y unnecessary worry.

Jess sat for a while lost in thought, and John was relieved that she
did not ask any more questions.

"Poor daddy!" she sighed. "I am sorry for him, but I hope this
experience of his will teach him a lesson. He has been needing it for
some time."

"Are you not afraid to go back to the river?" John asked. "Perhaps
your father will be more angry than ever, and blame you for his
trouble."

"I am not afraid now," was the low reply. "All that daddy can do or
say will make little difference to me after what I have undergone
to-day. I am going to him as soon as I can, and have this whole matter
settled. I am sure he will not want me to marry Donaster now after the
cowardly way he ran away and left us to our fate. But even if he does,
it won't matter to me. Perhaps I was foolish to run away as I did. It
might have been better if I had stayed at home, and asserted my rights.
No one, not even my parents could have forced me to marry such a thing
as that against my will. There will be no running away after this, I
can tell you that. The matter will be settled once and for all as soon
as I see daddy."

The decided tone of the girl's voice, and the look of determination in
her eyes pleased the young man who was watching her. He liked what she
said about Donaster, knowing that her censure was just. He knew what
he would do with the coward should he ever catch him prowling around.
He just longed for some pretext to get his hands upon the fellow.

As they drew near the landing, they saw a car come down to the shore
and stop. Several men stepped out, who waved encouragingly to the
voyagers. John recognised them at once as the ones who had come to his
aid on the plains. He was very glad to see them, and thankful when at
last the raft grounded upon the shore. Without any questions the men
lifted Eben from the boat, and laid him gently in the auto.

"The women and you, John, can come with me," the driver announced.
"There's another car outside for the rest of the men. We had a hard
time getting through, so thought it best not to risk two cars."

In another minute they were on their way. Jess rode in the front seat,
while Mrs. Hampton and John sat behind, and supported the still
unconscious lad.

CHAPTER XXIX

CONFESSION

It was a beautiful afternoon as Henry Randall sat in a big easy chair
under the shade of a large apple tree at the back of the Hampton house.
He was very weak f