Jack North's Treasure Hunt Part 12

"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 friends.h.i.+p 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 s.p.a.cious 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 pa.s.senger 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 smas.h.i.+ng 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 antic.i.p.ate.

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.