Jess of the Rebel Trail

ail stretched to its full capacity. There had been considerable work before the boat was well under way, and as the captain now stood at the wheel he was breat

tossing her hair over cheeks and brow. The searching party was left behind, and the small boats seemed like mere vanishing specks in the distance. She had no fear now, for she believed that the "Eb and Flo" would carry her safely away from her pursuers

below. Jist keep her at that," he continued, when the girl with

control such a craft, and cause it to do one's slightest bidding. And what a sense of freedom possessed her. It was a life for which she had so often longed, and she thought with amusement of her various social activities in the city. She had

om the cabin, carrying a three-legged

fortable than standin'. Ye kin lean aginst the cabi

upon the stool. It was certainly a relief to sit there

e remarked, turning her face to his. "

anyway. It takes all the pleasure out of doi

ich had been at the store when the captain was there. She was quite certain who the young driver was, and her heart beat somewhat faster when she thought of him. She longed to know how he had surmised where she was,

e must have burned it all up this mornin', Miss," he added, turning to his fair companion. "Anyway, that boy never

interest in things he l

. I know he's mighty fond of eatin' an' sleepi

his morning, Captain,

! In wh

our son has a great

rough that salmon net. It's too fer out, blamed if it isn't. Yes, I know Eben's fond of drawin', an' that's

ld make a success of

fer him to learn boatin' so he kin

ind is set upon being an engineer, and

captain stared at t

and the drawings he has made are remarkably good,

ith engineering I'd like to know. Ye don't ha

s mind is set upon bridge building, and you should see the drawings he ha

wed 'em to me. Gues

boy, and he has been doing this work on the sly. He showed the

ha

you? It would be a great pity not to help and encoura

as a study, and the girl watched him somewhat curiously. She knew how his heart was set u

announced. "She an' Flo are so dead set upon Eben bein' a ca

on he may slip from your grasp. Would it not be better to hold his affections by helping him in every way you can? I wish I could see y

hope. If ye knew 'em as well as I do, ye wouldn't feel very sure, let me tell ye th

d her surprise. "Why, I thought we would be at you

o, it would be all up with me if Martha an' Flo should catch you here. We'll jist give 'em the go-by to-day, an' it

" the girl asked. "Wouldn't it be very easy to explain how

lookin' after the house, an' sich things. But when it comes to the question of other women, an' 'speciall

, and her face flushed. "They might thi

' that would make it

ason, Captain? Surely they w

a nasty gale, or doin' something extry risky; but I do wilt right down before Martha an' Flo when thei

do you in

As soon as we reach the quarry you'll have to light out. I hate to say it, Miss, but thar's too much at stake fer

am very grateful for what you have already done, and as soon as I reach the quarry

er ye leave this boat?" the capt

going to worry about that now. I shall be fre

his father's return from the store, but a new light shone in his eyes, and his step was more buoyant than before. The furtive look that he at times cast upon the fair passenger was one of profound admi

t, and Jess noticed that he was becoming somewhat nervous. This became more apparent the farther up the river they moved, and it was not until they had passed one of the three islands, which here studded the river, did she comprehend the me

her at the front door. Hustle. I don't want her to see ye. But ye needn't

pon the second step from the top,

ays use the glass?"

on us ever since we hove in sight. Hop

seen for miles from the river. The captain was naturally proud of his home, and was always glad when it appeared in sight. But this day was the first exception during his long years of boating. His face became stern, and his hands gripped the wheel harder than ever as he set his mind upon the task of running by that snug cottage

u so much worry," she remarked. "But for me you

run in thar so often that she does it of her own accord. She's almost human, this boat is. My! won't Martha git the surprise of her life when she sees us go by. She's wavi

nd shouting across the water. What they said she could not distinguish, though she guessed the purport of the words they were uttering. She pitied the captain, for she was well aware that when he did go home his reception wou

up. It must be ninety in the shade.