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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/7847-8.txt b/7847-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cefec6d --- /dev/null +++ b/7847-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5937 @@ +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: ISO-8859-1 + +*** 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, seņor," 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, seņor, 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, seņor," 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, seņor 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, seņor 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, seņor." + +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, seņor. 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, seņor! I ought to lose my head for undertaking such a mad +project." + +"It may not be as bad as you seem to think, seņor 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, seņor 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, Seņor 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_, Seņor 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 seņor 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_ seņor 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, seņor," 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, seņor." + +"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 seņor 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 seņor 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, seņor," 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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT *** + +***** This file should be named 7847-8.txt or 7847-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/8/4/7847/ + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/7847-8.zip b/7847-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e4ce05c --- /dev/null +++ b/7847-8.zip diff --git a/7847-h.zip b/7847-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb1480c --- /dev/null +++ b/7847-h.zip diff --git a/7847-h/7847-h.htm b/7847-h/7847-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8abaf95 --- /dev/null +++ b/7847-h/7847-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7045 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + +<head> +<title>Jack North's Treasure Hunt, by Roy Rockwood</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 { text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-variant: small-caps } + h1 { margin-top: 2em } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + img { width: 25%; border: 0 } + --> +</style> +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +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: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT *** + + + + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<p align="center"><a href="images/image01.png"><img src="images/image01.png" width="25%" alt="Down they plunged side by side from the island into the water" /><br /> +Down they plunged side by side from the island into the water</a></p> + +<h1>Jack North’s Treasure Hunt</h1> + +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">Or,</p> + +<h2>Daring Adventures in South America</h2> +<p align="center" class="smallcaps">by</p> + +<h3>Roy Rockwood</h3> + +<h4>Author of “The Rival Ocean Divers,” “The Cruise of the<br /> +Treasure Ship,” “A Schoolboy’s Pluck,” <i>etc</i>.</h4> + +<p align="center"><i>Illustrated</i></p> + +<h5>The World Syndicate Publishing Co.<br /> +Cleveland New York</h5> + +<p align="center">Made in U.S.A.</p> + +<p align="center">Copyright, 1907, by<br /> +<span class="smallcaps">Chatterton-Peck Company<br /> +Press of<br /> +The Commercial Bookbinding Co.<br /> +Cleveland</span></p> + +<h1>Contents</h1> + +<ol style="list-style-type: upper-roman"> + <li><a href="#ch_01">A Chance for a Position</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_02">The Test of Strength</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_03">A Long Trip Proposed</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_04">Just in Time</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_05">On the Island of Robinson Crusoe</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_06">A Terrible Mistake</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_07">A Plea of the Enemy</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_08">The Lonely Pimento</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_09">Jack Becomes an Engineer</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_10">A Narrow Escape</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_11">Under the Head of a Jaguar</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_12">Put to the Test</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_13">Precious Moments</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_14">The Attack on the Train</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_15">The Treasure Island</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_16">At the Boiling Lake</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_17">In the Nitrate Fields</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_18">An Alarm of Fire</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_19">Chilians on Both Sides</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_20">Preparations for Departure</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_21">A Panic on Shipboard</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_22">The Fate of Plum Plucky</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_23">Jenny</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_24">Jack and the Ocelot</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_25">In the Quicksands</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_26">A Night in the Jungle</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_27">Jack and the Big Snake</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_28">Back from the Dead</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_29">The Treasure of the Boiling Lake</a></li> + <li><a href="#ch_30">A Ride for Life--Conclusion</a></li> +</ol> + +<h1>Jack North’s Treasure Hunt</h1> + +<h1><a name="ch_01"></a>Chapter I</h1> +<h2>A Chance for a Position</h2> + +<p>“Where are you going, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“To the shops of John Fowler & Company.”</p> + +<p>“To look for a job?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Then you are in luck, for I heard this morning +that they want another striker in the lower shop at +once.”</p> + +<p>“Then I’ll <i>strike</i> for the +opening at once, and my name is not Jack North if +I don’t land it.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Fret Offut was nowhere in sight, as Jack entered the +dark, dingy office at the lower end of the buildings.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Alfret Offut, sir. It’s me that wants +the job, and it’s me it belongs to.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“How come you here?” he demanded of Jack, +a second later.</p> + +<p>“My feet brought me here, and with less slowness +than yours, judging by your appearance,” replied +young North.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>After a short time a big, red-faced, soot-be-grimed +man appeared, saying as he reached them:</p> + +<p>“If Offut will come this way I will talk with +him.”</p> + +<p>“Henshaw,” said the clerk simply, returning +to his work, leaving the newcomer to attend to the +visitors as he thought best.</p> + +<p>“Ha--ha!” laughed young Offut, softly, +as he followed the foreman, “where are you now, +Jack North?”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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--”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Henshaw, who for the first time seemed to realize +the situation, looked surprised, as he gazed from +one to the other.</p> + +<p>Disliking to raise a fuss Jack remained silent at +first, but he felt bound to say:</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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:</p> + +<p>“That’s it, boys; fight it out. I’ll +hire the lad that downs the other.”</p> + +<p>“Then the job is as good as mine!” cried +Fret Offut, rushing at Jack with great bluster and +no regard to fairness.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_02"></a>Chapter II</h1> +<h2>The Test of Strength</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Mr. Henshaw seemed delighted, and he cried out:</p> + +<p>“Limber up, lads, limber up! A job to him that +comes out on top! Hi, there!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Ho, my fine cub, down you go this time! Henshaw--”</p> + +<p>But Mr. Henshaw never knew what was to be said to +him, neither did the young bully ever realize fully +just what followed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The spectators cheered heartily, while Mr. Henshaw +clapped his grimy hands and shouted at the top of +his voice:</p> + +<p>“Well done, my hearty! That’s a handsome +trick and well worth a job.”</p> + +<p>Fret Offut arose from his unwelcome bath, dripping +from head to foot with the nasty mess, presenting +a most unprepossessing appearance.</p> + +<p>The foreman was turning back into the shop, followed +by Jack, and the crowd was rapidly dispersing.</p> + +<p>“Hold on!” he bawled, “that wasn’t +fair. I tripped--stop, Henshaw! don’t let my +job go to that miserable thief.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“North, you and Mires bring along them wheels +at the lower end. Don’t be all day about it +either,” speaking with unusual sharpness.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Purty stout, air ye?” asked Mires, as +he and Jack stood by the wheels.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Come to see the fun!” declared the latter, +finding that he had been seen by Jack.</p> + +<p>“I’ll take this one,” said Mires, +stooping over the nearest wheel which was half buried +in dust and dirt.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_03"></a>Chapter III</h1> +<h2>A Long Trip Proposed</h2> + +<p>Having seen Mires carry off the other wheel with comparative +ease, Jack naturally expected to lift the remaining +one without trouble.</p> + +<p>His amazement may be therefore understood when, at +his first effort, he failed to move it an inch from +the floor.</p> + +<p>It lay there as solid as if bound down!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Baby!” some one cried. “See Mires +carry his. North ain’t got the strength of a +mouse!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack had now awakened to the realization that he had +been the easy victim of a scheme to cast ridicule +upon him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A loud crash succeeded, the heavy iron wheel having +broken the imitation into kindling wood and smashed +into the floor.