A LITTLE MAID OF MASSACHUSETTS COLONY

 BY

 ALICE TURNER CURTIS

 AUTHOR OF

 A LITTLE MAID OF PROVINCE TOWN A LITTLE MAID OF NARRAGANSETT BAY

 ILLUSTRATED BY WUANITA SMITH

 THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA 1915

 COPYRIGHT 1914 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY

[Illustration: "A WONDERFUL THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN"]

Introduction

The first Anne Nelson story was "A Little Maid of Province Town, " whichtold how the little Cape Cod girl's father went away to fight for thecolonies, how she went to live with the Stoddards, how she escapedperils from Indians and wolves, made an unexpected trip to Boston, andcarried an important message for the colonial army. 

The girls and boys who made acquaintance in that book with Anne and withAmanda and Amos Cary will be glad to read here how Amos won his heart'sdesire, --to go a long voyage from the harbor of Province Town; Anne'sjourney with the Indians, her imprisonment in the house in the woods, and her escape; how she and Rose Freeman discovered "Aunt Anne Rose" onthe happy trip in Boston, and how Anne helped to capture an Englishprivateer, will hold the attention of young readers, and, incidentally, show them something of the times and history of Revolutionary days inNew England. 

Contents

 I. AMANDA'S MISTAKE 9 II. ANNE DECIDES 22 III. A NEW FRIEND 32 IV. WITH THE MASHPEES 48 V. AT BREWSTER 61 VI. AMANDA'S CONSCIENCE 75 VII. THE BLACK-BEARDED MAN 88 VIII. THROUGH THE WINDOW 104 IX. LADY DISAPPEARS 117 X. AUNT ANNE ROSE 131 XI. IN BOSTON 140 XII. A WONDERFUL DAY 149 XIII. ANNE'S BOOK 162 XIV. ANNE AND MILLICENT 173 XV. AMOS APPEARS 184 XVI. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR 192 XVII. THE STRANGE SCHOONER 204 XVIII. A GREAT ADVENTURE 213 XIX. "HOMEWARD BOUND" 221

Illustrations

 PAGE

 "A WONDERFUL THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN" _Frontispiece_

 "SIT THERE AND BE QUIET" 42

 "YOU CAN GET ON HIS BACK" 132

 HE HANDED HER A BALL 177

 "YOU ARE THE BRAVEST GIRL IN THE COLONY" 220

A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony

CHAPTER I

AMANDA'S MISTAKE

"Do you think I might go, Aunt Martha?" There was a pleading note in thelittle girl's voice as she stood close by Mrs. Stoddard's chair andwatched her folding the thin blue paper on which Rose Freeman's letterwas written. 

"It is a pleasant invitation, surely, " replied Mrs. Stoddard, "but theFreemans have ever been good friends to us; and so Rose is to visittheir kin in Brewster and then journey back to Boston with her father inhis chaise, and she says there will be plenty of room for you. Well!Well! 'Tis a wonderful journey. "

Anne moved uneasily. "But, Aunt Martha, do you forget that she asks ifUncle Enos cannot bring me to Brewster?"

"Yes, child, I have read the letter, and I doubt not Enos will set yousafe across to Brewster. And your father's vessel will be due in Bostonearly in September, and he could bring you safely home to Province Town. We'll see what Uncle Enos says about sailing across to Brewster, " andMrs. Stoddard smiled affectionately at Anne's delighted exclamation. Itwas two years before that Anne Nelson, whose father's boat had beenseized by an English ship, had come to live with the Stoddards. Herfather had escaped, and, after serving the colonies until after thebattle of Lexington, had returned to Province Town, and was now away ona fishing cruise. Anne had visited the Freemans the year before, and nowthis pleasant invitation for a journey to Boston had been brought by oneof the harbor fishermen, the only way letters came to Province Town. Itwas no wonder Anne was eager for permission to go. It would be a threedays' ride from Brewster, and the road would take her through manypleasant towns and villages. There was not a person in the settlementwho had taken the journey by land. Uncle Enos declared that ProvinceTown folk who could sail a good boat, with fair winds, to Boston in sixhours were too wise to take such a roundabout route as the land offered. 

"But it will be a fine ride for Anne, " he agreed. "She will learn muchby the journey, and Squire Freeman will take good care of her. I'llset her across to Brewster on Tuesday, as Rose says they plan to startearly on Wednesday morning. Well, Anne, " and he turned toward thehappy child, "what do you think the Cary children will say when youtell them that you are to ride to Boston in a fine chaise?"

"I do not know, but I think Amos will say that he would not journey byland; he is all for big ships; but I'm sure Amanda will think it is awonderful thing, and wish to go with me, and indeed I wish she might. But why do we not have chaises in Province Town?"

"We must have roads first, " replied Aunt Martha smilingly; "but ProvinceTown has no need of coaches and roads with good boats in harbor. Now wemust see that your clothes are in order, for a week soon goes. "

"Anne! Anne!" and before Anne could respond a girl of about her own agecame running into the kitchen. "Can you go with me over to the outerbeach? May she go, Mrs. Stoddard? See! I have enough luncheon for usboth in this basket, " and Amanda held up a pretty basket woven of sweetgrass. 

"May I, Aunt Martha? And oh, Amanda! A wonderful thing is going tohappen to me. Isn't it wonderful, Uncle Enos?"

Aunt Martha and Uncle Enos both smiled and nodded, and Amanda lookedfrom one to the other in great surprise. 

"Run along with Amanda and tell her all about it, " said Mrs. Stoddard, and the two little girls started happily off. 

"I can guess, " declared Amanda, "for I know that Captain Starkweatherbrought you a letter from Boston, and I can guess who the letter isfrom. "

Anne shook her head laughingly. "You would guess that it was from mydear father, " she answered. 

"And is it not?" questioned Amanda in surprise. 

"It is from Rose Freeman, " announced Anne. "And oh, Amanda, she asks meto come to Brewster next week, and go with her in her father's chaise toBoston!" And Anne turned, smiling happily, toward Amanda. She hadexpected Amanda to exclaim with delight over such a wonderful piece ofnews, but instead of delight Amanda's face expressed an angry surprise. She had stopped short, and stood looking at Anne. 

"Rose Freeman!" she exclaimed. "Boston in a chaise! I wonder I play withyou at all, Anne Nelson. Why don't you stay in Boston? I shouldn't careif you did!" and throwing the basket of luncheon on the ground Amandaturned and ran back toward home. 

Anne looked after her in amazement. "That's the way she used to actbefore we were friends, " she said aloud; "and all that good food throwndown in the sand, " for the basket was overturned, and two round gingercakes, two pieces of corn bread, and two three-cornered tarts had rolledout. Anne knelt down and picked them up carefully, shaking off the sand, and returned them to the basket. 

"Her mother cannot afford to have such good things wasted, " said Anne;for even the children in Province Town in the days of the Revolutionknew how difficult it was to secure supplies. The end of Cape Cod, withits sandy dunes, scant pasturage or tillage, made the people depend ontheir boats, not only to bring in fish, but all other householdnecessities. The harbor was unguarded, and its occupation as arendezvous by English men-of-war had made it very hard for the people toget provisions. So it was no wonder that Anne looked at the ginger cakesand tarts as special delicacies, too precious to lie in the sand. 

"I'll go to the outer beach by myself, " decided Anne, "but I will noteat my share of the luncheon. I do not see why Amanda should be angry, "and the little girl walked on, choosing her way carefully among thescrubby pine trees or patches of beach-plum bushes. 

Amanda ran swiftly, and in a moment or two was almost back in theStoddards' dooryard!

"I mustn't go home, " she said to herself; "they would question me, and Iwould have to tell them all the wonderful news about Anne. And, oh, " sheexclaimed aloud, "if I did not throw down the fine treat my mother putin the basket. I'll go back for it; Anne Nelson has everything, but sheshall not have my tarts. "

Amanda made her way back very carefully, hoping to get the basket andescape without Anne seeing her. But when she reached the spot whereAnne had told the wonderful news neither the basket nor Anne was to beseen. 

"She's run off with my basket. She means to eat all that mother gaveme!" Amanda now felt that she had a just grievance against her playmate. "I'll go home and tell my mother, " she decided, and on the way home avery wicked plan came into the little girl's mind. She pulled off hergingham sunbonnet and threw it behind a bunch of plum bushes. She thenunbraided her neat hair and pulled it all about her face. For a momentshe thought of tearing a rent in her stout skirt, but did not. Then shecrawled under a wide-branched pine and lay down. "I must wait a time, ormy mother will think I am too quickly back, " she decided, "and I do notwant to get home while Amos is there;" for Amanda knew well that herbrother would not credit the story which Amanda had resolved to tell:that Anne had pushed her over in the sand, slapped her, and run off withthe basket of luncheon. 

"My mother will go straight to Mistress Stoddard, and there'll be nojourneyings to Brewster to see Rose Freeman, or riding to Boston in afine chaise, " decided the envious child. 

So, while Anne kept on her way to the outer beach, carrying Amanda'sbasket very carefully, and expecting every moment that Amanda would comerunning after her, and that they would make friends, and enjoy thegoodies together, Amanda was thinking of all the pleasant things that ajourney to Boston would mean, and resolving to herself that if she couldnot go neither should Anne. So envious was the unhappy child that shetried to remember some unkindness that Anne had shown her, that shemight justify her own wrong-doing. But in spite of herself the thoughtof Anne recalled only pleasant things. "I don't care, " she resolved;"she shan't go to Boston with Rose Freeman, and she has run off with thebasket. "

"Mercy, child! What has befallen you, and where is Anne?" questionedMrs. Cary, as Amanda came slowly up to the kitchen door, where hermother sat knitting. 

"She's run off with my basket, " whimpered Amanda, holding her apron overher face. 

"And is Anne Nelson to blame for your coming home in this condition?"questioned Mrs. Cary, a little flush coming into her thin cheeks. 

Amanda nodded; some way it seemed very hard to say that Anne had pushedher down and slapped her. 

"And run off with my basket, " she repeated, "and next week she goes toBrewster, and by carriage to Boston. "

"Well, that's no reason why she should turn so upon you, " declared Mrs. Cary. "What made trouble between you?"

"I think it was because of this journey, " replied Amanda. "She is so setup by it, and she went off with the basket. "

"Never mind about the basket, child; but it's a sad thing for Anne to solose her temper. You did quite right to come home, dear child; now brushyour hair neatly, and bathe your face, and then come with me to MistressStoddard; though I like not our errand, " concluded Mrs. Cary, rolling upthe stocking she was knitting. 

Amanda looked at her mother pleadingly. "Why must I go to MistressStoddard's?" she questioned. "I have run all the way home, and you knowshe will not blame Anne; it will be me she will question and blame. Oh, dear!" and Amanda, sure that her evil plan would be discovered, began tosob bitterly. 

"There, there! I did but think you could tell Mrs. Stoddard of Anne'smischief. You need not go, child. Get you a ginger cake from the stonejar in the cellar-way. I'll tell of the way Anne pushed you about, andmade off with the basket, and you sit here by the door. There's a sweetbreeze coming over the marshes, " and, patting Amanda's ruffled locks, Mrs. Cary took down her sunbonnet from its hook behind the door, andprepared to set forth. 

"I'll not be long away, " she called back, as she passed down the sandypath. 

From the pleasant doorway Amanda watched her with a gloomy face. Herplan was going on successfully, but Amanda did not feel happy. She wasdreading the time when Amos would return, and his sharp questioning, sheknew, would be a very different matter from her mother's acceptance ofher story. 

"Everybody always thinks that Anne is right, " she said aloud. 

"Well, isn't she?" said a voice directly behind her, so near that Amandajumped up in surprise. 

"How did you get into the house, Amos Cary!" she exclaimed angrily. 

"Phew, Carrot-top! What's the matter?" responded Amos teasingly. "Say, Sis, don't cry, " he added. "I won't call you 'Carrot-top' again. Youknow my hair's exactly the same color as yours, anyway; so it's justlike calling myself names. "

But Amanda kept on sobbing. "It's Anne, " she whimpered. "She--she--she'srun off with my basket. "

"Anne!" exclaimed the boy in surprise. "Oh, well, she was only fooling. She'll bring it back. You know Anne wouldn't do a mean thing. "

"She would, too. She's going to Boston, and to Brewster, with RoseFreeman, " said Amanda. 

"O-oh! So that's the trouble, is it?" said Amos. "Well, she'll comeback, so don't cry, " and he stepped past her and ran down toward thebeach. 

At Mrs. Stoddard's Mrs. Cary was repeating Amanda's story. 

"I cannot understand it, " said Mrs. Stoddard. "You know well, MistressCary, that Anne is a pleasant child, and she and Amanda started out asfriendly as need be. Did Amanda say what began the trouble?"

