Jess of the Rebel Trail

, with not a breath of wind astir. The river shimmered like a great mirror, its surface only ruffled when an occasional motor-boat hurried by, and the little steamer "Oconee," on her

for the supremacy of a virgin land. Later it saw the slow-creeping boats of hardy pioneers, Loyalists, who came to make for themselves homes in the wilderness. Its shores re-echoed to the shouts and songs of sturdy raftsmen in the days when acres of gre

hoice friends. He glanced occasionally toward the shore and up to the little cottage nestling among the trees. It was his home, and yet he had little affection for the place. It was there he had received food and shelter nearly all his life, but no sweet memories clustered around that little house. He had always been misunderstood, and he could not recall the time when he had not been scolded for everything he did. His mother was a woman who did her duty

show a little more spunk, an' stand up fer his rights. Ma an' Flo'd think

ult with everything he did. His eyes glowed with a new light, and his heart beat faster as he remembered how interested she had been in his drawings. Then his feelings underwent a swift

anied by a heavy wind, and he remembered, how twice that very summer the "Eb and Flo" had dragged her anchor when hit by a furious gale. The first time she had, drifted out into the main channel, and they only had time to hoist sail and get her under way. On the second occasion she had gone ashore, and barely escaped a pile of rocks. Fortunately it had been low tide, so when the water rose, a passing tug had

he muttered. "Guess I'

ve it up when the

when a motor-boat sputtered near, and slowed down close alongside. T

b and Flo'?" th

s the reply. "

ed. He did not like the look upon his face nor his insolent manner. What right had these men to come on board the "Eb and Flo"? he asked himself. He felt in a fighting mood, but he realised that he could do little, for Donaster's companion was a big burly fellow, of

g woman on this

is it of yours?" Eben retor

r it's my business or not if

own, an' I kin have anyone I like

tongue in your mouth or it won't be well for you.

dden idea flashed into his mind. He could not fight these men single-handed, and win. He must get them at a s

oman on board, wha

her; th

nd her yerselves. Don't frigh

in?" Donaster was

nodded, and

aster ordered. "I su

have seen the young man they despised as of no account following, his face clouded with anger, and bearing in his hands a stout stick he had picked up from the deck. But sure of themselves, the visitors reached the cabin

r was saying. "Hustle on deck, Bill, and

ot upon the bottom step than a roar of warning greeted him from

I'll brain ye

nce and fear escaped his lips. In the twilight of evening he

you fool," he cried

there all right. Mebbe I'm not sich a fool as ye

But the more they raved, the more satisfied Eben became. It was rare sport, and he was enjoying it. But he was

leave his post even for a minute. The men were whispering to each other. What they said he could not make out, but presently he heard the scratching of a match, and a light flared up. They were searching for a lamp, which they soon foun

y a tremendous crash of thunder. From the cabin came a howl of fear, a

ut of this hole!" Donaster p

ly. "Ye got yerselves into this fix,

might strike the bo

right if it did. But, hea

cabin door, and

to gather together the sail as it flopped in the first fitful gusts of wind and make it secure. But before this could be accomplished the storm was upon him. The thunder was terrific and the lightning incessant. The rain descended in torrents, and the wind whipping across the deck, caught the half furl