</p> + +<p>The cries of derision were supplemented by loud calls +of admiration, which rang through and through the +old building until a perfect din prevailed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“I sha’n’t wheel scrap iron always +and Jack North won’t be boss, either.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I should like to go, Mr. Henshaw, and I thank +you for your kind words.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t cost nothing,” returned the +bluff foreman, as he started homeward.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Feel mighty stuck up, don’t yer? But +let me tell yer,’twon’t do any good.”</p> + +<p>This was the first time he had spoken to Jack since +he had begun work in the shops, and our hero made +no reply.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In a moment Furniss and Offut were bending over him +with anxious looks on their grimy countenances.</p> + +<p>“Is he killed?” asked the younger of the +twain.</p> + +<p>Jack answered the question himself by opening his +eyes, though he was still too bewildered to attempt +to rise.</p> + +<p>“What did you do that for?” he demanded.</p> + +<p>“Do what?” questioned Fret Offut. “You +know well enough. You fixed that bar so it would hit +me.”</p> + +<p>“Hear the boy talk!” came from Furniss. +“It is true. If I get the chance--”</p> + +<p>“Stop, you shan’t get us into trouble,” +yelled the man, in a rage.</p> + +<p>“Not much,” put in Offut. “Let’s +teach him a lesson he won’t forget!”</p> + +<p>“So we will,” answered Furniss; and both +started forward to attack Jack.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_04"></a>Chapter IV</h1> +<h2>Just in Time</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Thus Furniss had barely laid his hand on him before +he was on his feet ready to fight for his life if +necessary.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>But Fret Offut failed for good reasons to heed the +supplications of his friend.</p> + +<p>The next instant Furniss managed to get a hold on +Jack which enabled him to throw him upon the floor.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Help--don’t--you’ll kill me! I--Of--ut--h-e-l-p--murder!”</p> + +<p>“Will you promise to let me alone after this?” +demanded Jack, giving his victim another plunge in +the bucket.</p> + +<p>“Yes. Let me go or I’ll tell Fowler. Oh--oh!”</p> + +<p>“Tell Fowler, will you?”</p> + +<p>“No--no! Let me go!”</p> + +<p>“You promise it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” spluttered the man as soon as he +could speak.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At her home he was met by the girl’s mother, +who, in answer to his inquiries for Jenny, said:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you dare come any nearer, Fret +Offut! Stand back, or the worst will be your own!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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--”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He turned to the girl. “Has he dared so much +as to lay a ringer on you, Jenny?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“To South America! Oh, Jack, why?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“But you will come back?” questioned Jenny, +anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Sure, as soon as my task is done. But now tell +me about Fret Offut.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I hope he won’t bother you again.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t think he will,” said Jenny. +“Anyway, I’ll keep my eyes open for him.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’ll be glad to leave such fellows as +Fret Offut behind,” said Jack, to his father.</p> + +<p>“Fret Offut is a bully and a fool,” said +Mr. North, who was a blunt-spoken man. “He will +never get along in life.”</p> + +<p>Jack had spoken without knowing the truth. He was +not to get rid of Fret Offut just yet, as we shall +soon see.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_05"></a>Chapter V</h1> +<h2>On the Island of Robinson Crusoe</h2> + +<p>Ho! for South America!</p> + +<p>Bravely did the good steamer <i>Standish</i> +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.</p> + +<p>The steamer’s destination was Valparaiso, Chili, +and the commander talked of getting into port shortly.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“I understand perfectly, and will not fail in +my part to gain our ends.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Thinking of no harm, he turned slowly to greet the +one approaching, to find himself confronted by the +tall figure of Fret Offut.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was too dark for him to see any distance, so he +listened for some sound of the steamer.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Standish</i> +was not within hearing.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>At any rate he would not give up while he had the +strength to struggle against fate.</p> + +<p>Buoyed up with hopes which he knew were groundless, +he swam on and on through the dark expanse of waters +girdling him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He felt that he was hopelessly lost, and he wondered +in his despair if his true fate would be known.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Land!” he cried, coming near drowning +in the exuberance of his new-found discovery.</p> + +<p>Even after he had seen land it seemed he was doomed +to disappointment.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He shouted as loudly as he could in his exhausted +state for help, and then gave up the battle, and sank.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Where am I?” asked Jack. “Who are +you?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack was fain to follow this well-meant advice, and +a few minutes later he was sound asleep.</p> + +<p>It was nearly night before he awoke, and even then +his friend would not allow him to leave his couch.</p> + +<p>“Here is a dish of goat’s milk and I will +soon have some warm oat porridge.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He did not awake until the following morning this +time, when he found himself in pretty good condition.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He was past middle life, with a sunburned, bearded +and honest countenance.</p> + +<p>Upon seeing that Jack had awakened, his looks instantly +brightened and he spoke cheerily:</p> + +<p>“Glad to see you looking so well. You will be +all right in a day or two.”</p> + +<p>“Is it possible that I am on the island where +Robinson Crusoe spent his lonely years?”</p> + +<p>“It is so.”</p> + +<p>“I can hardly believe it.”</p> + +<p>“Nevertheless it is a fact.”</p> + +<p>“If I ever get away from it I will read the +story all over again.”</p> + +<p>The man laughed.</p> + +<p>“That’s natural.</p> + +<p>“But do you live here alone?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Without further delay Jack told his companion the +story of his adventures.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_06"></a>Chapter VI</h1> +<h2>A Terrible Mistake</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Though no vessel is in sight this morning, +I am sure some one landed here last night between +midnight and daylight.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think there is anything to fear from +such a visit, providing some one has been here?” +asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think one came last night?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack was not kept in suspense long as to Mr. Pearce’s +meaning.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“They are,” replied Jack, as soon as he +had made a hasty examination; “and I am sure +they are made by an American shoe!”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I will go inside, if it makes no difference +to you, only I wish you would let me have one of your +pistols.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Reaching down in the darkness, his hand touched a +sheet of paper or parchment, which he picked up.</p> + +<p>He had hardly done this before Mr. Pearce gave a shrill +whistle, which caused Jack to return to his side, +wondering what had happened.</p> + +<p>His surprise may be imagined when he saw a squad of +armed men drawn up in front of them!</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>A short consultation then followed in Spanish, the +new-comers all the time covering the twain with their +cocked carbines.</p> + +<p>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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_07"></a>Chapter VII</h1> +<h2>A Plea of the Enemy</h2> + +<p>Jack realized that only a desperate effort could save +him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>His feet had not been secured, though his hands were +fastened behind him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Stop! I am armed, and you come nearer at the +peril of your life!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, as he stopped, he said in a low tone:</p> + +<p>“Be careful and you have nothing to fear from +me.”</p> + +<p>Jack had been glad to notice that the unknown had +used pure English in addressing him. In a moment he +asked:</p> + +<p>“Who are you?”</p> + +<p>“A friendless American boy who has been hunted +down like a dog because--”</p> + +<p>“Fret Offut!” broke in Jack recognizing +the other’s voice.</p> + +<p>“Jack North!” gasped the fugitive “You +have betrayed me, Jack!”</p> + +<p>“Not a bit of that. I am here on account of +you.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It did not occur to honest Jack North that by delivering +up his enemy he might save his own life.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In fact no Chilian could have been induced to enter +there under any provocation short of death!</p> + +<p>Mr. Pearce knew this, and when he saw Jack disappear +he was confident the lad was safe for awhile.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Neither did their commander offer to lead the way.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>As he was a man of consequence in the opinion of the +Chilian chief, his words soon had the desired effect.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack and Fret Offut had come to something of an understanding, +though the latter was reluctant to meet Mr. Pearce.</p> + +<p>The islander was surprised at sight of him, but Jack +hastened to say:</p> + +<p>“It proves the person those Chilians were so +anxious to catch is an acquaintance of mine, being +none other than one of the <i>Standish’s</i> +passengers.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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 <i>Standish</i> should leave on her return +voyage.</p> + +<p>He had another reason, too, and a most important one.