“But what about you?” she asked.  “How will you get along without your mother?”

“Oh, I shall live there, too, part of the time,” John laughingly explained.  “You will not get clear of me as easily as all that.  I shall have to attend to the farm, but having the car, I can run out and back in a short time.  Perhaps you will see too much of me when you and mother set up housekeeping in the wilderness.”

“I think it will be splendid!” Jess exclaimed.  “I have often wanted to live just such a life as you describe.  And having your mother with me, and you visiting us often, what more could one ask?”

“And just think of the delightful hours you and mother can spend upon the lake, or walking through the woods.  And during the evenings and on wet days you will have books and magazines, for I shall keep you well supplied with reading matter.  In fact, there are a good many books already in the cabin, for father was a great reader.”

“When can we go, John?” Jess was all eager now for the adventure.

“We shall have to speak to mother first.  I know that she will enter enthusiastically into our scheme.”

“Then we had better go back to the house at once.  We told her we would be away but a short time, and we have forgotten all about our promise.”

“Mother won’t mind,” John replied.  “She likes to see us happy, and she understands.”

They stepped out from beneath the tree upon the narrow path, and as they did so a sound upon the river attracted their attention.  Glancing in that direction, they saw a small row-boat coming toward them.  There was one person on board, pulling at the oars with long, steady strokes.

“Why, it is Eben!” John exclaimed.  “And there’s the ‘Eb and Flo’ lying at anchor.  It’s a wonder we didn’t hear some sound before.”

“Suppose we wait here until Eben comes ashore,” Jess suggested.  “It will give him a great surprise.  I have not seen him since the truck ran off the track at the quarry.”

It took Eben but a few minutes to reach the land and pull up the boat.  He then straightened himself up, and was about to move up the path when he caught sight of the two standing before him.  In a twinkling the expression upon his face changed, and his eyes gloved with the light of jealousy and hatred.

“Come on up, Eben,” Jess invited.  “We’re waiting for you.”

With a bound the youth did as he was bidden, and in another minute he was standing before the two, with his fists doubled, and a defiant look upon his face.

“Why, Eben, what’s the matter?” Jess asked, shrinking back in fear.

The boy, however, was not looking at her, but at John.

“I hate you!” he cried.  “I will kill you!”

“What do you mean?” John sternly asked.  “What have I done to you?”

“You stole her from me,” and Eben motioned to the girl.

“Oh, I see,” and John laughed.  “Come, Jess, we had better go home.  Eben is jealous, and I don’t want to fight a duel here.”