Jack Norths Treasure Hunt | Page 6

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