
+covering the twain with their cocked carbines.
+
+Finally Mr. Pearce turned to Jack, saying: "It is just as I thought. They
+are looking for an escaped prisoner-an Englishman, or rather youth, as
+they tell me. They think you are the one and demand your immediate
+surrender. The best thing you can do is to give up without resistance. I
+will stand by you when the time comes for the need of my help. They won't
+believe a word I say now. See they are getting impatient. What answer
+shall I give them?"
+
+Jack, who did not understand a word that they had said, realized from
+their manner that he could expect no mercy from the Chilians. If Mr.
+Pearce could not benefit him now, how could he later? Still his only
+alternative seemed to be to surrender, upon the condition that he be given
+fair treatment at the hands of the government.
+
+But notwithstanding this stipulation, no sooner had he signified his
+intention of yielding without resistance than he was roughly siezed and
+bound. Then some of his captors dragged him back against the side of the
+bluff. The leader gave a few words of command to his followers, who obeyed
+by instantly bringing their firearms to their shoulders, pointed at Jack!
+
+"Great sun!" exclaimed Mr. Pearce, his face turning white as marble as he
+witnessed this summary threat, "they mean to shoot you on the spot!" He
+had barely uttered these startling words before the leader of the squad
+raised his right hand, as a signal for the marksmen to fire.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VII
+
+A Plea of the Enemy
+
+
+
+Jack realized that only a desperate effort could save him.
+
+Mr. Pearce, whose friendship he had no reason to doubt, stood speechless
+and horrified at the inhuman act of the Chilians, unable to lift a finger
+if it would have saved his life.
+
+Jack was standing near to the entrance of the convict cell and as the
+Chilian commander raised a hand for his men to fire, he suddenly doubled
+himself up like a jack-knife, turning a complete somersault in the
+direction of the underground stairway.
+
+His feet had not been secured, though his hands were fastened behind him.
+
+Acting on the impulse of the moment, without any consideration for the
+result other than an escape from the murderous fire, he plunged head-first
+into the entrance at the very instant the volley of bullets sped on their
+deadly mission.
+
+So closely timed were the two actions that the Chilians mistook his jump
+for the result of their shots, and an exclamation of satisfaction left the
+leader's lips, while no immediate attempt was made to reach the side of
+their victim. This enabled Jack to regain his feet and to disappear into
+the dark mouth of the cavern before his enemies had recovered from their
+surprise.
+
+Though severely shaken up by his precipitation into this retreat,
+unheeding the creeping creatures under his feet, which made a furious rush
+to and fro, Jack groped his way further and further into the gloomy place.
+The damp, sweaty walls covering him with a slimy moisture. Now and then
+some of the loosened earth would fall upon him, adding to the uncanny
+experience of his advance.
+
+He expected the Chilians would follow him, but he hoped in some way he
+might escape them. He kept on without hearing any sound of a pursuit,
+until he was suddenly conscious of being confronted by some one, while a
+trembling voice called out from the darkness ahead:
+
+"Stop! I am armed, and you come nearer at the peril of your life!"
+
+It was too dark for him to see any one, but he heard a slight movement as
+the words were uttered, and he instantly recalled to mind the fact that
+the fugitive fleeing from the Chilians was supposed to be hiding in this
+place.
+
+Accordingly, as he stopped, he said in a low tone:
+
+"Be careful and you have nothing to fear from me."
+
+Jack had been glad to notice that the unknown had used pure English in
+addressing him. In a moment he asked:
+
+"Who are you?"
+
+"A friendless American boy who has been hunted down like a dog because--"
+
+"Fret Offut!" broke in Jack recognizing the other's voice.
+
+"Jack North!" gasped the fugitive "You have betrayed me, Jack!"
+
+"Not a bit of that. I am here on account of you."
+
+That was no time to question one's motives. Jack knew that the other was
+his mortal enemy, but just then and there he could do no better than to
+forget the past. Whatever the offense he had committed against the
+Chilians, Fret was scarcely in worse color with them than himself.
+
+It did not occur to honest Jack North that by delivering up his enemy he
+might save his own life.
+
+Though Fret had abused his confidence shamefully, he did not have the wish
+to give him over to these foreign pursuers. For aught he knew his
+companion might be as guilty of crime against them as against himself.
+
+Meanwhile why had the Chilians not entered the cell in pursuit of their
+prisoner? Were they in fear of him? Not so much that as they were in fear
+of entering that underground retreat, teeming with superstitious
+traditions.
+
+In fact no Chilian could have been induced to enter there under any
+provocation short of death!
+
+Mr. Pearce knew this, and when he saw Jack disappear he was confident the
+lad was safe for awhile.
+
+It is true the leader of the party did command his men to enter, and
+uttered all sorts of threats against them, but they simply listened
+without moving.
+
+Neither did their commander offer to lead the way.
+
+Mr. Pearce, knowing this superstitious dread of all Chilians to enter the
+subterranean prisons, waited until the leader had stopped commanding and
+abusing his soldiers, when he ventured to interpose on Jack's account.
+
+As he was a man of consequence in the opinion of the Chilian chief, his
+words soon had the desired effect.
+
+"Somebody,--the person you are in pursuit of--may have landed on the
+island last night, but this boy is a friend of mine and knows no more of
+him you want than I do. I vouch for his honesty, and as he has been here
+over a week you can see that he is not the one you are looking for, who
+you say must have come here since sunset yesterday."
+
+No doubt the Chilian was glad to get off so easily in doing what he deemed
+was his duty, for he ordered his men to return to their vessel without
+further delay.
+
+That was the last to be seen of them, but Mr. Pearce cautiously waited
+until he saw the ship sailing away from the island before he spoke to
+Jack.
+
+"Come out of that hole if the bugs have not carried you off," he called
+out in his blunt way. "The Chilians have gone back to Valparaiso to report
+that they could not find their man here."
+
+Jack and Fret Offut had come to something of an understanding, though the
+latter was reluctant to meet Mr. Pearce.
+
+The islander was surprised at sight of him, but Jack hastened to say:
+
+"It proves the person those Chilians were so anxious to catch is an
+acquaintance of mine, being none other than one of the _Standish's_
+passengers."
+
+"A friend of yours, eh? Those infernal--excuse me, I don't believe I will
+say it. Come, let's go down to the house."
+
+If Mr. Pearce was not pleased with the appearance of young Offut he did
+not show it, though he told Jack privately that it might be best for all
+concerned if they should leave the island as soon as an opportunity
+offered itself.
+
+"You see another searching party may come at any hour, and I might not be
+as successful with another, particularly with two to answer for."
+
+Jack had no desire to remain any longer than he could help, as pleasant as
+he had found life with his newly-made friend. He was anxious to get to
+Valparaiso before the _Standish_ should leave on her return voyage.
+
+He had another reason, too, and a most important one.
+
+He handed the paper he had picked up at the entrance to the convict cell
+to Mr. Pearce for him to read if possible, for it was written in Spanish,
+which he could not make out at the time.
+
+Mr. Pearce read it with some difficulty, explaining it as best he could
+when he had carefully studied it for half a day.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter VIII
+
+The Lonely Pimento
+
+
+
+"The writer of this strange manuscript," began Mr. Pearce, "was evidently
+an unlettered person, for it is filled with so many errors as to be
+difficult to get the author's meaning in many places. He was also a
+fugitive from justice.--I should judge, nearly all his life. He speaks of
+the diamond mines of Brazil and the hoarded treasures of the children of
+the sun in the same sentence. Then he goes on to describe a wonderful
+island that he discovered while hiding from pursuers under the shadows of
+the Andes in Tarapaca, Peru. Let me read:
+
+"'I had come out of a dense growth of corkwood to look on a big body of
+water hemmed in by the mountains, when I saw some way from the shore a
+small island. I noticed it particularly on account of a solitary pimento
+tree standing in the centre, with a big rock at its foot.
+
+"'I was hard pressed by my enemies, and seeing what I believed was a hole
+under the rock I swam out to the island. I did find plenty of room to hide
+in and my pursuers did not think of looking there for me, though they made
+the entire circuit of the water.
+
+"'I stayed there two days before I dared to venture out, but it was not
+until I had decided to leave the place that I made the most wonderful
+discovery of my life.
+
+"'The island, which was made up mostly of rocks, was fairly honey-combed
+with tunnels and underground passages, little and big, every one of which
+was filled with gold!
+
+"'Gold lay under my feet; gold on my left hand; gold on my right; gold
+overhead; gold everywhere! I knew from certain inscriptions that I could
+partly decipher that this hidden treasure was a part of the Incas wealth
+in the days of Pizzaro.
+
+"'At first I was so bewildered by my discovery that I could do nothing,
+but finally I took as much of it as I could carry and left the place.
+
+"'I was, as I thought, careful to note all of its surroundings so I could
+come again when I should wish to get the rest of my hoard. I say I did
+this carefully, but a year and a half later when I came to get the rest of
+my treasure I could not find it. I could not even find the island, though
+I went over the ground from Titocaca to Atacama a hundred times.
+
+"'I could not even find the lake!
+
+"'I felt sure I should know that pimento tree anywhere on account of its
+odd shape. It had three branches leaving the trunk, one of which ran up
+several feet higher than the others, a dead branch pointing to the
+northward like a skeleton finger. There was a rim of mountains around the
+lake, except for a break in the range on the north.
+
+"'Since I have been there the whole mystery has been solved in my mind and
+I can see that the lonely pimento with its skeleton finger is the key. I
+was there during the wet--"
+
+"The rest is missing," said Mr. Pearce, "but I have given you the
+substance of the illiterate scrawl in tolerable English as far as it
+remains. Looks as if the sheet had been torn apart. There is a fortune for
+you if you can only find it."
+
+Mr. Pearce spoke somewhat lightly, but Jack could see that he was deeply
+interested in the account.
+
+Our hero had been cautious enough not to let Fret Offut into the secret,
+knowing he could not be trusted.
+
+"I believe I could find that wonderful island which plays at hide and seek
+if I were to try it," said Mr. Pearce. "What do you say to going fortune
+hunting?"
+
+Naturally Jack's sanguine nature was thoroughly aroused and nothing could
+have suited him better, and from that time they discussed the lost island
+with its treasure at every opportunity they had when Fret was not with
+them.
+
+There was one serious drawback to their plans.
+
+It might be a long time before they would have an opportunity to leave the
+island where Robinson Crusoe had spent so many lonely years. During his
+stay there Jack explored every part of the island. He noticed that the
+soil had every promise of great fertility, but that even his friend had so
+far taken on the laziness of the Chilians that he cultivated as little as
+possible. This island had become a sort of rendezvous for the ships
+rounding Cape Horn, and many of them had contributed to its natural and
+animal wealth by planting orchards and sowing grains and in leaving there
+many domesticated creatures.
+
+But at this season of the year it was likely to be considerable time
+before a vessel should touch there, and Jack had been on Robinson Crusoe's
+island a little over a month, before he found a chance to go to
+Valparaiso.
+
+He was glad for the opportunity, but disappointed at the last moment to
+find that Mr. Pearce had concluded to give up going with him.
+
+"Too much like work, Jack. You see I have fitted in here, and if we should
+find that treasure it would be of no earthly good to me as I am alone in
+the world. I hope you will find it, my lad, and that it will help you and
+Jenny to make a happy home. Good bye."
+
+"Good bye," said Jack, as he pressed his friend's hand warmly, for he had
+grown to like the kindhearted gentleman.
+
+Fret Offut nodded lightly to the other, as he entered the boat which was
+to take them to the vessel.
+
+The trip to Valparaiso was uneventful, but there Jack met with a great
+disappointment.
+
+The _Standish_ had left for its homeward voyage.
+
+Thus Jack found himself left alone among strangers, save for the
+companionship of Fret Offut, who seemed disposed to hold aloof from him.
+The other had refused to tell him the cause of his being hunted by the
+Chilians, though Jack suspected that it was in some way the result of his
+attack upon him. Fret had told enough in his sleep for our hero to know
+that he had been arrested for the deed, and that he had afterwards
+escaped. But Jack did not feel like saying anything to Fret about it, as
+long as he showed no inclination to mention the subject.
+
+Knowing that it might be several months before he could return to his home
+and being short of money, Jack at once began to look about for an
+opportunity to earn a living.  Unable to find anything to do in
+Valparaiso, he walked to Tocopilla, though Fret declined to accompany him.
+In this town he found work as a machinist at the princely income of four
+Spanish dollars a week. But this was better than nothing and he went to
+work with a hearty good will.
+
+He worked in Tocopilla steadily for a month. During the time he heard
+nothing from home or from Fret Offut.
+
+He still kept the paper describing the mysterious island holding its vast,
+hidden treasure, but he had not felt like undertaking the long journey
+necessary to search for it.
+
+Seeing no prospect of advance in his position, Jack was beginning to think
+of seeking his fortune elsewhere, when his whole future life was changed
+into a different groove by the appearance of a stranger at the place where
+he was working.
+
+The newcomer was a Peruvian, who had been an engineer on a railroad
+running through the southern part of Peru, but had left to come to
+Tocopilla.
+
+He and Jack soon became friends, when the latter said to him one day:
+
+"What was the trouble with engineering, that you should leave to come
+here, where you can't begin to get the pay you did there?"
+
+"The pay was good enough, but the shooting was better. I care more for my
+life than I do for a few silver doubloons."
+
+"I am afraid I do not understand you. I was not aware that shooting and
+engineering went together."
+
+"They do in the case of the St. Resa road, Jack."
+
+"Tell me about it, Francis. I am interested."
+
+"Then I can take out that interest shortly. The road runs through
+debatable ground from St. Resa to de la Pama. Not an inch of it but what
+is being hotly contested. But it isn't the regulars that make the trouble,
+for at present the territory belongs to Peru, though how soon she will
+lose it is not for me to say. It's the murderous bush-raiders that are
+making the trouble."
+
+"Who are the bush-raiders?"
+
+"That question shows a lamentable ignorance. The bush-raiders are bands of
+guerillas united to make war upon anybody and anything that crosses their
+path. They pretend to favor Chili, but they are merely using that for a
+cloak, and are robbers of the worst class, outlawed by all governments. Of
+course you know that Chili and Peru are at war?"
+
+"I have heard of it."
+
+"Well, these bush-raiders, pretending to favor Chili, are making hot times
+all along the St. Resa. It is necessary to keep the road open if Peru
+hopes to hold the country, and the company are doing their best, backed by
+the government. They have had as many as twenty men on in the last six
+months.
+
+"The three men on before me were killed by the bush-raiders, and the one
+before the first of them fell off and was killed while running the gantlet
+of fire set by the fiends."
+
+"You say the road is all in Peru?"
+
+"Yes, in Southern Peru. It runs through the nitrate regions. Bless me if I
+don't think there is a fortune in those mines if properly worked.
+
+"Say, Jack, if you are dissatisfied with the money you are making here
+there is an opportunity for you. You are young and full of fire, just such
+a rash head as the bush-raiders like to get hold of. The company is
+offering as high as twenty pistoles a month for a man to run that engine.
+More for one day than you get here in a week. But bless me, if every
+pistole was a doubloon and I had as many of them as I could carry I would
+not try another trip. What are a few paltry pistoles to a man's life?"
+
+"I believe I would like to get that position as engineer on the St. Resa,"
+said Jack, after a moment's pause. "I can run an engine, you know."
+
+"You have only to apply for it," replied the other. "But say, Jack, if you
+should be fool enough to go up to get killed on that old engine, you had
+better take a fireman along with you, for you will not be able to find a
+helper up that way."
+
+Another silence fell upon the twain, during which Jack's hands were not as
+busy as his brains, until finally he laid aside his work, saying in his
+blunt way:
+
+"I shall start within a week for St. Resa, unless in the meantime I get
+some sort of word from John Fowler & Company, or from my folks."
+
+After that the days flew by on the wings of the wind. Eagerly Jack waited
+for some kind of word from his home, but not a letter reached him, for the
+reason that his folks were very poor and had many troubles of their own,
+and because the manufacturing company that had sent him to South America
+were in financial difficulties.
+
+Sunday passed and then Monday, and the week came to an end. Jack had
+another talk with the Peruvian about the railroad position and then
+slapped his hands together.
+
+"I'm going to have a try at it, come what may," he said, determinedly.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter IX
+
+Jack Becomes an Engineer
+
+
+
+Jack as usual, was as good as his word.
+
+He stopped long enough to lay down his tools and seek the foreman for a
+leave of absence.
+
+"Going to St. Resa? You will make the journey but one way. You will never
+come back."
+
+But Jack was determined, and nothing that the other could tell him of the
+perils he was sure to encounter could deter him from his purpose.
+
+An hour later he turned his back on Tocopilla.
+
+He was passing one of the outer gates, near the edge of the city, when he
+was stopped by one of the many beggars which invest the town.
+
+"Only a miserable pittance," implored the ragged wretch, holding out a
+dirty hand for the gift.
+
+Something in the beggar's tone and manner arrested Jack's attention. He
+had been addressed in English, which was unusual, but there was more than
+the language to attract him to the poor alms seeker.
+
+Then, as he bent a closer gaze on the person, he exclaimed:
+
+"Fret Offut! can this be you?"
+
+"Jack North!" exclaimed the other. "I did not think of seeing you here."
+
+"Nor I you, most of all in this condition."
+
+"It was all I could do, Jack," whined the other. "I have had such bad luck
+since you left me! But ain't you looking like a peacock!"
+
+"I have managed to get a living by working hard."
+
+"I'll warrant you have; but I wouldn't work at the starvation wages they
+offered me. Say, where are you going?"
+
+"To St. Resa."
+
+"In South Peru?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What do you expect to do there?"
+
+"Going to apply for a situation as engineer on a railroad."
+
+"Whew! I heard a man say this morning they were offering big pay. Let me
+go with you, Jack? You will do this for old time's sake? I will be
+fireman."
+
+Jack's first thought was to refuse the other's company. He felt that Fret
+had already done him harm enough, and that his presence would be a
+positive injury to him. But upon second thought he became more generous.
+In spite of all Fret had done against him he could not help pitying the
+young fellow now in his forlorn condition, and thus he said:
+
+"If you will promise that you will not try to make trouble for me and that
+you will do the very best you can for yourself. You mustn't forget, too,
+that you are going where you may not come back alive."
+
+Fret Offut promised very solemnly to all that Jack asked, and the couple
+started on their hazardous journey into the interior of the country which
+was about to become the battleground of three nations.
+
+They received a warm welcome at the railroad company's office as soon as
+the object of their call was known. It had been a week since the last
+train had gone over the route, and a big accumulation of freight wanted to
+be moved. They were offered big wages and accepted.
+
+"Well, Fret, we're in for it now," said Jack, as they went to the station
+to make their first trip.
+
+The young fireman made no reply. He was already beginning to regret the
+step he had taken, though Jack's fearlessness was not without its effect
+on him.
+
+A big crowd was at the station to see the train start, which made Fret
+feel the importance of his position.
+
+The train had a fifty-mile run and Jack found that he was expected to make
+it and return the same day. This did not seem a difficult task, providing
+the bush-raiders let them alone.
+
+The road was in a terrible condition, yet the first trip was made without
+adventure and Fret's spirits rose.
+
+"Probably the bush-raiders did not know we were going yesterday," said
+Jack, as his helper was boasting of their easy job.
+
+Jack could not say as much when he got back from his second trip, for no
+less than three shots had been fired into the caboose.
+
+Fret Offut was in genuine alarm. The situation was worse than had been
+described to Jack. Reports showed that the bush-raiders were gaining in
+numbers every day, and growing more bold as they increased in strength.
+The country, sparsely settled, through which the railroad ran seemed
+especially fitted for their guerrilla warfare, to say nothing of the poor
+state of the road-bed, which at places actually made the passage
+dangerous. Then, too, the cars and engine were cheap and simple affairs,
+offering no protection from the bullets of the enemies.
+
+But Jack had no intention of giving up at this stage of the situation, and
+Fret concluded to risk a third trip.
+
+The company were anxious for the train to be kept running, but offered no
+protection, if it could supply any.
+
+The round trip on this day was made without any shots being fired by the
+enemies, though at least twenty bush-raiders were seen drawn up in sight
+of the train, as it wound its way through one of the gloomiest spots of
+the entire route.
+
+One of the disreputable looking party waved a red cloth on the muzzle of
+his short-barreled carbine as they whisked past.
+
+"Look out for to-morrow," said Jack. "That looks to me like a sort of
+warning."
