dead. She ran
away, and came on board this boat. Own up now, like a good fellow."

"What did she run away fer?"

"Because she doesn't want to marry me. She's acted very foolishly, and
I'm bound that she shan't escape. I shall find her, no matter where
she is."

"Did she promise she'd marry ye?"

"No, she never did. But her parents said I could have her."

"She doesn't love ye, then?"

"Love, be d----! What do I care about love? There's no such a thing
as love. It's the girl I want. Love has nothing to do with it."

Eben made no reply. His attention was taken up with bringing the boat
around for a short starboard tack, and in giving orders to Bill. When
she was running steadily once more, his mind reverted to what he had
just heard. So the girl had thrown over Donaster, too, he mused, the
same as she had treated him at the quarry. He felt a certain degree of
sympathy for the man. Why should he not help him, and take her away
from Hampton? It would be some satisfaction, for the spirit of revenge
was still rankling in his soul. But Donaster didn't love her. He had
said that there was no such a thing as love. He knew that the man was
wrong, for he himself loved the girl as he had never loved anyone
before. She meant everything to him, and his life was bleak and
desolate since she had left the boat. Why should Hampton have her?

"Look here, you haven't answered my question." It was Donaster
speaking.

"What question?"

"I asked you where Miss Randall is. I am sure you know."

"Yer mistaken, then. I don't know where she is." Eben suddenly
remembered the stone he had hurled through the window. He realised
that the less he said the better it would be. If he should commit
himself in the least degree as to what he knew about Miss Randall, he
was certain that Donaster would continue to bother him with no end of
questions.

"But surely you must know where she is," the man persisted. "I am
positive that she went up river with you on this boat. What became of
her after she left you?"

"I told ye I don't know where she is. Ye'll have to go an' find her
yerself, if yer so interested in her."

Several times during the night Donaster attempted in vain to wrest the
secret from Eben, and his failure made him angry. Lack of sleep, his
wet clothes, and the stubbornness of the boy annoyed him. But he could
do nothing, so at length, giving up in despair, he went down into the
cabin, and lighted