Jack Norths Treasure Hunt | Page 8

father.
"Fret Offut is a bully and a fool," said Mr. North, who was a
blunt-spoken man. "He will never get along in life."
Jack had spoken without knowing the truth. He was not to get rid of
Fret Offut just yet, as we shall soon see.
Chapter V
On the Island of Robinson Crusoe

Ho! for South America!
Bravely did the good steamer Standish keep on her long, and, at
times, stormy voyage to the far distant shore of Western South America.
She escaped the severest storms of the Northern Atlantic, Grossed the
equatorial line in fine shape, and stemmed the farious wrath of Cape
Horn in safety. But every one on board felt freer and in better spirits,
when at last they entered the Pacific regions where storms are of rare
occurrence.
The steamer's destination was Valparaiso, Chili, and the commander
talked of getting into port shortly.
Among those looking most hopefully forward to the termination of the
voyage was our hero, who had been sent by his employers on the
responsible errand of seeing that one of their engines was properly
delivered and put into good running order. He fondly believed it was
the great opportunity of his life.
He was never more surprised than he was upon finding at the last
moment that Fret Offut had been delegated to accompany him as
helper.
At first he could not believe it; but there the awkward youth was, and
that he was sent for that purpose was plainly indicated by the order
from John Fowler & Co.
To his still greater surprise, the other seemed to have forgotten or
overlooked their differences, and he greeted Jack with all the warmth of
an old friend.
"If he can afford to be friendly I can," thought Jack, who was not a
person to cherish long any bitterness of feeling against another, and he
resolved to treat Fret as well as possible.
This, coupled with that bond of sympathy for an associate one is sure to
have on leaving those dear to him far behind, made the two seem

somewhat like friends.
Had Jack known the truth, known the frequent and long conversations
his deceitful companion had held with the plotting Furniss, and how the
latter had worked to get Offut sent on this voyage with him, our hero
would have felt different toward the other. The second boss's parting
words had been: "Remember you owe this opportunity to me, Fret
Offut, who might have gone but for my willingness to let you. Don't
forget either that if, for any reason, North does not get to Valparaiso
you will step into his place, and gain the honor he is anxious to get."
This was spoken with such signs and indications as only one in the
secret could understand, and young Offut nodded knowingly, as much
as to say:
"I understand perfectly, and will not fail in my part to gain our ends."
It may have been that the looked-for opportunity did not come, as he
had expected, or that his courage failed him in his cowardly purpose,
for no harm befel Jack until on the evening before the day, which, if
nothing unfavorable occurred, the commander had promised would
bring them within sight of land. Jack stood by the quarter-rail a long
time watching the sun sink into the distant water, and then the silent
coming of the stars into the firmament overhead.
It was a beautiful evening, though fleecy clouds were beginning to
fringe the horizon, and he was certain the whole sky would be obscured
soon.
But his mind was more engrossed with thoughts of his parents and
Jenny at home than with the calm grandeur of a tropical sea, and he was
wondering how many months must pass before he should be able to
meet her, when the sound of a cat-like step behind him arrested his
attention.
Thinking of no harm, he turned slowly to greet the one approaching, to
find himself confronted by the tall figure of Fret Offut.

A look of wild fierceness was on the other's features, and before Jack
could speak his arms were uplifted, swinging overhead a belaying pin.
Reading at a glance Offut's horrible purpose, Jack attempted to seize
his upraised hands, but he had barely made a move before the weapon
descended upon him!
With an indistinct recollection of a dull sense of pain in his head, Jack
knew no more until he was brought back to consciousness by the
feeling of water around him and it slowly dawned upon him that he had
been sent overboard from the ship into the sea by the blow from Fret
Offut.
It was too dark for him to see any distance, so he listened for some
sound of the steamer.
Once he thought he caught