+
+It proved that he was not the only one who had his suspicions, for as he
+swung himself upon the engine the following morning some one stepped from
+out of the motley crowd collected about the station and thrusting a scrap
+of paper into his hand instantly disappeared.
+
+As soon as they were fairly on their way Jack smoothed out the crumpled
+paper to read in a scrawling hand:
+
+"Look out for the bush-raiders to-day."
+
+The sheet bore no signature or date.
+
+"Looks like a scare by some one," remarked Jack, as he handed the missive
+to Fret. "But there can be no harm in keeping a sharp lookout," he
+admitted. "I suppose the trouble has got to begin soon, and it might as
+well be to-day as to-morrow."
+
+Fret Offut, whose stock of courage was small, turned pale, as he read the
+brief message:
+
+"You ain't going to keep on, Jack?"
+
+"What else are we hired for? We should be the laughing stock of the
+country if we stopped now."
+
+"But this warning makes it different."
+
+"Not a bit as I can see. We came up here expecting to take our chances,
+and as for me it seems the bush-raiders have been very modest in opening
+proceedings. It is too late for us to turn back. I--"
+
+"No--no! Stop, Jack, and I will get off."
+
+"If you don't get off until I stop you will ride into de la Pama. Now
+don't be foolish and let that little piece of paper upset you. It was no
+more than we expected. Keep a cool head and stand to your post.
+
+"It may not be as bad as it threatens. But if you persist in leaving you
+can do so when we have made this trip. I don't propose to be left in the
+lurch by losing my fireman at a time I cannot afford to let him go."
+
+Jack's quiet determination and assurance served to quiet Fret's fears, so
+he said nothing further about quitting his duty.
+
+After leaving St. Resa, the train, which was a mixed one, made up of two
+passenger coaches and a dozen freight cars, had to stop at irregular
+intervals, following which the road ran through a twenty-mile wilderness,
+the most of the way rugged in the extreme.
+
+It was during this part of the journey that Jack expected trouble if
+anywhere, and as he approached the broken region he kept a sharp watch on
+every hand.
+
+Fret, though pale and trembling, kept his post.
+
+"Give me every pound of steam possible," said Jack. "If we don't go
+through Whirlwind Gap flying it will be because the old engine has lost
+her cunning."
+
+They were now rushing along at a tremendous rate of speed considering the
+condition of the track, and the old engine rocked and lurched as if it
+would leave the track at any moment. There were but a few passengers
+aboard, for only those who were compelled to do so traveled during this
+dangerous period.  Jack knew there was a valuable freight behind him, to
+say nothing of human lives, and he was determined to get into de la Pama
+if it lay in his power.
+
+Thus, with a full realization of the peril of his situation, he was
+standing at his post, with one hand on the throttle and the other on the
+reversing lever, peering intently ahead, taking in every object as they
+sped furiously over the rails, when he suddenly beheld a sight which for a
+moment fairly took away his breath.
+
+They were swiftly approaching the foot of a high bluff, upon the top of
+which he had discovered a dozen of the bush-raiders looking down upon him.
+But they were not the most startling part of what he saw and heard.
+
+As the train dashed madly under the rocky wall, above its terrific thunder
+rang a deafening crash, and he saw with horror a huge bowlder coming down
+the side of the cliff, directly toward the engine!
+
+It had been loosened from its bed by the bush-raiders, and so well had
+they timed their work that it would be impossible for the engine to get
+beyond its reach before the rock should fall upon it!
+
+It would be equally hazardous to try and stop the train.
+
+Fret Offut had seen the appalling sight, and with a despairing cry,
+feeling that it would be death to remain on the engine, he leaped far out
+over the embankment.
+
+"Fret!" cried Jack, but no answer came back to the call.
+
+Jack North felt that it was all over with him, but true to the instinct of
+his nature, he stood bravely at his post.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter X
+
+A Narrow Escape
+
+
+
+With the wild cry of Fret Offut and the exultant yells of the bush-raiders
+ringing in his ears above the thunder of the rushing train, Jack North
+heard the ominous crash, of the descending bowlder, and saw with a dazed
+look its swift approach.
+
+The locomotive, throbbing and panting like a human being in a race for
+life, was fairly flying along the winding track.
+
+It all lasted but a moment, the downward rush of the deadly body, the
+cries of exultation and despair, the lightning-like passing of the fatal
+spot by the engine, and the ordeal was over as quickly as it had come!
+
+The descent of the ponderous missile was swift and sure until a projection
+on the side of the cliff was reached, when with a terrific concussion the
+bowlder glanced. It suddenly shot outward like a cannon ball, and was
+carried fairly over the engine into the gulch below.
+
+Jack witnessed this miraculous movement with breathless eagerness
+bordering upon terror.
+
+The huge rock passed so near that it scraped the top of the caboose, and
+the current of air it raised swept the boy engineer's cap from his head.
+
+The train had got its length beyond the place before Jack could realize
+that he had escaped.
+
+The bush-raiders reminded him of it then, if he needed any further
+notification, by a volley of bullets and renewed yells of rage.
+
+Though some of the leaden missiles flew uncomfortably near his head, Jack
+was unharmed, and as he was borne on by the iron horse around the next
+curve in the track, leaving his enemies out of sight, he offered a prayer
+of thankfulness for his providential escape.
+
+Fret, he was certain, must have been killed by his mad leap from the
+engine. As much as he would have liked to have gone back and looked for
+the youth, he knew such a course would have been the height of folly.
+Besides his own life to look after, there were the passengers who had
+intrusted themselves to his care.
+
+"Poor Fret! I could do no good now, and I must remember the others. If you
+had only remained on the engine it would have been better for you."
+
+To his infinite relief, Jack saw nor heard nothing further of the baffled
+bush-raiders, who must have been greatly surprised at the escape of the
+train with its rich freight.
+
+At the first station, which was several miles away from the scene of the
+outlaws' attack, the young engineer told of the loss of his fireman and
+his own narrow escape from death, when an armed squad of men started to
+search for the body of the missing youth, and to rout the bush-raiders if
+they could be found.
+
+Finding an assistant at this place, Jack finished his run to de la Pama
+and then came back to this station, which was known as Resaca.
+
+The relief party had not returned, but Jack was told that a bridge had
+been found to be unsafe for the passage of the train, so he could not
+reach St Resa that day, while it might be a week before the road would be
+in a condition to resume his regular trips. But he was willingly allowed
+to start after the relief party with the engine and one car, accompanied
+by a dozen armed men.
+
+They were approaching the bridge mentioned, when they met the others
+coming back, bearing in their midst the lifeless form of Fret Offut.
+
+Jack immediately stopped to have the body of his associate put on the car,
+when he started on the return to Resaca.
+
+The untimely fate of Fret Offut impressed him with the great uncertainty
+of life. It was true the other had never been his friend, but now that was
+forgotten and he felt a deep regret over the youth's sad end.
+
+The return to Resaca was made in safety. In fact nothing had been seen of
+the raiders since the start, and it was uncertain what might be their next
+move.
+
+The following day Jack saw that Fret's body was given burial in a little
+plot within sight of the low-walled church of this clustered settlement,
+he being the only mourner.
+
+"If I should fall in my hazardous work, I could not expect as much as poor
+Fret gets in this land of strangers. The last bond between this wild
+country and home seems to be broken. Little did we think of this, Fret,
+when we anticipated that South American trip!"
+
+The last sad duty done for Fret Offut, and finding that the bridge would
+not be repaired inside of a week, Jack resolved to take a little outing on
+his own account.
+
+He still carried with him the paper so strangely found on Robinson Crusoe
+island, and he was determined to make a search for the hidden treasure
+which it mentioned.
+
+Accordingly, mounted on a small but sure-footed and faithful pony, with a
+supply of provisions, Jack set out on his uncertain journey without
+telling any one his intentions, little dreaming of the result which was to
+come of his secret movement.
+
+He believed the mysterious island was nearly north of Resaca, so he shaped
+his course in that direction, keeping a sharp lookout for any enemy that
+might be in his pathway.
+
+He was in the heart of the great dry region of South America, a district
+of nearly a thousand miles in length, where rain seldom if ever falls, and
+the country is afforded sufficient moisture by the sea vapors condensed on
+the Andes and sent down upon the plains and lowlands. The desert of
+Atacama lay many miles to the south, but as he progressed he often found
+sections of the country without a thing growing upon the land, though
+sometimes these spots were bordered by the most abundant growth he had
+ever seen, even in that realm of grand forests and magnificent flora.
+
+Everywhere, save on these dark patches of waste land, the vegetation was
+on the boldest scale imaginable, the magnitude of the trees being simply
+beyond the comprehension of him who had never seen them, while some of
+even the largest were adorned with beautiful flowers, making them seem
+like gardens of themselves.
+
+On account of the density of the growth, Jack often found it difficult to
+advance, and many times he was obliged to make long detours in order to
+reach a certain point.
+
+Zig-zagging about, always keeping his eyes open for bush-raiders, wild
+beasts, and, above all, for the strange island, he had spent four days in
+the wilderness, when he felt that it was time for him to think of
+returning to civilization.
+
+He had seen no sign of the looked-for body of inland water with its
+treasure island, though the increasing presence of cinchona trees told him
+that he was already ascending into the region of the Peruvian Andes.
+
+"I am sure it is at the foot of these mountains that the strange island
+exists," he thought, as he paused on the summit of one of the foothills of
+the snow-crowned Monarch of Mountains. "But there is no sign of water, and
+how can I expect to find an island where there is no water?"
+
+The involuntary speech brought a smile to his lips. As he would explain
+his thoughts, he said aloud:
+
+"Somehow I got it into my head that there was a lake in this region, and
+there I was to find my treasure island. But I have been a fool to look for
+either. Come, Juan," patting the neck of his pony, "let us go back while
+we have sense enough to do so."
+
+But while he spoke he lingered around the place, as if there was some
+strong fascination for him. It was a beautiful scene, made up almost
+entirely of forest, but such a forest as only Peru, with its wonderful
+natural wealth, can produce.
+
+The trees were composed largely of rosewoods in all their varied beauty,
+the giant quassia in all their hues and tints of foliage, with a
+sprinkling of cinchona, lending a happy blending of more sober coloring,
+while from the lowlands was wafted to him on the gentle breeze of that
+tropical clime the perfume of the tinga.
+
+The finger of silence lay on the lip of Nature, even the broad leaves of
+the quassia rising and falling on the shifting breaths of air, without
+that peculiar rustling sound generally belonging to the forest domain.
+
+It was the most beautiful scene he had ever looked upon, and as he allowed
+his gaze to slowly move around the encircling country, he found himself
+looking down upon the strangest valley or mountain pocket he had ever
+beheld.
+
+The singular feature of this isolated, wood-environed retreat was its
+complete absence of all kinds of growth, except for a sort of silky grass
+which covered its uneven surface like a rich carpet of the deepest green
+tint. Near the centre was an oval elevation of rock and earth higher by a
+few feet than knobs and miniature hills which dotted it elsewhere.
+
+It was bare of vegetation, not even the silken tasia ornamenting its
+sides, though a solitary tree did rise in lonely grandeur from its utmost
+crest.
+
+Jack uttered a low exclamation as he saw that this tree was a pimento.
+
+In a moment his mind reverted to the description given in the strange
+manuscript, but a look of disappointment succeeded his eager anticipation.
+
+"What a fool!" he exclaimed. "That tree stood on an island--"
+
+A rustle in the undergrowth arrested his attention at that moment, and,
+before he could avoid the unexpected attack, a dark lissom body shot
+through the air, to alight squarely upon his pony, that, with a snort of
+terror, started madly through the growth.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XI
+
+Under the Head of a Jaguar
+
+
+
+Jack was nearly unseated by the sudden dash of his pony, and managing to
+retain his position he was in imminent danger of being swept off by the
+branches of the trees.
+
+The deep growl of the creature at his back rang in his ears, and he could
+feel the poor pony quiver in every muscle, as the fearful claws of the
+brute were buried deep into its flesh.
+
+This occupied but a moment's time from the attack of the wild beast to the
+end of the pony's flight, but it was such a moment as Jack never forgot.
+
+He had seen a precipice in the pathway of the terrified animal, but not in
+season to stop the maddened creature or turn it aside, though he did make
+a frantic effort to do so. As if bent upon its own destruction, the pony
+made a suicidal leap down the precipitous descent.
+
+The frightened creature struck upon its feet, but immediately fell over on
+its right side, carrying its rider with it and pinning him under its body.
+
+The savage beast had not lost its hold, and as Jack lay there within its
+deadly reach he saw for the first time that it was the most dreaded of the
+wild beasts of South America, the jaguar.
+
+He had barely taken a swift glance at the furious brute before a warning
+growl above him broke the momentary silence and then a second form, the
+mate of that beside him, plunged down from the top of the cliff, landing
+beside the first, that uttered a fierce growl at the same time.
+
+Jack's heart fairly stopped its beating, and finding himself unable to
+move his right limb, he felt that it was all over with him.
+
+The pony had apparently been killed by its fall, together with the attack
+of the jaguar, as it did not move after it fell over on its side.
+
+The ferocious beasts, with a succession of sharp growls and snarls, began
+to feast upon the still warm carcass of the poor horse.
+
+It was fortunate, and showed Jack's remarkable presence of mind as well,
+that at that critical moment he remembered that old hunters had said if
+one feigned death he might escape the attack of a wild beast under
+ordinary circumstances, the story of Dr. Livingstone lying under the
+lion's paw coming vividly into his mind. But his left leg lay on top of
+the pony's body and close to where the two jaguars were exercising their
+teeth and claws on the flesh.
+
+That morning before starting from Resaca he had put on a pair of boots
+with stout tops as a means of protection from the bushes and brambles he
+might encounter on his long ride. But he could not hope these would
+protect him long, if at all, from the attacks of the voracious brutes.
+
+Words cannot describe his feelings as he lay there listening to the
+ominous growls and crunching of the hungry animals, expecting every moment
+to feel their sharp teeth in his own flesh.
+
+Two or three times he felt one or the other of the jaguars push savagely
+against his foot, which was lifted and carried forward upon the pony's
+neck in their eagerness to get at the warm meat.
+
+All of that horrible scene Jack heard and felt rather than saw, for he did
+not dare to open his eyes--dare to draw a full breath.
+
+After awhile he heard one of the pair move away a short distance, and he
+could hear it licking its dripping chops after its feast.
+
+Its mate continued its voracious attacks upon the carcass, the grinding of
+its jaws and the crackling of the pony's bones making horrible sounds for
+the helpless boy.
+
+When this had continued for several minutes longer, the second jaguar
+stopped eating and began to lick Jack's boots.
+
+Nothing so far had equaled the horror of that sensation.
+
+It seemed to Jack that he must go mad if it continued long!
+
+After what seemed a long time to him in his intense agony, the dull,
+rasping sound ceased; the jaguar had ended its licking, but, as if loath
+to leave the spot, it allowed its head to fall forward on the half eaten
+body, with its nostrils lying on Jack's foot. Its slow and regular
+breathing finally told that it had fallen asleep after eating its dinner.
+
+Jack a little later heard the cat-like steps of its mate leaving the
+place, until the pitter-patter died away in the distance.
+
+Then, for the first time, he dared to open his eyes, though he did not
+venture to move his head or hand a particle.
+
+He could see the sleeping jaguar's head and that was all that was in sight
+of the creature, that still remained motionless but likely to start up at
+his first movement.
+
+As Jack's gaze followed his narrow orbit of vision he soon saw his
+firearm, which had slipped from him in his ride over the precipice and
+fallen near where he lay in that terrible situation.
+
+He had no sooner seen the weapon than a wild desire to get possession of
+it filled his mind. If he only had that in his hands he believed he could
+shoot the jaguar before it could do him harm.
+
+The longer he pondered upon this the stronger became the desire to make
+the attempt. Failure could not be any worse than that awful suspense,
+which in all probability must end in death.
+
+Then, as he realized that the jaguar's mate might return at any moment, he
+resolved to make the bold venture without more delay.
+
+He was first careful to make himself sure that the brute was still asleep,
+when he slowly and cautiously raised his hand enough to reach for the
+carbine, which fortunately lay stock toward him.
+
+Not a sound broke the deathlike stillness of the lonely scene, save the
+labored breathing of the sleeping jaguar.
+
+Never allowing his gaze to leave the creature, he continued to reach for
+the firearm until he felt his hand touch the stock.
+
+As complete control as he had maintained over himself so far in the trying
+ordeal, at this critical moment he so far forgot himself as to draw a long
+breath--a breath of relief to think that he had something with which to
+defend himself.
+
+That breath was instantly answered by a terrific growl!
+
+It had awakened the light-sleeping beast, which quickly raised its head,
+and its whole appearance immediately changed, as it glared furiously
+around.
+
+It seemed to realize at once that it had been fooled by this human
+creature within its clutch, and with another growl, louder, fiercer and
+more startling than any yet, it prepared to spring on its new victim.
+
+But it was no quicker of action than Jack, who knew that his life hung on
+prompt work. At the same time he lifted the carbine from the ground, he
+cocked the weapon. At that moment the open jaws of the aroused jaguar were
+thrust into his face, and the hot breath of the wild creature fanned his
+cheek. The next instant he ran the muzzle of the firearm into the maddened
+brute's throat and pulled the trigger.
+
+A dull report followed, the jaguar's head was blown into fragments, and
+Jack knew that his life was saved.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XII
+
+Put to the Test
+
+
+
+Though he had no more to fear from this jaguar, Jack knew that its mate
+was likely to return at any moment, and as soon as he had recovered
+somewhat from the effect of the ordeal through which he had passed, he
+freed himself from the weight of the pony's body.
+
+He was glad to find that his limb had not received any serious injury,
+though it was so paralyzed from lying under the pressure that it was a few
+minutes before he could stand alone.
+
+But he lost no more time than he could avoid before he left the place,
+feeling that his situation even then was not pleasant to contemplate. He
+was not only afoot in the heart of a trackless wilderness, but many miles
+from the nearest point of civilization.
+
+Half an hour after leaving the scene of the jaguar's attack, he made a
+discovery which caused him no little concern.
+
+He had lost his compass.
+
+Realizing the risk of returning to the fatal spot, as well as the
+uncertainty of finding the lost instrument, he kept on without it,
+endeavoring to pursue as direct a course as possible.
+
+In this he was unsuccessful, and two days later he was wandering at random
+through the intricate labyrinths of a Peruvian forest, nearly worn out and
+disheartened.
+
+Hoping that his shots might be heard by some one who would come to his
+rescue, he had fired all but the last load of ammunition he had with him,
+and that charge was in his carbine.
+
+"I might as well discharge that," he said to himself. "It is my last
+chance and I might as well take it now as later. It is useless for me to
+try to find my way out of this wilderness."
+
+In his desperation he cocked the weapon, and pointing it skyward pulled
+the trigger.
+
+Loud and long rang out the report on the deep silence of the forest, the
+distant foothills taking up the sound and flinging it back to the valleys
+in echoes that repeated the detonation far and wide. As the last sullen
+sound died away in the distance he leaned against one of the trees, saying
+half aloud:
+
+"I might as well meet the worst here as anywhere."
+
+Five, ten, fifteen minutes passed away, and satisfied that his last shot
+had been fired in vain, Jack started to resume his aimless wanderings,
+when the sound of footsteps fell upon his ears.
+
+At first he thought it might be some wild beast prowling through the
+woods, but it was not long before a human figure burst into sight.
+
+There was little of beauty in the youthful stranger who had thus
+unceremoniously appeared, but Jack had never been so glad to see any one
+in his life.
+
+At sight of his woebegone countenance the newcomer came to a sudden halt
+in his impetuous advance, exclaiming in a voice with a peculiar and
+characteristic nasal twang:
+
+"Consarn ye! who air yeou scrouched down there in that way? Aair yeou the
+feller who has been wasting ammunition so like a scart peon?"
+
+The speaker's tone was not unfriendly, and Jack was nearly overjoyed to
+find that the new-comer was not a Peruvian.
+
+Springing from his seat on a fallen tree, where he had sunk in his
+respair, he cried in genuine gladness:
+
+"You're an American!"
+
+"No more'n yeou air!" replied the other, brushing back his long blonde
+hair from his forehead as he spoke, and looking straight into our hero's
+countenance with a pair of deep blue eyes.
+
+Then, when the two had stared upon each other for fully a minute, both
+burst into a fit of laughter.
+
+"Shoo neow!" exclaimed the Yankee boy, "who air yeou and what air yeou
+doing here?"
+
+"I might ask the same question of you," replied Jack. "My name is John
+North and I come from Banton, Connecticut.