Mrs. Cary shook her head. "No, she is at home crying her heart out aboutit, poor child. "

"I know not what to say, " and Mrs. Stoddard's usually smiling face wasvery grave. "Anne is not home yet, but I will question her. You may besure, Mistress Cary, that I will not let it pass. Her father leaves herin my care when he is away, and perhaps I am too indulgent, for I lovethe child. "

It was an hour later when Anne came and peered in at the open door. Mrs. Cary had gone home. Mrs. Stoddard looked at the little girl, but notwith her usual smile. 

"Where is Amanda's basket?" she asked sharply. "Do not stand there; comein. " Anne obeyed. "Now, tell me why you pushed Amanda down, and slappedher, and ran off with the basket of food? Mrs. Cary has been here andtold me all about it. A nice story indeed for me to hear. But like asnot it is my fault for indulging you in everything. But I shall be firmnow. Go up-stairs and stay until I call you; and as for that visit withRose Freeman, think no more of it. I shall not let you go. No, indeed, after such a performance as this. "

Anne thought to herself that she must be dreaming. "I shall wake up in aminute, " she said aloud, but Mrs. Stoddard did not hear her. 

"Go right up-stairs, " she repeated, and Anne, with a puzzled look overher shoulder, went slowly up the narrow stairs. 

CHAPTER II

ANNE DECIDES

"I don't know what to do, " Anne whispered to herself, with a little sob, as she looked out of the narrow window in her little room. CaptainStoddard was coming briskly up the path; in a moment he would bedirectly under the window. "I'll call to him, and if he answers I shallknow that I am awake, " she decided, and leaning out she called softly:"Uncle Enos! Uncle Enos!"

Captain Stoddard looked up, and answered briskly: "Anne Nelson, ahoy!"

"Uncle Enos, listen!" and Anne leaned out still farther. "I went towardthe outer beach with Amanda Cary, and she slapped me and ran off. Andwhen I came home Aunt Martha sent me up-stairs. Now what have I done?"

Captain Stoddard chuckled, then he looked very serious indeed, andreplied:

"A pretty affair! What have you been doing?"

"Nothing, Uncle Enos; indeed I have done no mischief. Tell Aunt Marthathat Amanda slapped me, and that I did not slap back. "

Uncle Enos nodded, and made a motion for Anne to be silent, and Annedrew quickly back into the room. 

"Uncle Enos will find out, " she whispered to the little wooden doll, "Martha Stoddard, " that her father had made for her when she was a verysmall girl, and which was still one of her greatest treasures. But theJuly afternoon faded into the long twilight and no one called to Anne tocome down. She began to feel hungry. "I wish I had eaten my share ofthat luncheon and not given it to Amos to carry home, " she thought. Foron her way home she had met Amos and had given the lunch basket into hischarge, telling him to carry it home to Amanda, but saying nothing ofAmanda's anger. 

As Anne sat in the loft chamber waiting for the call that did not come, she began to feel that she had been treated very badly. "And Aunt Marthasays I shall not visit Rose Freeman, and does not tell me why I shallnot go. My father would let me; I know that full well. And I am going; Iwill walk to Brewster!" Anne's heart grew lighter as she thought of allthe joys that a visit to Rose would mean. "I'll start to-night, " shedecided. "Maybe it will take me a long time, as there are no roads, butI know I can find the way. Oh, I wish it would get dark! I'll take you, Martha Stoddard, but I guess I'll change your name, for Aunt Marthadoesn't like me any more, " and the little girl began to feel very lonelyand unhappy. The room door swung open at that very moment and therestood Mrs. Stoddard with a mug full of creamy milk and a plate of cornbread. 

"Here is your supper, Anne. And I hope you are ready to tell me why youpushed Amanda down and ran off with her basket, " and Mrs. Stoddardlooked at Anne with a puzzled expression in her kind eyes. 

"I did not----" began Anne. 

"There, there, child. Mrs. Cary told me the whole story. Tell me thetruth, and I'll not be hard with you, " and Mrs. Stoddard set down themug and plate on the light-stand and stood waiting. 

"I will not say another word!" declared Anne, who felt that even herdear Aunt Martha had turned against her. 

"Then you must stay up here until you are a more obedient child, " saidMrs. Stoddard, and went slowly out of the room. "I don't see what haspossessed the child, " she said to Captain Enos on returning to thekitchen. 

"She has always been a truthful child, Martha, " ventured the captain, "so why not believe her now?"

"I would gladly, Enos; but Mrs. Cary came straight to me as soon asAmanda reached home, and 'twas an hour later when Anne returned, and shehas no word of excuse. 'Twill do the child no harm to stay in her roomuntil she can tell me the reason for such behavior. And of course thisvisit to the Freemans' must be given up. 'Twould not do to let her goafter such conduct. "

"A pity, " responded the captain. "'Twould have been a fine journey forthe little maid. "

Anne could hear the murmur of their voices as she drank the milk and atethe corn bread. "I wish I had some bread to take with me, " she thought. "I'll take my blue cape, and my shoes and white stockings, for I'm sureI ought to wear them on the chaise, " and Anne tiptoed about the roomgathering up her clothing. It did not make a very large bundle, evenwhen she decided to take the white muslin dress, and the coral beads. She heard Captain Enos and Aunt Martha go to their chamber, and then, holding "Martha Stoddard" and the bundle in her arms, crept down thenarrow stairway. The outer door stood ajar to admit the cool fragrantair, and in a moment Anne was running along the sandy track that ledthrough the little settlement. It was still early, but there was not alight to be seen in any of the small gray houses. The summer sky wasfilled with stars, and as Anne ran she could see her shadow stretchingahead of her, "as if I were running right over it all the time, " shewhispered to "Martha Stoddard. "

The beautiful harbor seemed like a shining mirror, it lay so calm andstill in the shadow of the land. But Anne did not stop to look at starsor sea; she wanted to reach the pines at the end of the village. Thenshe meant to go on as fast as she could toward Truro. "There will benice places to rest under the trees, where nobody will ever look for me;perhaps no one will want to look, " thought the little girl, with a chokysensation in her throat as she remembered the strange happenings of theafternoon. 

The track grew more indistinct toward the end of the settlement, andwhen Anne reached the woods the shadows were dark, and she was obligedto go carefully in order not to lose her way. The border line betweenTruro and Province Town was marked by the jawbone of a whale set in theground by the side of a red oak stump. The path up to this landmark waswell known to all the village children; the hill was called CormorantHill; and Anne had been there many times with Amanda and Amos and theStarkweather children, and was very sure that from that place she couldfind her way through Truro to Wellfleet. "I'll not rest until I get toKexconeoquet, " decided Anne. Kexconeoquet was the Indian name for thehill. 

About half-way up the slope Anne stopped to rest under a tall pine tree. There was a bed of soft green moss, and as she sat down she gave alittle tired sigh. "Maybe it will be morning before I get to the top ofthe hill, " she thought, and put "Martha Stoddard" carefully down on themoss. "I suppose I might sleep a minute, " she said drowsily, arrangingher bundle for a pillow and resting her head upon it. And a moment lateran inquisitive little squirrel noticed that there was a little girl ina brown gingham dress fast asleep under the pine tree. 

Mrs. Stoddard awoke early the next morning, and when she and CaptainEnos sat down to their simple breakfast she said:

"I hear no sound of Anne, and I'll let her sleep late this morning; whenshe wakes she will tell me what happened. I woke up in the night andthought about it, and I feel sure our little maid could not have beenall to blame. Amanda is quick to find trouble. "

Uncle Enos nodded approvingly. "'Twill do her no harm to sleep, " heagreed, "and do not make up your mind that she must not go for the visitto Brewster and Boston. I can set her across to Brewster come Tuesday. 'Twill give me a chance to get some canvas for a new jib for the sloop. "

Captain Enos spoke softly, and tiptoed out of the little kitchen, andAunt Martha moved quietly about the house until the long summer morningwas half over; then she went softly up the stairs, and opened the doorto Anne's room. In a moment she realized what had happened: that Annehad run away; and she lost no time in hurrying to the shore, whereCaptain Enos was salting his yesterday's catch of fish and spreadingthem on the "flakes"--long low frames--to dry. Captain Starkweather andAmanda's father were near by, busy at the same work, and further alongthe shore were other groups of men taking care of the "catch" of theprevious day. For the dried fish were shipped to many distant places, and curing them was a part of the fisherman's business. 

"Anne is gone! She has run away, " called Mrs. Stoddard, and in a momentshe was telling Captain Enos that she was sure that the little girl hadcrept out of the house in the night. Captain Starkweather and Mr. Carylistened in amazement. 

"But where could she go?" asked Captain Enos. "There's something wrongin this. Anne called to me from her window yesterday that she knew notthe reason for her being punished. She has run away from us, Martha, because we have been unfair toward her. "

"But where? Stop not to talk, Enos. Is there a boat missing? Like as notAnne has set forth for Boston. " And Mrs. Stoddard looked out over thewide harbor as if expecting to see Anne sailing away. 

"It may be your little girl is playing about and will soon return, "suggested Captain Starkweather. 

"Is her doll gone?" questioned Captain Enos; "for if it is not you maybe sure that Anne is not far away. "

"Indeed, I did not think to look; and you may be right, CaptainStarkweather. I'll step back and see, " and Mrs. Stoddard's facebrightened as she turned toward home, followed by Captain Enos and thetwo fishermen. 

"The doll is gone, " she called down from the little chamber, "and Anne'scape and beads, and her shoes and stockings. "

In a short time every one in the village knew of Anne's disappearance, and Amanda heard her father say that he feared Anne had started off inone of the little boats. "If she has there is small chance for thechild, " he said soberly, and Amanda began to whimper. 

"She gave me Amanda's basket to bring home yesterday, " said Amos; "'tisin the shed. "

"Yes, she ran off with it yesterday, and ate all the lunch herself, "explained Mrs. Cary, "and slapped Amanda. Your sister came running homecrying as if her heart would break. "

"Anne didn't eat the luncheon. 'Twas all in the basket, and I ate it, "said Amos. "I don't believe she slapped Amanda, anyway. Or if she didI'll bet Amanda slapped her first. "

"Amos!" Mr. Cary's voice was very stern, and the boy said no more. 

It was found that a rowboat was missing, and remembering how Anne andthe Cary children had once started out to sail to Boston, it wasgenerally believed that Anne had started off in the boat. Neverthelesssearch-parties went across the narrow strip of land to the outer beachand up and down the shore of the harbor and along the edge of the Trurowoods. Several boats started off, for it was felt that the best chanceof finding her was the hope that the little boat could not have gonevery far. "It may have been swept out to sea, " Mr. Cary said, and atthis Amanda set up such a wail that he instantly added: "But Anne willbe found; of course she will. "

CHAPTER III

A NEW FRIEND

"It's morning!" And Anne sat up and looked about with surprised eyes. Little flecks of sunshine came through the sheltering branches of thetall pine, squirrels ran up and down its trunk, and there were chirpingsand calls of birds among the near-by trees. "And I'm not half-way to thetop, " continued Anne, shaking off the feeling of drowsiness, andspringing up from the soft moss. She picked up her bundle and "MarthaStoddard" and started on. "'Tis about the time that Aunt Martha andUncle Enos are eating porridge, " she thought longingly, and thenremembered that on the hillside, not far from the top, there was aspring of cool water, and she hurried on. She could hear the littletinkling sound of the water before she came in sight of the tiny streamwhich ran down the slope from the bubbling spring; and laying down herdoll and the bundle she ran forward, eager for a drink. She knelt downand drank, and then turned to pick up her belongings, but the bundle anddoll had disappeared. Anne looked about as if she could not believe hereyes. "They must be here!" she exclaimed aloud, and at that moment"Martha Stoddard" peered at her astonished owner from behind a tree. Thelittle wooden doll appeared to walk. Then it bowed very low, andvanished. Anne ran to the tree, but Martha was not there; but the doll'shead could be seen behind a small bush, almost within Anne's reach; butnow Anne stopped, remembering that dolls, even dolls like Martha, couldnot play hide-and-seek. She felt bewildered, and, although Martha bowedand even tried to dance, Anne did not approach a step nearer. She couldsee that a small brown hand was keeping a tight grasp on Martha, and asshe watched this hand a brown face peered out at her over Martha'shead--the brown smiling face of an Indian girl, probably several yearsolder than Anne. After looking at Anne for a few seconds she came outfrom behind the cluster of bushes. "She's as tall as Rose Freeman, " wasAnne's first thought. 

"Where is my bundle?" she demanded, for although the Indian girl heldMartha Stoddard in plain sight the bundle was not visible. 

The Indian girl shook her head smilingly, and Anne repeated, "Bundle!Bundle!" and then exclaimed, "Oh, dear, she doesn't know what I say. "

The girl now came a step or two nearer, holding out the doll for Anne totake. Her hair was very black and thick, and braided in one heavy plait. There was a band of bright feathers about her head, and she wore a loosetunic of finely dressed deerskin which came to her knees, and waswithout sleeves. Her arms and feet were bare, and as she stood smilingat Anne she made a very pretty picture. 

