help
you, so there."

"But what am I to do?" the captain demanded. "If Eben goes to college,
I'll be left alone on the 'Eb an' Flo.' Guess I might as well close up
bizness, too."

"Oh, daddy will make that all right, Captain. We talked it over this
afternoon, so if you agree to let Eben go to college, he will arrange
with you about the boat. Daddy is very much interested in the scheme."

"H'm, it seems to me he's changed a great deal since the night he was
here asking about you. He was like a roarin' lion then."

"He has changed, Captain, until I hardly know him. I believe it was
his narrow escape from death which did it. He is so gentle now, and a
real companion. I am so thankful! And you will agree to let Eben go,
won't you?"

"Guess we'll have to see Martha an' Flo, Miss. They'll have the most
to say. But mebbe they'll agree, fer they'd like to see the boy git
on."

"Where do I come in on this?" Eben unexpectedly asked. "I'm goin' to
college, no matter what anyone says. I'm old enough now to think fer
myself, an' I'm goin' to."

"Tut, tut, Eben," his father chided. "Ye needn't git on yer
high-horse. Sartinly yer goin' to college. Yer ma an' Flo'll agree.
I'll jist go after 'em. They're doin' the chores. We might as well
git this matter settled while you're here, Miss. It'll smooth things
somewhat to have you present. You kin explain to Martha better'n I
kin."

The captain stepped off the verandah, and limped around the corner of
the house in the direction of the barn. No sooner had he disappeared
than Eben leaned eagerly toward his visitors.

"Yell both forgive me, won't ye, fer throwin' that stone?" he whispered.

"At the quarry, you mean?" Jess asked.

"Yes, that, an' the stick on the shore. The devil got into me, I
guess."

"Certainly I forgive you, Eben, for what you did to me, and I know John
will do the same."

"Indeed I will," the latter agreed. "You have made up for all that
many times over. You risked your life for my mother and Miss Randall.
We can never repay you."

"I don't think I'd a done it but fer that stone, Miss. Ye see, I
couldn't git it out of my mind, so I wanted to make up in some way fer
the harm I did. That was my only chance."

"And were you really thinking of that when you came through the fire to
save us?" Jess asked in surprise.

"Yes, Miss, I was. I'm awful sorry fer what I did. I was a big fool,
all right."

Just then his father return