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pearce read it with some difficulty, explaining +it as best he could when he had carefully studied +it for half a day.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_08"></a>Chapter VIII</h1> +<h2>The Lonely Pimento</h2> + +<p>“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:</p> + +<p>“’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.</p> + +<p>“’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.</p> + +<p>“’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.</p> + +<p>“’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!</p> + +<p>“’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.</p> + +<p>“’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.</p> + +<p>“’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.</p> + +<p>“’I could not even find the lake!</p> + +<p>“’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.</p> + +<p>“’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--”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Pearce spoke somewhat lightly, but Jack could +see that he was deeply interested in the account.</p> + +<p>Our hero had been cautious enough not to let Fret +Offut into the secret, knowing he could not be trusted.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There was one serious drawback to their plans.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Good bye,” said Jack, as he pressed his +friend’s hand warmly, for he had grown to like +the kindhearted gentleman.</p> + +<p>Fret Offut nodded lightly to the other, as he entered +the boat which was to take them to the vessel.</p> + +<p>The trip to Valparaiso was uneventful, but there Jack +met with a great disappointment.</p> + +<p>The <i>Standish</i> had left for its homeward +voyage.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He worked in Tocopilla steadily for a month. During +the time he heard nothing from home or from Fret Offut.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He and Jack soon became friends, when the latter said +to him one day:</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“The pay was good enough, but the shooting was +better. I care more for my life than I do for a few +silver doubloons.”</p> + +<p>“I am afraid I do not understand you. I was +not aware that shooting and engineering went together.”</p> + +<p>“They do in the case of the St. Resa road, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“Tell me about it, Francis. I am interested.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Who are the bush-raiders?”</p> + +<p>“That question shows a lamentable ignorance. +The bush-raiders are bands of guérillas 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?”</p> + +<p>“I have heard of it.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You say the road is all in Peru?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’m going to have a try at it, come what +may,” he said, determinedly.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_09"></a>Chapter IX</h1> +<h2>Jack Becomes an Engineer</h2> + +<p>Jack as usual, was as good as his word.</p> + +<p>He stopped long enough to lay down his tools and seek +the foreman for a leave of absence.</p> + +<p>“Going to St. Resa? You will make the journey +but one way. You will never come back.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>An hour later he turned his back on Tocopilla.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Only a miserable pittance,” implored +the ragged wretch, holding out a dirty hand for the +gift.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then, as he bent a closer gaze on the person, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Fret Offut! can this be you?”</p> + +<p>“Jack North!” exclaimed the other. “I +did not think of seeing you here.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I you, most of all in this condition.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>“I have managed to get a living by working hard.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll warrant you have; but I wouldn’t +work at the starvation wages they offered me. Say, +where are you going?”</p> + +<p>“To St. Resa.”</p> + +<p>“In South Peru?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“What do you expect to do there?”</p> + +<p>“Going to apply for a situation as engineer +on a railroad.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well, Fret, we’re in for it now,” +said Jack, as they went to the station to make their +first trip.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A big crowd was at the station to see the train start, +which made Fret feel the importance of his position.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The road was in a terrible condition, yet the first +trip was made without adventure and Fret’s spirits +rose.</p> + +<p>“Probably the bush-raiders did not know we were +going yesterday,” said Jack, as his helper was +boasting of their easy job.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But Jack had no intention of giving up at this stage +of the situation, and Fret concluded to risk a third +trip.</p> + +<p>The company were anxious for the train to be kept +running, but offered no protection, if it could supply +any.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>One of the disreputable looking party waved a red +cloth on the muzzle of his short-barreled carbine +as they whisked past.</p> + +<p>“Look out for to-morrow,” said Jack. “That +looks to me like a sort of warning.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>As soon as they were fairly on their way Jack smoothed +out the crumpled paper to read in a scrawling hand:</p> + +<p>“Look out for the bush-raiders to-day.”</p> + +<p>The sheet bore no signature or date.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Fret Offut, whose stock of courage was small, turned +pale, as he read the brief message:</p> + +<p>“You ain’t going to keep on, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“What else are we hired for? We should be the +laughing stock of the country if we stopped now.”</p> + +<p>“But this warning makes it different.”</p> + +<p>“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--”</p> + +<p>“No--no! Stop, Jack, and I will get off.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack’s quiet determination and assurance served +to quiet Fret’s fears, so he said nothing further +about quitting his duty.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Fret, though pale and trembling, kept his post.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>It would be equally hazardous to try and stop the +train.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Fret!” cried Jack, but no answer came +back to the call.</p> + +<p>Jack North felt that it was all over with him, but +true to the instinct of his nature, he stood bravely +at his post.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_10"></a>Chapter X</h1> +<h2>A Narrow Escape</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The locomotive, throbbing and panting like a human +being in a race for life, was fairly flying along +the winding track.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack witnessed this miraculous movement with breathless +eagerness bordering upon terror.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The train had got its length beyond the place before +Jack could realize that he had escaped.</p> + +<p>The bush-raiders reminded him of it then, if he needed +any further notification, by a volley of bullets and +renewed yells of rage.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They were approaching the bridge mentioned, when they +met the others coming back, bearing in their midst +the lifeless form of Fret Offut.</p> + +<p>Jack immediately stopped to have the body of his associate +put on the car, when he started on the return to Resaca.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>The involuntary speech brought a smile to his lips. +As he would explain his thoughts, he said aloud:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack uttered a low exclamation as he saw that this +tree was a pimento.</p> + +<p>In a moment his mind reverted to the description given +in the strange manuscript, but a look of disappointment +succeeded his eager anticipation.</p> + +<p>“What a fool!” he exclaimed. “That +tree stood on an island--”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_11"></a>Chapter XI</h1> +<h2>Under the Head of a Jaguar</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The ferocious beasts, with a succession of sharp growls +and snarls, began to feast upon the still warm carcass +of the poor horse.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>When this had continued for several minutes longer, +the second jaguar stopped eating and began to lick +Jack’s boots.</p> + +<p>Nothing so far had equaled the horror of that sensation.</p> + +<p>It seemed to Jack that he must go mad if it continued +long!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack a little later heard the cat-like steps of its +mate leaving the place, until the pitter-patter died +away in the distance.</p> + +<p>Then, for the first time, he dared to open his eyes, +though he did not venture to move his head or hand +a particle.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Then, as he realized that the jaguar’s mate +might return at any moment, he resolved to make the +bold venture without more delay.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Not a sound broke the deathlike stillness of the lonely +scene, save the labored breathing of the sleeping +jaguar.</p> + +<p>Never allowing his gaze to leave the creature, he +continued to reach for the firearm until he felt his +hand touch the stock.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>That breath was instantly answered by a terrific growl!</p> + +<p>It had awakened the light-sleeping beast, which quickly +raised its head, and its whole appearance immediately +changed, as it glared furiously around.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A dull report followed, the jaguar’s head was +blown into fragments, and Jack knew that his life +was saved.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_12"></a>Chapter XII</h1> +<h2>Put to the Test</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Half an hour after leaving the scene of the jaguar’s +attack, he made a discovery which caused him no little +concern.</p> + +<p>He had lost his compass.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>In his desperation he cocked the weapon, and pointing +it skyward pulled the trigger.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“I might as well meet the worst here as anywhere.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>The speaker’s tone was not unfriendly, and Jack +was nearly overjoyed to find that the new-comer was +not a Peruvian.</p> + +<p>Springing from his seat on a fallen tree, where he +had sunk in his respair, he cried in genuine gladness:</p> + +<p>“You’re an American!