Jack North's Treasure Hunt Or, Daring Adventures in South America   By: Roy Rockwood

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.

Illustrated

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 strike 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.