wharf, they stood and talked for a few minutes. What they said Eben
could not make out, but presently he heard his father calling his name.
This caused him to crouch lower upon the ground, fearful lest he should
be observed. One of the quarrymen then spoke and motioned his hand in
the direction the boy had gone. Eben heard the amused laughter which
followed, and he fully comprehended its meaning. They were laughing at
him for running away! It was almost more than he could endure, and his
first impulse was to rush from his hiding place, challenge John Hampton
for a fight, and show Jess that he was no coward. But a natural
diffidence restrained him, which caused him to remain silent and
unseen. It was only when he was certain that the visitors were well
out of sight, did he venture back to the wharf. His father looked at
him somewhat curiously, but was wise enough to ask no questions.

When darkness had settled over the land, Eben left the boat and made
his way slowly up the track. Reaching the main highway, he moved
forward with a long jerky stride until he came to the little clearing
where the Dobbins' shack was situated. He stopped and peered
cautiously around. A light shone from the one window facing the road,
and toward this Eben stealthily moved. There was no blind to the
window, so when near enough he could easily see all that was taking
place within. The sight that met his first glance stirred him to a
high pitch of angry jealousy. He saw the two sitting close to each
other but a short distance from the injured man, who was lying upon a
cot. John was talking to Jess in a most earnest manner, and the look
upon the girl's face was one of intense happiness. She was evidently
pleased at what her lover was saying, for occasionally her lips parted
in a smile.

All this Eben saw in the few minutes that he stood there. His hands
were clenched hard, and his eyes were filled with the fire of hatred.
There was the man who had come between him and the girl he loved. He
was but a short distance away, so acting upon the wild impulse of the
instant he stooped down, and finding a stone lying right at his feet,
he took careful aim, and hurled it with his full force through the
window, straight at the head of his enemy. The sudden crash was
followed instantly by a cry of pain, and then all was still. With
fast-beating heart Eben looked, expecting to see Hampton stretched upon
the floor. Great was his horror