+
+"Bet yeou air called Jack every time. My name is Plummer Plucky, but I'm
+called Plum for short, though that is all they can make short about me. I
+hail from _New_ England too, and I'll bet my dad is hoeing taters in
+sight of Plymouth Rock."
+
+"I am lost in this wilderness," went on Jack. "I hope you can show me the
+way out."
+
+"Bet your boots on that. I live, leastways stop, not three hours' tramp
+from here, though if yeou had come to-morrer yeou wouldn't found me here.
+I have been working on the estancia of Don de Estuaray, the dirtiest,
+meanest, miserliest, yellowest old Spaniard that ever drew the breath o'
+this beautiful country."
+
+"Evidently you love the Don," said Jack, with a smile.
+
+"Do I? Do you know what he pays me fer work thet's enought to kill a man?"
+
+"I haven't the slightest idea."
+
+"No more you have. He pays me three dollars and sixty cents a month--think
+of it--if you can!"
+
+"That's a small fortune" went on Jack. He rather liked the fellow before
+him. "I suppose you've got a pile saved up in the bank out of it."
+
+"Think so? Consarn ye, yer ain't got no right to think so!" And now the
+other really looked somewhat angry.
+
+"No, I don't think so," answered Jack, promptly. "I was only fooling. They
+don't pay big wages down here--I've found that out--down near the coast,
+where I worked at starvation wages myself."
+
+"Wall, I aint jest starved," said the other youth, somewhat mollified. "I
+git feed enough--leas'-wise, I take what I want. But it ain't enough
+money--no it ain't--nohow, consarn him anyway!"
+
+Jack had too much at stake to desire a quarrel with his new-found
+acquaintance, so he hastened to say:
+
+"I hope you will forgive me if I have said anything to offend. I trust we
+shall be friends."
+
+Whatever of anger Plum had shown quickly left his honest countenance, and
+frankly holding out a hand, he said:
+
+"I never pick a quarrel with any one, but I won't let any one tread on my
+toes. I reckon we shall be friends."
+
+The clasp of the hands which followed cemented the firmest friendship of
+Jack North's life, an acquaintance which, notwithstanding its inauspicious
+beginning, was destined to ripen into a heart-felt intimacy.
+
+The hand-shaking over, the twain, Plum leading the way, started in the
+direction whence the latter had come at the sound of Jack's carbine. On
+the way toward the estancia where the former had been working, our hero
+learned the complete story of his past life; how he had left home to win a
+fortune and drifted over the world until he was now employed by this Don
+de Estuaray at the princely sum which had been the crumb of argument
+between them a few minutes before.
+
+Jack in turn told the other his story, except that part bearing upon the
+island of treasure, and long before they had reached signs of civilization
+they had become fast friends.
+
+So favorably impressed was Jack with the appearance of his new-found chum
+that he proposed that Plum should apply for the position of fireman on the
+St. Resa railroad, a proposition which met the other boy's hearty approval
+the moment he learned the wages he was likely to get His first question
+was:
+
+"Do yeou s'pose they will have me?"
+
+"Gladly. It isn't a question of that, but whether you have the sand to
+stand up in a spot where you are likely to lose your life any minute."
+
+"Reckon I can stand up where you can, and if I do lay down it will be to
+stay there. Give me your hand, old feller. I like yeou."
+
+They were now approaching the estancia of Don de Estuaray, who lived in a
+pleasant valley several miles from any settlement, and as they advanced
+Jack could not help noticing the tall growth of a patch of vegetation on
+their right hand, as they were entering the spacious grounds.
+
+To his wonder he saw cotton plants that reached far above his head and
+sugar cane which stood like forest trees. Plum Plucky, standing on his
+shoulders, with Fret Offut, had he been living then and there, on his
+shoulders, could not have reached the top of the lowest plants!
+
+He saw indigo plants that amazed him for their size, and altogether it was
+such a sight as he had never seen.
+
+A short distance away he saw a field of oats which reared their heads into
+the air to a height of more than fifteen feet.
+
+Plum Plucky seeing the look of surprise on his countenance, said:
+
+"Can't guess what made that stuff grow so? I can tell you. I just brought
+down some of that funny dirt found in the barren spots on the hills yonder
+and put a good lot round the roots. It beats all creation how it sends the
+stuff into the air. The don said I'd kill it all, but I knowed better, for
+I had seen the wild stuff growing like fun all round the edges of sich
+places. But it don't seem to hitch on in the spots themselves. S'pect it's
+too stout there."
+
+Jack at once recalled the accounts he had heard of the nitrate beds on the
+Peruvian hills, though he did not dream then of the importance of this
+discovery to him.
+
+Our hero was anxious to get back to Resaca, knowing that his prolonged
+absence might have already cost him his situation as engineer on the
+railroad, and as Plum Plucky had fully decided to go with him, they lost
+no further time in starting for that place.
+
+They found the railroad officials in a fever of excitement.
+
+Believing that Jack had left them and finding no one to take his place,
+the bush-raiders having grown bolder in their depredations, in their
+despair, the managers were offering double their previous pay for a man
+who would dare to undertake the work of getting a train through from St.
+Resa to de la Pama.
+
+Jack felt unbounded delight upon finding that the pay had been raised to
+over a hundred dollars a trip, and without any explanation he offered
+himself for the situation a second time.
+
+He was gladly accepted, with no questions asked while Plum was given the
+position of fireman at a salary which caused him to look with amazement.
+
+"Well!" he exclaimed, "it's too good to last."
+
+"Wait till you meet the bush-raiders," said Jack.
+
+"I reckon I can take any medicine that you can," was the answer, and the
+boy engineer realized that he had filled Fret Offut's place with a
+companion of altogether different make-up.
+
+Somewhat to their surprise three trips were made without any molestation
+from the outlaw band, when the young couple were put to a test few would
+have the courage to meet.
+
+A party of Peruvian soldiers had been sent out to protect, as far as
+possible, the road, but upon this run Jack learned at a small station
+before coming to the stream where the bridge had been repaired, that this
+squad had been completely routed by the outlaws of the forest, and the
+victorious raiders were lying in wait for the train.
+
+In this dangerous prospect every passenger left the cars at this place,
+but the order came for the train to go on if a suitable escort could be
+raised.
+
+In twenty minutes as many armed men were waiting a start, though, as Jack
+looked over the motley party, he realized that not one of them would be
+worth a fig in a fight with the bush-raiders. Worse than that, he felt
+confident that the majority, if not all, were in league with the outlaws,
+and when the proper time came would openly join with them in trying to
+capture the train.
+
+But the station agent, blind to this fact, priding himself upon having
+done his duty, pompously ordered Jack to proceed on his way.
+
+As if not to be outdone, the conductor who remained with one brakeman,
+reiterated the command.
+
+"It looks so we were in for it," said Jack, as he took his post at the
+lever. "What do you say, Plum, have you the grit to try it?"
+
+"I am with you, Jack, let come what may. See! I have got on a smashing
+head of steam."
+
+Without another word Jack pulled the bell-cord, and, throwing the valves
+wide open, sent the train thundering out of the station along the gleaming
+track into dangers which the bravest would not have cared to anticipate.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XIII
+
+Precious Moments
+
+
+
+The little crowd at the station waved their hands and gave expression to
+prolonged cries, as the train thundered away on its perilous run.
+
+Soon beyond the hearing of these outcries the two youths, standing so
+bravely at their posts, heard no sound save the deep rumbling of the
+engine and cars, as they sped swiftly on their way through the wilderness.
+
+Jack was the first to speak.
+
+"Fix the fire so you can leave it for a short time if necessary, Plum."
+
+"Leave it any time, Jack. I wasn't so green firing as they thought me.
+Reckon my firing Joe Staples' old saw-mill didn't hurt me any for this
+business."
+
+"Did you burn it down, Plum, or was it sav--"
+
+"Scat! you know what I mean. But do yeou begin to see anything ahead?"
+
+"I could hardly expect to so soon, for they will be pretty sure to keep
+out of sight until we are into their trap."
+
+"Do yeou think they will have a rock on the track?"
+
+"Perhaps some obstruction. I can't just imagine how they will take us this
+time."
+
+"Say, Jack, what do yeou think of 'em fellers on the train?"
+
+The words seemed so much like an echo of his own thoughts that the boy
+engineer started with surprise at the question.
+
+"I'll bet yeou," continued Plum, "they'll make us more trouble than the
+fellers in the bushes."
+
+"Plum Plucky, you just speak my mind. I was thinking how we could best get
+rid of them."
+
+"Bully for yeou, Jack North! Tell me what to do and I'm with yeou tooth
+and nail."
+
+"In one respect we are fortunate," said Jack, in a tone which showed that
+he had been pondering carefully over the matter. "The car they are in is
+to the extreme rear."
+
+"You intend to take the freight through if possible?"
+
+"At any cost."
+
+"Well, then, what does their being in the rear car have to do with our
+getting the rest through? Looks so they air fixed to help the raiders best
+so."
+
+"Why simply--look yonder!" said Jack, pointing suddenly a little to their
+right in the distance ahead.
+
+Plum Plucky did as he was told.
+
+"What is it, Jack, a big rock?"
+
+"Rock? No! Look over those tree-tops; don't you see that thin column of
+smoke rising high into the air and as straight as a church spire?"
+
+"Gosh! yes. What of it? There can't be much wind."
+
+"It is a signal of the bush-raiders."
+
+"S'pose it is?"
+
+The train was now winding through the valley of the Rio Tasma, and the
+sullen roar of the mountain stream was beginning to be heard above the
+thunder of the cars, which were rushing along at a rapid rate.
+
+"I am sure of it," replied Jack, as he continued to watch the ascending
+smoke, though without neglecting his survey ahead. "What else can it
+mean?"
+
+"Sure enough."
+
+"Do you think we have a brakeman we can count on in case of an attack?"
+
+Plum hesitated a moment before replying.
+
+"Not unless it is little Pedro."
+
+"Just my mind. See! the smoke is dying out. Whatever message they had to
+make has been made."
+
+"What do you think it could be?"
+
+"I will tell you what I think. Just before that column appeared we must
+have been in sight of whoever was on that height, and they gave that as a
+signal that we were coming."
+
+"Jack you are nobody's fool; but couldn't they hear the sound of the
+train?"
+
+"Not above the roar of the river if they are on the other side."
+
+"I didn't think of that. But what about little Pedro?"
+
+"Only this: In case those chaps in the rear car show signs of being
+against us we must get rid of them as soon as possible. Do you think you
+can go back to Pedro?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, do so at once and return as soon as you can, for every moment is
+precious now. Tell Pedro the moment he hears the bell ring to uncouple the
+rear car. Mind you, only that. He must be there ready at all times until
+we have passed through the woods. Get back as soon as you can."
+
+"You can count on that," and with these words Plum began to climb over the
+tender toward the line of cars behind.
+
+The bridge of the Rio Tasma was now in plain sight, and Jack's whole
+attention was fixed upon the new structure that spanned the rapid stream.
+
+Everything seemed all right there, so he allowed the train to rush on at
+unabated speed.
+
+There was a wild fascination about this perilous trip that Jack could not
+shake off. Every moment he expected to run into some unknown danger, and
+he would not have been surprised to find the bridge suddenly collapsing
+beneath the train.
+
+But nothing of the kind occurred, and the engine was speedily across the
+stream.
+
+He was approaching the place where he had so narrowly escaped death from
+the falling bowlder, and he could not help glancing toward the top of the
+cliff, as he was carried around the curve.
+
+At that moment the report of a gun rang out sharply on the air, the sound
+coming from the rear of the train.
+
+Then an answering report came from the depths of the forest ahead!
+
+"The men in the car are signaling to the raiders!" flashed through Jack's
+mind, and, simultaneously with the thought, he gave the bell cord a quick
+jerk.
+
+"If Plum has only got there," he thought, as he turned his gaze upon the
+course ahead.
+
+He knew that Plum nor Pedro could not uncouple the car as long as they
+were climbing the upgrade, but immediately beyond the bend a descent was
+made into the valley.
+
+He was rapidly approaching the summit, when he made a discovery which sent
+a thrill of horror through his frame.
+
+Not a hundred yards ahead lay on the right hand rail a huge bowlder!
+
+That the bush-raiders had put it there to wreck the train he had no doubt.
+
+Just then the train gave a sharp lurch, and the reports of firearms pealed
+above the din of the moving train.
+
+Instantly the bell cord was pulled vigorously three or four times.
+
+Plum Plucky was in trouble.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XVI
+
+The Attack on the Train
+
+
+
+The firing from the rear increased, but Jack had enough to attend to
+without giving it a second thought.
+
+Out from the depths of the forest overhanging the track ahead had sprung a
+score or more of armed men.
+
+Expecting the terrible collision they had planned, they had leaped upon
+the track in front of the oncoming train, flourishing their weapons and
+uttering wild yells of triumph.
+
+It was a moment to Jack North which meant all to him. To stop the train
+was to throw it into the hands of his enemies; to keep on was like rushing
+into the very jaws of destruction. The commotion still raging at the rear
+of the train, the exulting fiends in the pathway ahead, and not less the
+silent but ominous bowlder on the gleaming track foretold the end, let him
+act as he might.
+
+With that unerring precision of gaze which never failed him, Jack saw that
+the stone lay at such a place and in such a position that the engine would
+not strike it squarely, but sidewise, as it swept around the curve. To
+make it more favorable the obstruction, as has been said, lay on the
+right, or outside rail.
+
+Had it been on the opposite one all would have been changed to a terrible
+certainty.
+
+There was no cowcatcher in front, similar to those seen on the engines in
+this country, but there was a heavy iron fender in its stead, which
+presented a square defense. This bar would strike the rock below
+midweight, and in such an oblique manner that he believed the barrier
+would be hurled from the track without derailing the engine.
+
+Jack understood that he was taking a fearful risk, but with all these
+favoring circumstances it could not be more disastrous than to stop and to
+fall easy victims to the bush-raiders and their allies.
+
+These thoughts flashed through his mind and he resolved to keep on at all
+hazards. Thus he let on all the steam in reserve and stood grimly at his
+post.
+
+The engine obeyed like a living creature. It gave a mighty plunge forward
+and dashed upon the ponderous barrier disputing its advance.
+
+The suspense was of brief duration, but Jack's thoughts flew fast and far.
+He realized that if the engine failed to clear the track it would be all
+over with him in a moment.
+
+He was thinking of Jenny when the shock came with a force which fairly
+lifted the heavy engine! A crash and another shock threw him face downward
+on the floor of the cab.
+
+He felt that the crisis had been passed and the train was still rushing
+on. Furious yells--yells that made the wildwoods ring with their
+intonations--filed his ears, and a volley of bullets whistled around his
+head.
+
+He looked up and saw the trees rushing past him at a terrific speed.
+
+A backward glance showed him some of the outlaws beside the track, while
+others were scattered on both side of the rails, where the engine had
+flung them in heaps.
+
+At the bottom of the valley lay the big bowlder, which had been dislodged
+and hurled into the depths.
+
+The front of the engine showed the marks of its fearful blow, and he began
+to realize more fully the awful risk he had taken.
+
+The firing from the rear car had ceased, and wondering what had become of
+Plum Plucky, he pulled the bell cord once.
+
+A prompt response was given by two violent jerks on the rope, when he knew
+that Plum was alive and on the train.
+
+He did not have long to wait before he heard some one crawling over the
+tender, and a moment later his fireman dropped beside him.
+
+"Golly, Jack!" exclaimed Plum, "wasn't that a squeezer?"
+
+"What have you done?" asked Jack.
+
+"We've got 'em!" beginning to execute a dance on the footboard.
+
+"What do you mean? Have you lost your senses?"
+
+"I mean we've got the traitors as tight as a squirrel in a box-trap. Some
+of 'em jumped off and were killed, but we've got the most of 'em, and
+Pedro is holding 'em there fast."
+
+The train had slowed so the two could talk as they continued on.
+
+"I don't understand you, Plum," said Jack, ready to believe almost
+anything after what he had passed through.
+
+"Well, yeou see I just played a Yankee trick on 'em. Just as I had got
+back to Pedro, and before I could tell him what to do, some of the men
+come out of the car, and I see they were going to uncouple it just as you
+had told me to! By that I knew some trick was up, and before they could
+tell what had struck 'em I pushed the sinners back into the car and shut
+the door. No sooner had I done that than I covered 'em with my gun and
+asked Pedro to help me. In the midst of it there came that awful chuck,
+when I thought for a minute we'd all gone together. But it was soon over,
+and Perdo is standing guard over our prisoners. As I said some of 'em
+jumped off, but I guess they won't jump ag'in. Do yeou s'pose the trouble
+is over?"
+
+At first Jack could scarcely believe the other's story, but he saw that
+his excited companion was in earnest.
+
+"It was a fearful moment, Plum, and we should be thankful that we came out
+alive. I think we have learned the raiders a lesson they won't forget. It
+will be best to try and get your prisoners to Resaca."
+
+It would not do to stop the train or even check its speed, as the
+prisoners would be sure to take advantage of the situation. Thus Jack was
+obliged to keep a sharp lookout and crowd the old engine on as fast as he
+could with any degree of safety.
+
+No further adventure befalling them, Jack and Plum at last had the
+satisfaction of reaching Resaca. Never was there greater surprise in town
+than when this train came into the station and the true situation became
+known.
+
+Officers were called to take charge of the prisoners in the car, but as
+nothing could be proved against them, except what Jack and Plum stated,
+and as their evidence was immediately discredited, the whole party went
+free, vowing vengeance against their captors.
+
+Jack saw that, on account of their being foreigners, they had really lost
+favor by the capture, and he was glad to get clear so easily. After this
+they ran a week without interference, not a solitary bush-raider having
+been seen. Evidently the survivors had learned a lesson not to be quickly
+forgotten.
+
+Of course our hero and Plum received a few praises for their success in
+getting the train through as they had, but it was evident to both that
+they could not get full credit for whatever they might do. In fact it was
+difficult for them to get acknowledgment for doing an ordinary duty.
+
+This was due to the fact that they were foreigners and looked upon with
+suspicion, no matter what they did.
+
+Jack was not therefore much surprised when one day, as he was stepping
+upon his engine at St. Resa, to have a bright-buttoned official stop him
+and motion for another man to take charge of the locomotive.
+
+This new arrival was a Peruvian, and the boy engineer was not long in
+learning that he was willing to work for twelve pistoles a month.  Though
+smarting under this unfair treatment, Jack offered no objections as he
+stepped aside. The war with Chili was assuming more alarming proportions,
+and he foresaw that troublesome times were near at hand.
+
+Plum Plucky, upon finding that he was going to have a new master, jumped
+down from the cab, exclaiming:
+
+"You can't have my valuable services if you turn off Jack North!"
+
+This was a turn in affairs the officials had not looked for, but the boys
+did not stop to listen to their protestations.
+
+Later they learned that the train did not make a run that day.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XV
+
+The Treasure Island
+
+
+
+"Now," said Plum, as soon as he joined his friend, "I call that about the
+meanest trick I ever see played on a feller. Of course I wasn't going to
+stay to fire for that weazen-faced son of old Piz-arro."
+
+"It seems too bad you should lose your job on my account, Plum.
+Particularly when I am more than half glad to lose mine, while you have
+made a real sacrifice."
+
+"Oh, carrots! I ain't any worse off than I was before. But what are you
+going to do, Jack?"
+
+"I am going to speculating."
+
+"What!" in amazement.
+
+"Speculating, Plum. I have been thinking several days of a scheme in which
+I believe there is more money than in running an engine for bush-raiders
+to run down."
+
+"I'll bet you're going to speculate in that dirt I put round the don's
+plants."
+
+"You got it right the first time, Plum. I--"
+
+"Ginger! going to raise coffee? 'Cause of you air I can give you a
+pointer."
+
+"No; you are on the wrong track now. But I have no objection to telling
+you. Ever since I saw the result of your experiment I have been thinking
+that the stuff would sell like hot cakes in our own country, in places
+where the land is worn out and needs some such a stimulant. At any rate I
+am going to send home a cargo and see what comes of it."
+
+"Hooray! I see it all now. It may pay, but I doubt it. How air you going
+to get the stuff there?"
+
+"In the first place I have got to get possession of the article itself,
+though I do not believe this will be a very expensive undertaking. I have
+a few dollars I have saved up from my wages, and I think I can borrow some
+somewhere. I am going to buy one of the nitrate tracts as soon as I can
+get suited."
+
+"You can buy a big mine for a hundred dollars, 'cause they're looked on
+with disfavor. But after you've bought one, what then?"
