Can't retrieve drupal_add_js settings in block module

This is a test module to simplify the problem. The javascript references the settings perfectly through Drupal.settings[0] but fails on just Drupal.settings. But if I understand right, the array index may change later, so this is not the right solution.

I hope my jQuery is not the problem. I have installed jQuery Update and check the Status Report.

Thanks for any help this might show.

<?php

/**
 * @file
 * This is a block that calls javascript.
 */

/**
 * @defgroup jstest Block
 *
 */

/**
 * Implementation of hook_block().
 *
 * This hook both declares to Drupal what blocks are provided by the module, and
 * generates the contents of the blocks themselves.
 */
function jstest_block($op = 'list', $delta = '', $edit = array()) {
  // The $op parameter determines what piece of information is being requested.
  switch ($op) {
    case 'list':
      // If $op is "list", we just need to return a list of block descriptions.
      // This is used to provide a list of possible blocks to the administrator;
      // end users will not see these descriptions.
      $blocks['configurable-text'] = array(
        'info'       => t('jstest'),
      );
      // A block can provide default settings. In this case we'll enable the
      // block and make it visible only on the 'node/*' pages.
      $blocks['empty'] = array(
        'info'       => t('jstest'),
        'status'     => TRUE,
        'weight'     => 0,
        'visibility' => 1,
        'pages'      => 'node/*',
      );
      return $blocks;
    case 'configure':
      // If $op is "configure", we need to provide the administrator with a
      // configuration form. The $delta parameter tells us which block is being
      // configured. In this example, we'll allow the administrator to customize
      // the text of the first block.
      $form = array();
      if ($delta == 'configurable-text') {
        // All we need to provide is a text field, Drupal will take care of
        // the other block configuration options and the save button.
        $form['jstest_string'] = array(
          '#type' => 'textfield',
          '#title' => t('it is a jstest'),
          '#size' => 20,
          '#description' => t('This string will appear in the jstest block.'),
          '#default_value' => variable_get('jstest_string',  t('Select from the list of jstests.')),
        );
      }
      return $form;
    case 'save':
      // If $op is "save", we need to save settings from the configuration form.
      // Since the first block is the only one that allows configuration, we
      // need to check $delta to make sure we only save it.
      if ($delta == 'configurable-text') {
        // Have Drupal save the string to the database.
        variable_set('jstest_string', $edit['jstest_string']);
      }
      return;
    case 'view':
      // If $op is "view", then we need to generate the block for display
      // purposes. The $delta parameter tells us which block is being requested.
      switch ($delta) {
        case 'configurable-text':
          // The subject is displayed at the top of the block. Note that it
          // should be passed through t() for translation.
          $block['subject'] = t('jstests for test');
          // The content of the block comes from jstest_contents
          $block['content'] = jstest_contents(1);
          break;
        case 'empty':
          $block['subject'] = t('Title of block #2');
          $block['content'] = jstest_contents(2);
          break;
      }
      return $block;
  }
}

/**
 * A block content function.
 */
function jstest_contents($which_block) {

  switch ($which_block) {
    case 1:

        // Javascript start
        drupal_add_js(drupal_get_path('module', 'jstest') .'/test.js');
        // pass val to the JS
        $setting = array(
            array ('jstest' =>
              array('val' => 'w')
                  )
        );
        // pass variables to javascript
        drupal_add_js($setting, 'setting');
        // Javascript end

        $dir = drupal_get_path('module','jstest');

        variable_set('jstest_string',  t('<div id="t"></div>'));
        return variable_get('jstest_string', t('ss'));

    case 2:
      // In this case, Drupal will not display the block at all.
      return;
  }
}

/**
 * @} End of "defgroup jstest.
 */