! Mebbe Flo'll try to swim out to us, fer she's great in the
water, almost like a fish."

The "Eb and Flo" was now almost abreast of the captain's home, and
scudding so fast that in a few minutes she would be by. It was
possible for Jess to see the two women standing upon the shore,
frantically waving their arms and 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 would be far from
pleasant. She kept her eyes riveted upon the women until they became
mere specks in the distance. Then she turned to the captain. He was
mopping his face with a big red handkerchief, and his hands were
trembling.

"Dam it!" he growled. "I'm all het up. It must be ninety in the
shade. Git me a drink of water, will ye?"

CHAPTER VIII

WHAT THE COW DID

"If she won't take ye in, yer welcome to stay here all night."

The "Eb and Flo" was lying securely fastened to the wharf at the Spoon
Island stone quarry. She had made a good run up the river, and had
reached her destination late in the afternoon. Captain Tobin was
standing upon deck looking upon Jess and Eben as they started up the
track toward the quarry.

"Eben'll show ye Mrs. Ricksteen's house," he told the girl. "I guess
she needs extry help with the crowd of men she allus has. But she
might want a recommendation, fer she's mighty pertic'ler, Mrs.
Ricksteen is. Anyway, if she won't take ye in, yer welcome to come
back here."

Jess thanked the captain, and told him that she was sure she could make
out all right. She would return in the morning to tell him of her
success, and get her belongings.

"See that Eben behaves himself," the captain reminded. "An' don't let
him stay too long. Thar's a lot of work to do on board to-night."

"You needn't worry," was the girl's smiling reply. "Eben can return
just as soon as he shows me the way. I won't run off with him."

The captain stood and watched them as they walked slowly up the track.
"My, my, she's a fine gal, an' no mistake," he mused. "I never saw
Eben so taken up with anyone as he is with her. Why, his face
brightens the instant she speaks to him. Seems to me he's head over
heels in love with her. It's only nat'ral, I s'pose. If I was young
meself I'd lose me head an' heart over a gal like that. It'd be great
to have her fer a da