+
+"I am going to team a cargo to the nearest port and then charter a ship to
+take it home."
+
+"You're smart enough to be a general, Jack North," and having paid him the
+highest compliment that he could, according to his estimate, Plum added:
+
+"Say, Jack, I want to drive the team for you."
+
+"You shall. But, as I am anxious to begin operations, I am going to look
+for my first purchase."
+
+"Don de Estuaray is the man you want to see. There is a big bed on his
+estancia."
+
+"It seems to me your experiment may have opened his eyes.
+
+"He may catch onto my scheme quicker than some one who has seen nothing of
+what this nitrate will do."
+
+"Of course you're right and I'm a blockhead, as usual. But go ahead and
+I'll tag at your heels like a dog."
+
+Jack's first move was to get a couple of ponies for himself and Plum to
+ride. Then the pair, with provisions enough to last several days, set out
+on their quest.
+
+Taking the direction of what he believed to be the heart of the nitrate
+region, Jack in a couple of days found several beds which he felt would
+prove rich fields of speculation.
+
+His prime object was to find a bed which should not be too far removed
+from the railroad, or at least where its product could be the easiest
+teamed.
+
+It was during his search one day that he got separated from his companion,
+in his desire to explore a wider stretch of country, when he quite
+unexpectedly found himself in the vicinity of his adventure with the
+jaguars.
+
+The memory of that encounter brought back to his mind the lonely pimento
+he had seen in the valley on the opposite side of the hilly range, and the
+story of the hidden treasure filled his thoughts.
+
+"If I could only find that now how it would help me to carry on my
+speculations."
+
+Determined to look again on the spot, he climbed the ascent, until for a
+second time he stood on the height.
+
+Before he had reached this elevated position he had heard a deep rumbling
+sound in the distance--a sound which seemed like the whirl and rush of
+angry waters, as if he was approaching a high cataract.
+
+Ere he had gained the extreme top of the elevation, however, this noise
+suddenly died away, and the calmness of the primeval wilderness lay on the
+scene as he paused on the summit to gaze into the valley.
+
+Naturally his gaze had turned in that direction, and an exclamation of
+astonishment left his lips, as he saw that the valley was gone!
+
+The great basin was filled with water, the high hills and mountains
+forming a mighty rim with a piece of the huge bowl broken away where the
+gap existed in the elevated range on the north. But another feature of
+this inland lake had greater interest for him.
+
+Near its centre was a small, barren island, entirely destitute of growth
+except for a solitary tree standing on its highest point.
+
+The lonely monarch stood stark and stern in all its solitude, with one
+branch lifted like a skeleton arm pointing toward the north.
+
+"The pimento--the treasure island!" exclaimed Jack with suppressed
+emotion.
+
+The longer he looked upon the little island and its surroundings the more
+fully convinced he became that it was the spot described in the paper he
+had found so singularly on Robinson Crusoe's island.
+
+When he had recovered somewhat from his glad surprise he urged the pony
+down the rough descent until the shore of the lake was reached.
+
+"Oh, Don!" he said to the faithful pony, "you must take me to the island,"
+never dreaming of the effort it would cost.
+
+As he spoke a commotion began in the water at the north end, though that
+in front of him was still as unruffled as ever. But the pony had barely
+plunged into the tide before a deep, guttural sound came up from the
+depths and long lines of foam appeared on the surface.
+
+Nothing daunted by this, Jack continued to urge the animal ahead in spite
+of its desire to turn back, until they were about midway between the bank
+which they had left and the island.
+
+The strange noise had increased so that now it completely filled Jack's
+ears, while the water was in a fearful state of agitation. It had taken on
+a peculiar greenish hue, with big flecks of white foam, and here and there
+were fountains spouting up bright yellow liquid, which rose to the height
+of from ten to twenty feet.
+
+The youth felt a strong undercurrent, and, finding that he could not reach
+the island, he tried to get back to the shore he had left.
+
+By this time the pony was struggling helplessly in the mysterious power
+sucking it downward.
+
+Then, before Jack could clear his feet from the stirrups, so as to look
+out for himself, he was drawn under the seething waters with his horse!
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XVI
+
+At the Boiling Lake
+
+
+
+As Jack felt the swirling waters closing over him, he made greater effort
+to keep on the surface.
+
+His gallant pony was struggling furiously for the same purpose, but the
+power pulling them down was irresistible.
+
+A continual roaring filled his ears, and it seemed as if he was being
+drawn into some infernal region.
+
+In spite of all he could do he was carried downward, until suddenly he
+felt a terrible shock, as if he had been hurled against some stony
+surface, and the next he knew he was floating on the water near the north
+end of the lake, which was then quite tranquil. He had no difficulty in
+swimming to the nearest point of land.
+
+Scrambling up the precipitous bank he was glad to sink upon the ground for
+rest.
+
+He was wondering if his pony had perished, when he was gladdened by the
+sight of the animal on the opposite side of the lake.
+
+Before going to the horse Jack resolved to try to swim out to the island,
+and as the water had now assumed the calmness which had prevailed at the
+time he had first seen it, he did not think of further trouble. He had
+received some bruises from his recent experience, but beyond them he felt
+little the worse for his adventure.
+
+Removing his outer garments, so as to give greater freedom to his
+movements, he stepped down to the edge of the dark flood, which was filled
+with the fine particles of earth it had swallowed.
+
+As calm as the water was then, he had barely touched it with one foot
+before a shriek, which rang in his ears for a long time afterwards, rang
+high and far, cut short in its midst by a fearful rush of the aroused
+flood, and a column was suddenly thrown into the air to the height of a
+hundred feet!
+
+It was such a terrific, appalling outburst that he hastily clambered back
+upon the bank, to watch the strange sight. For fully two minutes the
+waterspout quivered and vibrated in the air, when it collapsed as abruptly
+as it had appeared.
+
+The water of the lake continued to boil for five minutes, when it began to
+subside, though bearing traces of agitation for five minutes longer,
+during which Jack watched it with intense interest.
+
+Still undaunted by this marvelous display, Jack resolved to try a third
+time to reach the island, selecting a more favorable place for his descent
+into the water this time.
+
+As no outbreak had immediately followed his entrance into the lake this
+time, he was beginning to think that the strange phenomenon was over. But
+he was soon to be undeceived.
+
+All at once, without warning, a dozen columns of water sprang upward,
+threatening for a moment to drain the lake dry, and among these rushing,
+writhing pillars Jack was borne into the air.
+
+When the powers subsided he fell back with such a force as to render him
+almost senseless. The lake was still churned and convulsed by the mighty
+agency controlling it, and he had a hard fight to reach the shore, where
+he lay completely exhausted.
+
+Slowly recovering his strength he finally sat up and began to wring the
+water out of his clothes, deciding to leave the place as soon as he felt
+able. The water was calm then; though a short time before it had been
+tossed and whipped into fury by the mysterious element controlling it.
+
+"Were the whole Incas treasure buried on that island it would be safe from
+the hand of the despoiler," he said, speaking aloud his thoughts. "But I
+do not understand it. I am willing to wager that this is the same valley I
+saw when I was this way before, though it was as dry as a palm leaf then.
+How calm it is now, but I suppose if I should dare to enter its sacred
+precinct it would begin again its fearful convulsions."
+
+As he finished speaking, Jack picked up a small stone and tossed it into
+the lake. No sooner had it disappeared beneath its dark surface than
+another column of water shot upward with a sort of hissing that was
+terrific, and in a moment the whole body was once more undergoing a series
+of spasms frightful to behold.
+
+Watching it until the outbreak was over, Jack lost no further time in
+seeking the pony. Then he began to climb the hillside leading from the
+place.
+
+Upon the crest he paused for a last look, saying:
+
+"It is calm enough now. Sometime I will come again, for I will know its
+secret if I die for it. There is and must be a natural explanation for all
+this."
+
+Finding Plum Plucky waiting anxiously for him at the expected place of
+meeting, Jack led the way toward civilization, having come to the
+conclusion to close the trade on one of the nitrate beds he had seen and
+begin operations as soon as possible.
+
+He said nothing to his companion of his experience in the valley of
+mystery, partly because the stirring scenes immediately following caused
+him to put it in the background of his memory for a while.
+
+He was the more anxious to get his first cargo of nitrate off as the war
+cloud was deepening fast, and not only was Peru and Chili at a state of
+bitter antagonism, but Bolivia was threatening to mix in the trouble. A
+three-cornered war, with Southern Peru for its battleground, was anything
+but what he desired to see.
+
+The next day he bought his first nitrate bed, paying for it forty
+pistoles, which was considerably more than he had expected, but it was
+large, and if his plans only worked he believed there was a small fortune
+in it.
+
+He then hired oxen enough to make two six-ox teams, with suitable wagons
+to draw the nitrate on, and he engaged the services of half a dozen
+Peruvians to help in the work of getting out the first loads.
+
+As the bed lay remote from the few beaten paths of the thinly populated
+country, it would involve considerable hard work and time to get passable
+roads cut through, so as to be able to draw loads of any size.
+
+"By gosh!" drawled Plum Plucky, as they set out on their work, "I'm going
+to stand by yeou; but yeou may hang my hat on a scare-crow if I don't
+think yeou'll blow yerself dry."
+
+"By that I suppose you mean that I shall lose all I am putting into my
+venture," said Jack, good-naturedly.
+
+"That's just what I mean. I'll bet yeou have got about every dollar yeou
+have into it now."
+
+"I have figured up that I shall have about twenty pounds left when I have
+paid off my help."
+
+"Say, Jack! I'd like to be there when you get in with yer first load of
+dirt and see 'em laugh. Don't s'pose yeou have any dirt in the teown yeou
+come from."
+
+"Not dirt that is pure nitrate of soda, and possessing the highest
+qualities for fertilization of any known compound. Hello! what is up now?"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XVII
+
+In the Nitrate Fields
+
+
+
+The last exclamation was called from Jack by the fact that the teams had
+suddenly stopped, and the native drivers were shouting excitedly over
+something which had happened.
+
+They were at the time trying to make a roadway to the nitrate bed through
+a trackless wilderness, and had thus far progressed with greater ease than
+the young speculator had calculated.
+
+But upon reaching the spot where the teamsters and workmen were holding an
+excited controversy, Jack found that the cause of the excitement was the
+fact that the way had been stopped by a sharp, rocky ridge, which extended
+for miles in both directions.
+
+"We can't go any further, senor," declared the head driver. "No team can
+find its way through these rocks and up and down the hill."
+
+Jack had seen this place when making his survey and had calculated upon
+the difficulty in passing it, having the route most feasible at this
+point.
+
+"Let two men come forward with axes to clear away the stunted growth, and
+the rest get their levers. I will show you by to-morrow it can be passed."
+
+Lively work followed, the men taking hold with a vim, so that by noon the
+next day a path had been cleared, so the teams could cross the rocky
+ridge.
+
+The balance of the distance to the mine was very favorable and at last
+Jack had the satisfaction of finding himself at his destination, when the
+men were set to work loading the carts, the oxen getting a chance to rest
+while it was being done.
+
+While superintending the work Jack had time to realize more fully than
+before the gigantic undertaking he had upon hand. It is true the worst
+seemed over, now that the path was cleared, but he knew with the rude
+implements he had to work with that this had been poorly done, and that
+the loaded teams would have difficult work to reach the open country. Even
+then he would be many miles from the nearest seaport, where he was likely
+to meet with another obstacle in finding a ship to transport his cargo to
+the United States. Then, after he had reached home, how would he be
+treated? A failure to sell his nitrate meant the loss of every penny of
+money he had worked so hard to earn. But these anxious thoughts did not
+rob him of his confidence in his ultimate success. Now he had put his
+shoulder to the wheel, he was not one to look back.
+
+When the hour came for him to give the order to hitch up the cattle and
+prepare for the return journey, he gave his orders in a cheery tone.
+
+"I tell you, Jack," said Plum, speaking with less drawl than common, "I'm
+mighty glad to do this. I don't see how you can be so chipper, for I'm
+dead sure we're going to have loads of trouble before we get out of this."
+
+"No great thing was ever done without having more or less trouble at the
+outset," replied Jack. "As soon as we get started we shall find it easier.
+Hi, there, Pedro!" addressing one of the Peruvian drivers, "you have those
+oxen yoked wrong. You ought to know better by this time."
+
+"Who knows best, senor, you or I?" demanded the Peruvian, showing anger at
+what he deemed an unwarranted interference.
+
+Jack said nothing further, feeling that he had spoken too sharply perhaps,
+though he knew he was in the right. He had found the natives anything but
+pleasant men to deal with, and the quarrel of one was sure to be taken up
+by his companions.
+
+Five minutes later the foremost team was leaving the nitrate bed, starting
+on its long journey at the slow pace of oxen, while the other soon
+followed.
+
+Vague reports had reached Jack before he had left on his trip, of the
+uprising of the people, and of the guerrilla warfare being carried on by
+the straggling armies of the North and South. Still he did not think he
+would be molested, and he felt in good spirits, as they followed the rough
+pathway.
+
+To be on his guard as much as possible, however, he had thought best to
+keep a short distance ahead of the teams, while Plum Plucky followed about
+the same distance behind, the two thus maintaining a continual watch over
+the train.
+
+Nothing occurred to delay their progress, until Jack found himself
+climbing the steep upgrade, which the Peruvians had declared impassable
+before they had done so much work in clearing it. The course was uneven
+now, and considerable of the way it was little more than a scratch on the
+mountain side, with a sheer descent on one side of hundreds of feet.
+
+He had got about half way toward the top when the loud cries of the
+teamsters caused him to look back.
+
+A glance showed him that the foremost team was "hung up" at a particularly
+bad place.
+
+The drivers were belaboring the patient oxen unmercifully, but not another
+inch could they make the animals pull the load.
+
+Shouting to the men to stop their useless goading of the oxen, our hero
+ran back to the spot, finding that the second team had stopped a short
+distance below, where it was comfortably waiting for the other to move
+ahead so it could resume its tedious journey.
+
+As there was no chance to get the oxen on the lower team past the upper
+one, so as to be hitched on to help, on account of the narrowness of the
+road, Jack quickly dismissed such an idea from his thoughts.
+
+Not wishing to throw off a part of the load, which must be lost by so
+doing, he stepped alongside the cattle and began to stroke them and to
+speak gently to them.
+
+"Both teams couldn't pull the load up this path, senor," said one of the
+drivers.
+
+"I am sorry I did not think to double up at the foot of the ascent, but it
+is too late to complain now. Come, boys! all together."
+
+Jack had taken the long, slender pole, with its ten feet of lash, with
+which the drivers urged on their patient teams, and swinging the unwieldly
+instrument over their heads as he uttered the words, he hoped to make them
+start.
+
+The result was most unexpected.
+
+Putting their shoulders to the work with renewed life, the obedient oxen
+fairly touched the ground with their bodies as they tugged ahead with
+their burden.
+
+The cart creaked and the axles groaned, while the heavy wheels began to
+revolve.
+
+"Hooray! it is mov--"
+
+Plum Plucky gave expression to the exultant cry, but he did not have time
+to finish before a loud snap was heard, and the oxen were seen to suddenly
+plunge up the grade, leaving the cart!
+
+"The pull pin has broken!" cried one of the Peruvians, terrified.
+
+"The clevis has broke--look out!" yelled Plum, turning pale. "The other
+team will be smashed!"
+
+The heavily loaded wagon, freed suddenly from the power which had pulled
+it to this precarious position, stood for a moment as if balanced on the
+pinacle.
+
+Of course Jack had seen what was taking place with a quicker eye than any
+of his companions, and as he saw the wagon trembling in the balance for a
+moment before it started on its downward course to destruction, and
+realizing that a timely action could yet save it, he rushed forward to
+seize hold of one of the wheels, shouting to his assistants:
+
+"Quick--put your shoulder to the wheel and we may save it!"
+
+Plum did spring forward to help his friend, but even he was too late to be
+of any avail, while the Peruvians stood idle, without offering to move.
+
+While the united strength of all might have stopped the wagon, Jack's
+resistance was futile, and in a moment the loaded vehicle started on its
+downward course, soon gaining a momentum that nothing could stop.
+
+Faster and faster it moved, the wheels creaking and groaning unanimously,
+as it gained in speed.
+
+The drivers of the other team in the pathway below uttered wild cries of
+terror, as they saw their danger, and began to scramble helter-skelter up
+the mountain side.
+
+The runaway was going directly upon them, but they were likely to escape.
+
+Not so with the oxen and wagon, which seemed surely doomed.
+
+Jack saw at a glance his whole work going to naught in a moment's time.
+
+Then his presence of mind returned to him and he thought he saw a way to
+avert a part of the loss.
+
+Bounding down the pathway after the runaway, he soon managed to catch hold
+of the tongue, which was dodging swiftly from one side to the other of the
+path, according as it was swung to and fro by the motion of the forward
+wheels.
+
+Grasping this forearm with all the strength he possessed, Jack swung it
+toward the near side, until locking the forward wheel on that side against
+the sill of the cart.
+
+He had seen that the only chance to save the rear wagon was at the
+sacrifice of the other, and no sooner had he begun to hold the pole in
+that position that the wagon began to turn toward the gulf yawning on that
+side of the track.
+
+It was a fearful alternative, but the best he could do, and Jack breathed
+a sigh of relief as he found the hind wheels going over the brink of the
+chasm.
+
+For a moment the big load stood quivering on the edge of the precipice,
+and then, with a crash which sounded far up and down the rugged valley,
+the wagon went headlong to its doom.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XVIII
+
+An Alarm of Fire
+
+
+
+Breathless and exhausted by his almost superhuman effort, Jack sank down
+upon the hard rocks, where he had stood at the fateful moment.
+
+Plum Plucky, further up the broken pathway, stood in silent awe, while the
+Peruvians looked on from their perches on the mountain side with bulging
+eyes and chattering teeth.
+
+The only creatures which seemed unconcerned were the oxen which had been
+so narrowly threatened, as they quietly chewed their cuds, while they
+blinked their big, soft-lighted eyes.  Plum was the first to speak.
+
+"Jiminey whack, Jack! but you've done it."
+
+"It was my only chance to save the oxen and the other load," said Jack,
+rising to feet. "Better save half a loaf than to lose it all, you know.
+Simply couldn't turn it into the rocks."
+
+"But I don't see how you could think of it. I was scart, I ain't ashamed
+to own. I'll bet that other is smashed into kindling wood."
+
+Jack was already looking over the precipice after the lost wagon, saying
+in a minute or so:
+
+"It has come out better than I should have expected, though it will do us
+no further good. It has lodged among some trees and rocks, and I do not
+believe a wheel has been broken."
+
+"That's so, Jack, though I reckon it don't make any difference to us. But
+if 'em rocks don't start to grow it's 'cause the nitrate ain't any good,
+for the stuff is sowed all over the Andes."
+
+"It is pretty well scattered, that is a fact. But come, boys, we must
+hitch on the other oxen, and see if the double team can pull this load to
+the top."
+
+Though the loss of one of his wagons and a portion of his nitrate, which
+had cost him so much to get so far, was felt keenly by Jack, he showed his
+indomitable will by immediately giving his attention toward carrying out
+the work of crossing the ridge.
+
+The remaining load proved an easy burden for the united teams, and in a
+few minutes the heavy wagon was moving slowly up the path, the loud
+commands of the Peruvian drivers echoing up and down the valley with
+somewhat startling effect.
+
+"As soon as we get to the summit," said Jack to Plum, "you and I will go
+back and see if there is not some way to save the other wagon, even at the
+sacrifice of its load."
+
+"I s'pose we might throw off what nitrate there is left on it, and by
+hitching together all the chains and ropes we have--"
+
+"I wonder what is wrong now," exclaimed Jack, for the team had again
+stopped, though the wagon was not more than its length from the summit. To
+the drivers he shouted:
+
+"Drive up a little further, so the wagon will stand without--"
+
+Loud, angry cries stopped him in the midst of his speech.
+
+Anxious to know what had caused another interruption in the advance, he
+hurried forward, to meet a most unexpected sight.
+
+Drawn up in front of the team in the narrow path was a squad of Chilian
+soldiers, or bushwhackers, more properly speaking, for he knew they did
+not belong to the regular army.
+
+The Peruvians were cowering by the side of the wagon and cattle, muttering
+over something in their native tongue which our hero did not understand.
+
+"Ho, there, soldiers!" he called out, in his best Spanish, "what does this
+mean?"
+
+"It means if you don't get out of our path, Americanos, we will hew you
+down!"