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>Then, when the two had stared upon each other for +fully a minute, both burst into a fit of laughter.</p> + +<p>“Shoo neow!” exclaimed the Yankee boy, +“who air yeou and what air yeou doing here?”</p> + +<p>“I might ask the same question of you,” +replied Jack. “My name is John North and I come +from Banton, Connecticut.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>New</i> England too, and I’ll +bet my dad is hoeing taters in sight of Plymouth Rock.”</p> + +<p>“I am lost in this wilderness,” went on +Jack. “I hope you can show me the way out.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Evidently you love the Don,” said Jack, +with a smile.</p> + +<p>“Do I? Do you know what he pays me fer work +thet’s enought to kill a man?”</p> + +<p>“I haven’t the slightest idea.”</p> + +<p>“No more you have. He pays me three dollars +and sixty cents a month--think of it--if you can!”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Think so? Consarn ye, yer ain’t got no +right to think so!” And now the other really +looked somewhat angry.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>Jack had too much at stake to desire a quarrel with +his new-found acquaintance, so he hastened to say:</p> + +<p>“I hope you will forgive me if I have said anything +to offend. I trust we shall be friends.”</p> + +<p>Whatever of anger Plum had shown quickly left his +honest countenance, and frankly holding out a hand, +he said:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Do yeou s’pose they will have me?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>He saw indigo plants that amazed him for their size, +and altogether it was such a sight as he had never +seen.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Plum Plucky seeing the look of surprise on his countenance, +said:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>They found the railroad officials in a fever of excitement.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well!” he exclaimed, “it’s +too good to last.”</p> + +<p>“Wait till you meet the bush-raiders,” +said Jack.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But the station agent, blind to this fact, priding +himself upon having done his duty, pompously ordered +Jack to proceed on his way.</p> + +<p>As if not to be outdone, the conductor who remained +with one brakeman, reiterated the command.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I am with you, Jack, let come what may. See! +I have got on a smashing head of steam.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_13"></a>Chapter XIII</h1> +<h2>Precious Moments</h2> + +<p>The little crowd at the station waved their hands +and gave expression to prolonged cries, as the train +thundered away on its perilous run.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack was the first to speak.</p> + +<p>“Fix the fire so you can leave it for a short +time if necessary, Plum.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Did you burn it down, Plum, or was it sav--”</p> + +<p>“Scat! you know what I mean. But do yeou begin +to see anything ahead?”</p> + +<p>“I could hardly expect to so soon, for they +will be pretty sure to keep out of sight until we +are into their trap.”</p> + +<p>“Do yeou think they will have a rock on the +track?”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps some obstruction. I can’t just +imagine how they will take us this time.”</p> + +<p>“Say, Jack, what do yeou think of ’em +fellers on the train?”</p> + +<p>The words seemed so much like an echo of his own thoughts +that the boy engineer started with surprise at the +question.</p> + +<p>“I’ll bet yeou,” continued Plum, +“they’ll make us more trouble than the +fellers in the bushes.”</p> + +<p>“Plum Plucky, you just speak my mind. I was +thinking how we could best get rid of them.”</p> + +<p>“Bully for yeou, Jack North! Tell me what to +do and I’m with yeou tooth and nail.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You intend to take the freight through if possible?”</p> + +<p>“At any cost.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Why simply--look yonder!” said Jack, +pointing suddenly a little to their right in the distance +ahead.</p> + +<p>Plum Plucky did as he was told.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Jack, a big rock?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Gosh! yes. What of it? There can’t be +much wind.”</p> + +<p>“It is a signal of the bush-raiders.”</p> + +<p>“S’pose it is?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Sure enough.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think we have a brakeman we can count +on in case of an attack?”</p> + +<p>Plum hesitated a moment before replying.</p> + +<p>“Not unless it is little Pedro.”</p> + +<p>“Just my mind. See! the smoke is dying out. +Whatever message they had to make has been made.”</p> + +<p>“What do you think it could be?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Jack you are nobody’s fool; but couldn’t +they hear the sound of the train?”</p> + +<p>“Not above the roar of the river if they are +on the other side.”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t think of that. But what about +little Pedro?”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You can count on that,” and with these +words Plum began to climb over the tender toward the +line of cars behind.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Everything seemed all right there, so he allowed the +train to rush on at unabated speed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But nothing of the kind occurred, and the engine was +speedily across the stream.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At that moment the report of a gun rang out sharply +on the air, the sound coming from the rear of the +train.</p> + +<p>Then an answering report came from the depths of the +forest ahead!</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“If Plum has only got there,” he thought, +as he turned his gaze upon the course ahead.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He was rapidly approaching the summit, when he made +a discovery which sent a thrill of horror through +his frame.</p> + +<p>Not a hundred yards ahead lay on the right hand rail +a huge bowlder!</p> + +<p>That the bush-raiders had put it there to wreck the +train he had no doubt.</p> + +<p>Just then the train gave a sharp lurch, and the reports +of firearms pealed above the din of the moving train.</p> + +<p>Instantly the bell cord was pulled vigorously three +or four times.</p> + +<p>Plum Plucky was in trouble.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_14"></a>Chapter XVI</h1> +<h2>The Attack on the Train</h2> + +<p>The firing from the rear increased, but Jack had enough +to attend to without giving it a second thought.</p> + +<p>Out from the depths of the forest overhanging the +track ahead had sprung a score or more of armed men.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Had it been on the opposite one all would have been +changed to a terrible certainty.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The engine obeyed like a living creature. It gave +a mighty plunge forward and dashed upon the ponderous +barrier disputing its advance.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He looked up and saw the trees rushing past him at +a terrific speed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At the bottom of the valley lay the big bowlder, which +had been dislodged and hurled into the depths.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The firing from the rear car had ceased, and wondering +what had become of Plum Plucky, he pulled the bell +cord once.</p> + +<p>A prompt response was given by two violent jerks on +the rope, when he knew that Plum was alive and on +the train.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Golly, Jack!” exclaimed Plum, “wasn’t +that a squeezer?”</p> + +<p>“What have you done?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got ’em!” beginning +to execute a dance on the footboard.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean? Have you lost your senses?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The train had slowed so the two could talk as they +continued on.</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand you, Plum,” +said Jack, ready to believe almost anything after +what he had passed through.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>At first Jack could scarcely believe the other’s +story, but he saw that his excited companion was in +earnest.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>This was due to the fact that they were foreigners +and looked upon with suspicion, no matter what they +did.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Plum Plucky, upon finding that he was going to have +a new master, jumped down from the cab, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>“You can’t have my valuable services if +you turn off Jack North!”</p> + +<p>This was a turn in affairs the officials had not looked +for, but the boys did not stop to listen to their +protestations.</p> + +<p>Later they learned that the train did not make a run +that day.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_15"></a>Chapter XV</h1> +<h2>The Treasure Island</h2> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, carrots! I ain’t any worse off than +I was before. But what are you going to do, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“I am going to speculating.”</p> + +<p>“What!” in amazement.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll bet you’re going to speculate +in that dirt I put round the don’s plants.”</p> + +<p>“You got it right the first time, Plum. I--”</p> + +<p>“Ginger! going to raise coffee? ’Cause +of you air I can give you a pointer.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Hooray! I see it all now. It may pay, but I +doubt it. How air you going to get the stuff there?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“I am going to team a cargo to the nearest port +and then charter a ship to take it home.”</p> + +<p>“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:</p> + +<p>“Say, Jack, I want to drive the team for you.”</p> + +<p>“You shall. But, as I am anxious to begin operations, +I am going to look for my first purchase.”</p> + +<p>“Don de Estuaray is the man you want to see. +There is a big bed on his estancia.”</p> + +<p>“It seems to me your experiment may have opened +his eyes.</p> + +<p>“He may catch onto my scheme quicker than some +one who has seen nothing of what this nitrate will +do.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“If I could only find that now how it would +help me to carry on my speculations.”</p> + +<p>Determined to look again on the spot, he climbed the +ascent, until for a second time he stood on the height.