Jess of the Rebel Trail Part 34

"And just think of the delightful hours you and mother can spend upon the lake, or walking through the woods. And during the evenings and on wet days you will have books and magazines, for I shall keep you well supplied with reading matter. In fact, there are a good many books already in the cabin, for father was a great reader."

"When can we go, John?" Jess was all eager now for the adventure.

"We shall have to speak to mother first. I know that she will enter enthusiastically into our scheme."

"Then we had better go back to the house at once. We told her we would be away but a short time, and we have forgotten all about our promise."

"Mother won't mind," John replied. "She likes to see us happy, and she understands."

They stepped out from beneath the tree upon the narrow path, and as they did so a sound upon the river attracted their attention. Glancing in that direction, they saw a small row-boat coming toward them. There was one person 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 ash.o.r.e," 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 a.s.sailant. With a gurgling cry of baffled defeat, Eben turned and fled down the path, along the sh.o.r.e, 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.

This action aroused Jess.

"Forgive me," she pleaded, "I should have been caring for you instead of standing here doing nothing. Come down to the river, and let me bathe your wound. Does it pain you much?"

"Just a scratch," John replied, as he walked along by her side. "It might have finished me, though. It was meant for a knock-out blow. I shall have to settle with that young fool. He must be taught a lesson."

"Oh, don't do anything to him," Jess begged. "He will get over his anger in time. Isn't it strange that he should be so jealous?"

"I don't blame him. If I were in his place I would feel just the same."

The girl understood his meaning, and for an instant a smile dispelled the serious expression upon her face.

"But you wouldn't try to kill a man, would you?" she asked. "You have more sense."

"It is hard to tell what I might do if anyone tried to take you from me."

John was kneeling close to the water now, and the girl was bathing his wound. How delightful it was to feel her gentle touch, and to know that she was so near! It was worth while being injured to have such attention from the one he loved.

For a few minutes Jess held the handkerchief to his forehead. But the blood still flowed, so they decided to go back to the house as quickly as possible, and, have it properly dressed.

"Mother is a fine hand at doing up wounds," John explained. "She is as good as any doctor or nurse."

They walked as fast as possible up the path, and when they at length left this to cross the field, Mrs. Tobin suddenly appeared at the front door of her house.

"Have you seen Eben?" she called.

John stopped short in his tracks, and for an instant he was tempted to tell this woman about her son's cowardly attack. He resisted the longing, however, and merely informed her that Eben was down on the sh.o.r.e, and no doubt would be home shortly.

"It is just as well for her not to know what that boy has done," he confided to Jess, as they continued on their way. "It wouldn't do any good, and the less said about it the better."

"And don't let us say anything about what happened at the quarry, John.

I feel certain now that Eben threw the stone which hit me."

"There is no doubt about it," was the emphatic reply. "I won't say a word now, but that young rascal must be taught a lesson. He needs to be severely punished for what he has done."

CHAPTER XXII

ON THE REBEL TRAIL

"A stick struck me, mother. But it's nothing serious; merely a scratch."

Such was John's brief explanation as he entered the dining-room. Mrs.

Hampton asked no questions, but seeing how pale Jess looked, she felt certain that something out of the ordinary had happened. It did not take her long to dress the wound, after which the young couple sat down to their supper.

"You will take Mrs. Grimsby home, will you not, John?" Mrs. Hampton asked.

"Certainly," was the reply. "You don't mind waiting a while, do you?"

he asked, turning toward the visitor. "I have some ch.o.r.es to do, and then we will all go for a spin. You will come along too, mother, won't you?"

"Not this evening, John. I have some work to do. You and Jess go."