, and they
had no light to guide their steps. But they were thankful for this
refuge, and it was good to sit there and rest.

"Guess the fire can't reach us now," Eben remarked. "Wish to goodness
I had a match, so's we could see what kind of a place this is. But I
left my vest in the car, and the matches were in the pocket."

"What car?" Mrs. Hampton asked.

"Lord Fiddlesticks'."

"You mean Lord Donaster?"

"I guess that's his name, but dad calls him 'Fiddlesticks'."

"And you were with him? Where was he going?"

"Why, he was comin' here, of course. Where'd ye think he was goin'?"

"What was he coming here for?" Jess sharply asked.

"To see you, I guess."

"How did he know where I was?"

"H'm, he found out all right. Ye can't hide from him fer long. He
thinks a lot of you, he sure does."

"Where is he now, then?"

"Oh, he skedaddled when he saw the fire. He was 'most scared t' death."

"So he left you alone to save us?" Jess asked. "There was a note of
tenderness in her voice.

"Oh, I didn't mind. He'd only been in the way. He's no good."

"And you came right through the fire to help us! We would have been
burned alive but for you."

"I'm glad I was in time. Oh!" Eben tried to smother the groan, but in
vain. The intense excitement on the lake while seeing from the flames
had kept his mind from his burns, but now in the darkness and stillness
of the mine it was different. His sufferings increased, and he felt
like screaming with the pain. He could sit still no longer.

"You stay here," he ordered, "while I go an' see how things look
outside."

"Be careful of yourself, and keep out of the fire," Mrs. Hampton warned.

"Oh, I'll be keerful," Eben faintly replied, as he groped his way along
the dark passage. "I won't run no risk."

Left alone, the women talked about the fire, and the bravery of their
young rescuer.

"Eben is certainly a hero," Mrs. Hampton remarked. "How can we ever
repay him for what he has done for us to-day?"

"He must have done it for your sake?" Jess replied. "I am sure he
didn't do it for me."

"Why not?" Mrs. Hampton asked in surprise.

"He doesn't like me. I feel certain that it was Eben who threw the
stone which hit me that night at the quarry. And then when he came
home yesterday and met John and me on the shore he was very angry. He
picked up a stick and threw it with all his might. It hit John, but I
really believe it was meant for me."