+
+"Don't be too fast, senor captain," Jack made bold to say, "this path is
+one of my own making, though if you will allow me to get my team to the--"
+
+"Pitiful dog!" cried the Chilian, "Captain de Costa commands you to clear
+his way without any insulting words."
+
+Jack saw that it would be worse than useless to have any words with this
+imperious Chilian, who in his petty command felt more arrogant than a king
+on this throne. Accordingly he began in a respectful tone:
+
+"If Captain de Costa will kindly allow us to drive to the summit we shall
+be able--"
+
+"Americano dog! will you surrender?"
+
+By this time the Peruvians had taken to their heels, and Jack and Plum
+stood alone in front of the pompous captain and legion.
+
+Jack's first thought was to boldly refuse the demand, knowing the other
+had no business to interfere with him, and to make such a resistance as he
+and his companion could. But single-handed, against such odds, he knew it
+would be folly.
+
+"If you please, Captain de Costa, we two are but peaceful American boys,
+both of us engaged--"
+
+"Will you surrender?" thundered the Chilian, advancing with uplifted
+sword, as if he would carry out his threat of hewing him down.
+
+"We are offering no resistance to you, senor captain. If you will allow us
+to--"
+
+At a motion from the Chilian leader his soldiers leaped forward, and Jack
+and Plum were quickly made prisoners.
+
+The order was then given for the lads to be intrusted to a portion of
+troops under the command of a sergeant, and then the march down the
+pathway toward the nearest town was begun.
+
+The last Jack saw of his team it was still standing just over the brow of
+the height, the patient oxen chewing their cuds as unconcerned as if the
+fortunes and the lives of their owners were not in the least endangered.
+
+"What is going to be the end of this?" asked Plum, as they were marched
+along side by side.
+
+"It is impossible to tell. I do not think it will be best for us to have
+much to say to each other if we wish to keep together. We must keep our
+eyes open for a chance to escape."
+
+Plum taking the hint, the friends walked along in silence until the
+journey seemed without end.
+
+The soldiers kept up a continual run of conversation, Jack catching enough
+to know that the Chilian forces were gaining successes wherever they met
+the Peruvians. He also learned that the army of Bolivia was now their
+greatest concern, and that the latter was then on a march over the Andes
+to meet them.
+
+At nightfall a halt was made under a spur of the mountains, but before the
+sun had tipped with gold the crest of the distant Andes the weary journey
+was resumed.
+
+That day about noon they came in sight of a little up-country town, which
+the prisoners soon learned was known as Santa Rosilla. Its long, narrow
+streets bore a deserted appearance, save for the motley-coated soldiers
+passing to and fro, as if on guard.
+
+The town bore every sign of a recent siege, while the indications were as
+strong that the inhabitants had been completely routed and killed or
+driven back into the mountains by their conquerors.
+
+Straight down the grand plaza marched the soldiers with their captives,
+making their way toward the casa consistorial, or town house, above which
+flapped in the sleepy breeze the flag of Chili.
+
+The door of the town house, which bore the marks of many bullets, was off
+its hinges, but the rooms within were secure enough for all prisoners of
+war that might fall into their hands in that isolated district, and
+thither our twain were marched.
+
+To their delight, which they were careful to conceal, they were put into a
+room together, though under a strong guard.
+
+"Looks so we were in for it," said Plum, after they had been left by
+themselves for an hour or more.
+
+"It was a hard set-back to my plans," said Jack.
+
+"I wonder what they will do with us," ventured Plum, expressing the
+thought uppermost in our hero's mind.
+
+"From what I have overheard I should judge we were likely to be shot at
+the first opportunity."
+
+"'Pears to me you're mighty cool about it. Will they dare to shoot us? We
+are not mixed up in their war, and it might make trouble for them in in
+the end, if I know anything."
+
+"They don't stop to consider that. It is my opinion they would dare to do
+anything but meet an equal number of the enemy. It looks bad for us,
+Plum."
+
+"I wonder if we can't dig out of here somehow? These walls don't seem so
+awful thick."
+
+"Of course we must try and get out of this. The first thing to do will be
+to free our limbs. Can you loosen your bonds any?"
+
+For the next ten minutes the boys were busy trying to free their hands
+from the ligatures which had been fastened in no uncertain way.
+
+"It's no use," acknowledged Plum at last. "I believe mine grow tighter and
+tighter. Hark! I should think that soldier on guard in the hall would get
+tired of that everlasting tramping back and forth. I've a mind to tell him
+to stop."
+
+"Better not do it. I wonder if by standing on my shoulder you could look
+out of that window up there?"
+
+"I have been thinking that same thing. Let's try it."
+
+Naturally their attention had been attracted to a small window, which
+afforded light and ventilation for the room, but which was about ten feet
+from the floor.
+
+Tied hands and feet, as they were, the boys tried many times to carry out
+their plan without avail, until it must have been near midnight when Plum
+said:
+
+"It's mighty aggravating. There must be lights on the streets, for I've
+seen their flash."
+
+"Let's try once more. If I lie down perhaps you can get on my neck, after
+which I believe I can raise you to the window."
+
+This proved a most difficult feat, but after repeated attempts Plum
+succeeded in gaining the desired position, when Jack slowly straightened
+up, until he had brought his companion's head on a level with the window,
+where by leaning against the wall he was enabled to hold him for a hasty
+look over the scene without.
+
+Plum had barely gained his unsteady perch before he exclaimed in a tone of
+excitement:
+
+"Oh, Jack! the town is on fire! Everything is burning up!"
+
+At that moment the dull boom of a cannon reached their ears.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XIX
+
+Chilians on Both Sides
+
+
+
+"Looks as if the old town was being raided by some enemy," declared Plum,
+after a short pause, during which another peal of the distant cannon awoke
+far and wide the dismal night.
+
+Loud cries were now heard outside the town house, making the youths'
+situation one of excitement. In the hall adjoining their prison the steady
+tramp of the sentry's feet had suddenly ceased.
+
+"How about the fire?" asked Jack, bracing himself more firmly against the
+wall under the weight of his companion.
+
+Boom! boom! boom! rang sullenly on the scene before Plum could reply, and
+then the rattle of musketry succeeded and the hoarse shouts of men giving
+orders such as no one could understand in the wild confusion.
+
+"The fire lifts higher and higher," said Plum, as soon as a lull in the
+tumult allowed him to be heard by his companion. "It seems to be burning
+on the northeast corner of the town, and the wind is driving it down this
+way like a race horse. The plaza is full of soldiers."
+
+The cannonade soon became almost continual, and was fairly deafening.
+
+"What will become of us?" asked Plum, showing his first sign of
+hopelessness.
+
+"Is the window large enough to let us crawl out if our hands were free?"
+asked Jack.
+
+"It may be; but it is crossed with bars of iron no man could break with
+his hands."
+
+"Take your last look and then come down."
+
+Plum took a hurried survey of the scene which he realized he might never
+look upon again, but his narrow orbit allowed of nothing more than what he
+had described.
+
+The cannons were still thundering forth their loud-voiced peals of war,
+half drowned by the incessant rattle of the smaller arms in the hands of
+the town's defenders.
+
+In a moment Plum descended to the floor in a heap.
+
+"Get on your feet if you can," said Jack a moment later.
+
+By resting against the wall, as his companion was doing, Plum Plucky soon
+stood beside him.
+
+"I should like to know what we are to do in this condition. We are sure to
+be killed."
+
+"Hark! do you hear anything of the sentry now?"
+
+"No; he went out to join the soldiers. I see him."
+
+"Then our way is clear. Now, Plum, I want you to brace yourself as best
+you can, and when I give the word throw all your weight against the door
+with me."
+
+"Going to try and break it down?"
+
+"Yes; ready?"
+
+"Ready."
+
+"Now then, together!"
+
+The old door shook and creaked beneath their combined efforts, but it
+withstood the shock.
+
+"Again--together!"
+
+This time the whole building trembled, and the door creaked and groaned,
+but still defied them.
+
+"Still again--together!"
+
+But the third attempt, nor yet the fourth nor fifth cleared their pathway,
+though when both the boys were bruised from head to feet the rusty hinges
+suddenly gave away and they went headlong into the narrow hallway.
+
+Jack struck upon top, and he was the first to gain his knees, as near an
+erect position as he could easily gain, and he began to crawl toward the
+open air, saying:
+
+"Follow me, Plum."
+
+On the outer threshold they paused to take a hasty survey of the
+surroundings, soon satisfying themselves that a terrific battle was being
+waged at the upper end of the town.
+
+"The quicker we get away the better," said Jack, begining to move
+laboriously toward the grand plaza, with Plum close behind him.
+
+In that slow, tedious way the two crossed the yard in front of the town
+house, and then steering for the cover of a line of shrubbery bordering on
+the west side of the plaza, they crawled as fast as they could in that
+direction.
+
+The sound of the cannon was not heard so constant now, but the storm of
+the musketry had not seemed to cease to any extent.
+
+What meant infinitely more to them, the firing was rapidly drawing nearer.
+The fire, too, of the burning town was growing brighter and brighter, even
+the plaza showing plainly under its vivid glare.
+
+Upon reaching the shrubbery they stopped for a brief respite.
+
+"Look, Jack!" exclaimed Plum, in a shrill whisper, "our prison is on fire!
+We didn't get out any too soon."
+
+Jack had made the same discovery. He made no reply, his thoughts being
+busy in another direction.
+
+An incendiary had kindled a fire at one end of the building and so fast
+did the flames increase and spread that while they watched them they
+sprang up and enveloped one whole side in a crimson sheet.
+
+"We must get away from this place," said Jack. "The two factions of war
+are coming this way on a run. It must be the captors of the town have met
+more than their match this time."
+
+Again the escaping couple began their slow retreat, now under cover of a
+dense growth reaching they knew not how far. Nor did that matter so long
+as it afford them shelter from their enemies.
+
+Once, having gained a little summit from which they could look down on the
+exciting scene, they stopped to gaze back, their curiosity aroused by the
+wild medley of cries.
+
+The town house was now all ablaze, the lurid fire feeding upon its walls
+lighting far the night scene, while throwing a weird glamor over the
+contending factions of war-crazed men, who had now both reached the
+further side of the plaza and temporally suspended hostilities.
+
+There was a reason for this last, too, as explained by Jack's words, as he
+analyzed the situation:
+
+"They are Chilians on both sides, Plum!"
+
+"Do you mean, Jack, that this attack on the Chilians of the town has been
+made by some of their own countrymen?"
+
+"Yes; there has been some mistake made, which has cost many needless
+lives. What a painful surprise it must be to them!"
+
+Jack afterwards learned that he had been right in his conjectures, and
+that through some unexplainable blunder one division of the Chilian army
+had been sent to capture the town already in possession of another
+portion.
+
+Santa Rosilla was in the possession of the Chilians sure enough now!
+
+But Jack and Plum dared not stop to see the outcome of this singular
+meeting between the armed forces, but improved every moment to get away
+from the ill-fated town.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XX
+
+Preparations for Departure
+
+
+
+Three days later, having actually worn off the bonds on their lower limbs
+by their long, painful journey on their hands and knees through the dense
+growth, until a friendly Peruvian lad finished their liberation, Jack and
+Plum entered de la Pama, two sorry-looking youths but still full of
+courage. Almost the first news they learned was that the St. Resa railroad
+was again without the men to run the train, which had been stalled for
+weeks. In fact, the engineer and his helper who had succeeded them, had
+not made one complete trip, the fireman having blown out the boiler soon
+after leaving De la Pama.
+
+In this dilemma the officials hailed the appearance of the boys with
+unfeigned delight. But Jack was sorry to learn that it had been decided
+not to pay over thirty pistoles a month for his services.
+
+"We might as well let the cars stand idle as to pay out all we can get for
+help. Then, too, the business is not going to be very good while this war
+lasts, senor."
+
+The pay was still big for that country, and Jack resolved to accept,
+though before doing so he asked: "What will you pay my fireman?"
+
+"Twenty pistoles, senor. That is the best we can do. We can get plenty of
+men for that price." "It doesn't look so. But what do you say, Plum? That
+will bring you seventy-two dollars a month, if I reckon right. I will try
+it for awhile if you will go with me."
+
+"I'm with you."
+
+Most unexpected to them at the time they began, the "awhile" proved for a
+year. Jack had not dreamed he should stay so long, but his previous
+experience had left him penniless, and with his fixed determination to try
+again, he knew he would not be able to find so good an opportunity to earn
+the needed money to begin renewed operations. During those days Jack sent
+several letters to his folks and to Jenny. In return he received a letter
+from his father, stating that all was now going fairly well with the
+family and if he wanted to stay in South America he could do so. Mr. North
+also sent the information that Fowler & Company had gone into the hands of
+a receiver and there was no telling whether the business would be
+continued or not, and Jack need not expect any back pay from the concern.
+
+From Jenny Jack heard not a word, much to his anxiety and dismay. The fact
+was that Jenny's folks had moved to another town and she had not received
+Jack's letters, and consequently did not know exactly where he was.
+
+"I suppose she has forgotten all about me," he thought, with a sigh.
+"Well, I suppose I ought to go back, but I hate to do it before I've
+managed to get some money together. There's a fortune in that nitrate and
+I know it, and some day I'll get hold of it."
+
+Very much to Jack's surprise they were not molested very much by the
+bush-raiders, whose power seemed to have been checked by the advance of
+the opposing armies, for the war was still carried on, though in a sort of
+desultory manner, as if each side was afraid of the others. Jack could
+foresee that the Chilians were pretty sure to secure that portion of the
+country before they got through. Plum Plucky had stood by his friend all
+of this time, and they had met with some thrilling experiences, but come
+out of them safely.
+
+Jack saved his money like a miser, and with undimmed faith in his ultimate
+success bought five more nitrate beds, to be laughed at by his friend.
+
+"Should think you would want to look after 'em loads you have got over on
+the Andes," Plum would frequently say.
+
+Each time Jack remained silent.
+
+"Say, Jack," Plum would then invariably say, "don't yeou s'pose 'em oxen
+are getting hungry by this time?"
+
+Still the other held his peace.
+
+Jack had not forgotten the mysterious island in the equally mysterious
+lake amid the Andes, and twice during the year his memory had been
+refreshed by startling accounts given of the place by different parties
+that had visited the valley. These men had given it the name of the
+"Devil's Waters," not very inappropriately.
+
+At the end of the year, it now being certain that the Peruvians were
+losing their hold on the province which comprised the territory in which
+they were located, Jack said to his companion:
+
+"I am almost sorry to say that I shall make my last trip to-morrow, Plum."
+
+"Going back to nitrates?" asked the other, showing but little surprise.
+
+"Yes. I must get a cargo to America as soon as possible."
+
+"Should think you would want to. Guess I will stick to the old gal here a
+little longer. When I have got enough money to get out of this swamp in
+the way I want to I shall go back to old New England.
+
+"I tell you there is no place like the Old Bay State. Yeou won't think me
+a sneak for deserting yeou now, Jack?" dropping back into his old-time
+nasal drawl.
+
+"Oh, no, of course not. In fact, I think you are doing just as I should if
+I were in your place. I will speak a good word for you to get my position
+as engineer. You can run the engine as well as I now."
+
+"Good for you, Jack. Now, how do you think of getting that stuff to the
+States?"
+
+"About the same way I tried first, only I shall not try to go behind that
+spur of the Andes, as I did before.
+
+"I can see my mistake now, though I believe that is the richest deposit I
+have, and I shall sometime make something out of it. I am going to get a
+cargo from the bed nearest to the railroad and get the company to freight
+it for me to the seaboard."
+
+"Then I shall see you occasionally, Jack."
+
+"Oh, yes. I shall not be far away."
+
+Jack was as good as his word, and the following day Plum Plucky proudly
+took his place as engineer, with a new fireman to help him.
+
+Jack then began to carry out his scheme of getting a cargo of nitrate to
+his native land.
+
+This time he obtained his supply of nitrate from a bed less than ten miles
+from the railroad, drawing it to the station with ox teams. With his
+better knowledge of the country he met with success in this part of the
+undertaking, and then the train carried it to the sea-coast for him at
+moderate rates.
+
+Before this had been done he had bargained with a Peruvian captain of a
+merchantman to carry the cargo to Philadelphia.
+
+This had proved the most difficult part of his arrangements, for with the
+existing war between the countries it was sometime before he could find a
+man willing to do it.
+
+But he found one at last and the nitrate was eventually loaded on the
+vessel.
+
+It was a proud, and yet an anxious, moment for Jack when he found
+everything in readiness to leave the harbor.
+
+The captain had declared his intention of setting sail under cover of
+darkness, so as to escape an attack from a Chilian ship should one offer
+to dispute his passage.
+
+That afternoon Jack saw Plum to bid him goodbye, feeling sorry to part
+with his honest friend.
+
+The latter actually cried.
+
+"Hang it, Jack! I've a mind to go with you. Think of me in this heathenish
+country and you among friends and rolling in wealth."
+
+"All but the wealth, Plum. But I shall be glad to have you go with me."
+
+"I thank you, Jack, but I mustn't. I must stay here long enough to get the
+money to pay up the mortgage on dad's farm, when I shall skip by the light
+of the moon. You may not find me here when you come back, Jack, but I wish
+you well."
+
+A little after sunset the Peruvian ship moved slowly out of the harbor of
+San Maceo, Jack watching the land as it receded from sight with a peculiar
+interest, and his mind ran swiftly back over the eventful time he had
+passed in that faraway land.
+
+He had given the captain the last pistole he possessed, as he had been
+obliged to pay him in advance to get him to undertake the task, so he was
+again penniless. But he had no doubt he would have money enough as soon as
+he could get home and dispose of his cargo. Over and again he had figured
+out his profit, if it should prove saleable at the moderate price he had
+fixed upon it. Is it a wonder his thoughts were in a tumult? Is it strange
+that he found it difficult to make himself believe that at last after that
+long waiting, he was really homeward bound?
+
+"How glad they will be to see me!" he thought. "And Jenny! She will not be
+expecting me. It has been so long since I left. Some of them may be--"
+
+He was interrupted in his meditations by the report of a gun in the
+distance, and, glancing to the port, he discovered a ship coming up
+rapidly.
+
+That there was something wrong in the appearance of the stranger was
+evident from the bustle and excitement which had suddenly sprung up among
+officers and crew, not one of whom spoke anything but Spanish.
+
+All sail had been crowded on that the ship could possibly carry; but
+heavily loaded and at best a poor sailer, the new-comer continued to
+overhaul them at a startling rate.
+
+Coming alongside of Jack finally, the captain said:
+
+"We are lost, senor! I ought to lose my head for undertaking such a mad
+project."
+
+"It may not be as bad as you seem to think, senor capitan," replied Jack,
+hoping to encourage the commander.
+
+But all that he could say was in vain.
+
+The Chilian warship, as the stranger really was, continued to keep up its
+firing, though the Peruvian vessel had not fired a gun.
+
+Jack anxiously watched the approach of their pursuer, feeling that his
+fortune, if not his life, was at stake.
+
+It is possible if the Peruvian had laid to and allowed the other to come
+up without the show of running away, that it might have been permitted to
+continue its course unmolested. And again it may not have been so.
+
+At any rate the Peruvian captain held to his flight as his only hope of
+salvation, until at last a shot, better directed than the random firing so
+long kept up, struck the doomed merchantman fairly amidship.
+
+The craft instantly lurched and trembled from bow to stern.
+
+"She is sinking!" shrieked the captain. "Quick--to the boats!"
+
+
+
+Chapter XXI
+
+A Panic on Shipboard
+
+
+
+A scene of the wildest description followed the frantic captain's
+announcement and order. The sailors were panic stricken, and more than
+half of them plunged headlong into the sea.
+
+The captain was scarcely less distracted than his men, and he only added
+to the helplessness of the situation by his words and actions.
+
+Jack tried to pacify him by saying:
+
+"Pardon me, senor capitan, but the ship will not sink at once if at all.
+You have plenty of time in which to save your lives."
+
+"But the Chilian! We shall be made prisoners of war. Heaven protect me! I
+was a fool to listen to you, Senor North."
+
+"It is too late to think of that now. It is your duty to see if something
+cannot be done to stop the ship's leak."
+
+It was useless to try to reason with the Peruvian captain. He was sure the
+ship was going to sink, and seemed determined that she should.
+
+Meanwhile the Chilian continued to draw nearer, though it had nearly
+stopped firing.
+
+The trumpet-like tone of the commander rang over the water just as the
+terrified Peruvians lowered a boat and leaped headlong into it, that is,
+those who had not previously jumped into the sea.
