He was glad for the opportunity, but disappointed at the last moment to find that Mr. Pearce had concluded to give up going with him.
“Too much like work, Jack. You see I have fitted in here, and if we should find that treasure it would be of no earthly good to me as I am alone in the world. I hope you will find it, my lad, and that it will help you and Jenny to make a happy home. Good bye.”
“Good bye,” said Jack, as he pressed his friend’s hand warmly, for he had grown to like the kindhearted gentleman.
Fret Offut nodded lightly to the other, as he entered the boat which was to take them to the vessel.
The trip to Valparaiso was uneventful, but there Jack met with a great disappointment.
The Standish had left for its homeward voyage.
Thus Jack found himself left alone among strangers, save for the companionship of Fret Offut, who seemed disposed to hold aloof from him. The other had refused to tell him the cause of his being hunted by the Chilians, though Jack suspected that it was in some way the result of his attack upon him. Fret had told enough in his sleep for our hero to know that he had been arrested for the deed, and that he had afterwards escaped. But Jack did not feel like saying anything to Fret about it, as long as he showed no inclination to mention the subject.
Knowing that it might be several months before he could return to his home and being short of money, Jack at once began to look about for an opportunity to earn a living. Unable to find anything to do in Valparaiso, he walked to Tocopilla, though Fret declined to accompany him. In this town he found work as a machinist at the princely income of four Spanish dollars a week. But this was better than nothing and he went to work with a hearty good will.
He worked in Tocopilla steadily for a month. During the time he heard nothing from home or from Fret Offut.
He still kept the paper describing the mysterious island holding its vast, hidden treasure, but he had not felt like undertaking the long journey necessary to search for it.