Anne reached out her hand for the doll, and as she did so the Indiangirl grasped it firmly, but in so gentle a manner that Anne did not drawback. The girl drew her along, smiling and saying strange sounding wordsin her own language, of which Anne could understand but one--"Mashpee. "This was the name of a tribe of Cape Cod Indians who owned land, and whowere always kind and friendly toward the white settlers; Anne was quitesure that the girl was telling her that she belonged to that nation. 

The Indian girl circled around the big tree near the spring, and therelay--spread out on the moss--Anne's pretty blue cape, her white muslindress, and her shoes and stockings and the bright coral beads. TheIndian girl knelt down and picking up the beads fastened them about herown neck; she then threw the cape over her own shoulders, and, pickingup the shoes and stockings, placed them in front of Anne, and put themuslin dress beside them. 

It needed no words to explain this; she had selected what she wantedfrom the bundle and Anne could have the things that the Indian girl didnot want. 

Anne's face must have expressed what she felt, for the smile faded fromher companion's lips, and the dark eyes grew unfriendly. She snatchedthe doll from Anne, and turned as if to run away. 

"Nakanit!"

Both the girls gave a little jump, for they had been too much engrossedin each other to notice that an Indian squaw had come along the path, and had stopped a short distance from them. As she spoke the Indian girlstarted toward her, and began to talk rapidly. Anne stood waiting, andwondering what would happen now, and heartily wished herself safely backin the Stoddards' snug little house. 

As the Indian woman listened Anne could see that she was angry and whenNakanit, for that was the Indian girl's name, had finished the squawsnatched the cape from the girl's shoulders, and, pointing to the beads, evidently bade her unfasten them. As the Indian girl obeyed the squawgave her a sharp slap on the cheek, and Nakanit, without a look towardAnne, fled into the forest. 

"Here, white child, " said the woman, "here are your things. What are youdoing so far from the settlement?"

"I am going to Brewster, " replied Anne. 

The Indian woman eyed her sharply. 

"You have run away from your mother and father, " she said sharply. 

"My mother is dead, and my father is at sea, " Anne replied, feeling herface growing red under the sharp eyes of the squaw, and a little ashamedthat she did not own that she was running away from Aunt MarthaStoddard. But she felt that Aunt Martha had been very unfair toward her. 

The Indian woman's face softened. "And you journey alone to findfriends in Brewster?" she asked. 

"Yes, indeed; I am to go to Rose Freeman, and ride with her and herfather in their chaise to Boston, and wait at their house for myfather. "

The squaw nodded. The name of Freeman was known to her, and though asixty mile journey seemed a long way for so small a girl as Anne, thewoman only wondered at the unkindness of the white women in letting achild go alone. 

"Come, " she said, and Anne, gathering up her shoes and stockings and therumpled white dress, followed her. 

The squaw turned from the path and, as she walked swiftly on, gaveseveral low calls which to Anne sounded like the notes of a bird. Thelast call was answered, and a moment later Nakanit appeared beside them. For a long time they went on in silence, and at last the squaw stoppedsuddenly. 

"Oh!" exclaimed Anne, for directly in front of them was a wigwam, socunningly built in behind a growth of small spruce trees that unless oneknew of its whereabouts it might be easily passed by. The Indian girllaughed at Anne's exclamation, and nodded at her in a friendly manner. 

"Go in, " said the squaw. "Did no woman give you food to eat on yourjourney?"

Anne shook her head. 

"Umph!" grunted the squaw, and turned toward Nakanit, evidently tellingher to bring Anne something to eat. 

The Indian girl opened a basket that stood near the wigwam door and tookout some thin cakes made of corn meal, and handed them to Anne. Anne atethem hungrily; they tasted very sweet and good, and, when she had eatenthe last one, she turned toward the squaw who sat beside her, and said:"Thank you very much. The cakes were good. "

The squaw nodded gravely. Anne looked round the wigwam with curiouseyes. It was evident that Nakanit and her mother were nearly ready for ajourney. The two baskets were near the door, the roll of blankets besidethem, well tied up with stout thongs of deerskin, and the little brushwigwam had nothing else in it. 

The Indian girl stood with her dark eyes fixed on Anne, and the squawtalked rapidly for a few moments, evidently giving the girl informationor directions; then she lifted the smaller of the two baskets, andfastened its deerskin strap over Nakanit's shoulders. The roll ofblankets and the other basket she carried herself. 

"Follow, " she said to Anne; "we journey toward Wellfleet and you can gowith us. "

Anne's face brightened, and she began to feel that her troubles wereover. She picked up her own bundle and followed the squaw and the Indiangirl out through the woods and across a meadow where a few cattle werefeeding. 

"This must be Truro, " Anne thought to herself as she trudged silently onbeside her new friends. 

It grew very warm and there was no shade, and Anne began to feel tired, but neither Nakanit nor her mother seemed to notice the heat. It waspast noon before they made any stop, and as Anne, who was some distancebehind her companions, saw the squaw turn toward a little wooded hilland begin to lower the basket from her shoulders, she gave a long tiredsigh of relief. Nakanit heard and turned toward her, and reached out herfree hand to take Anne's bundle. But Anne shook her head, and tightenedher hold on it. This seemed to anger the Indian girl, and with a surlyword she gave Anne a push, sending her over into a clump of wild rosebushes. As Anne reached out to save herself the thorns scratched herhands and arms and she cried out. The squaw turned, and, as she had notseen the push, thought that Anne had stumbled, and began to laugh at herand to mock her cries. This delighted Nakanit, who joined in so loudlythat Anne stopped in terrified amazement, and scrambled out as well asshe could. Her feet ached, and she could hardly walk, but she went onbehind Nakanit into the pleasant shade of the woods, and here hercompanions set down their baskets, and threw themselves down to rest. Anne looked at them a little fearfully; they had not spoken one word toher since leaving the wigwam. 

The squaw opened the basket and gave each of the girls some of the cornbread, which they devoured hungrily. "There are berries over there, " shesaid briefly, pointing toward the slope, "and water. "

Nakanit was already running toward the slope, but Anne did not move; shewas still hungry and very thirsty, but too tired to walk, and as shelay on the soft grass she began to dread the moment when the squaw mightstart on again. It was not long before Nakanit returned. She broughtwith her a cunningly made basket of oak leaves pinned together withtwigs, and heaped full of blueberries; the squaw shook her head asNakanit offered her the berries, and pointed toward Anne. Nakanitobeyed, but somewhat sulkily, for she had meant to help Anne with thebundle, and was still angry at Anne's refusal. 

"How good they taste, " exclaimed Anne as she helped herself to ahandful, and she smiled up gratefully at Nakanit. The Indian girl's facebrightened, and she smiled back, and sitting down beside Anne held thebasket forward for her to take more. When the berries were finishedNakanit again disappeared. 

After several hours' rest the squaw started on again, and Anne followedafter wondering where Nakanit was. In a short time they came down to asandy beach. 

"Why, look! There's Nakanit!" exclaimed Anne, pointing toward the water, where a bark canoe floated near the shore with Nakanit in it, holdingher paddle ready to send the craft to whatever point on the beach hermother might direct. 

The squaw called, and with a twist of the paddle the girl sent the canoeto the shore. The squaw lifted in the baskets, the roll of blankets andAnne's bundle. "Sit there, and be quiet, " she said, and Anne stepped invery carefully and sat down on the bottom of the canoe. 

It was now late in the afternoon. The water was very calm, and asNakanit and her mother dipped their paddles and sent the canoe swiftlyalong, Anne looked back toward the wooded shore and was very glad thatshe was not plodding along over the fields and hills. It was much cooleron the water, and the little girl wondered if her Aunt Martha missed herat all. "But perhaps she is glad that I ran away, " thought Anne, for shewas sure that she had not given either Amanda or Mrs. Stoddard anyreason to be unkind or to blame her. "Rose Freeman will be glad I came;I know she will, " was her comforting thought. 

[Illustration: "SIT THERE AND BE QUIET"]

The Indians did not speak save for an occasional word of direction fromthe squaw. The sun had set when they turned the canoe toward the shore. Nakanit pulled the canoe upon the sand beyond reach of the tide, andthe squaw led the way to a little opening among the trees, and thereAnne was surprised to find another wigwam, very much like the one theyhad left that morning. The squaw spread the blankets, gave the girls thecorn cakes with strips of dried fish for their supper, and they hadwater from a near-by brook. 

Anne was soon fast asleep, quite forgetful of her strange surroundingsand of the friends in Province Town. 

Meanwhile those friends had now nearly given up the hope of finding her. 

Amanda Cary's jealousy had vanished the moment she heard of Anne'sdisappearance. 

"I do not know what I shall do with the child, " Mrs. Cary saidanxiously, when Amanda cried herself to sleep on the night after Anneleft home, and when, on the next morning, she began sobbing bitterly atthe mention of her playmate's name. 

"Amanda's ashamed; that's what's the matter with her, " declared Amosboldly. 

Amanda's sobs stopped, and she looked at her brother with startled eyes. What would become of her, she wondered, if the Stoddards should everfind out that she, Amanda, was the one to blame; that Anne had notdeserved any punishment. 

"Amos, don't plague your sister, " said Mrs. Cary. "You know she lovesAnne, even if the girl did slap her. Amanda has a good heart, and shedoes not hold resentment, " and Mrs. Cary looked at Amanda with lovingeyes. 

At her mother's words Amanda began to cry again. She thought to herselfthat she could never tell the truth, never. "Everybody will hate me if Ido, " she thought, and then, remembering Anne and hearing her father sayon the second day after her disappearance that there was now little hopeof finding the runaway, she felt that she must tell Mrs. Stoddard. 

"I'll wager I could find Anne, " said Amos as he and Amanda sat on thedoor-step. "She's started for Brewster. "

"Oh, Amos!" Amanda's voice was full of delight. "I shouldn't wonder ifshe had. "

"But Captain Stoddard says he followed the Truro path and no sign ofher; and other people say that wolves would get her if she started towalk. "

Amanda's face had brightened at Amos's assertion that he knew he couldfind Anne, and now she asked eagerly:

"What makes you think you could find her, Amos?"

"You won't tell?" and Amos looked at his sister sharply. 

"I promise, hope to die, I won't, " answered Amanda. 

"Well, I'll tell you. I think she started for Truro, and will go by themeadows and over the hill instead of the regular path. I know the wayI'd go, and I know I could find her; but father just shakes his head andwon't let me try. "

"Amos, you go, " said Amanda. "Promise you'll go. I'll tell you somethingif you won't ever tell. It's something awful!"

"I won't tell, " said the boy. 

"I made Anne run away! Yes, I did. I was angry when she told me aboutgoing to Boston again, and going in a chaise, and I pushed her----"

"And then you came home and told mother that yarn!" interrupted Amos;"and mother went and told Mrs. Stoddard, and so Anne got punished anddidn't know what for. You're a nice sister to have!" and the boy's faceexpressed his disgust. 

"But, Amos, I didn't s'pose Anne would run away, " pleaded Amanda. 

"Hmph!" muttered Amos. "Well, she has, and whatever happens to her willbe your fault. "

"O-ooh--dear, " wailed the little girl. "What shall I do?"

"Nothing, " answered Amos relentlessly; "only of course now I've got tofind her. "

"And you won't ever tell about me, " pleaded Amanda. 

"I'd be ashamed to let anybody know I had a sister like you, " answeredAmos. 

"Amos, you're real good, " responded Amanda, somewhat to her brother'ssurprise. "When will you start?"

"Right off, " declared the boy. "I'll put a jug of water and something toeat in my boat, and I'll go round to Truro--Anne must have got thatfar--and I'll keep on until I find her and tell her how ashamed I am ofyou. "

"And say I'm sorry, Amos; promise to tell her I'm sorry, " pleadedAmanda. 

"Lots of use being sorry, " said the boy. "When they miss me you cantell them just where I've gone and that I'll be home Saturday night, anyway, or let them hear from me if I don't come. "

"I do believe you'll find her, Amos, " declared Amanda. 

"Sure!" answered the boy. 

CHAPTER IV

WITH THE MASHPEES

Amos was so frequently in his boat that no one gave any especialattention when they saw him push off from shore and row steadily in thedirection of Truro. He was not missed at home until supper time; then, as the little family gathered around the table, Mrs. Cary said:

"'Tis time Amos was here. He's not often late for his supper. "

"He won't be here for supper, " announced Amanda; "he's gone to findAnne!"

"My soul!" exclaimed Mrs. Cary; "gone to find Anne, indeed. Whatpossesses the children of this settlement is more than I can answer. Andyou, Amanda! Here you are all smiles and twinkles, as if you thought ita great thing for your brother to start off like this. "

"He's gone by boat, I vow, " said Mr. Cary. 

"Yes, he means to row to Truro, and catch up with Anne. And he said totell you he'd be back, or get you news of him in some way, bySaturday, " and Amanda nodded smilingly, as if she were quite sure thather father and mother would be quite satisfied with Amos now that shehad given them his message. 

"Amos shall have his way in one thing, " said Mr. Cary. "As soon as he isback, aye, if he comes Saturday or not, I'll put him aboard the firstcraft that can get out of harbor, and the farther her port the better. Ayear on shipboard is what the boy needs. "

"You wouldn't send the boy with a strange captain?" Mrs. Cary questionedanxiously. 