+
+Finding himself alone on the sinking vessel, which was going down fast,
+Jack answered the Chilian's challenge:
+
+"Ship ahoy! what do you want?"
+
+"What ship is that?"
+
+"The merchant ship, _Santa Clara_, Senor Captain, now sinking from
+the effects of your shot."
+
+"Lay to and I'll come aboard."
+
+This command was not obeyed.
+
+The doomed vessel was now lurching fearfully, and Jack knew that he could
+not leave it any too soon for his own safety of life. Fortunately the
+shore was not so far away but he believed he could reach it, and throwing
+off his outer garments, he leaped into the water.
+
+The Peruvians were struggling in every direction, the boat having been
+upset by them in their mad endeavors to save themselves. Jack knew that
+the farther he got away from them and the quicker he did it, the better it
+would be for him. He left them in their furious, but futile, efforts to
+escape or drown, as their attempts for life deserved.
+
+After swimming a short distance he looked back to find that he was just in
+season to witness the fate of the ship. He saw her make a sudden lurch
+forward, and then she seemed to right herself for a moment, but it was her
+death struggle, for with the next breath she went downward, quickly
+disappearing from sight forever.
+
+"Another plan gone wrong," thought Jack, "and again I am where I began."
+
+A less courageous youth than Jack North must have given up then, but with
+the stern determination of his nature not to give up, he resumed his
+swimming, reaching the land half an hour later.
+
+"This is worse than before," he said ruefully, as he viewed his drenched
+figure, "for I did save my coat then. Yes, and my cargo of nitrate is
+still on the mountain waiting for me. I think I will toss up a cent to see
+what I shall do next. No! come to think of it, I haven't got the cent to
+do that!"
+
+His first thought was to return to the machine shop in Tocopilla, but as
+De la Pama was nearer he decided to go there in the morning. "It is
+useless for me to remain here," he reasoned, "I wonder how many of the
+Peruvians have escaped? They were a set of cowards anyway, and the captain
+the biggest fool of them all. I hope he will make good use of my money."
+
+Jack laid down supperless that night under the green blanket of a Peruvian
+forest, and he went on toward De la Pama the next morning breakfastless,
+thinking:
+
+"There is one thing certain, I will not take Plum's job from him. If he
+has no fireman, and will accept me, I will go as his helper."
+
+Though he did not seek immediately his friend, almost the first person he
+saw in town was Plum. It would be difficult to say which was the more
+surprised.
+
+"What! not gone to the States, Jack?"
+
+"No, Plum."
+
+"Something gone wrong, Jack, again?"
+
+"About my usual luck, Plum. I am where I began--without a cent in my
+pocket," and he quickly told the other what had befallen him since they
+had parted.
+
+"It's too bad, Jack, but I'll tell you what I'll do. I have what amounts
+to three hundred dollars that I've saved and every dollar of it is yours
+till you can pay it back."
+
+"I could not think of taking your hard earnings, Plum, for it is uncertain
+if I should ever be able to pay it back.
+
+"I thank you from the bottom of my heart, but must look for work again."
+
+"Then you shall have my job, Jack. I had rather fire anyway; honest,
+Jack."
+
+"Thank you again, Plum, and it's just like your generosity, but I cannot
+rob you of your situation. How does your fireman do?"
+
+"Tip-top, I am sorry to say. To tell the truth, Jack, he does so well I am
+afraid he will get my job away from me. I wish you would take the lever
+again, Jack, and let me fire. I never had so good a time in my life as I
+did then."
+
+This was a little past noon, and a few minutes later Jack would be obliged
+to part with Plum, who must start on his return to St. Resa.
+
+"There is one favor you can do me, Plum. If you will lend me money enough
+to buy a pair of oxen I will begin to team a cargo of nitrate down myself.
+I do not feel you will take much risk in letting me have that amount."
+
+"I only wish you would take more, Jack."
+
+"I think I have hit on a better plan this time," said Jack, as he took the
+loan. "I am going to draw enough for a shipload down on the Bolivian coast
+and house it there until an American ship comes into harbor.
+
+"I may have to wait a long time, but it will be best in the end."
+
+With his oldtime vivacity Jack set out on his new undertaking. He soon
+found a yoke of oxen to his liking, and finding he had money enough he
+bought a second pair. Then he started for the mountain ridge where he had
+so unceremoniously left his two loads of nitrate so long before.
+
+He did not expect to recover the one that had gone over the precipice,
+though it had not moved from its singular position. To his joy he found
+the other just where he had left it. The rust had gathered on the iron-work
+and the sun had discolored the wood, but the wagon was in running order,
+and as the path from this point was generally descending he had no trouble
+in drawing the load, though his team consisted of one yoke of oxen less
+than before.
+
+It would be tedious to follow him in his long, lonely journeys to Cobija,
+on the coast of Bolivia, where he stored his nitrate until he had there
+enough for a ship's cargo. During the time his cattle lived by feeding on
+the grass that grew on the more fertile places along the route, while he
+lived on whatever food he could pick up, sleeping at night under his cart.
+
+He had no further use for his oxen, so he sold them at the first favorable
+opportunity, realizing enough for them to pay back the money he had
+borrowed of his friend, with a fair rate of interest. Surely he had made a
+more auspicious beginning this time.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXII
+
+The Fate of Plum Plucky
+
+
+
+It had been three months since Jack had seen Plum, so he resolved to go to
+De la Pama and see his friend before making another move in his venture.
+But he had not left town before he was surprised to meet his friend, who
+had come to Cobija in search of him.
+
+"Lost my job and so I thought I would hunt you up," said the latter,
+bluntly. "Got a stunning piece of news for you, too. There is an American
+brig ship just above here at the next town, and I made bold to ask him to
+take your cargo to New York. He says he will do it for a snip in the
+profits."
+
+This was a bit of news worth hearing, and in the exuberance of his
+spirits, Jack flung his cap high into the air and threw his arms about the
+neck of his friend.
+
+"At last I believe my dream will be fulfilled, but I shall never forget it
+was you who helped to accomplish it. But I want to pay the money I owe
+you."
+
+"Not yet, Jack; better keep it awhile longer. I know it is safe. You may
+need it you know. Besides I am going to the States with you. I have got
+enough of this country. The war grows hotter and hotter up St. Resa way. I
+am homesick!"
+
+Jack lost no time in seeing the captain of the brig, a man named
+Hillgrove, and who gave our hero a most cordial greeting. He had been in
+Bouton daring his adventurous career, though he could give Jack no
+information of his friends. He knew John Fowler, the great engine builder,
+and that simple fact gave him confidence in the young speculator, who must
+have presented a not very favorable appearance to him.
+
+Jack's long exposure to the tropical sun had fairly blackened his
+countenance, his hair was long and unkempt, while his clothes were sadly
+in need of repair, or more truthfully new ones to take their place. But
+there was an honest frankness in his manner, and Captain Hillgrove entered
+into the spirit of the venture with a hearty good-will. The bluff old sea
+dog, too, true to his nature, was anxious to get out to sea again as soon
+as possible.
+
+"I must and will get out of this infernal country within a week," he said.
+"So I will run down to Cobija as soon as possible, and if your nitrates is
+on board by that time the old _Elizabeth_ will be good-natured."
+
+Plum having decided to go home with Jack, it was necessary for him to
+return to De la Pama for his money.
+
+"I will be back sure, Jack, on the third, if not before," were his parting
+words.
+
+Captain Hillgrove ran into Cobija the next morning, when the loading of
+the nitrates was begun with as little delay as possible, Jack feeling in
+the best of spirits as he superintended the work.
+
+But on the eve of the third day, Jack having got the last of the cargo
+aboard a little after noon, to his anxiety, Plum Plucky had not appeared.
+
+"He will surely come before morning, unless something has happened to him,
+for I never knew Plum to break his word," said Jack to the skipper.
+
+"Can't wait any longer!" declared captain Hillgrove the following morning,
+when it was found that Plum was still missing. "We shall all be
+confiscated by these infernal Spaniards."
+
+Jack was now really alarmed about his friend, whom he believed had been
+waylaid and robbed. But he could not think of leaving without making a
+search for him.
+
+"I am going to start for De la Pama to look for him, but you may expect me
+back by sunset."
+
+"If you are not I shall set sail without you, for I have seen some of the
+Chilian spies around today."
+
+"You need not wait any longer than sunset," said Jack, who could not blame
+the other for his impatience.
+
+Losing no more time, Jack mounted a fleet pony that he had hired at an
+exorbitant price, and set out for De la Pama at a furious pace.
+
+Toward noon he was gladdened by the sight of an inhabitant of the town
+whom he knew, and who was on his way to Cobija.
+
+Halting the Peruvian he inquired of him in regard to Plum. This fellow,
+who knew Plum well, replied that he had seen him in town, and that he had
+left two days before. Upon second thought, he volunteered the startling
+information that news had come of an American being waylaid and killed by
+a party of bush-raiders a dozen miles east of De la Pama!
+
+"Did the young engineer start directly for Cobija?" asked Jack anxiously.
+
+"No; he went toward the east, saying he wished to go to Don de Estuaray
+before he went to Cobija."
+
+This was sufficient to arouse the fears of Jack, who procured a fresh
+horse and put on as rapidly as possible across the wild country toward the
+estancia of Don de Estuaray.
+
+All the afternoon he rode as fast as he could, but he saw nothing of his
+missing friend. In his anxiety he halted on top of an eminence of land
+commanding a wide view of the surrounding country, to scan the lonely
+scene.
+
+His attention was finally caught and held by the flight of one of those
+enormous vultures of the Andes, which was descrying a circle in the air
+directly over the valley at his feet. Smaller and smaller grew the orbit
+of this dark bird while he watched, until suddenly it ended its gyrations
+and swooped swiftly down out of sight.
+
+Then a second took its place in the air, soon following it to the earth,
+in turn succeeded by a third, and that by another, and so on, until a
+dozen had come and gone in this mysterious way.
+
+With a dread foreboding at his heart, Jack rode forward into the isolated
+valley, when, from a small opening in the centre of the place the sudden
+whir of wings and the rapid flight of many dark bodies told him the secret
+of it all.
+
+He found what he expected a moment later--the bones of a human being
+picked clean of all flesh by the vultures, while scattered here and there
+were shreds and pieces of the garments worn by the unfortunate person.
+
+He found enough of the clothes to know only too well that they belonged to
+his lost friend Plum Plucky, and tears filled his eyes as he turned away
+to shut out the sad spectacle.
+
+"This is fearful!" he murmured. "Poor, poor fellow!"
+
+At this very moment, though of course unknown to him, tired of waiting for
+him any longer, Captain Hillgrove was sailing out of Gobija harbor,
+anxious to reach the open sea before night should set in.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXIII
+
+Jenny
+
+
+
+The vultures were still screaming over his head, venting their rage over
+being disturbed in their feast, as Jack hastily brushed the tears from his
+eyes and looked more clearly around him.
+
+"Poor Plum!" he exclaimed, "this is indeed a sad fate. It seems a certain
+fatality for any one to be my friend. But I suppose you were killed for
+your money. It seems only decent that I should give your bones human
+burial."
+
+With his knife and the stirrups taken from the trappings of his horse,
+Jack hollowed out a spot to receive all that was left of the body he had
+found.
+
+By the time he had finished the sad task it was quite dark in the forest,
+so he knew he must get away from the lonely place as soon as possible, if
+he valued his own life.
+
+With a last farewell look at the wildwood grave which he was never to see
+again, he rode away through the wilderness.
+
+He soon found, however, that his horse was so spent that it must have rest
+before going much further.
+
+As impatient as he was to reach Cobija, wondering what Captain Hillgrove
+would think of his prolonged absence, he yielded to the unavoidable and
+stopped awhile in the heart of the forest.
+
+It was broad daylight when he rode into De la Pama on a used up horse and
+himself quite fagged out.
+
+But notwithstanding his condition, he felt obliged to push on for Cobija,
+dreading lest he should find Captain Hillgrove already gone. Accordingly
+remounting the pony he had previously ridden, he started for the sea coast
+at a rapid gait.
+
+The wiry little animal made a remarkable record, but he might as well have
+been on the road another day, as it seemed, for he found his worst fears
+realized.
+
+Captain Hillgrove had sailed!
+
+Whither should he turn now? What should he do? Never in his life had he
+felt so lonely and so near despair as he did at that time. The indomitable
+pluck which had carried him through so many trials began to leave him.
+Then, he rallied, exclaiming:
+
+"I will earn money enough to take me back to the United States on the
+first ship that comes this way. Perhaps with a sample of my nitrate
+I------"
+
+He suddenly felt a heavy hand laid on his shoulder, and turning he was
+both astonished and pleased to find one of the seaman of the
+_Elizabeth_ standing beside him!
+
+"Ahoy, shipmate!" greeted the sailor, giving the true nautical pitch, "so
+I've follered you into port at last, though it's a sorry cruise I've had."
+
+"Captain Hillgrove!" cried Jack, elated. "Where is he?"
+
+"Outside, shipmate. He durstn't stay inside longer, and he sent me to keep
+a lookout for you. I was giving you up when I clapped my old watchdogs on
+you. You are ready to go out to the _Elizabeth_ in my boat?"
+
+Jack's reply was an exclamation of joy and a more fervant grip of the
+honest old tar's hand.
+
+"Captain Hillgrove had not deserted me after all!"
+
+Without further trouble or delay the couple made the trip to the waiting
+vessel, when Jack was greeted by the bluff old skipper:
+
+"Bless my eyes! but I had given you up to old Davy Jones."
+
+"And I thought you had left me in the lurch," said Jack frankly, as he
+cringed under the grip given his hand by the other.
+
+"I did not dare stay in Cobija longer, my hearty. If I had done so nary a
+bit of your dust would have been left on the _Elizabeth_. Bless my
+eyes! but I'm just overflowing and roaring glad--run up the yards lads.
+Lively, lads! put the old _Elizabeth_ on her wings. We must be a long
+way from here afore sun-up."
+
+Exciting scenes followed, of which Jack was a spectator and not an actor.
+For the present his work was done, and he had time now to ponder upon his
+ups and downs, hardly able to believe that at last he was really on his
+homeward journey. He felt far more confident in the care of bluff Captain
+Hillgrove than in that of the fickle Peruvians.
+
+Nor was his confidence misplaced, for the night passed without anything
+occurring to interrupt their progress, and when the sun rose the following
+morning it found them many leagues from land, and bowling merrily on their
+way.
+
+Captain Hillgrove listened to his account of the fate of poor Plum Plucky
+with a feeling of sorrow, though he had never met the young American.
+
+Jack's return home was something of a triumph, though he was saddened by
+the loss of his companion during those trying scenes he could not put from
+his mind, while his longings to reach home were tinged with those
+forebodings one cannot escape who has been away so long, and the nearer he
+approached his native land the more ominous became those feelings!
+
+Were his parents still living and well? Was--was Jenny still true to him?
+What had she thought of his long, weary years of absence? Until then he
+had not realized that he had been away so long.
+
+At last the old _Elizabeth_ was safely moored at her dock.
+
+Though Captain Hillgrove was anxious to know what the result of their
+speculation was going to be, he allowed Jack time to hunt up his relatives
+and friends before the nitrate was moved from the ship's hold.
+
+I cannot begin to explain the joyous reception accorded our hero at his
+home, for many had given him up as dead.
+
+With a tremulous tongue he asked for Jenny dreading, doubting, expecting
+he knew not what; and then his cup of happiness overflowed at the
+thrice-welcome news of her well-being and faithfulness to him, and that
+she had just returned to her native town.
+
+Jenny was not only living and well, but she had never given up looking for
+him, believing he would some day return to her.
+
+The sweet happiness of the meeting between the pair is too sacred to be
+revealed.
+
+When the first transport of his reception home had passed, Jack proceeded
+to put on the market his ship-load of nitrate, to be met with another
+rebuff in the checkered wheel of fortune.
+
+He could find no one with faith in the virtue of his product brought from
+the wilds of South America.
+
+Captain Hillgrove began to think he had made a profitless voyage, though
+be it said to his credit, he stood ever by Jack.
+
+The latter met the words of scorn uttered against him with his
+characteristic good-nature. Some of the nitrate was put in the hands of
+competent chemists, and still more with practical agriculturists.
+
+"I shall win out," said Jack confidently.
+
+"I trust so with all my heart," answered Jenny.
+
+At last some favorable reports came in and then the load of nitrates was
+sold at a fair profit. Of the amount Jack got several hundred dollars, the
+rest going to the captain of the _Elizabeth_.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXIV
+
+Jack and the Ocelot
+
+
+
+The one most satisfied with the result of this first cargo of nitrate was
+Captain Hillgrove. He had not expected great returns, but found himself so
+well paid that he was willing to return for another load as soon as
+possible.
+
+Jack felt confident of his ultimate success. Already he was the possessor
+of a fair sum, and with the apparently unlimited deposits of nitrate now
+in his possession, he believed he could easily secure a fortune. As soon
+as he should get back to Peru he resolved to get possession of other
+nitrate beds before the price should advance.
+
+But with that far-seeing sagacity of his he made no talk of what he had
+done or what he had in mind. Quietly he went about his work, engaging
+several ships to go to South America with him, prepared to return with
+loads of the precious substance. He fitted up an office at home and put a
+trusty man in the place to begin to work up a business. He had fondly
+looked forward to giving this place to Plum Plucky, but stern fate had
+decreed different plans.
+
+Jenny was enthusiastic over her Jack's plans, and that they might not be
+separated so long again she consented to their marriage, which took place
+before he started on his second trip to Peru, and she accompanied him.
+
+Now that Jack had really got started in his speculations, he studied how
+best he might promote his interest. His young wife going with him to South
+America, he resolved to locate in that country until he had got fairly
+under control the gigantic business he intended to build up.
+
+While successful in his nitrate ventures, he still preserved the
+manuscript he had picked up in the convict cell on the island of Robinson
+Crusoe, and he looked forward to the time when he should be able to visit
+the strange lake in the Andes with means to reach its mysterious island of
+buried treasure.
+
+So at last, accompanied by a party of surveyors and explorers, armed with
+papers which would make him the owner of the whole region as soon as the
+boundaries could be fixed, he started for the place.
+
+He had told his real object to no one, knowing that to do so would be to
+ruin his prospects without benefiting any one permanently.
+
+He had no difficulty in leading the way to the spur of the Andes where he
+had met with his thrilling experience with the jaguars, and then the party
+started for the rocky ridge overlooking the niche in the mountains holding
+the Devil's Waters.
+
+It was a route that Jack had traveled several times, and feeling in the
+best of spirits, he set off on a galop, on the pony he was riding.
+
+"Poor Plum!" he murmured, as he rode along. "How I wish he was a live to
+enjoy this with me."
+
+On and on went our hero until he came to where there was a break in the
+trail. He was absorbed in thought at the time and did not notice that his
+pony turned to the left instead of the right.
+
+The way seemed easy, and presently the pony set off on a galop, which soon
+brought Jack out of his revery.
+
+"Hullo! where am I going?" he asked himself, and brought his steed to a
+halt. Then he gazed around in perplexity. "I declare I must be lost!"
+
+With the memory of what had happened when he had been lost before, Jack
+lost no time in turning back. But soon he became bewildered, and brought
+his steed to a standstill a second time.
+
+"What does this mean, Firefly?" he asked of the pony, but the animal could
+not answer.
+
+Jack heaved a sigh and then drew a pistol he carried.
+
+"I'll fire a shot--that will attract the attention of the others," he
+reasoned. "What a dunce I was to get lost! I surely make a fine leader!"
+Throwing up the pistol he discharged it. Hardly had he done so when his
+pony started to bolt. Away dashed the steed under some trees and then
+through a mass of vines, and Jack was thrown to the ground, striking on
+his head as he fell,--and then his senses forsook him.
+
+How long he laid where he had fallen he did not know exactly but when he
+came to his senses, it was to find darkness around him. There was no rain,
+but heavy clouds filled the air and a heavy breeze filled the woods around
+him.  He got up slowly, to make certain that no bones were broken, and
+then looked around for his pony. The animal had disappeared and could not
+be found. His pistol was also gone.
+
+"Now I am surely in a pickle," reasoned Jack. "The question is, what am I
+to do next?"
+
+He knew his party must have gone on long before this. He would have to
+find them in some way. But how?
+
+Not relishing a stay in the bushes he started for higher ground. He had
+not gone a dozen rods when he found himself at the edge of a ravine, lined
+with tall trees and vines.
+
+"I certainly did not come that way," he said to himself. "But beyond is
+higher ground and I had better go up than down."
