"I don't think he will," said Jenny. "Anyway, I'll keep my eyes open for
him."

After that Jack spent a pleasant hour in the company of the girl who was
his dearest friend, and then went home to prepare for his trip of so many
thousand miles.

His parents already knew something about the proposed journey, so they
were not much surprised. They had seen Mr. Fowler and talked it over with
the manufacturer. Mrs. North did what she could to get Jack's outfit ready
for him.

"I'll be glad to leave such fellows as Fret Offut behind," said Jack, to
his 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