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Naturally his gaze had turned in that direction, and +an exclamation of astonishment left his lips, as he +saw that the valley was gone!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Near its centre was a small, barren island, entirely +destitute of growth except for a solitary tree standing +on its highest point.</p> + +<p>The lonely monarch stood stark and stern in all its +solitude, with one branch lifted like a skeleton arm +pointing toward the north.</p> + +<p>“The pimento--the treasure island!” exclaimed +Jack with suppressed emotion.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Don!” he said to the faithful pony, +“you must take me to the island,” never +dreaming of the effort it would cost.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>By this time the pony was struggling helplessly in +the mysterious power sucking it downward.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_16"></a>Chapter XVI</h1> +<h2>At the Boiling Lake</h2> + +<p>As Jack felt the swirling waters closing over him, +he made greater effort to keep on the surface.</p> + +<p>His gallant pony was struggling furiously for the +same purpose, but the power pulling them down was +irresistible.</p> + +<p>A continual roaring filled his ears, and it seemed +as if he was being drawn into some infernal region.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Scrambling up the precipitous bank he was glad to +sink upon the ground for rest.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Upon the crest he paused for a last look, saying:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“By that I suppose you mean that I shall lose +all I am putting into my venture,” said Jack, +good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>“That’s just what I mean. I’ll bet +yeou have got about every dollar yeou have into it +now.”</p> + +<p>“I have figured up that I shall have about twenty +pounds left when I have paid off my help.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Not dirt that is pure nitrate of soda, and +possessing the highest qualities for fertilization +of any known compound. Hello! what is up now?”</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_17"></a>Chapter XVII</h1> +<h2>In the Nitrate Fields</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We can’t go any further, señor,” +declared the head driver. “No team can find +its way through these rocks and up and down the hill.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Who knows best, señor, you or I?” demanded +the Peruvian, showing anger at what he deemed an unwarranted +interference.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He had got about half way toward the top when the +loud cries of the teamsters caused him to look back.</p> + +<p>A glance showed him that the foremost team was “hung +up” at a particularly bad place.</p> + +<p>The drivers were belaboring the patient oxen unmercifully, +but not another inch could they make the animals pull +the load.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Both teams couldn’t pull the load up +this path, señor,” said one of the drivers.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The result was most unexpected.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The cart creaked and the axles groaned, while the +heavy wheels began to revolve.</p> + +<p>“Hooray! it is mov--”</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>“The pull pin has broken!” cried one of +the Peruvians, terrified.</p> + +<p>“The clevis has broke--look out!” yelled +Plum, turning pale. “The other team will be +smashed!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Quick--put your shoulder to the wheel and we +may save it!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Faster and faster it moved, the wheels creaking and +groaning unanimously, as it gained in speed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The runaway was going directly upon them, but they +were likely to escape.</p> + +<p>Not so with the oxen and wagon, which seemed surely +doomed.</p> + +<p>Jack saw at a glance his whole work going to naught +in a moment’s time.</p> + +<p>Then his presence of mind returned to him and he thought +he saw a way to avert a part of the loss.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_18"></a>Chapter XVIII</h1> +<h2>An Alarm of Fire</h2> + +<p>Breathless and exhausted by his almost superhuman +effort, Jack sank down upon the hard rocks, where +he had stood at the fateful moment.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Jiminey whack, Jack! but you’ve done +it.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Jack was already looking over the precipice after +the lost wagon, saying in a minute or so:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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--”</p> + +<p>“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:</p> + +<p>“Drive up a little further, so the wagon will +stand without--”</p> + +<p>Loud, angry cries stopped him in the midst of his +speech.</p> + +<p>Anxious to know what had caused another interruption +in the advance, he hurried forward, to meet a most +unexpected sight.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Ho, there, soldiers!” he called out, +in his best Spanish, “what does this mean?”</p> + +<p>“It means if you don’t get out of our +path, Americanos, we will hew you down!”</p> + +<p>“Don’t be too fast, señor 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--”</p> + +<p>“Pitiful dog!” cried the Chilian, “Captain +de Costa commands you to clear his way without any +insulting words.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“If Captain de Costa will kindly allow us to +drive to the summit we shall be able--”</p> + +<p>“Americano dog! will you surrender?”</p> + +<p>By this time the Peruvians had taken to their heels, +and Jack and Plum stood alone in front of the pompous +captain and legion.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“If you please, Captain de Costa, we two are +but peaceful American boys, both of us engaged--”</p> + +<p>“Will you surrender?” thundered the Chilian, +advancing with uplifted sword, as if he would carry +out his threat of hewing him down.</p> + +<p>“We are offering no resistance to you, señor +captain. If you will allow us to--”</p> + +<p>At a motion from the Chilian leader his soldiers leaped +forward, and Jack and Plum were quickly made prisoners.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What is going to be the end of this?” +asked Plum, as they were marched along side by side.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Plum taking the hint, the friends walked along in +silence until the journey seemed without end.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>To their delight, which they were careful to conceal, +they were put into a room together, though under a +strong guard.</p> + +<p>“Looks so we were in for it,” said Plum, +after they had been left by themselves for an hour +or more.</p> + +<p>“It was a hard set-back to my plans,” +said Jack.</p> + +<p>“I wonder what they will do with us,” +ventured Plum, expressing the thought uppermost in +our hero’s mind.</p> + +<p>“From what I have overheard I should judge we +were likely to be shot at the first opportunity.”</p> + +<p>“’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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder if we can’t dig out of here +somehow? These walls don’t seem so awful thick.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Better not do it. I wonder if by standing on +my shoulder you could look out of that window up there?”</p> + +<p>“I have been thinking that same thing. Let’s +try it.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“It’s mighty aggravating. There must be +lights on the streets, for I’ve seen their flash.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Plum had barely gained his unsteady perch before he +exclaimed in a tone of excitement:</p> + +<p>“Oh, Jack! the town is on fire! Everything is +burning up!”</p> + +<p>At that moment the dull boom of a cannon reached their +ears.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_19"></a>Chapter XIX</h1> +<h2>Chilians on Both Sides</h2> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“How about the fire?” asked Jack, bracing +himself more firmly against the wall under the weight +of his companion.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>The cannonade soon became almost continual, and was +fairly deafening.</p> + +<p>“What will become of us?” asked Plum, +showing his first sign of hopelessness.</p> + +<p>“Is the window large enough to let us crawl +out if our hands were free?” asked Jack.</p> + +<p>“It may be; but it is crossed with bars of iron +no man could break with his hands.”</p> + +<p>“Take your last look and then come down.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>In a moment Plum descended to the floor in a heap.</p> + +<p>“Get on your feet if you can,” said Jack +a moment later.</p> + +<p>By resting against the wall, as his companion was +doing, Plum Plucky soon stood beside him.</p> + +<p>“I should like to know what we are to do in +this condition. We are sure to be killed.”</p> + +<p>“Hark! do you hear anything of the sentry now?”</p> + +<p>“No; he went out to join the soldiers. I see +him.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Going to try and break it down?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; ready?”</p> + +<p>“Ready.”</p> + +<p>“Now then, together!”</p> + +<p>The old door shook and creaked beneath their combined +efforts, but it withstood the shock.</p> + +<p>“Again--together!”</p> + +<p>This time the whole building trembled, and the door +creaked and groaned, but still defied them.</p> + +<p>“Still again--together!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“Follow me, Plum.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“The quicker we get away the better,” +said Jack, begining to move laboriously toward the +grand plaza, with Plum close behind him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Upon reaching the shrubbery they stopped for a brief +respite.</p> + +<p>“Look, Jack!” exclaimed Plum, in a shrill +whisper, “our prison is on fire! We didn’t +get out any too soon.”</p> + +<p>Jack had made the same discovery. He made no reply, +his thoughts being busy in another direction.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There was a reason for this last, too, as explained +by Jack’s words, as he analyzed the situation:</p> + +<p>“They are Chilians on both sides, Plum!”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean, Jack, that this attack on the +Chilians of the town has been made by some of their +own countrymen?”</p> + +<p>“Yes; there has been some mistake made, which +has cost many needless lives. What a painful surprise +it must be to them!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Santa Rosilla was in the possession of the Chilians +sure enough now!