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
shore, 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.