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.