"Indeed I will. So long as he's on board a ship we shall know where heis, " declared Amos's father. "We can do nothing now but wait. Find Anne, indeed! who knows where to look for the poor child?"

"Amos knows, " said Amanda. 

But Mr. And Mrs. Cary shook their heads. They did not feel much anxietyas to Amos's safety, for the boys of the settlement were used todepending on themselves, and many boys no older than Amos Cary or JimmieStarkweather had made a voyage to the West Indies, or to some farsouthern port; but they were displeased that he should have started offwithout permission. 

Saturday came, but Amos did not appear, but toward evening a Truro manbrought Mr. Cary word that Amos had been in Truro, and had started forBrewster that morning. 

"He's a sailor, that boy!" declared the Truro man admiringly. "Hehoisted that square foot of sail-cloth, and went out of harbor atsunrise with a fair wind. He said he had 'business in Brewster, '" andthe Truro man laughed good-naturedly. "But he's a smart boy, " he added. 

Mr. Cary made no answer, but his stern face softened a little at thepraise of Amos. Nevertheless he was firmly resolved that Amos should besent on a long voyage. "The harder master he has the better, " thoughtthe father. "I'm too easy with him. "

When Amos hoisted his "square foot of sail" and headed for Wellfleet, hesaw a canoe some distance ahead of him. 

"Two squaws paddling and one doing nothing, " thought the boy. "Wonderwhere they're bound?" But it was no unusual sight to see Indian canoesin those waters, and Amos did not think much about it. But his coursebrought him nearer and nearer to the graceful craft, and all at once henoticed that the figure sitting in the canoe was a little white girl. At that very moment Anne turned her face toward him. 

"Amos!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet. 

There was an angry exclamation from the squaw, a yell from Nakanit, andin an instant the girls and woman were in the water. Anne's jump hadupset the delicately balanced craft. The baskets bobbed and floated onthe water. Anne's bundle was not to be seen, while Anne herself, clutching at the slippery side of the canoe called "Amos! Amos!" in aterrified voice. 

But it was no new experience for either the squaw or Nakanit. In amoment Anne felt a strong grasp on her shoulder. "Keep quiet, " commandedthe squaw. "Let go the canoe. " As Anne obeyed she saw Nakanit closebeside her, and, while the squaw kept her firm grasp on Anne's shoulder, the girl righted the canoe, and easily and surely regained her place init. The squaw lifted Anne in, and quickly followed her. Amos had broughthis boat as near as possible and now rescued the baskets and floatingpaddles, and handed them to Nakanit. 

The squaw scowled at Anne, and when the girl bewailed her lost bundlemuttered angrily. 

"Want to get in my boat, Anne?" asked the boy. 

Before Anne could answer the squaw with a strong sweep of her paddle hadsent the canoe some distance from the boat, while Nakanit called backsome word to Amos, evidently of warning not to follow them. But Anneturned her head and called "Amos! Amos!" For the scowling faces of hercompanions frightened her, and she wished herself safely in Amos's boat. 

The breeze had now died away, and Amos was soon left some distancebehind. Anne did not dare turn her head to see if he were following thecanoe, which was now moving ahead rapidly as the Indians swiftly wieldedtheir paddles. 

"Go to Brewster, " announced the squaw after a little silence. 

Anne, huddled up in her wet clothes, frightened and unhappy, nodded herhead in answer. Then, remembering that the squaw had bidden her to sitstill, and that her jump had upset the canoe, she ventured to say: "I'msorry I jumped. "

The squaw's scowl disappeared, and she gave a grunt of approval, andthen, evidently, repeated Anne's words to Nakanit, for the Indian girlsmiled and nodded. Anne began to realize that they were really kind andgood-natured, and that she had no reason to be afraid. 

"I was surprised to see Amos, " she continued. 

The squaw nodded again, and repeated, "Go to Brewster. "

Anne could now hear the sound of the oars, and knew that Amos was rowingtoward them. The paddles began to move more swiftly, and the sound ofthe oars grew more indistinct. Anne realized that Amos could not keep upwith the canoe. But she was sure that he would follow them, and it madeher feel less uneasy. 

"Amos is a good boy, " she explained to the squaw, but there was noresponse. "I'd like to tell him that you've been good to me, " continuedAnne. 

At this the squaw, with a word to Nakanit, held her paddle motionless, and very soon Amos was close beside them. 

"Tell him, " commanded the squaw. 

So Anne told her little story of adventure, and said, "And they aregoing to take me right to Rose Freeman in Brewster. Nakanit's mothertalks English. "

Amos listened in amazement. "I told Amanda you'd started for Brewster, "he responded, "and I sent word to father that I was going there, so Imight as well go. I've got things to eat. Amanda's sorry, " he added, looking rather shamed as he spoke his sister's name. 

The squaw now dipped her paddle again, and the canoe and boat movedforward. Anne began to think about her lost bundle, and to remember howneatly Rose Freeman dressed. "She will be ashamed of me, " thought thegirl, looking down at her wet and faded skirt and bare feet. 

"Say, don't we stop anywhere for dinner?" asked Amos. "It's getting hotwork rowing all this time. "

The squaw looked at the boy sharply, and then turned the canoe towardthe shore. They landed on a beach, close by the mouth of a stream ofclear water. A little way from the beach they found shade under abranching oak-tree. 

"I'll build a fire, " suggested Amos, "and I'll get some clams; shall I?"and he turned toward the squaw. 

She nodded, and seemed rather surprised when she saw that the boyunderstood her own way of getting fire, and when he asked for a basketand soon returned with it well filled with clams, which he roasted inthe hot sand under the coals, she evidently began to think well of him. Amos shared his bread and a piece of cold beef which he had brought fromhome with his companions, and, with a quantity of blueberries thatNakanit had gathered while Amos roasted the clams, they all had enoughto eat, and Amos said everything tasted better than if eaten in thehouse, at which the squaw nodded and smiled. 

Anne found a chance to whisper to Amos: "Don't tell her I ran away. "

"All right, but I fear she knows it, " replied the boy. 

It was in the early evening when the canoe, closely followed by Amos'srowboat, left Wellfleet harbor behind them and headed for Brewster. Thesquaw had decided that it would be easier to go on than to wait foranother day, and Anne and Amos were glad to go on as soon as possible. 

At first Amos had wondered why the squaw had promised to take Anne toBrewster, and had decided that probably the Indians were bound in thatdirection when they fell in with Anne. This was really one reason, butit was Anne's mention of the name of Freeman that had made the squawwilling to do the girl a service. For the Freemans of Brewster had beengood friends to the Mashpee Indians, and the squaw felt bound to helpany friend of theirs. 

She had questioned Amos sharply as to his reason for following Anne, andAmos had told her the truth: that his sister had not treated Annefairly, so that Anne had been punished, and had run away. "So, ofcourse, " added the boy, "I had to come after her and be sure that shewas all right. "

The squaw understood, and evidently thought well of Amos for hisundertaking. Anne felt much happier to know that a friend was close athand, and that Amos on his return home would tell her Aunt MarthaStoddard that she was safely in Brewster. But the lost bundle troubledher a good deal. As she sat in the swiftly moving canoe and watched thesteady dip of the paddles she thought that the Indians had been verygood to her. "If I had my bundle now I would give Nakanit the cape andthe beads; indeed I would, " she said to herself. 

The midsummer moon shone down upon the beautiful harbor. Every woodedpoint or sloping field was plainly outlined in the clear water, andthere was the pleasant fragrance of pine and bayberry mingled with thesoft sea air. It was much pleasanter than journeying in the sun. Thesquaw and Nakanit began to sing, and although neither Anne nor Amosunderstood the words, they were both sure that the musical notes told ofbirds flying over moonlit water. 

It was midnight when the squaw turned the canoe toward shore. It provedto be the mouth of a small inlet up which they went for some distance, Amos keeping close behind. 

"Look, Anne!" he exclaimed as the Indians stopped paddling. "There is acamp-fire. I do believe it's the Mashpee village. "

"Sshh, " warned the squaw in a sharp voice. At the sound of the boy'svoice a number of dark figures appeared to spring up from the ground, and the squaw called out a word of greeting. A moment later she wastalking rapidly to several tall figures who came to meet her, evidentlytelling Anne's story and that of Amos. 

Anne could distinguish the word "Freeman" in the squaw's talk. 

Amos pulled his boat up on shore, and stood wondering what would happennext. He looked toward the wigwams and the smoldering camp-fires, andalmost forgave Amanda, because his journey was bringing him into theMashpee village. 

One of the Indians gave him a little push, and pointed toward a wigwam. It was evident that the squaw was the only one who spoke English. 

"Go with him, " she said to Amos. 

"All right, " responded the boy; "here's your bundle, Anne, " he said, holding it out toward her. "I fished it out of the water when you tippedover. Guess it isn't much wet. "

Anne was almost too delighted to speak. She hugged the bundle in herarms and followed Nakanit up the path toward the village. This wasevidently the squaw's home, and her wigwam had many deerskins, blanketsand baskets. 

Nakanit led Anne toward the back of the wigwam where lay a pile ofspruce boughs over which deerskins were thrown. In a few moments theIndian girl and Anne lay on this rude couch fast asleep. 

When Anne awoke the next morning there was no one in the wigwam. Everything seemed very quiet. Anne's first thought was for her belovedbundle that she had carefully set down beside her bed. It was not there. The little girl slid to her feet, and began looking about the wigwam. There was no trace of it. Anne began to feel very unhappy. It had beenhard to make up her mind to give Nakanit her treasured corals and herpretty cape, but it was even harder to bear to have them disappear likethis. She threw herself back on the bed and began to cry bitterly. Shewished that Rose Freeman had never thought of asking her to come toBrewster, and that she was safe in Province Town with Aunt Martha. 

She stopped crying suddenly, for she felt a hand smoothing her hair, andshe looked up to find Nakanit sitting beside her, and at her feet restedthe bundle. It was plain that the mischievous Indian girl had wished totease the little white girl, but had relented at the sight of her tears. 

"Oh, " exclaimed Anne, "I'm so glad!" and she began to unfasten thebundle, spreading out the blue cape and muslin dress, and laying"Martha Stoddard" down on the deerskins. Then she took up the string ofcoral beads and turning toward Nakanit fastened them around her neck. "Iwant to give you these for being good to me, " she said. The Indian girlunderstood the gift if not the words, and was evidently delighted. Hearing a noise at the entrance they looked up to see the squaw smilingin at them. She had heard Anne's words, and now came toward the girls. Anne picked up her blue cape and held it out toward the squaw. "I wish Ihad something better to give you, " she said. 

The squaw took it eagerly, and with a grunt of satisfaction, and then, turning to Nakanit, began chattering rapidly. Nakanit ran toward a bigbasket in the corner and came back with several pairs of soft moccasins. Kneeling before Anne she tried them on her feet until a pair was foundthat fitted. 

"Now go with Nakanit to the lake, " said the squaw, and Anne followedNakanit out of the wigwam through the woods to a clear little lake wherethe girls bathed, braided their hair, and then came back to eat heartilyof the simple food the squaw gave them. 

CHAPTER V

AT BREWSTER

"Look, look, Aunt Hetty. Here are some Indians coming up the path, and Ido believe that they have a little white boy and girl with them, " andRose Freeman drew her aunt to the open window that looked down over asmooth green lawn to an elm-shaded village street. 

Aunt Hetty's well-starched dress rustled pleasantly as she hurried tojoin Rose. 

"It's old Nakanit and her daughter, " she said. "My mother taught her agood deal, and she often comes to see me. Those are surely whitechildren. I wonder what the trouble is. Old Nakanit knows that theSabbath is not a day for idle visits, and indeed, Rose, it does notbecome us to be stretching our heads out of the window. There, they areon the porch now. Why, Rose!" For with a quick exclamation the girl hadrun from the room and when Mrs. Freeman followed she found her with anarm about a little moccasined dark-eyed girl, saying: "Why, it is Anne;it is dear little Anne Nelson. "

"I declare!" exclaimed Mrs. Freeman. "And did you fetch the child, Nakanit? Sit down and I will have Hepsibah bring you some cool milk andcake. "

Nakanit grunted appreciatively, and while the Indians were eating Annetold Rose all the story of her journey. 

"I do not know why Aunt Martha shut me up and said that I could notvisit you, Rose, " said Anne; "if I had been disobedient or careless I donot know it. "

Amos listened, looking very flushed and unhappy, for he knew that it wasAmanda's story that had caused Anne's punishment and made her a runaway. But he had promised his sister that he would not betray her, and nowthat Anne had reached Brewster in safety he resolved to keep silent. "But Amanda shall tell Mrs. Stoddard; indeed she shall, " the boy said tohimself. 

The Indians soon rose from the porch steps to depart, and as Anne saidgood-bye to them she felt that she was parting from friends, and triedto tell them so. 

