en his
feelings underwent a swift change. He was nothing to her. She never
once thought of him after she met Hampton at the quarry. And he had
struck her instead of his enemy! Would she ever learn the truth? he
wondered.

A low rumble of thunder in the distance aroused him. He looked off
toward the right. The sun had gone down, and big black clouds were
massing in the distance and rolling up from the west. The thunder was
becoming more audible, while flashes of lightning were already
splitting the air. He was well accustomed to such storms, which at
times came up suddenly after a day of intense heat. They were
generally accompanied 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 pulled her off, undamaged. The anchor was too small,
and his father had often spoken about getting a larger one. But this
he had neglected to do, principally because of the expense. Had there
been good anchorage at Beach Cove, Eben would have felt more at ease.
But he knew that the bottom here was gravelly and would afford but a
poor hold for the best of anchors. A louder rumble of thunder fell
upon his ears.

"It'll soon be here," he muttered. "Guess I'd better lower the sail.
It won't do to have it up when the squall strikes."

He rose to his feet and was making his way across the pile of stones,
when a motor-boat sputtered near, and slowed down close alongside.
There were two men on board, one steering, and the other at the engine.

"Is this the 'Eb and Flo'?" the former asked.

"Guess so," was the reply. "What d'ye want?"

At once the motor-boat was made fast to the deck-rail, and the two men
climbed on board. Such liberty was not at all pleasing to Eben. His
fists doubled and his eyes expressed anger. He recognised one of the
visitors as Donaster, the man from whom Jess Randall had fled. 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 the fighting t