WHAT THE COW DID
"If she won't take ye in, yer welcome to stay here all night."
The "Eb and Flo" was lying securely fastened to the wharf at the Spoon
Island stone quarry. She had made a good run up the river, and had
reached her destination late in the afternoon. Captain Tobin was
standing upon deck looking upon Jess and Eben as they started up the
track toward the quarry.
"Eben'll show ye Mrs. Ricksteen's house," he told the girl. "I guess
she needs extry help with the crowd of men she allus has. But she
might want a recommendation, fer she's mighty pertic'ler, Mrs.
Ricksteen is. Anyway, if she won't take ye in, yer welcome to come
back here."
Jess thanked the captain, and told him that she was sure she could make
out all right. She would return in the morning to tell him of her
success, and get her belongings.
"See that Eben behaves himself," the captain reminded. "An' don't let
him stay too long. Thar's a lot of work to do on board to-night."
"You needn't worry," was the girl's smiling reply. "Eben can return
just as soon as he shows me the way. I won't run off with him."
The captain stood and watched them as they walked slowly up the track.
"My, my, she's a fine gal, an' no mistake," he mused. "I never saw
Eben so taken up with anyone as he is with her. Why, his face
brightens the instant she speaks to him. Seems to me he's head over
heels in love with her. It's only nat'ral, I s'pose. If I was young
meself I'd lose me head an' heart over a gal like that. It'd be great
to have her fer a daughter-in-law. Wonder what Martha an' Flo 'd say."
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.
"Isn't it awful!" he groaned. "Oh, what kin we do?"
"Let us go and see," was the reply. "Come on."
Together they made their way up the track as fast as possible, and as
they approached the spot where the accident had taken place, an
indescribable feeling came over the girl. Suppose the men were dead!
And if not dead, they surely must be fearfully mangled. How could she
endure the sight? But struggle on she did, and at length saw one of
the men limping painfully toward her. His clothes were torn, and his
face and hands were bleeding. He staggered as he walked, and when he
reached the track he sank down upon the ground.
"Are you much hurt?" Jess asked, hurrying to his side. Her fears had
all vanished, and she thought not of herself, but only of the injured
man.
"Never mind me," the man replied. "I'll be all right shortly. But for
God's sake do something for Bill. He's over there among the stones all
smashed up. I was pitched clear."
With a bound Eben left the track, and leaped among the bushes down
where Bill was lying, half buried beneath a tangle of stones, trees and
truck. The man was very still, and to all appearance dead. But, as
Eben began to free his body, he opened his eyes and moaned.
Fortunately none of the monster stones rested upon him, but only a
small bent tree held his legs as in a vice. With considerable
difficulty Eben was able to free the man, and then lifting him in his
arms staggered out of the ruins, and laid his burden gently upon the
ground a short distance away. In another minute Jess was kneeling by
the injured man's side, wiping the blood which flowed down his face
with her small white handkerchief.
"We must have help at once," she exclaimed, turning to Eben. "Is there
a doctor anywhere near? Go for him, quick."
Scarcely had she ceased speaking ere the sound of hurrying footsteps
fell upon their ears. In another minute several excited men were by
their side, examining the wounded man and asking numerous questions.
Jess rose to her feet and stepped back. As she did so someone touched
her lightly on the arm, and whispered her name. Turning swiftly
around, she came face to face with the driver of the car who had
interviewed Captain Tobin outside the store that very morning.
"John!" It was all that she said, but the flush upon her face, and the
light of joy which leaped into her eyes were more expressive than many
words.
"How did you get here so soon?" the young man asked. "This is no place
for you, Jess. Let me take you back to the boat."
"No, no," was the low reply. "We must look after this poor man first.
Oh, do what you can for him at once."
For a few seconds the young man looked into the eyes of the girl before
him. The great longing of his heart was expressed in that look, and
the girl understood. She turned toward the injured man, and absently
watched his companions doing what they could for his welfare. Into her
heart stole a peace such as she had not known for days. The one she
loved was with her, and she knew that he loved her with all the
strength of his true manly nature. Forgotten for a time were Donaster
and her other persecutors. In this rough wilderness spot she felt
secure from their grasp, and with John Hampton near she was ready and
willing to defy the whole world.
The brief scene enacted between the young lovers was not noticed by the
men earnestly discussing what should be done with their battered
comrade. The accident alone so arrested and held their attention that
the thought of love-making at such a critical situation never once
occurred to them.
With Eben, however, it was different. He saw and understood far too
much for his peace of mind. In an instant he grasped the meaning of
the whispered words and the expression upon the faces of the lovers. A
feeling such as he had never before known leaped into his heart. He
forgot all about the injured man, and paid no attention to what was
being done with him. He could think only of himself, and how another
had come between him and the girl he loved. He knew John Hampton well,
and it came as a great surprise that he should be on such friendly
terms with Jess Randall.
In a few minutes the helpless man was lifted carefully from the ground,
and borne gently away on a rude stretcher which had been speedily
improvised by his comrades. Jess and John followed, talking with each
other, though so low that Eben could not understand what they were
saying. As they moved forward, he skulked a short distance behind.
The girl paid no attention to him now. In fact, she did not seem to be
even aware of his presence. She was taken up entirely with the young
man by her side, so the idea that she meant anything to the awkward
youth to the rear never once crossed her mind.
In about fifteen minutes the injured man's house was reached, and all
entered except Eben. It was merely a shack, almost surrounded by
trees, and situated a short distance from the main highway. Here Bill
Dobbins and his wife lived during the summer months while work was
being carried on in the granite quarry. Their real home was elsewhere,
so this rude structure was all that they required during their
temporary stay at the quarry.