+
+Thus reasoning, he looked around for some means of getting over the
+ravine. A number of vines grew across, and he determined to test them and
+if they were strong enough, to use them as a rope for getting across.
+
+The vines appeared to be as firm as a cable, and without giving the matter
+a second thought he launched himself forth and started to the other side
+of the cut in the forest.
+
+He had progressed less than two yards when he felt one end of the vines
+giving way. He tried to turn back, but it was too late, and down he went.
+
+Some heavy bushes broke his fall somewhat, but he continued to go down and
+down, until with a dull thud he landed on a mass of soft dirt. He was
+unharmed and soon arose to his feet, to gaze around in fresh dismay.
+
+He had landed in an opening or cave, and presently went down into it still
+further. Then, as he picked himself up, he heard a sudden low growl, that
+filled him with fear. He strained his eyes and made out a small animal,
+which proved to be the cub of an ocelot.
+
+He followed its course to a litter of leaves and straining his glance in
+that direction made out two other cubs.
+
+They were too small to be dangerous. Plum had told him that there were
+very few ocelots in that vicinity and these rather cowardly, unless
+attacked or enraged.
+
+Jack looked hurriedly around. The parent ocelot was not in evidence. The
+baby cub he had stumbled over, however, was making a great outcry, and our
+hero decided he would not linger any longer than was necessary.
+
+He got under the hole he had fallen through. It was not accessible by
+climbing, for the walls of the cave were perfectly perpendicular and came
+nowhere near the central aperture.
+
+Jack reached up and caught at the dangling end of the broken vine. It
+sustained one hard pull, but, as he set his full weight, it tore up roots
+and all, bringing down a shower of dirt and gravel.
+
+About eight feet over his head the youth made out an exposed root of the
+tree. It ran out of the solid dirt a few inches, looped, and was again
+solidly imbedded.
+
+If he could reach this, he could grasp higher pieces of roots that showed
+plainly, and easily draw himself to _terra firma_.
+
+Our hero went back to the extreme end of the cave. The young cubs set up
+outcries of affright as he passed near them, but he paid no attention to
+them.
+
+He braced for a run and a jump to reach the piece of root that was the
+bottom rung of a natural ladder to liberty.
+
+Poised on one foot, Jack stood motionless in some dismay. The entrance to
+the cave was suddenly darkened. A great heavy body dropped through. The
+mother ocelot landed on four feet on the cave floor with a terrific growl.
+
+She ran first to her crying cubs, nosed them affectionately, and then
+turned with low, ominous growlings.
+
+Jack saw the beast's eyes fix themselves upon him. They glowed with fire
+and fury. Its collar ruffled and its white teeth showed.
+
+Jack had not so much as a stick to defend himself with. He had loaned his
+hunting knife to a friend when they first started and his pistol had been
+dropped in the woods.
+
+In his pocket was a small pocket knife. He was groping for this when the
+ocelot, that had for a minute or two stood perfectly motionless, made a
+forward movement.
+
+It was not a spring or a glide, but a rush. Jack knew why they called this
+species the Honey Eater. Its paws were enormous and armed with long curved
+sharp pointed claws.
+
+He was hedged in. The beast, still advancing, reared on its hind feet.
+
+Its forepaws were extended and whipping the air. Jack knew that one
+contact would tear the bark from the toughest tree. He mechanically seized
+the first object his groping fingers met in his coat pocket.
+
+It was one of two condiment bottles that he had brought from the last
+camp. This was the one containing pepper.
+
+In a desperate sort of a way Jack discovered this. He tore off the top of
+the bottle.
+
+It was all that he could do to stay the course of the determined animal.
+
+As the ocelot thrust out one formidable paw to tear its victim into its
+clasp, Jack flung the contents of the pepper bottle squarely into its
+eyes.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXV
+
+In the Quicksands
+
+
+
+Jack ducked down and dodged the ocelot, and got past the animal. He could
+do this now, for the whole contents of the pepper bottle had gone squarely
+into the eyes of the beast.
+
+The effect was indescribable. The animal gave a frightful roar, dropped to
+the floor, and, rolling over and over, tore frantically with its paws at
+its blinded, smarting eyes.
+
+The cubs, excited and frightened by the uproar, joined in the chorus. They
+waddled around, getting in our hero's way, and by their cries arousing the
+mother from her own distress.
+
+She got upright, and seemed to spot Jack. Her advance, however, was clumsy
+and at fault, and the youth had time to get out of her way.
+
+A second and a third rush she made at him. The last time one paw struck
+Jack's coat sleeve and ripped it from place.
+
+"This is getting serious," murmured the lad. "Each time she comes swifter
+and surer. I must get out of here, now or never."
+
+Jack drove the cubs to their litter, and poked them with his foot. They
+set up a frantic uproar. This was just what he wanted. The mother flew
+towards her offspring.
+
+The moment that she did so, Jack glided to the opposite wall of the cave.
+
+He made a sharp run for the opening overhead, calculated poise and
+distance nicely, and landed with success.
+
+He grabbed the rounding root. It held like iron, but his feet were
+dangling, and as he swayed there the big ocelot brushed by them on the
+hunt for the intruder.
+
+Jack held firmly to the root and swung up his other hand. He caught at a
+higher tree root. Now he had a double hold.
+
+He knew that the ocelot might come after him even up there, and lost no
+time in climbing from root to root. At last his head projected through the
+mesh of verdure into clear daylight. Jack lifted himself to solid ground
+and leaned against the tree trunk, out of breath and perspiring.
+
+"That was action," he panted. "Will the beast come after me? No--but
+something else may. Oh, the mischief!"
+
+The roars and growlings down in the cave seemed to have attracted outside
+attention. Jack turned sharply, at the sound of crackling branches and
+rustling leaves at a densely-verdured spot near at hand.
+
+There burst through the greenery a new enemy. This was an ocelot larger
+than the one he had just escaped from.
+
+"That is the head of the family, sure," thought Jack. "It's a race, now."
+
+The new feature in the incident came straight for our hero, with bristling
+muzzle and fiery eyes. Jack started down the edge of the ravine.
+
+It crumbled so that he could not make very rapid progress. To turn aside
+into the jungle meant to fight his way through thick, thorny bushes. To
+leap down into the dry water-course was even worse. There, as he knew, the
+spongy, shifting sand bottom would prevent even the progress of a decent
+walk.
+
+Jack glanced back over his shoulder. The big ocelot, more sure-footed than
+himself, was following him up resolutely.
+
+Jack took the first tree he came to. It was a dead one. There were lower
+branches within reach, and he swung himself up to its first crotch
+readily. The ocelot did not pause. It started up the tree without delay.
+Jack armed himself with a piece of a thick limb. Reaching down, as the
+beast got about four feet away, he delivered a smart whack directly across
+its snout.
+
+The animal issued a terrific snort. Its eyes blazed madly. A second blow
+with the club brought the blood, but it kept on climbing.
+
+Jack knew that it would be folly to tempt to battle at any closer
+quarters. He stood on a dead limb about twenty feet from the ground.
+
+The limb was as thick as his arm, and over thirty feet long. It ran clear
+across the ravine, and a discovery of this fact gave Jack an idea.
+
+He planned to go out to the far end of the limb, swing from its extremity
+and drop to the ground, landing on the ether bank of the cut.
+
+The ocelot could not get hold or balance to venture as far out on the limb
+as the lad dared to go. Jack calculated that the time it lost in getting
+down to the ground again, would enable him to meantime put a considerable
+distance between himself and the enemy.
+
+The lad sat astride the dead tree branch and began to walk himself outward
+from the main trunk of the tree.
+
+The ocelot reached the crotch, surveyed Jack with a savage growl, and
+carefully planting its feet, started out after him.
+
+Its progress was slow. Jack hitched himself along more rapidly. The branch
+began to creak. Our hero doubted if it would sustain their double weight.
+However, he trusted to the wary instinct of the ocelot, which kept coming
+right forward. Jack was about eight feet from the end of the branch when
+it gave a very ominous crack. In fact, he saw the white splinters show
+where it joined the tree.
+
+He swung both feet to one side of the limb, held on only by his fingers,
+and planned to get to its end hand over hand.
+
+Snap! Jack hurried progress, but it was no use. He saw the ocelot crouch
+and hug the limb. It gave way at its base. Jack let go. He landed directly
+on the smooth, sandy bottom of that portion of the ravine.
+
+He struck the ground upright, squarely with both feet. Glancing quickly at
+the tree, he saw that the branch had whipped right down against the trunk.
+
+The limb had not entirely broken loose, but swayed from several sustaining
+wood filaments. The ocelot, still hugging the limb, was clawing
+frantically at the main trunk of the tree to get a new hold there to keep
+from a tumble.
+
+"It won't do to stop, I see that," murmured Jack. "Ugh! what kind of a
+mushy mess have I got into?"
+
+Jack looked down at his feet. They had sunk into the sand and were covered
+to the ankles. With the greatest difficulty he pulled out one foot.
+
+The instant he put it down again in a new spot, however, it sank afresh.
+He released the other. This threw his weight on a single foot, which went
+down half way to the knee.
+
+It was not ten feet to the bank of the ravine. Jack lost all interest in
+the ocelot as he thrilled at a startling discovery.
+
+"Quicksand!" he breathed hastily. "There is not a moment to lose!"
+
+Our hero tugged to get the sunken foot free. He succeeded. Then,
+half-dancing about, he threw himself flat.
+
+His idea was to make a hurried scramble for the bank on hands and knees.
+But he uttered a cry of the greatest alarm as his hands went down into the
+treacherous mass clear to the wrists.
+
+It took a great effort to get upright again. By the time he had done so,
+Jack realized that he was in a most serious and critical situation.
+
+He was sunk now clear to the knees in a weaving, shifting mass. It circled
+his imprisoned limbs like great moving ropes, pulling him downward with a
+suction force that was tremendous.
+
+The youth uttered a grasp of real horror. He could not budge either limb.
+As he sank to the thighs, he gave himself up for lost.
+
+He saw that no help of any kind whatever was at hand. He knew that the
+camp of the men who had come with him must be near. He raised his voice to
+a desperate pitch.
+
+He let out a series of the most piercing yells. But his heart sank, as
+from the neighboring jungle there instantly arose a mocking imitation from
+the throats of several parrots.
+
+They drowned out his cries for help. Jack shuddered as the shifting sands
+wound about his waist. He drew up his tingling fingers with a shock as the
+mass swept them in ominous, warning contact.
+
+"It is the last of me," thought Jack, as tears of despair came to his
+eyes. "Jenny and the folks will never know my fate!"
+
+Jack looked up at the dark sky, sick at heart, but trying to resign
+himself to the terrible fate that hung over him.
+
+His glance shifted to the tree. He instinctively dodged his head to one
+side as he did so. Something spirited was happening there.
+
+The ocelot had got a clutch on the main tree trunk, now. As it let go of
+the dangling limb, however, this parted under the strain.
+
+Its small end struck the ground, and it swung out, coming for Jack and
+threatened to crush him.
+
+The limb fell with a crash, the big end just reaching the west side of the
+ravine. Its centre grazed our hero's shoulder.
+
+"I am saved!" cried Jack.
+
+He threw one arm tightly around the limb, then the other. Now he was
+clinging to a natural bridge spanning the ravine from one side to the
+other.
+
+Jack held on and tugged hard to draw himself up from this quicksand bath.
+
+It was hard work. Finally he got one limb free, then the other. They were
+numb, and felt like pieces of lead.
+
+Jack was so exhausted with the effort that, crawling on top of the limb,
+he lay there lengthwise, almost exhausted.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXVI
+
+A Night in the Jungle
+
+
+
+It was a good quarter of an hour before Jack felt like making another
+move. As he lay on the log he kept a lookout for the ocelots, but neither
+of the beasts appeared, the larger having gone to the cave-like opening to
+learn what was the matter with its mate.
+
+"I must get away from this vicinity," thought our hero, and at last
+started off.
+
+He scarcely knew in what direction to turn, for the running away of his
+pony and his adventures with the wild beasts and in the quicksands had
+completely bewildered him.
+
+"I'd give a good round sum to be back with our party," he thought, as he
+pushed his way through the jungle. "I wonder if they are out searching for
+me?"
+
+At last he had to rest again, and thinking himself safe for the time being
+he set about cleaning his hands and face, and also his outfit.
+
+"This is certainly treasure hunting with a vengeance," he mused. "I think
+I would have done better had I stuck to the nitrates. Maybe I'll lose my
+life and the vultures will pick my bones, just as they did poor Plum's."
+
+It made our hero more dismal than ever to think of how Plum had departed,
+and he was very sober as night drew on and he still found himself alone
+and with no idea of where he was.
+
+"I'll have to stay here alone in the dark," he said, half aloud. "That
+won't be pleasant, but it can't be helped."
+
+Soon it was so dark that to advance further would have been foolish.
+
+Accordingly Jack came to a halt, and looked around for some means of
+making himself comfortable for the night.
+
+He did not deem it wise to remain on the ground, where some wild beast
+might leap upon him, and so looked for some wide-spreading tree among
+whose branches he might rest in peace.
+
+At length he found a tree to his liking and having taken a final look
+around, ascended to a number of the upper branches.
+
+Here there was a sort of natural platform, where he might lie without much
+danger of falling to the ground.
+
+It was now pitch dark, the clouds obscuring the stars in the heavens. He
+was very hungry but had absolutely nothing with which to gratify his
+appetite.
+
+"I'll have to get something for breakfast," he reasoned. "If I don't I'll
+be likely to starve to death."
+
+It was but natural that Jack should find sleep difficult, and it was a
+good two hours before he went off soundly. When he awoke it was with a
+start.
+
+Jack listened intently, for he realized that some movement at the foot of
+the tree had awakened him. He tried to look downward, but the darkness and
+the leaves hid everything from view. He waited with bated breath and soon
+heard a faint scratching. That some wild animal was at the foot of the
+tree he had no doubt.
+
+"I hope it doesn't try to come up," he thought. "If it does, what am I to
+do?"
+
+He did not dare to make a noise, and so remained silently on guard. The
+minutes went by slowly, until a good hour had passed. The noises below
+continued but that was all.
+
+"Well, even if the beast can't get up it evidently intends to tree me,"
+thought Jack, dismally.
+
+Sleep was out of the question, and rather impatiently the youth waited for
+the coming of dawn.
+
+At last came a faint light in the east and at last daylight was at hand.
+
+For some time Jack had heard no further noises below him and he fondly
+hoped the thing on the ground--whatever it was--had gone away. But now the
+noise was repeated, and then came another sound that made him start in
+wonder and anticipation.
+
+"Can it be possible!" he murmured, and began to climb down the tree with
+all speed. Soon he reached the lower branches, and looking downward saw
+his pony resting directly under him!
+
+"Blind luck!" he cried. "And I thought it was a wild beast! How foolish I
+was not to come down and take a look!"
+
+Not to scare the pony, Jack called out softly, at which the steed pricked
+up its ears. Then our hero slid down the tree to the ground and caught the
+pony by the head. It did not offer to run away, but whinnied with evident
+satisfaction.
+
+It gave Jack great pleasure to find the pony again, and he felt far less
+lonely than he had during the night. He mounted into the saddle, and,
+guided by the sun turned in the direction where he thought the mountain
+trail might lie.
+
+It was a dull day, a peculiar smoky air filling the jungle.
+
+From a distance came the cry of wild birds, but that was all.
+
+Jack journeyed for a good two hours, and then came to what looked like
+another ravine. But the banks were not so steep as before and he had but
+little difficulty in going down one side and getting up the other.
+
+"Well, I never!"
+
+This was the cry that burst from his lips half an hour later. A moment
+before he had realized that the surroundings looked familiar. Now, on the
+ground before him, he saw his lost pistol, shining among the grass and
+leaves.
+
+He lost no time in securing the weapon. It was ready for use and with
+great satisfaction he placed it in his pocket.
+
+"Now I've got something with which to defend myself," he reasoned. "It may
+not be as good as a gun, but it is better than nothing."
+
+Onward he went once more, stopping once to get some handsful of berries
+which he knew were good to eat, and then again for a drink of water for
+himself and his steed. He had left his former trail, fearful of going in a
+circle once more,--a common experience of those traveling in a dense
+forest.
+
+By noon Jack was more than hungry and he decided to shoot something and
+cook it for a meal. He kept his eyes open, and when some plump birds came
+close, brought down two with ease. Then a fire was lit, and he spitted the
+birds and broiled them to his satisfaction. He took his time over the
+meal, allowing his pony to graze in the meanwhile. Close at hand was a
+spring of cold, mountain water and at this he quenched his thirst, and the
+pony did the same.
+
+"There, that makes me feel better," said the youth to himself. "It will
+last me until nightfall, and by that time I ought to be able to find the
+others of the party, or gain some regular trail which leads to somewhere."
+
+So speaking Jack started to get into the saddle once more. As he did so,
+he heard a rustling in the leaves of some bushes behind the spring. The
+pony gave a violent snort and gave a side step, which threw our hero to
+the ground.
+
+"Whoa there, Firefly!" he called out. "Whoa, I say!"
+
+But instead of quieting down, the pony became more violent and it was
+impossible for Jack to hold the steed. The pony broke away and like a
+flash whirled around and disappeared once more into the jungle.
+
+Somewhat bewildered, Jack stood up and gazed around him.
+
+"What can this mean?" he asked himself. The next instant he saw the reason
+for the pony's extreme fright. A snake had appeared, coming rapidly over
+the rocks. It was ten or twelve feet long and as thick as a man's arm. It
+was hissing viciously and had its glittering eyes fastened full upon our
+hero!
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXVII
+
+Jack and the Big Snake
+
+
+
+It was no wonder that Jack was both startled and alarmed. The snake was
+certainly powerful, and the youth knew that many of the reptiles of that
+vicinity were poisonous. A sting might mean death, and if the snake should
+wind itself about him, he might be strangled until his breath was gone,
+never to return.
+
+By instinct more than reason he leaped to one side. At this the snake,
+hissing louder than ever, did likewise. Then Jack made a wild leap into
+the air, caught a low-hanging tree branch, and hauled himself upward.
+
+For the time being our hero was clear of the snake, but he felt far from
+comfortable. He perched himself on the limb and watched the reptile
+closely. It whipped this way and that over the ground as if in high anger
+over missing its intended prey.
+
+Thus several minutes passed. The snake circled the tree three times and
+then began to come up with a quickness that chilled Jack to the bone.
+There was no help for it, and pulling his pistol, the youth blazed away at
+the snake. The first shot took no effect, but the second hit the reptile
+fairly in the body. It whipped around its head for a moment, then came
+forward as before.
+
+Jack was as far out on the limb as he could get, and now, as the snake
+came forward, he blazed away a third and fourth time. Then he let himself
+drop to the ground.
+
+As he did this, the reptile thrashed around wildly in the tree, hitting
+one limb after another with its tail. Then it came to the ground in a
+heap, writhing horribly in its death agonies. Jack had wounded it fatally,
+but the body would continue to move until sundown, if not longer. When the
+scare was over the youth found himself bathed in a cold perspiration and
+trembling as if with the ague. He realized that he had had a narrow
+escape, and thanked providence that the snake was dead.
+
+Jack did not remain in that vicinity long, but set at once to work to find
+his pony. Fortunately the animal had not gone far on this occasion and a
+call soon brought the steed to the youth's side. Then Jack hopped into the
+saddle once more.
+
+"Gracious! what a lot of adventures I am having!" he murmured, as he again
+rode along. "I hope I don't have any more."
+
+On and on through the forest rode Jack, gradually gaining higher ground.
+The sun was breaking through the smoky air and this did something towards
+raising his spirits.
+
+A good two miles covered, and our hero came out in a clearing some
+distance above the jungle. Here he could get a tolerable view of the
+surrounding country and he looked eagerly for some trace of his party. To
+the southward he made out what he took to be the smoke of a camp-fire, but
+that was all.
+
+"I may as well turn in that direction," he reasoned. "Where there is a
+fire there must be human beings. And as the war is now at an end it isn't
+likely that they will harm me."
+
+For some distance the new route was an easy one, but then it became
+rougher and rougher, until riding was all but impossible. At some points
+he had to dismount and lead the pony. Once both went into a rocky hollow,
+Jack barking a shin and the pony skinning a knee.
+
+"I hope this doesn't last very far," thought the youth. The roughness
+continued a quarter of a mile, when he came out on a beautiful grassy
+plain, at the rear of which he saw a thatched house and a small garden
+enclosure containing a score or more of chickens.