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_20"></a>Chapter XX</h1> +<h2>Preparations for Departure</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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, señor.”</p> + +<p>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?”</p> + +<p>“Twenty pistoles, señor. 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.”</p> + +<p>“I’m with you.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Should think you would want to look after ’em +loads you have got over on the Andes,” Plum +would frequently say.</p> + +<p>Each time Jack remained silent.</p> + +<p>“Say, Jack,” Plum would then invariably +say, “don’t yeou s’pose ’em +oxen are getting hungry by this time?”</p> + +<p>Still the other held his peace.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“I am almost sorry to say that I shall make +my last trip to-morrow, Plum.”</p> + +<p>“Going back to nitrates?” asked the other, +showing but little surprise.</p> + +<p>“Yes. I must get a cargo to America as soon +as possible.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Good for you, Jack. Now, how do you think of +getting that stuff to the States?”</p> + +<p>“About the same way I tried first, only I shall +not try to go behind that spur of the Andes, as I +did before.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Then I shall see you occasionally, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes. I shall not be far away.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack then began to carry out his scheme of getting +a cargo of nitrate to his native land.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Before this had been done he had bargained with a +Peruvian captain of a merchantman to carry the cargo +to Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>But he found one at last and the nitrate was eventually +loaded on the vessel.</p> + +<p>It was a proud, and yet an anxious, moment for Jack +when he found everything in readiness to leave the +harbor.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>That afternoon Jack saw Plum to bid him goodbye, feeling +sorry to part with his honest friend.</p> + +<p>The latter actually cried.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“All but the wealth, Plum. But I shall be glad +to have you go with me.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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?</p> + +<p>“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--”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Coming alongside of Jack finally, the captain said:</p> + +<p>“We are lost, señor! I ought to lose my head +for undertaking such a mad project.”</p> + +<p>“It may not be as bad as you seem to think, +señor capitan,” replied Jack, hoping to encourage +the commander.</p> + +<p>But all that he could say was in vain.</p> + +<p>The Chilian warship, as the stranger really was, continued +to keep up its firing, though the Peruvian vessel +had not fired a gun.</p> + +<p>Jack anxiously watched the approach of their pursuer, +feeling that his fortune, if not his life, was at +stake.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The craft instantly lurched and trembled from bow +to stern.</p> + +<p>“She is sinking!” shrieked the captain. +“Quick--to the boats!”</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_21"></a>Chapter XXI</h1> +<h2>A Panic on Shipboard</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The captain was scarcely less distracted than his +men, and he only added to the helplessness of the +situation by his words and actions.</p> + +<p>Jack tried to pacify him by saying:</p> + +<p>“Pardon me, señor capitan, but the ship will +not sink at once if at all. You have plenty of time +in which to save your lives.”</p> + +<p>“But the Chilian! We shall be made prisoners +of war. Heaven protect me! I was a fool to listen +to you, Señor North.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Chilian continued to draw nearer, though +it had nearly stopped firing.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Finding himself alone on the sinking vessel, which +was going down fast, Jack answered the Chilian’s +challenge:</p> + +<p>“Ship ahoy! what do you want?”</p> + +<p>“What ship is that?”</p> + +<p>“The merchant ship, <i>Santa Clara</i>, +Señor Captain, now sinking from the effects of your +shot.”</p> + +<p>“Lay to and I’ll come aboard.”</p> + +<p>This command was not obeyed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Another plan gone wrong,” thought Jack, +“and again I am where I began.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What! not gone to the States, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“No, Plum.”</p> + +<p>“Something gone wrong, Jack, again?”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I could not think of taking your hard earnings, +Plum, for it is uncertain if I should ever be able +to pay it back.</p> + +<p>“I thank you from the bottom of my heart, but +must look for work again.”</p> + +<p>“Then you shall have my job, Jack. I had rather +fire anyway; honest, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you again, Plum, and it’s just +like your generosity, but I cannot rob you of your +situation. How does your fireman do?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“I only wish you would take more, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“I may have to wait a long time, but it will +be best in the end.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_22"></a>Chapter XXII</h1> +<h2>The Fate of Plum Plucky</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>Elizabeth</i> +will be good-natured.”</p> + +<p>Plum having decided to go home with Jack, it was necessary +for him to return to De la Pama for his money.</p> + +<p>“I will be back sure, Jack, on the third, if +not before,” were his parting words.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I am going to start for De la Pama to look +for him, but you may expect me back by sunset.”</p> + +<p>“If you are not I shall set sail without you, +for I have seen some of the Chilian spies around today.”</p> + +<p>“You need not wait any longer than sunset,” +said Jack, who could not blame the other for his impatience.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>“Did the young engineer start directly for Cobija?” +asked Jack anxiously.</p> + +<p>“No; he went toward the east, saying he wished +to go to Don de Estuaray before he went to Cobija.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“This is fearful!” he murmured. “Poor, +poor fellow!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_23"></a>Chapter XXIII</h1> +<h2>Jenny</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>With a last farewell look at the wildwood grave which +he was never to see again, he rode away through the +wilderness.</p> + +<p>He soon found, however, that his horse was so spent +that it must have rest before going much further.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was broad daylight when he rode into De la Pama +on a used up horse and himself quite fagged out.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Captain Hillgrove had sailed!</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“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------”</p> + +<p>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 <i>Elizabeth</i> +standing beside him!</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Captain Hillgrove!” cried Jack, elated. +“Where is he?”</p> + +<p>“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 <i>Elizabeth</i> +in my boat?”</p> + +<p>Jack’s reply was an exclamation of joy and a +more fervant grip of the honest old tar’s hand.</p> + +<p>“Captain Hillgrove had not deserted me after +all!”</p> + +<p>Without further trouble or delay the couple made the +trip to the waiting vessel, when Jack was greeted +by the bluff old skipper:</p> + +<p>“Bless my eyes! but I had given you up to old +Davy Jones.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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 <i>Elizabeth</i>. Bless my eyes! +but I’m just overflowing and roaring glad--run +up the yards lads. Lively, lads! put the old <i>Elizabeth</i> +on her wings. We must be a long way from here afore +sun-up.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At last the old <i>Elizabeth</i> was safely moored +at her dock.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>I cannot begin to explain the joyous reception accorded +our hero at his home, for many had given him up as +dead.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jenny was not only living and well, but she had never +given up looking for him, believing he would some +day return to her.</p> + +<p>The sweet happiness of the meeting between the pair +is too sacred to be revealed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He could find no one with faith in the virtue of his +product brought from the wilds of South America.</p> + +<p>Captain Hillgrove began to think he had made a profitless +voyage, though be it said to his credit, he stood +ever by Jack.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I shall win out,” said Jack confidently.</p> + +<p>“I trust so with all my heart,” answered +Jenny.</p> + +<p>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 <i>Elizabeth</i>.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_24"></a>Chapter XXIV</h1> +<h2>Jack and the Ocelot</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Poor Plum!” he murmured, as he rode along. +“How I wish he was a live to enjoy this with +me.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The way seemed easy, and presently the pony set off +on a galop, which soon brought Jack out of his revery.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What does this mean, Firefly?” he asked +of the pony, but the animal could not answer.</p> + +<p>Jack heaved a sigh and then drew a pistol he carried.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Now I am surely in a pickle,” reasoned +Jack. “The question is, what am I to do next?”</p> + +<p>He knew his party must have gone on long before this. +He would have to find them in some way. But how?</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I certainly did not come that way,” he +said to himself. “But beyond is higher ground +and I had better go up than down.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He followed its course to a litter of leaves and straining +his glance in that direction made out two other cubs.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>If he could reach this, he could grasp higher pieces +of roots that showed plainly, and easily draw himself +to <i>terra firma</i>.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>She ran first to her crying cubs, nosed them affectionately, +and then turned with low, ominous growlings.</p> + +<p>Jack saw the beast’s eyes fix themselves upon +him. They glowed with fire and fury. Its collar ruffled +and its white teeth showed.