son on board, pulling at the oars with long, steady strokes.

"Why, it is Eben!" John exclaimed. "And there's the 'Eb and Flo' lying
at anchor. It's a wonder we didn't hear some sound before."

"Suppose we wait here until Eben comes ashore," Jess suggested. "It
will give him a great surprise. I have not seen him since the truck
ran off the track at the quarry."

It took Eben but a few minutes to reach the land and pull up the boat.
He then straightened himself up, and was about to move up the path when
he caught sight of the two standing before him. In a twinkling the
expression upon his face changed, and his eyes gloved with the light of
jealousy and hatred.

"Come on up, Eben," Jess invited. "We're waiting for you."

With a bound the youth did as he was bidden, and in another minute he
was standing before the two, with his fists doubled, and a defiant look
upon his face.

"Why, Eben, what's the matter?" Jess asked, shrinking back in fear.

The boy, however, was not looking at her, but at John.

"I hate you!" he cried. "I will kill you!"

"What do you mean?" John sternly asked. "What have I done to you?"

"You stole her from me," and Eben motioned to the girl.

"Oh, I see," and John laughed. "Come, Jess, we had better go home.
Eben is jealous, and I don't want to fight a duel here."

Like a flash the maddened youth stooped, seized a stick lying near, and
hurled a savage blow at John's head. Quick as lightning the latter
dodged, and although he managed to escape the full force of the blow,
one end of the stick grazed his forehead, inflicting a long gash. It
staggered him for an instant, but recovering, he leaped toward his
assailant. With a gurgling cry of baffled defeat, Eben turned and fled
down the path, along the shore, and disappeared amid the trees.

Blood was now flowing from the wound in John's forehead as he stood and
stared in the direction Eben had gone. Then he turned to his companion.

"This explains something which has been puzzling me," he began. "I
know now who threw the stone which hit you on the head. It was
intended for me, but it struck you instead."

"Oh, do you think so?" the girl asked. "I am greatly surprised at
Eben. I had no idea he would do such a thing."

"H'm, one need never be surprised at anything he does. He's always
been a mystery to me, and to everybody else, I guess."

Drawing forth his handkerchief, he wiped the blood from his forehead.
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