"And you are going home to Province Town, and will tell Aunt Martha thatI am safe, " she said to Amos. "You were real good to come after me, Amos, and you tell Amanda not to be sorry she slapped me; that it's allright. "

Amos wriggled about uneasily at Anne's message. He was almost resolvednot to go home at all. 

"I reckon I'll stay with the Mashpees a while, " he answered. "There's anIndian boy who talks English and he's told me lots of things: how to settraps for foxes and woodchucks, and how to make fish-spears, and he canstay under water longer than I can. He's fine. You ought to hear himtell stories. Last night he told me of a tribe of Indians who sent sixof their bravest warriors out to sea in a canoe, without food orpaddles, so as to prove to other tribes that their braves could not beharmed anywhere. And they were carried by the winds and waves to awonderful island where there were friendly Indians; and they hunted wilddeer, and made bows and arrows, and paddles, and caught wild birds, andwhen another summer came back they came to Cape Cod with many canoes, and skins, and much deer-meat, so that their tribe made them all greatchiefs. And this boy who told me is one of the descendants of the verybravest chief, and he wants me to stay and be his brother, " and Amoslooked as if he would like nothing better than to be adopted into theMashpee tribe. 

"What's the Indian boy's name?" questioned Anne. 

"I don't think much of his name, " said Amos, a little regretfully; "it's'Shining Fish. '"

"But you won't stay with the Indians, Amos, will you?" pleaded Anne. 

"I s'pose I'll have to go home, " agreed Amos. "I wonder what JimmieStarkweather will say when I tell him about living with Indians, " andAmos looked more cheerful at the thought of Jimmie's surprise and envywhen he should describe his adventures. "Nothing ever happens toJimmie, " he added, in a satisfied tone. 

After Amos and the Indians had started on their way back to the Indianvillage Rose and Anne followed Mrs. Freeman into the square comfortablehouse. Mrs. Freeman had heard all about Anne, and now, as she noticedthe torn and soiled dress, the untidy hair and moccasin-covered feet, she whispered to Rose: "Take the child right up-stairs. I don't wantyour uncle to see her looking so like a wild child of the woods. "

Rose nodded laughingly. Aunt Hetty Freeman was known as one of the besthousekeepers in Brewster, and no one had ever seen her looking otherthan "spick and span, " as her husband often admiringly declared. Rosealways said that she could tell just what part of the big house AuntHetty was in because she could hear her starched skirts rattle; and sherealized that Anne's untidy appearance was a real trouble to herkind-hearted aunt. 

Anne looked at the broad stairway admiringly, and exclaimed at the sightof a tall clock on the landing. "It's better than Boston, isn't it, Rose?" she said, as Rose took her into the big comfortable room, withits high, curtained bed and chintz curtained windows. 

"It's a dear house, " answered the older girl, who was too loyal to herhome to think any other place quite as good. "You are the bravest childI ever heard of, " Rose continued admiringly, drawing Anne down besideher on the broad cushioned window-seat; "to think of your starting outto come all the way alone to Brewster through the wilderness!"

"I guess I should have been lost but for the Indians, " replied Anne;"but when Aunt Martha said I could not come, that she did not want tohear more of any visit to Brewster or Boston, I had to run away. But nowI'm sorry, " and Anne began to cry bitterly. Rose, too, looked veryunhappy, for she realized that Captain and Mrs. Stoddard would begreatly troubled until they knew of the little girl's safety. And, besides that, she was sure that her father would not be willing to takea runaway child to Boston. But Rose resolved not to worry about it, andnot to tell Anne that she feared that she would be sent home to her AuntMartha, instead of taking the wonderful journey to Boston. 

So she comforted her little guest, and told her not to feel bad--thatAunt Martha and Uncle Enos would be only too happy to know that she wassafe. 

"And see, Anne, what my good mother sent you, " and Rose opened a smallhair-covered trunk that stood near the tall chest of drawers, and tookout a pretty dress of spotted percale, and some white stockings. Thenthere was a dainty white petticoat, and a set of underwear, all trimmedwith a pretty crocheted edge. 

"And you can wear your moccasins these hot days, " continued Rose, "andyou will look very nice indeed. "

Anne was soon dressed in the neat clothing, and, with her hair brushedand smoothly braided, she looked like quite a different child from thelittle girl who had journeyed with Nakanit. 

"I am glad to look nice to go to Boston, " Anne said soberly, as theywent down the stairs. 

"Oh, dear!" thought the older girl; "how can I tell the poor child thatI am almost sure that father will find a way to send her safely back toProvince Town?"

Rose's father and uncle spoke kindly to Anne as she came into thesitting-room, and Aunt Hetty's skirts rustled briskly as she moved aboutthe room, and then she went out in the shed and came back with a round, low basket in which lay two black kittens, which she placed in Anne'slap saying: "There, little girls and little kittens always like eachother; so you can have Pert and Prim for your own while you stay withus. "

"Oh, thank you, " said Anne delightedly, for the two little kittens beganto purr happily as she smoothed their soft fur. 

Rose found an opportunity to tell her father all about Anne's reason forrunning away. 

"She did not know why her Aunt Martha shut her up, " pleaded Rose. 

But Mr. Freeman shook his head soberly. "We'll have to send her home bythe first chance to Province Town, " he answered, and Rose went back toher little friend feeling that all her pleasant plans for Anne's visitmust come to an end. 

"But she shall have a good time here in Brewster, " resolved the girl. 

"Shall we start for Boston on Tuesday or Thursday?" Anne asked the nextmorning, as she helped Rose put their pleasant chamber in order. 

"Father has not decided, " replied Rose, feeling rather cowardly that shedid not tell Anne the truth. 

"It will be fine to ride in a chaise, " went on Anne happily, "and tostop in taverns, and see towns along the way. Your father is indeedgood, Rose, to take me. "

"We must do up the dishes for Aunt Hetty, " said Rose briskly, "and thenwe can walk down the street, and maybe father will drive us about thetown. "

While the girls were busy helping Aunt Hetty, Rose's father was on hisway to the Mashpee village to see Amos Cary and to give him a letter totake to Captain Stoddard. He found the boy just ready to start. ShiningFish had launched his canoe and was to go part of the way with his newfriend, greatly to Amos's delight. 

"Anne wasn't to blame. " Amos repeated this a number of times soearnestly that Mr. Freeman began to realize that the boy knew more thanhe was willing to tell, and to blame Amos. 

"That Amanda, " Amos whispered to himself, as he blushed and stammeredand evaded Mr. Freeman's questions. 

"I suppose I can trust you with this letter to Captain Stoddard?" saidMr. Freeman. 

Amos lifted his head, and his blue eyes did not falter in meeting thestern look of the man. 

"I'll give it to him, " he replied, and Mr. Freeman felt quite sure thatthe letter would reach its destination. 

When Amos's boat drew near the landing at Province Town, he saw that hisfather, Amanda, and the Stoddards were all waiting for him. He felthimself to be almost like the chiefs of whom Shining Fish had told him, and quite expected to be praised and made much of; but as he sprangashore he felt his father's hand on his shoulder. 

"March yourself straight to the house, young man. I'll see that you payfor this fool's errand, " said Mr. Cary. 

Amos wriggled away from his father's grasp. "I've got a letter forCaptain Enos. Anne's in Brewster, " he announced. 

"Thank heaven!" exclaimed Mrs. Stoddard. "And did you find her, Amos?You are a brave boy! Why, Mr. Cary, there's not another boy in thevillage who thought of Anne's going to Brewster, or man either for thatmatter, " and Mrs. Stoddard patted the boy's shoulder affectionately, while Mr. Cary regarded Amos with puzzled eyes, hardly knowing whetherto blame or praise him. 

While Captain Enos read the letter Amos briefly told the story of hisadventures to the little group, saving all that Shining Fish had toldhim to relate to Jimmy Starkweather as soon as opportunity should occur. 

"Well, go home to your mother, " said Mr. Cary in a more gentle voice, and Amanda kept close beside her brother as they turned toward home. 

"You've got to tell Mrs. Stoddard, " said Amos. "Yes, you have, " he wenton, almost fiercely, as Amanda began to whimper. "Everybody's blamingAnne, and it's not fair; you've got to tell. "

Amanda stopped short and looked at her brother accusingly. "You promisednot to tell, " she said. 

"Well, I haven't, " answered the boy, "and I won't. I'm ashamed to, beside the promise. Anne said, when I told her that you said you weresorry, that I was to tell you 'twas all right. She seemed to feel badbecause you were sorry. "

"Well, Amos Cary, I won't tell Mrs. Stoddard; so now!" declared Amandaangrily. "Anne is all right, and going to Boston in a chaise. You oughtto be satisfied. Let them think what they want to, I don't care. Andyou've got to go to sea. Father's told Captain Nash that he can haveyou, and the 'Sea Gull' sails next week. "

"Truly, Amanda! Say, that's great news. I do believe I'm the luckiestboy on the Cape. Are you sure, Amanda?" Amos's eyes were shining, hisshoulders had straightened themselves, and, for the moment, he quiteforgot everything except the wonderful news. 

"Do you want to go?" and Amanda's voice was full of disappointment. 

"Want to! Why, the 'Sea Gull' is bound for the West Indies her nextvoyage, and maybe the English will try and catch us, " and Amos's voiceexpressed his delight. "Are you sure, Amanda?" he questioned eagerly, and turned toward his sister in surprise, for Amanda was crying. Itseemed to the unhappy child that everything was going wrong. She did notwant Amos to go away, and she had hoped that he would persuade hisfather to let him remain at home, and here he was rejoicing andtriumphant. She was in great fear that Anne would tell the Stoddardsthe truth, and then Amanda hardly knew what might befall her. She wishedthat she was a boy and could go with Amos in the "Sea Gull. "

"It is indeed good news to know that our little girl is safe inBrewster, " said Mrs. Stoddard, as she read Mr. Freeman's letter, "butwhat shall we do, Enos, about bringing her home? Mr. Freeman truly saysthat, while Rose is eager to take Anne to Boston, we may feel that itwould not be right for her to go. It is indeed a puzzle, is it not?Whatever possessed Anne to turn upon Amanda in such fashion, and then torun off?" and the good woman shook her head dolefully. 

"I'll have to sail to Brewster and fetch her home, " responded thecaptain, but his face was very sober. He would have been glad if theFreemans had written that they would take Anne to Boston, for he did notwant the child disappointed. 

"Well, well, we'll let her see how glad we are to have her safe home, shall we not, Enos? I'll say no more to her about her naughtiness, and Iam sure Mrs. Cary will tell Amanda to forgive Anne and be friends again, and all will go on pleasantly, " but they both felt sorry that it seemedbest for the little girl whom they so dearly loved to have to give upthe wonderful journey up the Cape to Boston in the Freemans' finechaise. 

CHAPTER VI

AMANDA'S CONSCIENCE

Amos Cary and Jimmy Starkweather lay on the warm sand in the narrowshadow cast by a fishing dory pulled up on the beach. No chief returningfrom far-off islands could have been more a hero than was Amos among theboys and girls of the settlement. They followed him about, and listenedeagerly to all that he had to tell them of the Indians. Then, too, hewas to go in the "Sea Gull" with Captain Nash, the swiftest schooner andthe smartest captain sailing out of the harbor, and Jimmie Starkweatherfelt that Amos was having greater good fortune than any boy could hopefor. 

"Maybe the 'Sea Gull' can't get out of port, " said Jimmie, digging hisbare toes in the soft sand. "The English ships keep a sharp outlook fora schooner loaded down with salt fish. I'll bet Captain Nash won't getbeyond Chatham. "

"Pooh!" responded Amos scornfully. "We can sail right away from theirold tubs. But 'twill be great if they do follow us. "

"'Twould be just your good fortune, " said Jimmie. "I do wish my fatherwould let me go with you, Amos. Who knows what adventures you may have!"

For a few moments the two boys did not speak; they lay looking out overthe beautiful harbor, and their minds were full of vague hopes ofadventure. Jimmie was the first to break the silence. 

"You won't see Shining Fish again, will you, Amos?"

"No; did I show you what he gave me?" And Amos pulled out a stoutdeerskin thong from inside his flannel blouse. The claw of a bird wasfastened to the thong. "See! It's a hawk's claw, " exclaimed Amos; "andas long as I wear it no enemy can touch me. I gave Shining Fish myjack-knife, " continued Amos. "You'd like him, Jimmie; he knew storiesabout chiefs and warriors, and he had killed a fox with his bow andarrow. He told me about a chief of their tribe who lived long ago andwas the strongest man that ever lived. He used to go on long journeys, way beyond Cape Cod, with his band of warriors, and once he met anunfriendly tribe, and they laughed when the braves told how strong theirchief was. 'Can he conquer a wild bull?' one of them asked, and thebrave answered, 'Aye, or two wild bulls. '

"So the unfriendly Indians laughed louder, and were glad, for theythought they could destroy the chief even without a battle. Well, theyarranged that this brave chief was to go alone into a fenced-in placeand meet two wild bulls, and if he conquered them the unfriendly tribewould own him the strongest chief in the world, and would be subject tohim. It was great, Jimmie, to hear Shining Fish tell it. He said thegreat chief marched into the place where the bulls were, and they camedashing toward him, and their hoofs rang upon the ground, and theirnostrils sent out sheets of flame, but the chief never flinched a step, and the bulls stopped short and trembled. Then the chief sprang upon thenearest, and seized him by the horns, and they wrestled until the bullfell to its knees tired out. Then he grabbed at the other, and threw it, and all the Indians began to wonder how any chief could be so strong. "

"S'pose it's true?" questioned Jimmie. 

