CHAPTER

      I the hold-up
     II rebellion
    III the “Eb an’ Flo”
     IV under cover
      V captain Samuel goes shopping
     VI Eben makes A discovery
    VII giving Martha the go-by
   VIII what the cow did
     IX Martha takes A hand
      X unwelcome visitors
     XI in peril of death
    XII cornered
   XIII A tricky passenger
    XIV another victim
     XV two women’s troubles
    XVI more than A dream
   XVII captain Sam’l goes home
  XVIII hard Luck
    XIX the captain gives advice
     XX Mrs. Grimsby’s mission
    XXI Eben comes ashore
   XXII on the rebel trail
  XXIII straight talk
   XXIV Eben attends to Grimsby
    XXV the forest fire
   XXVI in the ring of death
  XXVII in the nick of time
 XXVIII in urgent need
   XXIX confession
    XXX joy at eventide

  “I have no other but a woman’s reason;
  I think him so, because I think him so.”

    Shakespeare

  “When all other rights are taken away,
  the right of rebellion is made perfect.”

    Thomas Paine

  “Women are never stronger than when they
  arm themselves with their weakness.”

    Madame Du DEFFAND

JESS OF THE REBEL TRAIL

CHAPTER I

THE HOLD-UP

The glowing coals in the spacious grate seemed to fascinate the woman as she sat huddled in a big luxurious chair.  The book she had been reading was lying open and unheeded on her lap.  Her surroundings were by no means in keeping with her dejected manner.  The room was cosy and lavishly furnished, while the shaded electric reading-lamp cast its gentle radiance upon the woman’s white hair and soft evening-gown.  It was a rough night, and the wind howling outside beat furiously against the closely-blinded windows.

It was a night such as this, nearly twenty years before, of which the woman was thinking.  She was once again in a room in a private hospital, lying weak and helpless from the ordeal through which she had passed.  It all came back to her now with a stinging intensity, causing her white hands to clench hard, and her eyes to widen with a nameless fear.

A maid entered and announced a visitor.

“I can’t see anyone to-night,” the woman before the fire declared, without even turning her head.

“But——­” the maid began.

“That is all, Maggie.  You need not say anything more.  I wish to be left entirely alone.”

The maid hesitated a few seconds before obeying the imperious command.  Then she slowly turned, and had almost reached the door when it was suddenly pushed open and a man entered.  Without a word, he stepped past her and glided across the room toward the fire.  His unexpected appearance startled the woman crouching there.  She straightened quickly up and stared at the intruder in amazement.