Jack Norths Treasure Hunt | Page 3

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