"Sure!" answered Amos. "What's Captain Stoddard doing to his boat?" hecontinued. Captain Enos was evidently not bound out on a fishing trip, for he was making his boat as tidy as possible. 

"He's going to sail over to Brewster to fetch Anne back, " answeredJimmie. 

"But Anne is going to Boston with Rose Freeman, " said Amos. 

Jimmie shook his head. "No, the Freemans won't take her because she ranaway, " he explained, and looked up in amazement, for Amos had sprung tohis feet and was racing along the beach toward Captain Stoddard's boatas fast as his feet would carry him. 

Jimmie laughed. "I'll bet Amos wants to go to Brewster, " he decided. 

Amos did not want to go to Brewster. But he had instantly resolved thatAnne must not be stopped from going to Boston. Even as he ran he couldsee that there was no time to spare in reaching Captain Enos, for he wasalready pushing off from shore. 

"Captain Enos! Captain Enos!" he called frantically, and the captainlooked toward him. "Wait a minute! wait!" yelled the boy, and thecaptain waited, saying good-humoredly:

"Never saw such a boy as that one. He can't bear to see a boat put offunless he's in it. "

"Captain Enos, you mustn't bring Anne back, " said Amos as he ran outinto the shallow water and grasped the side of the boat. "It wouldn't befair; it wasn't her fault, " he added. 

"Whose fault was it?" asked the captain. 

"Wait!" commanded Amos, remembering his promise to his sister. "Waitjust ten minutes, Captain Enos, before you start. I'll be back, " andaway went Amos up the beach and along the sandy path to the house. 

"Amos is going to come out first rate, I can see that plain enough, "said Captain Enos, watching the boy's flying figure, and he was notsurprised when he saw Amos coming back with Amanda held fast by thehand. 

The boy and girl stopped at the edge of the water. 

"Tell him, Amanda, " commanded Amos. 

"It's my fault, " whimpered Amanda. "I got my mother to tell Mrs. Stoddard that Anne slapped me and ran off with the luncheon. And shedidn't. I slapped her. "

"Clear as mud, " muttered the captain; then in a louder tone, "Amos, you're going to make a good American sailor, and we're all going to beproud of you. And I guess Amanda's going to do better after this, " andhe pushed off from shore. 

"But you won't go to Brewster now!" called both the children. 

"I'll have to. Must go and tell the Freemans that we're willing for Anneto go to Boston, and to tell Anne that her Aunt Martha knows the truth. You just run up and tell Mrs. Stoddard all about it, Amanda, " heanswered; and, having sent his boat into deep water, the captain drew inhis oars and began hoisting the big mainsail. 

For a few moments the boy and girl stood watching him. Then, with a longsigh, Amanda turned to go toward the Stoddard house. Amos began to feela little sorry for her. 

"Say, Amanda, I'll go tell her, " he called. 

"You mind your own business, Amos Cary, " and Amanda turned toward himangrily. "I'll tell Mrs. Stoddard myself, and then I'll go home and tellmy mother. I'll tell everybody, and when everybody hates and despisesme I reckon you'll be satisfied, " and without waiting for any responseshe went on up the path. 

Amos turned and went back to the shade of the boat, but JimmieStarkweather was no longer there. He wished more than ever that he wasback with Shining Fish. Then he remembered that in another week he wouldbe on board the "Sea Gull. " He watched Captain Stoddard's sloop until itwas only a white blur against the distant shore, and then went up thebeach toward home. 

Captain Enos had a favoring wind and a light heart, for he was glad toknow that their little maid had not been to blame. "She ran away becauseshe had not been fairly treated. 'Tis what older people sometimes do, "he said to himself. "'Twas the very reason that sent our fathers out ofEngland to America. I'll not fetch Anne back, for she called to me fromthe window and would have told me all the story had I been willing tolisten, " and then because his mind was at ease the captain began to singan old song that he had learned as a boy. He had a musical voice, andthe words drifted back pleasantly:

 "A fit and fa-vor-able wind To further us provide; And let it wait on us behind, Or lackey by our side; From sudden gusts, from storms, from sands, And from the raging wave; From shallows, rocks, and pirates' hands, Men, goods, and vessel save. "

In Brewster time was going very smoothly with Anne. The Freemans werekind and pleasant people, and the big house was filled with many thingsof interest to a little girl. First of all there was black Hepsibah, ablack woman whom Captain Freeman had brought, with her brother Josephus, from Cuba when they were small children. They had grown up in theFreeman household, and were valued friends and servants. Anne liked tohear Hepsibah laugh, and the negro woman's skirts were as stifflystarched as those of Mrs. Freeman herself, who had taught Hepsibah, andtrained her to become an excellent housekeeper. 

On the high mantelpiece in the dining-room were great branches ofwhite coral, brought from the South Seas; on each side of the frontdoor were huge pink shells. And in the funny little corner cupboardwere delicately tinted pink cups and saucers, and the mahogany tablewas always set with a tall shining silver teapot, and a little fatpitcher and bowls of silver, and the plates were covered with redflowers and figures of queer people with sunshades. Rose told her thatthese plates came all the way from China, a country on the other sideof the earth. 

"When does your father say we shall start for Boston?" Anne asked, asthe two girls walked down the shady pleasant street that led to thewharves. Anne was not a dull child, and she noticed that no word hadbeen said of Boston, and began to wonder if Mr. Freeman blamed her forrunning away. "Perhaps your father thinks I am a wicked girl to have runaway, " she added before Rose could answer. 

"Oh, Anne, no indeed; nobody would think you wicked, " Rose answeredpromptly. "But father sent a letter to Captain Enos by Amos, and heexpects that the captain will get word to us to-day or to-morrow----"

"To say whether I may go or not?" interrupted Anne. "Oh, Rose!" andthere was a pleading note in the little girl's voice, "I do want to goso much, and I do wonder and wonder why Amanda should have slapped me, and why Aunt Martha should have punished me. I do wish I could hear AuntMartha say again that I was a good child, as she used often to do. "

Rose clasped the little girl's hand affectionately. "I believe thatAmanda was jealous because you were to have this visit, " said Rose, "andwho knows, perhaps by this time she is as sorry as can be, and has toldMrs. Stoddard all about it. Perhaps word may come this very night thatyour Aunt Martha thinks you are a good child, and forgives you forrunning away. "

As the girls walked along they met a party of men carrying rifles, andhurrying toward Brewster Common. 

"They are going to the training field, " explained Rose, at Anne'ssurprised exclamation, "and may have to march to Boston to-morrow. Father is anxious to get home. "

The wharves at Brewster were much larger and better cared for than theProvince Town landing places; but there were few boats to be seen. Farout a sloop, coming briskly on before a favoring wind, attracted thegirls' attention. 

"Rose, that's the 'Morning Star, ' Uncle Enos's sloop. I know it is, "declared Anne; "and he will never let any one else sail her, so it'sUncle Enos! Let's hurry! He's coming straight for this very wharf. "

The big sloop swung round, the mainsail came rattling down, and CaptainEnos ran his craft skilfully up beside the long wharf just as Anne, closely followed by Rose, came running down the pier. 

"Uncle Enos! Uncle Enos!" exclaimed Anne joyfully. "I'm so glad you'vecome, " and she clasped both hands around his brawny arm as he stepped onthe wharf. "And here is Rose, " she continued as the elder girl steppedforward to speak to the captain. 

"Growing more like a rose every day, " declared Captain Enos, as he shookhands with Rose. "And here is our little maid all ready to start on thegreat journey, eh?" and he looked kindly down into Anne's smiling face. "And what would you girls say if I told you that I had sailed over hereto take Anne back to Province Town?"

"Oh, Uncle Enos!"

"Oh, Captain Stoddard!" exclaimed the girls fearfully. 

"Wouldn't like it, eh? Well, " said the captain, "then we won't have itthat way, and Anne may go with you. "

"Oh, Uncle Enos!"

"Oh, Captain Stoddard!" The exclamations were the same, but the wordswere in such joyous tones that Captain Enos began to laugh heartily, asdid Rose and Anne, so that it was a very merry party that went gaily upthe street toward Mr. Freeman's house, where Captain Enos was warmlywelcomed. 

After supper he and Anne had a long talk together about Amanda and Amos. "Amanda's had a hard time, I reckon, " declared the captain, "and if Iknow aught of her parents she will remember this all her life, and willnot be so ready to bear false witness against her neighbor. "

"I did not so much mind Amanda's slapping me, " replied Anne soberly, "but I thought when Aunt Martha shut me up that 'twas because she nolonger loved me. "

"Tut, tut, and so you walked off into the wilderness. A very wrong thingto do, Anne, " and Captain Enos's voice was very grave. "Your runningaway has made a sad talk in the settlement, and some of the people areready to say that we have not treated you well, or you would not havefled from us. "

Anne began to realize, for the first time, that she had acted veryselfishly. Thinking of nothing but her wish to go to Boston with Roseshe had made her best friends anxious and unhappy. 

They were sitting on the broad sofa in the quiet sitting-room, and Anneleaned against Uncle Enos and said quickly: "I ought to go straight backto Province Town!" She said it in such a sharp voice that Uncle Enoslooked at her wonderingly, and saw that tears were very near falling. 

"No, Anne, " he answered kindly. "I want you to go with the Freemans, andhave a pleasant visit. Your father's ship will be in Boston in a fewweeks, and he will rejoice to find you there and will bring you safelyback to Province Town. "

CHAPTER VII

THE BLACK-BEARDED MAN

Anne and Rose Freeman stood at the gate all ready to enter thecomfortable chaise with its broad seat and big wheels. The big brownhorse was apparently eager to start, but black Josephus held him firmlyuntil the girls and Mr. Freeman were seated, and then handed the reinsto Mr. Freeman. 

"Good-bye, good-bye, " called the girls, leaning out beyond the hood ofthe chaise to wave to Aunt Hetty and Captain Freeman and Uncle Enos, whohad stayed to see the travelers start on the ride to Boston. 

"A horse is useful, " remarked Uncle Enos, thoughtfully, as he watchedthem drive away, "but there's not one in Province Town settlement asyet. We have little need of one, with so many good boats. "

The summer morning was clear and bright, and not too warm. They had madean early start, and the heavy dew still lingered on the trees andflowers. 

"How far shall we go to-day, father?" asked Rose. 

"We will pass the night in Sandwich, if all goes well, " replied Mr. Freeman. "Your aunt has put us up a fine luncheon, and we will give Ladya rest toward noon and enjoy it. "

The sandy roads made it rather slow traveling, but Anne was as happy asa bird. They got many glimpses of the sea, and now and then some wildcreature would run across the road, or peer at them from the shelter ofthe woods. Once or twice a partridge, with her brood of little ones, fled before them, and there was a great deal for them to see and enjoy. Anne felt very happy to know that Aunt Martha and Uncle Enos hadforgiven her for running away, and that they were glad for her to go toBoston. She did not cherish any ill-will against Amanda, and thoughtherself a very fortunate little girl to be sitting beside Rose Freemanand riding along the pleasant road in such a grand chaise. 

Mr. Freeman told them that there was something very wonderful to be seenin Suet, a little village that they would pass through on their way toSandwich. "Captain Sears is an old friend of mine, " said Mr. Freeman, "and we will make him a call and he will be glad to show us how salt ismade. "

"Can he make salt?" questioned Anne. 

"Yes, and a good thing for the colony it is; for salt is hard to get, with English frigates taking all the cargoes afloat, " answered Mr. Freeman; "and Cape Cod is the very place to make it, for there is plentyof salt water. " Then he told them how Captain Sears had first made longshallow troughs and filled them with the sea-water, and the sun dried upthe water, leaving the salt in the bottom of the vats. "And now, "continued Mr. Freeman, "I hear he has had big kettles made, and withhuge fires under them boils the water away and gets good salt in thatfashion. We'll stop and have a look, if time allows. "

Just before noon the sky began to grow dark, and there was a distantrumble of thunder. They were driving through a lonely stretch ofcountry; there was no house in sight, and Mr. Freeman began to watch thesky with anxious eyes. He knew that, on the bare sandy plain over whichthey were now traveling, the wind would sweep with great force, sufficient perhaps to overturn the chaise. Rose and Anne grew very quietas they heard the thunder and watched the threatening sky. 

"We'll soon reach the Yarmouth woods, " said Mr. Freeman encouragingly, "and if the storm comes may be able to find some sort of shelter, but Ifear it will prevent our reaching the salt works. "

Rose and Anne both thought to themselves that troughs and kettles filledwith salt water would not be very much of a sight, and were very gladwhen the sandy plain was behind them and they were once more in theshelter of the woods, which broke the force of the wind. It was nowraining in torrents. 

