"He does! Where?"
"Oh, it's no use tellin' you. What can you do? You'll be in bed to-morrow nursin' yer face."
"No, I won't. Just tell me where that girl is, an' I'll send word to the city this very night."
"Why should I tell ye, Gabe? Ye don't deserve to be told after what ye did to yer wife."
"I swear I'll never do such a thing again, Eben. I lost my head, an' didn't realise what I was doing.
"H'm, I guess ye nearly lost yer head when I got hold of ye. If it hadn't been fer yer wife here I'd had yer head off by this time. But come along outside, an' we'll talk this matter over. Them kids ought to be in bed," and he motioned to the weary children over in the corner. "Good-bye, Mrs. Grimsby; jist send me word if Gabe hits ye agin. I'll fix him fer sure next time. Come along, Gabe, I want to have a talk with ye."
CHAPTER XXV
THE FOREST FIRE
John Hampton was somewhat late in leaving the island the next morning. There had been many things to do, and he found the life so pleasant that he preferred to stay all day. But it was necessary for him to get back home to look after the stock, and attend to many other duties around the place.
"Do you think you can manage all right, John?" Mrs. Hampton anxiously asked as she and Jess accompanied him to the boat. "I feel that I should go home too."