ouldn't you rebel against marrying a man you despised and hated?"

"I certainly should. I would do almost anything rather than marry the
man I disliked."

Further conversation was interrupted by the sudden stopping of the car.
John opened the door and stepped out.

"We are here at last," he explained. "This is where we take the boat.
I shall leave the car here."

It took them but a few minutes to carry their luggage to the lake and
place it on board a small flat-bottomed boat lying upon the shore.
With the women seated astern, John took the oars, and soon they were
out upon the water.

"This is a wonderful adventure," Jess remarked after they had gone a
short distance. "How still and mysterious everything is! I was never
in such a place before."

"I hope you will not get homesick here," Mrs. Hampton replied, at the
same time taking the girl's right hand in hers.

"Not with you near me, Mrs. Hampton. What lovely times we shall have!"

"I hope so, dear," and the elder woman sighed. "But here we are at the
island. You see, it is not far across."

The house on Island Lake was built mostly of logs, and was a cosy
abode. It was comfortably furnished, and a rough fireplace was
situated at one end of the living room. Jess was overjoyed as she
looked around after the lamp had been lighted.

"What a delightful place!" she exclaimed. "I never expected to find
such a house as this so far in the wilderness."

"My dear husband and I used to spend very happy days here," Mrs.
Hampton told her. "I used to keep house while he worked at the mine.
We made very little money, but we were happy, and after all, that is
worth more than gold. When he died, I did not have the heart to
disturb anything, but left the house just as it was. John has looked
after it, and if he had his way he would spend most of his time here."

"And so should I," the girl enthusiastically replied. "I know I shall
be happy here. Oh, I am so glad we have come."

John was happy, too, and as he looked upon the bright, animated face
before him, he longed to live there in the woods the rest of his life,
if only he might have the one who was so dear to him always by his side.

CHAPTER XXIII

STRAIGHT TALK

"I'm sartinly proud of ye, Eben. I didn't think it was in ye."

This was Captain Tobin's comment as he listened for the second time to
his son's story of the night on the river, and the rescue from the
falls. Supper had been over