' tried to pump me dry with his
queer questions. An' he was a mighty nice feller, too, good-natured,
an' handsome enough fer any gal, no matter how pertic'ler she might be.
He told me to take good care of ye. Hello! what's the matter?"

The cause of the captain's exclamation was the expression of confusion
which suddenly overspread the girl's face. Eben also noticed it, and
for the first time in his life a strange feeling began to agitate his
heart. He could not account for it, but intuitively he felt a spirit
of resentment against the man with the car. This beautiful girl had
come into his lonely, misunderstood life like the sweet invigorating
breath of spring, and he could not bear the thought that anyone else
should have the slightest claim upon her. It was the jealous
unreasoning throb of a first great love. The cabin seemed to be
unusually close. He must have fresh air, and he wanted to be by
himself that he might think. With a bound he was up the stairs to the
deck above.

"Well, I declare!" the captain ejaculated, as he stared after his son.
"What's the matter with that boy, anyway? Ye'd think a hull pack of
wolves was chasin' him by the way he left this cabin. I can't
understand him nohow."

The captain had barely finished speaking when a gust of wind struck the
boat, causing the cabin door to close with a bang.

"Guess the breeze has come at last," he remarked. "It should be a big
blow after this long calm. You jist keep close here while I go on
deck. By the look of things we should be out of this in a few minutes.
How'll that suit ye?"

"Oh, I shall be so thankful," the girl declared. "I cannot feel safe
while we are so near that search-party. Please get away as soon as you
can."

CHAPTER VII

GIVING MARTHA THE GO-BY

The wind which had come up with the tide was steadily increasing in
strength, causing the "Eb and Flo" to scud rapidly forward with every
inch of her one big sail stretched to its full capacity. There had
been considerable work before the boat was well under way, and as the
captain now stood at the wheel he was breathing heavily from his
strenuous exertions. But the light of satisfaction glowed in his eyes
as he looked straight ahead, and gave a few final orders to his son.

Jess Randall stood by his side, her face aglow with animation, and her
heart lighter than at any time since she had first come on board. It
was a great relief to be out of the cabin and on