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He was hedged in. The beast, still advancing, reared +on its hind feet.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was one of two condiment bottles that he had brought +from the last camp. This was the one containing pepper.</p> + +<p>In a desperate sort of a way Jack discovered this. +He tore off the top of the bottle.</p> + +<p>It was all that he could do to stay the course of +the determined animal.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_25"></a>Chapter XXV</h1> +<h2>In the Quicksands</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“This is getting serious,” murmured the +lad. “Each time she comes swifter and surer. +I must get out of here, now or never.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The moment that she did so, Jack glided to the opposite +wall of the cave.</p> + +<p>He made a sharp run for the opening overhead, calculated +poise and distance nicely, and landed with success.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“That was action,” he panted. “Will +the beast come after me? No--but something else may. +Oh, the mischief!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There burst through the greenery a new enemy. This +was an ocelot larger than the one he had just escaped +from.</p> + +<p>“That is the head of the family, sure,” +thought Jack. “It’s a race, now.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack glanced back over his shoulder. The big ocelot, +more sure-footed than himself, was following him up +resolutely.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The animal issued a terrific snort. Its eyes blazed +madly. A second blow with the club brought the blood, +but it kept on climbing.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The lad sat astride the dead tree branch and began +to walk himself outward from the main trunk of the +tree.</p> + +<p>The ocelot reached the crotch, surveyed Jack with +a savage growl, and carefully planting its feet, started +out after him.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It won’t do to stop, I see that,” +murmured Jack. “Ugh! what kind of a mushy mess +have I got into?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Quicksand!” he breathed hastily. “There +is not a moment to lose!”</p> + +<p>Our hero tugged to get the sunken foot free. He succeeded. +Then, half-dancing about, he threw himself flat.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<p>Jack looked up at the dark sky, sick at heart, but +trying to resign himself to the terrible fate that +hung over him.</p> + +<p>His glance shifted to the tree. He instinctively dodged +his head to one side as he did so. Something spirited +was happening there.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Its small end struck the ground, and it swung out, +coming for Jack and threatened to crush him.</p> + +<p>The limb fell with a crash, the big end just reaching +the west side of the ravine. Its centre grazed our +hero’s shoulder.</p> + +<p>“I am saved!” cried Jack.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Jack held on and tugged hard to draw himself up from +this quicksand bath.</p> + +<p>It was hard work. Finally he got one limb free, then +the other. They were numb, and felt like pieces of +lead.</p> + +<p>Jack was so exhausted with the effort that, crawling +on top of the limb, he lay there lengthwise, almost +exhausted.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_26"></a>Chapter XXVI</h1> +<h2>A Night in the Jungle</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I must get away from this vicinity,” +thought our hero, and at last started off.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>Soon it was so dark that to advance further would +have been foolish.</p> + +<p>Accordingly Jack came to a halt, and looked around +for some means of making himself comfortable for the +night.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>At length he found a tree to his liking and having +taken a final look around, ascended to a number of +the upper branches.</p> + +<p>Here there was a sort of natural platform, where he +might lie without much danger of falling to the ground.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I’ll have to get something for breakfast,” +he reasoned. “If I don’t I’ll be +likely to starve to death.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“I hope it doesn’t try to come up,” +he thought. “If it does, what am I to do?”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well, even if the beast can’t get up +it evidently intends to tree me,” thought Jack, +dismally.</p> + +<p>Sleep was out of the question, and rather impatiently +the youth waited for the coming of dawn.</p> + +<p>At last came a faint light in the east and at last +daylight was at hand.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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!</p> + +<p>“Blind luck!” he cried. “And I thought +it was a wild beast! How foolish I was not to come +down and take a look!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was a dull day, a peculiar smoky air filling the +jungle.</p> + +<p>From a distance came the cry of wild birds, but that +was all.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Well, I never!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He lost no time in securing the weapon. It was ready +for use and with great satisfaction he placed it in +his pocket.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Whoa there, Firefly!” he called out. +“Whoa, I say!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Somewhat bewildered, Jack stood up and gazed around +him.</p> + +<p>“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!</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_27"></a>Chapter XXVII</h1> +<h2>Jack and the Big Snake</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Gracious! what a lot of adventures I am having!” +he murmured, as he again rode along. “I hope +I don’t have any more.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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 señor come from?” he asked, bowing +low.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“The <i>Americano</i> señor is a long distance +from that road,” said the native.</p> + +<p>“Can you guide me to it?” questioned the +youth, eagerly. “I will pay you well for your +services.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“What had made the air so smoky?” questioned +Jack, as they rode along. “Have there been heavy +forest fires?”</p> + +<p>“No forest fires, señor,” the native answered. +“The smoke comes from the bowels of the earth. +The rocks have opened once more--we shall soon have +an earthquake.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Yes, señor.”</p> + +<p>“How soon?”</p> + +<p>“Two, three days, it may be--or perhaps a week,” +answered the native.</p> + +<p>After that they rode along in silence for fully half +a mile, when they reached a trail running east and +west.</p> + +<p>“Is this the road the señor is looking for?” +asked the native, bringing his pony to a halt.</p> + +<p>“I believe it is,” answered Jack. “But +I must look around first to see if my party has passed +this way.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Where can we stop around here?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“The señor wants his humble servant to remain +with him over night?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, unless some other house is handy, and +others there.”</p> + +<p>“There is a house not far away, but it is empty.”</p> + +<p>“Then let us go to it. It will be better to +remain there than to stay in the open.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Somebody must be here after all,” said +the youth, as he rode forward.</p> + +<p>“It must be a stranger, señor,” was the +native’s reply.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Jack! Jack! It is really my own Jack! Oh, how +glad I am to see yeou!”</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_28"></a>Chapter XXVIII</h1> +<h2>Back from the Dead</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Sure ez yeou air born it’s me,” +was the answer from Plum Plucky.</p> + +<p>“But I thought you were dead--I was sure you +were dead. Why, I--I buried your bones!”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“You shall have the pony--if he will sell,” +said Jack.</p> + +<p>“Got any money to pay with? I ain’t got +a red cent.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I suppose so, but don’t yeou take +too many risks finding eout,” returned the Yankee +lad.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Stay with me, Plum, and welcome,” said +Jack, cordially. “I can use you in my business, +if you want to come in.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Noon found them on the main road, and an hour later +they came across two of the members of Jack’s +party.</p> + +<p>“Well, I am glad to see you are alive,” +said one of the men. “We had about given you +up for lost.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“I shall certainly be more careful in the future,” +declared Jack. “Such absent-mindedness does +not pay.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There was no mistaking such a landmark, and as Jack +viewed it he gave a long low whistle.</p> + +<p>“Well?” demanded Plum, questioningly.</p> + +<p>“I am--am staggered, Plum.”</p> + +<p>“Why?”</p> + +<p>“This doesn’t look like a lake, does it?”</p> + +<p>“Sure not, Jack.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Gosh all hemlock, Jack! Yeou don’t mean +it!”</p> + +<p>“I assuredly do.”</p> + +<p>“There ain’t a drop o’ water around +here neow!”</p> + +<p>“I know it and that is what puzzles me.”</p> + +<p>“Ain’t mistaken in the spot?”</p> + +<p>“Not at all. Do you see that solitary pimento +tree? Well, that was there, exactly as it is now.”</p> + +<p>“Yeou said it would be, I remember that,” +said Plum, scratching his head. “But this ain’t +no lake.”</p> + +<p>“It has been. See, the grass shows signs of +having been covered with water mixed with mud.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Whar be yeou a going now?” asked Plum.</p> + +<p>“To the mound in the middle of the valley, to +see if I can find the treasure,” shouted back +Jack.</p> + +<p>“All right, I’m with yeou,” answered +the Yankee lad, and followed down the slope.</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_29"></a>Chapter XXIX</h1> +<h2>The Treasure of the Boiling Lake</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>He remembered well what the paper had said concerning +the treasure, yet he did his best to steel himself +against possible disappointment.</p> + +<p>Plum Deemed to read his thoughts, for as he rode up +he said:</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we’ll know afore long, I calkerlate,” +returned the Yankee lad.