o leave you alone, but there is
nothing else to do. I could not think of sending you, for you would be
sure to lose your way."

Hardly had Mrs. Hampton ceased speaking ere Jess pointed excitedly
across to the island.

"Look, look!" she cried. "Somebody is over there. He's standing on
the shore, though he doesn't see us. I believe it's John!"

Laying Eben's head gently upon the ground, she sprang to her feet,
hurried down to the edge of the lake, and called across the water. As
she did so, the man on the island started, hurried forward, and looked
over to where the girl was standing.

"Are you both safe?" he shouted.

"Yes," Jess called back. "But we want help."

"All right, I'll be there in a minute."

The next instant he was into the lake, and headed straight for the
island. Jess watched him with the keenest interest, her eyes aglow
with admiration.

"Isn't he a great swimmer!" she exclaimed, as she turned to Mrs.
Hampton, who was now standing by her side. "I know he would come,
didn't you?"

"Yes, if he possibly could," was the reply. "I am so thankful he is
here, for he will be able to help us get that poor boy home."

It took John but a few minutes to swim across that narrow portion of
the lake, and when his feet at length touched bottom he waded ashore,
the water running in streams from his body. But the women thought
nothing of his personal appearance, so delighted were they to have him
with them.

"Mother! Jess!" he panted. "How did you get here?"

In reply, Mrs. Hampton pointed to the partly-burned boat, and then
turned toward the mine.

"Come," she simply said, "I want to show you something."

She led the way, with Jess and John following. The latter could not
keep his eyes off the girl's face. He could hardly believe it possible
that she was alive, and looking as beautiful as ever, although somewhat
pale. He was like a man who had awakened from a horrible dream, and
found that it was not true.

Mrs. Hampton stopped at the entrance of the mine and silently motioned
to the prostrate boy.

"Why, it's Eben Tobin!" John almost shouted the words, so great was
his surprise. "How in the world did he get here?"

"He came in the boat, and saved us just in the nick of time," Mrs.
Hampton explained. "But for him we would not be here now."

"But what is wrong with him?"

"He is so terribly burned that he is unconscious. He leaped right
through the fire at the landing, pushed off