"Let me put a flea in your ear, Jack. John Fowler has got his eye on you
for the one to go to South America."

Scarcely any other announcement could have brought greater joy to Jack,
for he had a great desire to travel, and this long journey would take him
away from home for many months, he felt it would be a grand opportunity.
But he knew that Furniss had been working for the place, and he could not
realize that such good fortune was to fall to him, so he said to Henshaw:

"I thought that Furniss was sure of the chance. I heard him say as much
only yesterday." "A fig for Furniss! Old John had a long talk with me this
morning, and I told him you were just the chap for the place, young and
capable. He nodded his head and I could see that you were as good as
taken. Of course we shall miss you, but it's a trip a youngster like you
can't afford to miss."

"I should like to go, Mr. Henshaw, and I thank you for your kind words."

"Don't cost nothing," returned the bluff foreman, as he started homeward.

Jack was too happy over his prospects to mind the baleful looks of Furniss
the next day, or to hear the jibes of Fret Offut. Could he have foreseen
the startling result he must have been bound with dismay.

The following Monday, when the day's work was done and he was leaving the
shop, Mr. Henshaw came along, and slapping him on the shoulder, said: "Let
me congratulate you, my lad. It is just as I said; you are going to South
America,--if you will."