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diff --git a/old/7jnth10.txt b/old/7jnth10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e342865 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/7jnth10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5907 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack North's Treasure Hunt, by Roy Rockwood +#6 in our series by Roy Rockwood + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. 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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