Eben waited for a few minutes outside, uncertain what to do. At length
he turned and made his way slowly back to the road, and down the track
to the river. He said nothing to his father about the accident, and
turned into his bunk at an unusually early hour. When the captain
asked him about the girl, and if Mrs. Ricksteen had taken her in, Eben
was curt in his reply, saying that he did not know. Not until the next
morning did Captain Tobin hear about the accident, for he had been in
the cabin when it had occurred. He then questioned his son as to the
details, but received no satisfactory information. Later he learned of
the whole affair from two men from the quarry, when they ran their
first morning load of granite down to the river. The injured man was
still unconscious, so they told him. The doctor had arrived during the
night, and did what he could for his welfare. The men were loud in
their praises of the young woman who had sat up all night with Mrs.
Dobbins, and had made herself so agreeable and helpful.
"I guess she's there to stay," one of them remarked. "Wonder where in
the world she dropped from. Ye don't see the likes of her every day,
'specially in a place like this."
"She and young Hampton seem to be very thick," the other volunteered.
"They must have known each other before by the look of things."
"Hampton, did ye say?" the captain asked. "D'ye mean Widder Hampton's
son, of Beech Cove?"
"I don't know whose son he is," was the reply. "He arrived at the
quarry yesterday afternoon, and has been hanging around ever since.
Mebbe he planned to meet the girl here."
The captain made no reply but went on with his work. He thought,
however, of the interview he had with Hampton down the river the day
before, and he smiled to himself, He understood now why the young
fellow was so interested in the fair passenger on board the "Eb and
Flo," and for his sake, no doubt, the girl had run away from home.
Eben worked so hard all the morning that his father was greatly
surprised. He had heard what the men said about Hampton and the girl,
and it was necessary for him to do something to give vent to his
intensely wrought-up feelings. He worked with a feverish energy, and
seemed to possess the strength of two men as he helped at the derrick
as the big blocks of granite were swung on board. He hardly touched
his noon-day meal, and this caused his father considerable anxiety, for
the boy had been always blessed with an excellent appetite.
All through the afternoon the work of loading the boat was continued,
and such excellent progress was made that the captain was looking
forward to sailing early the next morning. To all outward appearance
Eben's mind was entirely upon the big stones which were being hoisted
on board. But anyone watching closely might have noticed that
occasionally he gave a keen, furtive glance up toward the quarry.
The day was fast wearing to its close, and the last block of stone was
about to be moved, when Eben gave one of his quick looks up the hill.
As he did so he suddenly straightened himself up and stared as if he
had seen a ghost. His face became suddenly pale, and his hands
trembled as he watched two people walking slowly down the track. He
recognised them at once, and it was their appearance he had been
expecting all the afternoon. He knew that they were coming to the
boat, and he did not wish to meet the girl when Hampton was present.
He felt that he could not trust himself, so great was his agitation.
Without a word to anyone Eben left the wharf, walked a few yards along
the river, and disappeared among some bushes. He soon stopped when he
was sure that he could not be seen, crouched low upon the ground, and
watched all that was taking place near the "Eb and Flo." He could see
John and the girl talking with the captain for a few minutes, after
which the three went on board and entered the cabin. When they
reappeared about fifteen minutes later, Hampton was carrying a small
parcel in his hand, which Eben surmised contained the articles his
father had purchased for Jess at the store. When once again upon the
wharf, they stood and talked for a few minutes. What they said Eben
could not make out, but presently he heard his father calling his name.
This caused him to crouch lower upon the ground, fearful lest he should
be observed. One of the quarrymen then spoke and motioned his hand in
the direction the boy had gone. Eben heard the amused laughter which
followed, and he fully comprehended its meaning. They were laughing at
him for running away! It was almost more than he could endure, and his
first impulse was to rush from his hiding place, challenge John Hampton
for a fight, and show Jess that he was no coward. But a natural
diffidence restrained him, which caused him to remain silent and
unseen. It was only when he was certain that the visitors were well
out of sight, did he venture back to the wharf. His father looked at
him somewhat curiously, but was wise enough to ask no questions.
When darkness had settled over the land, Eben left the boat and made
his way slowly up the track. Reaching the main highway, he moved
forward with a long jerky stride until he came to the little clearing
where the Dobbins' shack was situated. He stopped and peered
cautiously around. A light shone from the one window facing the road,
and toward this Eben stealthily moved. There was no blind to the
window, so when near enough he could easily see all that was taking
place within. The sight that met his first glance stirred him to a
high pitch of angry jealousy. He saw the two sitting close to each
other but a short distance from the injured man, who was lying upon a
cot. John was talking to Jess in a most earnest manner, and the look
upon the girl's face was one of intense happiness. She was evidently
pleased at what her lover was saying, for occasionally her lips parted
in a smile.
All this Eben saw in the few minutes that he stood there. His hands
were clenched hard, and his eyes were filled with the fire of hatred.
There was the man who had come between him and the girl he loved. He
was but a short distance away, so acting upon the wild impulse of the
instant he stooped down, and finding a stone lying right at his feet,
he took careful aim, and hurled it with his full force through the
window, straight at the head of his enemy. The sudden crash was
followed instantly by a cry of pain, and then all was still. With
fast-beating heart Eben looked, expecting to see Hampton stretched upon
the floor. Great was his horror to behold the girl lying there
instead, her deathly-white face stained with blood. With a startled
cry as of a wild beast in agony, he turned and fled along the road,
down the track, and back to the refuge of the "Eb and Flo."