While the captain was thus musing, the young couple made their way slowly along the track which led across a wide stretch of interval.  Eben was somewhat embarrassed at first when he found himself alone with the beautiful girl, so his words were few.  But as they advanced, he felt more at ease, and readily answered all of her questions.  He explained how the truck, carrying the granite blocks, was impelled across the interval to the river by the impetus given on the steep hill ahead.  Two men were always in charge, who handled the brakes, and stopped the truck just at the right place on the wharf.

“But isn’t it very dangerous coming down that steep hill?” Jess asked, as she looked up the track which ran through a forest of small trees.

“Y’ bet,” was the emphatic reply.  “I came down once, an’ me hair was standin’ straight on end, an’ I didn’t have any breath left when we got to the bottom.  It was great!”

“It certainly must have been,” the girl enthusiastically declared.  “I would like to try it myself.”

“Ye would!” Eben stopped and stared at his companion in amazement.

“Yes, and why not?  I like a little excitement once in a while.”

“I guess ye must, Miss.”

“Don’t call me ‘Miss,’ say ‘Jess,’ I like it better.  We are chums, you know, and chums must not put on any airs.”

Eben’s face coloured, and his heart beat fast.  It was great to have her talk in such a friendly way.  He believed that she liked him, too, and that meant a great deal to him.  The world seemed a much brighter place since this runaway girl entered his life.

They had crossed the interval and were almost at the base of the hill, when a rumbling sound fell upon their ears.

“It’s the truck comin’,” Eben explained, at the same time laying his hand upon the girl’s arm and drawing her off the track.  “Now ye’ll see something worth while.”

And truly indeed they were both destined to behold something of a most unexpected and terrible nature during the next few minutes.  They saw the truck far up the hill, and almost held their breath as it took the wild plunge in its mad career to the valley below.  Just at this exciting instant, however, the bushes close to the line were suddenly parted, and a large cow appeared.  She stepped upon the track, stopped, and looked up.  Before a word could be said or a hand lifted, the truck swept upon her like a catapult.  A sickening crash ensued, and men, cow, truck and granite blocks were hurled from the track, and tossed in a confused heap among the bushes several rods away.

When the crash took place, Jess gave a cry of dismay and buried her face in her hands to shut out the terrible sight.  This was but for an instant, however, for she realised, that something must be done to help the unfortunate men should they be alive.  Eben was staring as if rooted to the spot, his body trembling with excitement.