Juarez had known nothing of the Sea Eagle complication, but one day a stranger had come to the Kansas Town where he lived, enquired for him and had promptly laid before the youth a proposition to join in a venture to search for lost treasures in the South Seas. The professor, for so he introduced himself, had all the needed funds for the venture, but lacked experienced assistants. He wanted them not only with experience, but honest as well, for naturally, if success attended his efforts, and the sought for treasure was found it would prove an ever present temptation to an unruly crew, or one disposed to evil.
Juarez had accepted the offer as soon as made. The quiet life of the farm, and even the occasional visits to the small, nearby country town were dull indeed. To one of his active nature this life was very monotonous. He had promptly wired, at the professor’s request, to James Darlington, and Jo, receiving the message in his brother’s absence, had, after consulting Tom, wired acceptance of the very liberal offer made.
So it had come about that Jim being in San Francisco on one mission, his brothers and their friend had arrived to take part in another enterprise.
Reaching San Francisco, effort had been made by the three boys to locate Jim, but so far unsuccessfully. The reader of the [“Frontier Boys in Frisco”] is fully conversant of the episode which had taxed Jim’s time and attention.
The boys had arranged to sleep aboard the professor’s boat, and Juarez was awaiting the return of Jo and Tom, who had gone upon some errand.
Juarez, thus suddenly awakened, struggled vainly but furiously for a few moments to break the iron grasp that held him as in a vice. Then, with Indian cunning he apparently gave up the attempt and ceased to struggle, but resolved to renew his efforts at the first opportunity that offered.
He had been taken so unaware that he had no chance to see who it was that had stolen upon him from the back, seized him, and held him with his face to the wall of the building against which he had been leaning.
“Ho!” cried a gruff voice, “I have got you at last.”
“It looks that way,” admitted Juarez. “Who are you and what do you want?”
“You,” replied the other.