+
+As he approached the house an old man came forth to meet him. He viewed
+Jack with astonishment, for visitors in that lonely spot were rare. "Where
+does the most noble senor come from?" he asked, bowing low.
+
+"I came from the town far below here," answered Jack. "I have lost my
+way," and then as well as he was able he described the road he wished to
+find.
+
+"The _Americano_ senor is a long distance from that road," said the
+native.
+
+"Can you guide me to it?" questioned the youth, eagerly. "I will pay you
+well for your services."
+
+At the mention of pay the native showed an increased interest. He was
+naturally a lazy fellow, but the promise of a Peruvian half dollar made
+him hustle to take Jack on his way. He too had a pony, and soon the pair
+set off, across the plateau and then through a sparingly grown forest,
+where some of the trees were of enormous height.
+
+"What had made the air so smoky?" questioned Jack, as they rode along.
+"Have there been heavy forest fires?"
+
+"No forest fires, senor," the native answered. "The smoke comes from the
+bowels of the earth. The rocks have opened once more--we shall soon have
+an earthquake."
+
+"You think so?" cried Jack. He had experienced several slight earthquakes
+while in that quarter of the globe, and, though they had done small harm,
+he dreaded the coming of another quake.
+
+"Yes, senor."
+
+"How soon?"
+
+"Two, three days, it may be--or perhaps a week," answered the native.
+
+After that they rode along in silence for fully half a mile, when they
+reached a trail running east and west.
+
+"Is this the road the senor is looking for?" asked the native, bringing
+his pony to a halt.
+
+"I believe it is," answered Jack. "But I must look around first to see if
+my party has passed this way."
+
+He surveyed the scene with care, but could find no trace of the others.
+Had they come thus far, or had they turned back, in a hunt for him? Jack
+was in a quandary over what to do next. Night was again coming on, and he
+had no desire to remain alone again, after his many adventures of the past
+twenty-four hours.
+
+"Where can we stop around here?" he asked.
+
+"The senor wants his humble servant to remain with him over night?"
+
+"Yes, unless some other house is handy, and others there."
+
+"There is a house not far away, but it is empty."
+
+"Then let us go to it. It will be better to remain there than to stay in
+the open."
+
+They went up the trail a short distance, and then turned to the southward
+and took to a side road leading through a patch of high brushwood.
+Crossing a tiny mountain torrent, they came in sight of a dilapidated
+house, one end of which was all but wrecked. To the surprise of both Jack
+and his guide, smoke was issuing from behind the structure.
+
+"Somebody must be here after all," said the youth, as he rode forward.
+
+"It must be a stranger, senor," was the native's reply.
+
+Not to fall into the hands of enemies Jack advanced with caution. As he
+rounded the end of the dilapidated house, he saw a bright fire burning
+among some piled-up stones. In front of this fire a tall young man,
+dressed in rags, was crouching, cooking something in a battered pan. As
+Jack came closer the young man suddenly leaped to his feet, uttering a cry
+of alarm. Then he gave another cry, and dropping the pan with its contents
+to the ground, he rushed forward with wide-stretched arms yelling at the
+top of his voice.
+
+"Jack! Jack! It is really my own Jack! Oh, how glad I am to see yeou!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXVIII
+
+Back from the Dead
+
+
+
+Jack literally fell from his horse. Was he dreaming or was this a ghost
+that confronted him? He gazed at the other fellow with eyes that almost
+popped from his head.
+
+"Ain't yeou glad to see me?" came from the fellow in rags, and his voice
+took on a hurt tone. "Plum! Is it--is it really you?" faltered Jack.
+
+"Sure ez yeou air born it's me," was the answer from Plum Plucky.
+
+"But I thought you were dead--I was sure you were dead. Why, I--I buried
+your bones!"
+
+"Not by a jugful yeou didn't bury my bones, Jack. I've got 'em all with
+me, although I allow they ain't much meat on 'em jest now," went on Plum,
+dolefully.
+
+"But this--this staggers me! I was certain you were dead, and when I found
+a heap of bones which the vultures had picked clean I buried them for
+yours. This is the most wonderful thing I ever heard of. I can't
+understand it. Where have you been, and why didn't you let me hear from
+you?"
+
+"I have been a prisoner of war," answered Plum. "Got caught in the
+mountains one day. Fust they was up fer shootin' me, but then they changed
+their minds and carted me off to some little town in the mountains. They
+fired me into a dungeon an' I took sick, an' would have died only a native
+gal up an' nussed me back to health. Then I give the gal some silver I had
+hidden away an' she showed me how to git away, an' I got. Then I got lost
+in the mountains, an' would have starved to death only I run down some
+sort o' a wild beast that had two legs broken in a fall over the rocks. I
+killed the beast--I reckon it was a puma--with some rocks, an' lived on
+the meat fer nigh on to a week. Then, after all kinds o' adventures in the
+mountains, I reached here, an' here I am, an' so happy to see yeou I don't
+know what to do."
+
+As he finished tears stood in the honest eyes of the Yankee lad, and Jack
+was no less affected. They embraced, the native looking on in wonder,
+until the matter was explained to him.
+
+"I know this road like a book, so ye won't need thet native no longer,"
+said Plum. "But I'd like to have his nag. I'm dead tired o' hoofin' it."
+
+"You shall have the pony--if he will sell," said Jack.
+
+"Got any money to pay with? I ain't got a red cent."
+
+Jack had some funds with him, and soon a bargain was closed with the
+native. Then the fellow went off, leaving the former chums to themselves.
+
+The supper Plum had been cooking was spoilt, but another was presently
+prepared and both sat down to do justice to the repast. As they ate each
+told his story in detail, and Jack related his reason for coming back to
+that portion of the country.
+
+"I'm glad to learn yeou made money on them nitrates," said Plum. "An' I am
+glad, too, thet you found yer gal true blue an' waitin' for ye, Jack. But
+about this treasure hunt,--well, I don't put much stock in it."
+
+"I want to solve the mystery of that boiling lake, Plum. Even if I don't
+get the treasure it will be something to learn what makes that water shoot
+up as it does."
+
+"Oh, I suppose so, but don't yeou take too many risks finding eout,"
+returned the Yankee lad.
+
+Plum said he had expected to remain at the deserted house all night and
+then push on for the seacoast. But now he had met Jack, and had a pony at
+his service, he was willing to go anywhere.
+
+"I ain't got no home nor nuthin'," he remarked. "One place is ez good ez
+another to me,--only I like to be among friends."
+
+"Stay with me, Plum, and welcome," said Jack, cordially. "I can use you in
+my business, if you want to come in."
+
+"I am with yeou every time," said Plum, and shook hands on it. As said
+before, he was without funds and more than glad that our hero was willing
+to assist him.
+
+The night was spent at the dilapidated house without anything unusual
+happening, and early in the morning they got breakfast,--eating some birds
+Jack brought down with his pistol--and then went on their journey.
+
+Noon found them on the main road, and an hour later they came across two
+of the members of Jack's party.
+
+"Well, I am glad to see you are alive," said one of the men. "We had about
+given you up for lost."
+
+"I came pretty near being lost forever," answered Jack, and once again had
+to tell his story. Then one of the men was despatched to bring up the rest
+of the party; and by nightfall all hands were together again.
+
+"I shall certainly be more careful in the future," declared Jack. "Such
+absent-mindedness does not pay."
+
+Fortunately some extra clothing had been brought along, and a suit was
+given to Plum, for which he was exceedingly thankful. That night Jack
+slept finely, and in the morning declared himself in the best of health.
+
+Once again the party moved forward to the rocky bowl in the mountains
+holding the Devil's Waters. By noon the summit of the ascent was gained
+and the party came to a halt. Then Jack went ahead accompanied only by
+Plum.
+
+As soon as Jack reached a spot where he could look into the vast bowl he
+saw that something unusual had occurred. He was mystified and appalled and
+sat on his pony spellbound.
+
+The roar and thunder of the mysterious boiling lake was gone. Not a sound
+broke the stillness of the mountainous scene. He looked down on a
+grass-covered valley, somewhat round, in size and having in its center a
+mound or "island," upon which grew a lonely pimento tree. A branch of the
+tree, devoid of foliage, pointed like a great finger, to a cut in the
+great mountain bowl.
+
+There was no mistaking such a landmark, and as Jack viewed it he gave a
+long low whistle.
+
+"Well?" demanded Plum, questioningly.
+
+"I am--am staggered, Plum."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"This doesn't look like a lake, does it?"
+
+"Sure not, Jack."
+
+"Well, the last time I was here it was a boiling, writhing lake, and that
+mound you see yonder was an island in the middle."
+
+"Gosh all hemlock, Jack! Yeou don't mean it!"
+
+"I assuredly do."
+
+"There ain't a drop o' water around here neow!"
+
+"I know it and that is what puzzles me."
+
+"Ain't mistaken in the spot?"
+
+"Not at all. Do you see that solitary pimento tree? Well, that was there,
+exactly as it is now."
+
+"Yeou said it would be, I remember that," said Plum, scratching his head.
+"But this ain't no lake."
+
+"It has been. See, the grass shows signs of having been covered with water
+mixed with mud."
+
+"That is so too, an' neow I look at it, Jack, ther's big holes in the
+ground here an' there, where the water must have run off."
+
+For several minutes Jack and his friend surveyed the scene. Then our hero
+urged his pony down the somewhat steep side of the gigantic mountain bowl.
+
+"Whar be yeou a going now?" asked Plum.
+
+"To the mound in the middle of the valley, to see if I can find the
+treasure," shouted back Jack.
+
+"All right, I'm with yeou," answered the Yankee lad, and followed down the
+slope.
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXIX
+
+The Treasure of the Boiling Lake
+
+
+
+It must be owned that Jack's heart beat rather rapidly as he rode down
+into the little valley, hemmed in on all sides by the high walls of the
+Andes mountains.
+
+He remembered well what the paper had said concerning the treasure, yet he
+did his best to steel himself against possible disappointment.
+
+Plum Deemed to read his thoughts, for as he rode up he said:
+
+"Jack, thet treasure might have been here years ago, but don't be
+disapp'inted if it's gone now. Them waters may have washed it away."
+
+"I am willing to take what comes, Plum," was the answer. "But I want to
+know the exact truth--I hate to be kept in suspense."
+
+"Well, we'll know afore long, I calkerlate," returned the Yankee lad.
+
+They had to pick their way with care to the "island," as Jack insisted
+upon calling it. The bed of the valley was filled with holes and cuts, all
+of unknown depth. Here and there the flat rocks were split in twain in the
+most extraordinary fashion.
+
+"There has been some great convulsion of nature here," said Jack. "Maybe
+the earthquakes have something to do with the disappearance of the water."
+
+"If the water was here--an' I believe what you say--it must have gone down
+in 'em holes and cuts," said Plum. "But what made it spout up ag'in?"
+
+"Some contraction of the hollows under the lake's surface," answered Jack.
+"Maybe a cave would get filled with water, then some rocks would fill the
+cave up, causing the water to spout out into the valley."
+
+"It must be thet--but it is certainly wonderful, Jack."
+
+At last the pair reached the side of the mound or "island," Here they
+could gain a good idea of the big pimento tree with its stricken branch
+pointing to the distant hills. Around the pimento the rocks were strewn in
+all directions.
+
+"If there was a cave here it is filled up," said Jack.
+
+"Pity we didn't bring a spade along," answered his companion.
+
+Dismounting, they tied their ponies to the pimento and then began to look
+around the mound, which was several acres in extent. Rocks were cast up in
+all directions, as if by the force of a volcano.
+
+A half hour had passed, and they had found nothing of value, when of a
+sudden Plum snatched up something and gave a yell:
+
+"Gold! gold!"
+
+"True enough," answered Jack, when he had examined the piece. It was the
+size of his little finger and similarly formed.
+
+"The treasure must be here!" went on the Yankee lad. "Come, let us look
+for it."
+
+"That is what we are doing already," answered Jack, with something of a
+happy laugh. He, too, had spotted something yellow between the rocks, and
+now brought it forth, another piece of gold, twice the size of Plum's
+find.
+
+"Good for yeou!" shouted the Yankee boy. "The rocks must be full o' gold!"
+
+In feverish haste the search was continued, and soon Jack had at least a
+pound of gold to his credit, while Plum had nearly as much. Then, of a
+sudden, Jack stepped on some loose dirt and shot out of sight.
+
+"Hi! what yeou doing?" yelled Plum, in alarm, as he retreated from the
+hole that had appeared.
+
+"Help me out!" called up Jack. He had gone down about a dozen feet, to
+bring up in a bed of sand and small stones.
+
+"Hurt any?" queried Plum anxiously.
+
+"Not a bit, Plum."
+
+"Any gold down there?"
+
+"I'll see," said Jack.
+
+He hunted around the opening and soon discovered a passageway between two
+immense rocks. He lit a match and one look around made his eyes open
+wildly.
+
+Gold was there, on all sides of the passageway--enough to make him rich
+for life!
+
+"Plum, look here!" he yelled. "Gold--all you want of it!"
+
+"Du tell!" roared the Yankee boy, and without stopping to think twice he
+dropped down to the bottom of the hole.
+
+Another match was lit, and then some dry brushwood, and by the flickering
+light the two youths filled their pockets with the precious metal.
+
+"We can load our ponies with gold," said Jack. He was so delighted he
+could scarcely speak.
+
+"That's it--we'll carry away all we can an' then come back fer more,"
+answered the Yankee lad.
+
+How to get to the top of the hole once more was a problem, but at last
+Jack climbed on Plum's shoulders. He was then able to grasp a tree root,
+and by this means hauled himself upward.
+
+"I'll tell you what to do, Plum!" he called down. "You throw up the gold
+to me and I'll load it on the ponies."
+
+"All right, Jack. But don't forgit to pay me fer the job," laughed Plum.
+
+"Pay you? Why, Plum, a good share of this gold is yours!"
+
+"Yes, but yeou knew about the treasure, I didn't."
+
+"I don't care. You can have a third anyway--and I'll pay all expenses of
+this trip."
+
+"Thanks, Jack, yeou allers was a good feller."
+
+After that both boys worked away like Trojans for the best part of an
+hour. The gold was there and Plum flung up one piece after another, until
+the saddle bags on both ponies were overflowing.
+
+"We've got a load!" cried Jack at last. "Any more down there?"
+
+"Plenty," was the answer.
+
+"Well, let us take this to yonder hills and hide it. Then we can come back
+for more."
+
+"Why to the hills, Jack?"
+
+"Because something tells me not to trust this spot too long, Plum.
+Remember the boiling lake."
+
+He assisted the Yankee lad to the top of the opening and then, mounted on
+their ponies, they made their way over the dry bottom of the lake to the
+rocky ridge beyond. Here they deposited the gold in a safe place, and then
+returned to the "island."
+
+"I'll go down this time," said Jack, and did so. A torch had been brought
+along, and sticking it in a crack of the rocks, the youth went to work
+with a will.
+
+In less than half an hour the ponies were again loaded with gold. Jack had
+picked up almost the last piece in sight when he came to a sudden pause in
+his work.
+
+What was that strange sound, and was it possible the earth beneath him was
+trembling? He leaped back to the center of the hole. Yes, the earth was
+surely quaking, and now some loose dirt came down on top of him.
+
+"It is the earthquake!" he murmured, and at that moment came a loud cry
+from Plum.
+
+"Jack! Jack! come up, as quick as yeou can! The water is squirting up
+through 'em holes, an' the lake is filling up!"
+
+
+
+
+Chapter XXX
+
+A Ride for Life--Conclusion
+
+
+
+The earthquake was indeed upon them, and as Plum threw down a rope to Jack
+the whole landscape seemed to rock to and fro, causing the Yankee lad to
+miss his footing and pitch headlong on our hero's head.
+
+"Oh, Jack, did I hurt you?" spluttered Plum, as he stood upright at the
+bottom of the hole.
+
+Jack did not answer, for at that instant the earth shook again, sending
+them both on their backs. Then all became, for the instant, quiet.
+
+"We must get away from this spot!" gasped Jack. "If we don't, we'll be
+buried alive!"
+
+The rope had fallen at his feet. He picked it up. There was a noose at one
+end and this he whirled upward.
+
+Twice he missed the object for which he aimed, but the third time the rope
+caught fast to a projecting rock.
+
+"Now, Plum, up you go!" he said, and gave his companion a lift. Fear lent
+the Yankee lad strength and he went up hand over hand in rapid fashion.
+Jack followed, and in a moment more both stood on the surface of the
+island.
+
+The sight that met their gaze was enough to make them shudder. On all
+sides the darkish-green water was spouting from the holes and cuts in the
+lake bed. Some of the columns arose to a height of a hundred feet, the
+water falling back into the basin with a tremendous report, and causing
+the drops to fly in all directions. At one point in the lake the water was
+already a foot or more deep.
+
+"To the shore!" yelled Jack, and flew for a pony, while Plum did likewise.
+The animals were crazy with fear and could scarcely be controlled.
+
+As they left the island there came another movement of the earthquake,
+followed by a crash behind them. They looked back, to see the lonely
+pimento tree fall into the very hole they had just left!
+
+"Gosh! what a narrer escape!" gasped Plum.
+
+"We are not out of it yet, Plum," answered Jack. "Come, we must ride for
+all we are worth. Perhaps we had better throw away the gold."
+
+"No! no! Don't do it!" screamed the Yankee lad. "We can make the shore if
+we hurry."
+
+Down they plunged side by side from the island and into the water that was
+now flowing in all directions around the mound. They made a bee line for
+the rocky ridge beyond.
+
+"Look out for holes!" cried Jack, but even as he spoke his pony plunged
+downward, nearly causing our hero to take a header. But he clung fast,
+and, struggling up, the pony went forward as before.
+
+It was a ride that can scarcely be described. Soon the water was up to the
+bodies of the ponies and then they were carried off their feet. They swam
+a short distance, and then, coming to a shallow spot, galloped on as
+before.
+
+It was a wild ride, and dripping from foam and water the ponies kept on
+until once again they had to swim.
+
+Then came a roar from the bottom of the lake, and steeds and riders were
+hurled high in the air, to fall again with a noise in the spume of the
+boiling lake.
+
+"We--we air lost!" panted Plum. "Th--the wind is gone out o' me!"
+
+"Keep on, we have only a short distance further to go!" cried Jack.
+
+The earth was shaking again and the water appeared to swing away from them
+toward the island.
+
+Then it came on with a rush, carrying ponies and riders far up the rocky
+ridge. Then the water went back as before, boiling and foaming furiously,
+while a mist blotted out the immediate landscape.
+
+"Come, don't stop here!" yelled Jack, urging his pony forward. "To higher
+ground, before it is too late!"
+
+Again they went on, but not for far. Another earthquake threw them flat
+and Plum rolled down under his pony. Then the quaking ceased; and that was
+the last of the earthquake.  Arising, Jack helped his companion and found
+that the Yankee youth was uninjured. Both looked down the rocks toward the
+lake. The water was boiling and foaming as before, but gradually the
+surface of the lake grew calm. Then Jack gave another exclamation:
+
+"The island! It is sinking from sight!"
+
+It was true, the island was going down slowly but surely. In a few minutes
+it was but a mere speck on the surface, and then even this disappeared.
+
+"Gone!" gasped Plum. "But we got the gold--or a good part o' it!"
+
+"Thank heaven that our lives were spared!" murmured Jack. "I never want to
+go through another such experience--not for all the gold in the world!"
+
+*       *       *       *       *
+
+A few words more and we will bring our tale to a close.
+
+When they had rested, Jack and Plum rejoined the others of the party. The
+story of the hunt for gold was told, much to the amazement of the rest,
+and, later, the gold was taken down to the seacoast and placed with some
+reliable bankers. The boiling lake was inspected and found to be deeper
+than ever. Strange to say, the lake remained where it was for about two
+months, when it gradually disappeared, and that was the last seen of it.
+The ground around where the pimento island had been was greatly upheaved,
+and a long search in that vicinity failed to bring any more gold to light.
+
+The treasure that had been found proved to be worth nearly thirty thousand
+dollars, one-third of which went to Plum and the rest to Jack. Out of his
+share our hero paid all the expenses of the trip and also rewarded
+handsomely all those who had accompanied him into the mountains.
+
+With a portion of his money Jack continued to develop his nitrate fields
+and shipped vast quantities of the stuff to this country and elsewhere. He
+soon became immensely wealthy, and then settled down with his wife, Jenny,
+in Boston, where we will bid him farewell.
+
+
+
+The End.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Jack North's Treasure Hunt, by Roy Rockwood
+
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