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“There has been some great convulsion of nature +here,” said Jack. “Maybe the earthquakes +have something to do with the disappearance of the +water.”</p> + +<p>“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?”</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“It must be thet--but it is certainly wonderful, +Jack.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“If there was a cave here it is filled up,” +said Jack.</p> + +<p>“Pity we didn’t bring a spade along,” +answered his companion.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>A half hour had passed, and they had found nothing +of value, when of a sudden Plum snatched up something +and gave a yell:</p> + +<p>“Gold! gold!”</p> + +<p>“True enough,” answered Jack, when he +had examined the piece. It was the size of his little +finger and similarly formed.</p> + +<p>“The treasure must be here!” went on the +Yankee lad. “Come, let us look for it.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Good for yeou!” shouted the Yankee boy. +“The rocks must be full o’ gold!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Hi! what yeou doing?” yelled Plum, in +alarm, as he retreated from the hole that had appeared.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>“Hurt any?” queried Plum anxiously.</p> + +<p>“Not a bit, Plum.”</p> + +<p>“Any gold down there?”</p> + +<p>“I’ll see,” said Jack.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Gold was there, on all sides of the passageway--enough +to make him rich for life!</p> + +<p>“Plum, look here!” he yelled. “Gold--all +you want of it!”</p> + +<p>“Du tell!” roared the Yankee boy, and +without stopping to think twice he dropped down to +the bottom of the hole.</p> + +<p>Another match was lit, and then some dry brushwood, +and by the flickering light the two youths filled +their pockets with the precious metal.</p> + +<p>“We can load our ponies with gold,” said +Jack. He was so delighted he could scarcely speak.</p> + +<p>“That’s it--we’ll carry away all +we can an’ then come back fer more,” answered +the Yankee lad.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“All right, Jack. But don’t forgit to +pay me fer the job,” laughed Plum.</p> + +<p>“Pay you? Why, Plum, a good share of this gold +is yours!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but yeou knew about the treasure, I didn’t.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care. You can have a third anyway--and +I’ll pay all expenses of this trip.”</p> + +<p>“Thanks, Jack, yeou allers was a good feller.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We’ve got a load!” cried Jack at +last. “Any more down there?”</p> + +<p>“Plenty,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“Well, let us take this to yonder hills and +hide it. Then we can come back for more.”</p> + +<p>“Why to the hills, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“Because something tells me not to trust this +spot too long, Plum. Remember the boiling lake.”</p> + +<p>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.”</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“It is the earthquake!” he murmured, and +at that moment came a loud cry from Plum.</p> + +<p>“Jack! Jack! come up, as quick as yeou can! +The water is squirting up through ’em holes, +an’ the lake is filling up!”</p> + +<h1><a name="ch_30"></a>Chapter XXX</h1> +<h2>A Ride for Life--Conclusion</h2> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Jack, did I hurt you?” spluttered +Plum, as he stood upright at the bottom of the hole.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We must get away from this spot!” gasped +Jack. “If we don’t, we’ll be buried +alive!”</p> + +<p>The rope had fallen at his feet. He picked it up. +There was a noose at one end and this he whirled upward.</p> + +<p>Twice he missed the object for which he aimed, but +the third time the rope caught fast to a projecting +rock.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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!</p> + +<p>“Gosh! what a narrer escape!” gasped Plum.</p> + +<p>“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.”</p> + +<p>“No! no! Don’t do it!” screamed +the Yankee lad. “We can make the shore if we +hurry.”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>It was a wild ride, and dripping from foam and water +the ponies kept on until once again they had to swim.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“We--we air lost!” panted Plum. “Th--the +wind is gone out o’ me!”</p> + +<p>“Keep on, we have only a short distance further +to go!” cried Jack.</p> + +<p>The earth was shaking again and the water appeared +to swing away from them toward the island.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Come, don’t stop here!” yelled +Jack, urging his pony forward. “To higher ground, +before it is too late!”</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>“The island! It is sinking from sight!”</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>“Gone!” gasped Plum. “But we got +the gold--or a good part o’ it!”</p> + +<p>“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!”</p> + +<hr width="80%" size="1" /> + +<p>A few words more and we will bring our tale to a close.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>The End. </p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Jack North's Treasure Hunt, by Roy Rockwood + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT *** + +***** This file should be named 7847-h.htm or 7847-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/8/4/7847/ + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT *** + +***** This file should be named 7847.txt or 7847.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/7/8/4/7847/ + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Jack North's Treasure Hunt + Daring Adventures in South America + +Author: Roy Rockwood + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7847] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on May 22, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE 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. + +<i>Illustrated</i> + +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 <i>strike</i> 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 <i>Standish</i> 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 +<i>Standish</i> 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 <i>Standish's</i> +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 <i>Standish</i> 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 <i>Standish</i> 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 <i>New</i> 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, <i>Santa Clara</i>, 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 <i>Elizabeth</i> 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 +<i>Elizabeth</i> 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 <i>Elizabeth</i> 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 <i>Elizabeth</i>. Bless my +eyes! but I'm just overflowing and roaring glad--run up the yards lads. +Lively, lads! put the old <i>Elizabeth</i> 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 <i>Elizabeth</i> 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 <i>Elizabeth</i>. + + + + +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 <i>terra firma</i>. + +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 <i>Americano</i> 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 + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT *** + +This file should be named 7jnth10.txt or 7jnth10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7jnth11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7jnth10a.txt + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Jack North's Treasure Hunt + Daring Adventures in South America + +Author: Roy Rockwood + +Release Date: April, 2005 [EBook #7847] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on May 22, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-Latin-1 + +*** START OF THE 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. + +<i>Illustrated</i> + +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 <i>strike</i> 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 <i>Standish</i> 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 +<i>Standish</i> 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 <i>Standish's</i> +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 <i>Standish</i> 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 <i>Standish</i> 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 <i>New</i> 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, seņor," 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, seņor, 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, seņor," 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, seņor 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, seņor 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, seņor." + +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, seņor. 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, seņor! I ought to lose my head for undertaking such a mad +project." + +"It may not be as bad as you seem to think, seņor 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, seņor 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, Seņor 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, <i>Santa Clara</i>, Seņor 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 <i>Elizabeth</i> 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 +<i>Elizabeth</i> 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 <i>Elizabeth</i> 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 <i>Elizabeth</i>. Bless my +eyes! but I'm just overflowing and roaring glad--run up the yards lads. +Lively, lads! put the old <i>Elizabeth</i> 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 <i>Elizabeth</i> 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 <i>Elizabeth</i>. + + + + +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 <i>terra firma</i>. + +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 seņor 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 <i>Americano</i> seņor 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, seņor," 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, seņor." + +"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 seņor 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 seņor 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, seņor," 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 + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK NORTH'S TREASURE HUNT *** + +This file should be named 8jnth10.txt or 8jnth10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8jnth11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8jnth10a.txt + +Produced by Curtis A. Weyant and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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