"One good thing about this is that the rain will beat the sand down andmake the traveling better, " said Mr. Freeman. 

The road was a mere lane, and they all began to feel a littleuncomfortable and discouraged as the thunder deepened and came pealafter peal, followed by shooting darts of lightning. The big horse wasgoing at a good pace, but, all at once, Lady made a quick turn, andbefore Mr. Freeman could stop her had swung into an even more narrowtrack, half hidden by underbrush from the main road. In a few momentsthey saw a long low shingled house nearly hidden by closely growingtrees. 

"Well done, Lady!" exclaimed Mr. Freeman laughingly, as Lady stoppeddirectly in front of the door. 

Mr. Freeman handed the reins to Rose and sprang out, and rapped on thedoor, but no answer came. 

"I don't believe there is any one here, " he declared. "Stay in thechaise a moment, and I'll find out. " As he spoke he gave the door alittle push when, much to his surprise, it swung open and Mr. Freemanfound himself face to face with a tall, black-bearded man who regardedhim with a scowling countenance. 

"What do you want?" he asked gruffly. 

At that moment a peal of thunder heavier than any preceding it made Roseand Anne shrink more closely together in the corner of the chaise. "Helooks like a pirate, " whispered Rose fearfully. 

"We want shelter until this storm is over, " Mr. Freeman replied. "May Idrive my horse into that shed?"

The man grunted an unwilling assent, and Mr. Freeman sprang back intothe chaise and drove Lady under a rough shelter in the rear of thehouse. 

"Don't go in the house, will you, father?" whispered Rose; for the manhad opened a back door leading into the shed and was regarding hisundesired guests with suspicious eyes. 

"How did you happen to come here?" he asked gruffly. "This road don'tlead nowheres. "

"My horse turned in from the main road very suddenly, " explained Mr. Freeman. "We had no plan except to get on to Sandwich as fast aspossible. "

"Going far?" questioned the man. 

"We are on our way to Boston, " answered Mr. Freeman. 

"Guess the English are going to give the Yankees a lesson even if theycouldn't hold Boston!" said the man with a smile, as if he would be gladto know his words would come true. 

"I think not, sir, " answered Mr. Freeman sharply; "and a Cape Cod manought to be the last to say such a thing. "

"You're not a Tory, then?" exclaimed the man eagerly. "Get right out ofthat chaise and come in. These your girls? Let me help you out, missy, "and he came toward the carriage. 

"Get out, Anne, " said Mr. Freeman in a low tone, and in a moment the twogirls were following the black-bearded man into a low dark kitchen. 

"You folks looked so dressed up I thought like as not you were Tories, "declared the man, as if wishing to explain his rude reception. "Now takeseats, and I'll put your horse where it can have a bit of fodder. "

Mr. Freeman followed the man back to the shed, and Anne and Rose lookedat each other, and then glanced about the low dark room. 

"I don't believe he's a pirate, " whispered Anne; "anyway I'm glad to bein out of this dreadful storm. "

"So am I, " answered Rose, "but it is a funny house. What do you supposemade Lady turn in at that place? This man may not be a pirate, but thereis something odd about him. This whole place is queer. I almost wish wehad stayed in the chaise. "

Under the two windows that faced toward the woods ran a long box-likeseat, and in one corner of the room stood a shoemaker's bench, with itsrows of awls, needles threaded with waxed thread, hammers, sharp knives, tiny wooden pegs, and bits of leather; a worn boot lay on the floor asif the man had started up from his work at Mr. Freeman's rap. 

"What's that, Rose?" questioned Anne, pointing to a piece of iron thatcould be seen extending from beneath an old blanket which lay under thebench. 

"It's a rifle!" answered Rose. "Look, Anne! Quick, before he comes back. I believe there are a lot of guns there. "

Anne knelt down to lift the blanket. Rose was close beside her, leaningover to see what the blanket might conceal, when the kitchen door swungopen and the man entered. As he looked at the two girls his facedarkened again, and he came quickly forward. 

"Aha!" he muttered. "It's just as I thought. Pretty clever of the oldTory to bring these girls along to peek about and find out all theycan, " but the girls did not hear him until he stood beside them, andthen his scowl was gone and he spoke pleasantly: "A good many riflesfor one man, but they are not all mine. I'm storing them for friends. "

"Where's father?" asked Rose, a little anxiously. 

"He's giving the pretty horse a rub down, " answered the man; "nowthere's a better room for young ladies than this old kitchen, " hecontinued. "Just come this way, " and he opened a door into a long darkpassage, into which the girls followed him. 

"Right in here, " said the man, opening a door at the further end of thehall, and holding it ajar for the girls to pass in. 

"It's all dark!" exclaimed Anne, who had been the first to enter. Rosewas close behind her and as Rose crossed the threshold the heavy doorswung to behind them. They heard bolts shot and then all was quiet. 

Rose sprang against the door with all her strength, but instantlyrealized that it was useless to try to open it. "Father! Father!" shescreamed, and Anne, hardly knowing what she said, called also "Father!"

"It's dark as pitch, " whispered Anne, clutching at Rose's dress; "therecan't be a window in this room, or we'd see light somewhere. "

The two girls clung together, not knowing what next might befall them. 

"There may be some other door, " said Rose after they had screamedthemselves hoarse. "We must not be frightened, Anne, for father is sureto look for us. Let's go round the room and try and find a door. We canfeel along the wall, " so the two girls began to grope their way from thedoor. 

"These inside walls are brick!" exclaimed Rose, as her hands left thewooden framework of the door. "Oh, Anne, I do believe it is a sort ofprison all walled inside. " Just then their feet struck against somethinghard and round which rolled before them with a little rumble of sound. Rose leaned down. "They're cannon-balls, " she whispered. "Oh, Anne!There's a whole pile of them. Don't go another step; we'll fall overthem. I do believe the man is a pirate, or else a Tory. " For in thosetroublous times the Americans felt that a Tory was a dangerous enemy totheir country. 

As the girls groped about the room they came to a heavy iron chest, andsat down, realizing that all they could do was to wait until Mr. Freemanshould discover them. 

"Don't be afraid, Anne, " said Rose, putting her arm about her littlecompanion, and felt surprised when Anne answered in a hopeful voice:

"Rose, look! Right up on that wall there's a window. I can see littleedges of light. "

"So there is, but it's too high to do us any good; we can't reach it, "answered Rose. 

"Well, I'm glad it's there, " said Anne. 

Now and then they heard the far-off roar of the thunder, but at last itseemed to die away, and little edges of light showed clearly around theshuttered window on the further wall. The girls watched it, and, theireyes becoming used to the shadowy room, they could now distinguish thepile of cannon-balls in the opposite corner, and behind them a smallcannon and a keg. They could see, too, the outlines of the doorway. 

"How long do you think we shall have to stay here?" whispered Anne, asthe dreary fearful moments dragged by. 

"I don't know, dear, " answered the elder girl, "but we mustn't beafraid. "

The hours went by and the little edge of light around the high shutteredwindow began to fade a little, and the girls knew that the long summerday was fading to twilight, and that it had been about noon when theycame to the house. A great fear now took possession of Rose's thoughts, the fear for her father's safety. She was sure that unless some harm hadbefallen him he would have found them before this time. 

"Rose!" Anne's sharp whisper interrupted her thoughts. "If I could getup to that window I could get out and go after help. The window isn't sovery high; it isn't as if we were up-stairs. "

At that very moment the big door swung open, and the man entered. He hada candle in one hand and carried an armful of rough gray blankets whichhe dropped on the floor beside the girls, and instantly, without a word, departed, and the girls heard the bolts shot on the outside. 

"Those blankets are for us to sleep on. Oh, Anne, what has he done to mydear father?" and Rose began to cry bitterly. 

"Rose, he's coming back!" warned Anne, but the girl could no longerrestrain her sobs and their jailer entered, this time carrying the biglunch basket which Aunt Hetty had put under the seat when they drove offso happily from Brewster. 

"Here's your own grub, " said the man roughly. "Your father'll have toput up with what I give him. "

"You--you--won't kill my father, will you?" sobbed Rose. 

"Oh, no, no!" answered the man, and then apparently regretting his morefriendly tone added, "But I reckon I ought to, coming here a-peekin' an'a-pryin' into what don't concern him, " and he set the basket down on theiron chest with such a thud that it fairly bounced. 

"Oh, he wasn't; I was the one who peeked at the guns, " said Anne. 

"Oho! Peekin' at the guns! Well, I've got you now where you can't peekmuch, " came the gruff answer. 

"Won't you leave the candle?" asked Rose. 

"I guess not, " he answered with a little laugh, and pointed toward thekeg. "Look at that keg! Well, it's full of powder, and powder's toosca'se an article these days to leave a candle in the same room withit. "

"But we can't see to eat, " pleaded Anne. "We'll be real careful; wewon't go near the corner. "

For a moment the man hesitated; then he set the candle down on the chestbeside the basket. 

"All right, " he said. "I'll leave it; 'twon't burn more than an hour. "He looked down at Rose's tear-stained face, and added, "Ain't no causeto cry about your father; he's had a good supper, and I ain't goin' tohurt him. "

"Oh, thank you!" and Rose looked up at him gratefully. 

The door had hardly swung to before Anne whispered, "Rose, Rose, I mustget out of that window some way. You know I must. It's too small foryou, but I'm sure I could get through. "

"Let's eat something before you think about that, " suggested Rose, whobegan to feel more hopeful now that she knew her father was safe, andopened the big basket. The man had brought them a pitcher of cool water, and the girls ate and drank heartily. 

"Aunt Hetty would be surprised if she knew where we were eating theselovely doughnuts, " said Anne, holding up the delicately browned twistedcruller. 

"Anne, if we could push this chest under the window I could stand on itand try to open the window and if I can open it, then I will lift you upand you can crawl through, " said Rose, biting into a chicken sandwich. 

Anne nodded, watching the candle with anxious eyes, remembering thattheir jailer had said that it would burn but an hour. 

"Now, Anne, " said Rose, after they had satisfied their hunger, andclosed the basket, "we must try to push the chest. "

To their surprise it moved very easily, and they soon had it directlyunder the window. Rose was on top of it in an instant, and Anne held thecandle as high as she could reach so that Rose could examine thefastening. 

"Why, Anne, it pushes right out, " said Rose. "It's only hooked down. Look!" and she pushed the heavy square outward. "But it doesn't go veryfar out, " she added. "I wonder if you can crawl through. I do believethis shutter is shingled on the outside, so that nobody could tell therewas a window. Oh, Anne! Isn't this a dreadful place!" Rose peeredcautiously out of the open space. "Blow out the candle, " she saidquickly, drawing back into the room. "He might be outside and see thelight. "

Anne instantly obeyed. 

"Now, Anne, dear, " said Rose, "if you can get out what are you going todo?"

"I'll run back to the road as fast as I can go and get some people tocome back here and rescue you, " said Anne. 

"Yes, but you had best go on; you know there are no houses for a longway on the road we came, and we must be nearer the Suet settlement thanany other. You won't be afraid, Anne!"

"No, Rose, " declared the little girl, "and if I think of you shut uphere, even if I am afraid, I shall keep on until I find somebody andbring him to help you. "

"That's splendid, Anne!" answered Rose. "Now step here beside me, andI'll lift you up. "

CHAPTER VIII

THROUGH THE WINDOW

"Hold tight, Anne, " whispered Rose. 

Anne had succeeded in squeezing through the narrow window space, andRose, leaning out as far as possible, kept a firm grasp on the littlegirl's hands. 

"I'm going to let go now, " whispered Rose; "try to drop easily, Anne, "and in an instant Anne's feet touched the soft earth. 

Rose watched her jump up and a moment later vanish in the thick growthof trees. Then she hooked the window securely, and sat down again on theiron chest. Her arms and shoulders felt lame and sore from holding Anne, but after a moment she forgot the ache and her thoughts turned to herfather, and to brave little Anne traveling off through the darkness ofthe summer's night to bring help to her friends. 

The house was so closely surrounded by woods that Anne had to move verycarefully. The storm was over, but it was very dark in the shadow ofthe trees. For a few moments she wandered about, not quite knowing ifshe were moving in the right direction, but at last she found herself inthe rough path up which Lady had made her way from the main road. Onceor twice she stumbled and nearly fell over stumps of trees, but at lastshe reached the junction, and now the moonlight enabled her to see thewhite line of the sandy road stretching far ahead. 

"I can run now, " she whispered to herself, and sped away, hermoccasin-covered feet making no sound as she ran. All at once Annestopped suddenly, for coming down the road toward her were a number ofdark figures. They were so near that she could hear the sound of theirvoices. Anne turned quickly to the roadside and crouched behind a bunchof low-growing shrubs. As the men came nearer one of them said:

"'Twas about here I saw something run into the woods. "

"A fox, maybe, " answered one of his companions. 

"Maybe, and maybe not. It's not the time to take chances of a spy beingabout with those guns stored at Bill Mains'. I'm going to have a lookaround here and make sure, " and the man turned straight toward the placewhere Anne crouched, fairly trembling with fear, for she had heard theman speak of the guns, and was quite sure that these men were Tories, asshe supposed Bill Mains to be. She moved unconsciously, and the rustlingbetrayed her whereabouts, and the man took hold of her shoulder and drewher out into the road. 

"Look at this! A little girl! Where's your father?" he demanded, drawingAnne toward his three companions, who were evidently too surprised tospeak. "Where's your father?" he repeated, giving Anne a little shake. 

"He--he's at sea, " half sobbed Anne, hardly daring to lift her head, andwondering what dreadful fate would befall her if these men shoulddiscover that she had just escaped from Bill Mains' house, and that sheknew all about the guns hidden there. 

"Don't be rough with the little maid, Dan, " said one of the men; "it'searly in the evening yet, and no harm in a child being on the road. Likeas not she hid there from fear of us. Do you live near here, littleone?"

Anne now ventured to look up, but in the dusk could only see that theman who spoke so kindly was bareheaded, while the others wore slouchhats which shaded their faces. 

"No, sir, " she answered. 

"There's no house for miles, " declared the man who had discovered Anne, "and there's some older person about, you may be sure. "

As he spoke Anne said to herself that she would not let them know howshe came there. "If I do perhaps they will kill Mr. Freeman, " thoughtthe frightened child. So when they questioned her she would not answer, and the men now had some reason to believe that Anne had oldercompanions who might indeed be spies upon those who sympathized with theAmericans. 

"Is it safe to go to Mains' house?" questioned one of the men, and therewas a little talk among them over the matter, but they decided to go on;and, holding Anne fast by the hand, the man who had drawn her out fromher hiding-place led the way, and Anne had not been away from theshingled house but an hour or two before she found herself again at thefront door. 

In response to a low whistle the door opened and the men filed into theroom. Bill Mains, holding a candle in his hand, stood in the littlepassageway and as he saw Anne he nearly let the candle fall, andexclaimed in amazement:

"Where did you find that child? I had her double locked up in the brickroom. "

"Are you sure of it?" asked the man who kept so tight a grasp on Anne'sarm that the mark of his fingers showed for several days after. 

"Of course I'm sure; locked two of them up there before thethunder-storm, and have their father tied up in the kitchen. Tory spiesthey are. "

At the sound of the hated words Anne exclaimed: "Indeed we are not Toryspies. We are not either of those things. Mr. Freeman is a patriot, andhis son is with Washington. How dare you say we are Tories and treat usso!" and the little girl quite forgot her fear, and, as the hold on herarm loosened, she took a step away from the man and said: "We were goingto Boston, and going to stop at Suet to see Captain Sears, and thatman, " and she pointed at Bill Mains, "shut us up because Rose and Ipeeked under a blanket at some guns. "

As Anne stopped speaking the men looked at one another in surprise. Atlast the bareheaded man began to laugh, and the others joined in; allbut Bill Mains, who looked somewhat ashamed. 

"You've been a bit too cautious, I reckon, Bill, " said the man who hadfound Anne. "Mr. Freeman of Boston is known as a loyal man. Did he nottell you who he was?"

"I gave him no chance after I found this little maid looking at the gunsI had covered with blankets, " confessed Mains. "I told him I'd gag himif he said one word, and I reckon he thought he had fallen into thehands of a rank Tory. Who are you, little maid?" and he turned kindlytoward Anne. 

"I am John Nelson's daughter, who is at sea on the 'Yankee Hero, ' and Ilive with Uncle Enos and Aunt Martha Stoddard in Province Town, but nowI am going with Rose Freeman for a visit in Boston, " explained Anne, whocould hardly realize that these men were now kindly disposed toward her, and that Bill Mains was sadly ashamed to have so ill treated hisunexpected guests. "You must let Rose right out of that dark room, " sheadded hastily. 

"I should say so. You shall open the door yourself, little maid, "answered Mains. "You boys go on to the kitchen and get Mr. Freeman'spardon for me if you can, " and he turned and led Anne toward the roomwhere Rose was locked in. 

When Rose saw Anne standing in the doorway she exclaimed: "Oh, Anne, hashe brought you back!" in such an unhappy voice that Bill Mains felt veryuncomfortable. 

"It's all right, Rose. You are to come right out where your father is. There are some nice men out there, " declared Anne, clasping her handsabout Rose's arm. 

"Oh! then you found help, " and there was a world of relief in Rose'svoice as Anne led her out of the room, which Mr. Mains did not forget tolock carefully behind them. 

"He thought we were Tory spies; that's why he locked us up, " Anneexplained, in a tone that almost seemed to praise Mr. Mains for suchprecaution. 

"Tory spies, indeed!" said Rose, sending a scornful glance in hisdirection. "He should have known better. Where is my father?"

"Right this way, miss, " replied Mr. Mains humbly, and the girlsfollowed him to the kitchen where they found Mr. Freeman surrounded bythe four men who had brought Anne back to the house. 

Rose's father was as ready to pardon the mistake as Bill Mains was eagerto have him. 

"It's worth a little trouble to find we have such good men ready todefend our cause, " he declared, "but I am afraid my girls here arepretty tired, and if you can give them a room without cannon and powder, I'm sure they will sleep well, " as indeed they did in a neat littlechamber into which Mr. Mains conducted them, bringing in the littletrunk which had been strapped on the back of the chaise. 

Mr. Freeman had believed that he was in the hands of the Tories, so thathe did not greatly blame his host for being doubtful regarding him. 

"It will delay us a little on our journey, but it is no great matter, "he said pleasantly in response to Mains' repeated apologies. Then Mainsexplained that this house had been built of brick, and then boarded overand covered with shingles, as a storehouse for supplies for the Americanarmy. The four men had just returned from carrying powder to a couple ofYankee boats at Plymouth. These boats were among the many privateersthat cruised about during the Revolution, harassing English vessels, andoften capturing rich prizes, and helping the American cause. They stayedlate in the evening talking with Mr. Freeman, and listening withinterest to what he could tell them of affairs in Boston; and when theystarted off on their way toward Brewster they promised to let hisbrother know of the mistake, which seemed to them a very good joke ontheir friend Mains. 

Mr. Mains was up at an early hour the next morning, and Mr. Freemandeclared the breakfast to be the best that he had ever tasted. There wasbroiled partridge, hot corn bread, a big dish of freshly pickedblueberries, and plenty of good milk; and Anne and Rose thought thatnothing could be better, and even decided that Mr. Mains did not looklike a pirate after all. "For I don't believe pirates wear brown ginghamaprons, do you, Rose?" said Anne, watching Mr. Mains awkwardly tying hisapron strings. 

Lady had been well cared for, and was rested and ready for the journeywhen Mr. Mains led her up to the door for the girls to enter thechaise. 

"I'm mighty sorry, " he repeated as he helped the girls in, "sorry, Imean, to have locked you folks up; but real glad to know you, " and hewaved them a smiling good-bye, as Mr. Freeman carefully guided Ladyalong the rough way to the main road. 

"Well, Anne, I guess you'll remember this journey all your life, " saidRose, as they reached the highway and Lady trotted briskly along as ifglad to find her feet on good sand again. "Just think, father, " shecontinued, "of all that has happened to her since she left ProvinceTown, and she's not in Boston yet. "

"Things happened when I went to Boston before, " said Anne, rememberingher brief visit to Newburyport, when she had safely carried a paper ofimportance to loyal Americans. 

"I think all will go smoothly now, " said Mr. Freeman, "but it was a verybrave thing for a little girl to start off alone for help, as you didlast night, Anne, " and he looked kindly down at the little girl besidehim. "Had we indeed been held prisoners by Tories you might have securedhelp for us, as you thought to do. "

"But she really did help us, father, " said Rose; "it was Anne who madethem understand who we really were. I do believe we might be shut upstill if Anne had not found a way to help us. Your father will be proudof you, Anne, when I tell him the story. "

It made Anne very happy to have Mr. Freeman and Rose praise her, and shequite forgave the man who had pulled her from behind the bushes, andwhose finger marks she could still feel on her arm. 

"I hope it won't rain to-day, " said Mr. Freeman. "We ought to get toSandwich by noon, and after Lady has rested, we'll go on as far as wecan. Lady seems as anxious to get to Boston as we do, " for the big horsewas traveling at a rapid pace, and going as if she enjoyed it. 

"You shall go and see Faneuil Hall when you are in Boston, Anne, "promised Rose, "and Mr. Hancock's fine house. It has terraces and stonesteps, and the English officers would well like to take up theirquarters there. "

"They seem well satisfied with Vardy for a landlord at the 'RoyalExchange, '" answered Mr. Freeman smilingly. "Look, there is a wasp'snest as big as a bucket, " and Mr. Freeman pointed his whip toward ahuge gray ball hanging from the branch of a partly decayed tree near theroad. 

"It's a beauty, " said Rose, leaning out to see the wonderful ball ofgray paper which swung from the branch above them. 

Mr. Freeman turned Lady to the further side of the road and said, "Ifthe wasps have deserted their house, as they sometimes do at thisseason, I'd like to get it to take home to the children. I never saw solarge a nest. I can soon find out, " he concluded. 

The brown horse stood quietly while Mr. Freeman and the girls got out ofthe chaise. 

"Stay here a moment, " said Mr. Freeman, and he walked back toward thetree and threw a small round stone at the nest. It hit the mark, but noangry wasps appeared. Another stone touched it more forcibly, and, whenthe third failed to bring a single wasp from the nest, Mr. Freemandeclared that he knew it was vacant, and cutting a branch from a slenderbirch tree with his pocket-knife, which he speedily made into a smoothpole, he managed to secure the nest without damaging it and brought itproudly back to show to Rose and Anne, neither of whom had ever seenone before. 

"It's just like paper, " said Anne admiringly, touching it carefully. 

"That's just what it is, " said Mr. Freeman. "I expect men learned fromwasps how to make paper. For wasps go to work in a very business-likeway. They chew up dead and crumbling wood and spread it out smoothly, and when it dries and hardens there is a sheet of paper, all ready to beused as one of the layers for this dry warm nest. Men make paper bygrinding up wood or linen rags. "

"You can put the nest in our lunch-basket, father, " said Rose. "Frederick and Millicent will think it the most wonderful thing theyhave ever seen. "

Frederick and Millicent were Rose's younger brother and sister. Frederick was about Anne's age, but little Millicent was only six yearsold. 

Lady turned her head as if to ask why they were lingering so far from agood stable; and Rose and Anne stopped a moment before getting in thechaise to rub her soft nose and tell her that she would soon be inSandwich and should have a good feed of oats for her dinner. 

CHAPTER IX

LADY DISAPPEARS

"We shall reach the tavern in good season for dinner, " said Mr. Freeman, as they drove into the village of Sandwich. 

It seemed a very wonderful thing to the little maid from Province Townto drive up to the inn, with its big painted sign swinging from a postnear the road, and she took hold of Rose's hand as if half afraid. 

Rose looked down at her little friend with a smiling face. 

"Why, Anne, " she said laughingly, "you were not a bit afraid to startoff through the woods alone, or to journey with Indians, and here youare trembling because you are going into this little tavern for dinner. "

Anne managed to smile, but she kept a tight clasp on Rose's hand. It wasnot that she was frightened, but as she stepped from the chaise she hadheard one of the loiterers about the door exclaim, "Look at the child, bareheaded and wearing moccasins, " and her quick glance hadcomprehended the exchange of smiles; and Anne now felt uncomfortable andrealized that she was not suitably dressed to travel in the high chaise. She looked at Rose, with her pretty dress of blue dimity, and white hatwith its broad ribbon, her neat shoes and stockings, and realized thatthere was a great contrast in their appearance. Anne was very silent allthrough the meal and ate but little. Even Mr. Freeman began to noticethat she was very silent and grave, and thought to himself that thelittle girl might be homesick. 

"We can drive to Plymouth this afternoon, " he said, as they finishedtheir dinner. "It is only about twenty miles, and we can get there earlyin the evening. "

Anne knew all about Plymouth. From the hill in Province Town she hadlooked across the water to Plymouth, and Uncle Enos had told her thatmany years ago a band of Pilgrims from England had landed at ProvinceTown, and then sailed on and settled in Plymouth. Uncle Enos hadwondered at it, and had shook his head over a people who would willinglysettle in any other place than Province Town. 

The road now followed the shore very closely, and Rose was interestedin watching the boats, and the many flocks of wild sea-birds circlingabout in the summer air. But Anne leaned back in the corner of thechaise silent and troubled. The more she thought about her lack of allthe things that Rose had the more unhappy she became. "They will all beashamed of me when I get to Boston, " she thought, "and I have no moneyto buy things, and it will be three weeks or more before my dear fatherwill reach Boston. Oh, dear!" And Anne, for the moment, wished herselfback on the Province Town sands where a bareheaded, moccasin-shod littlegirl could be as happy as the day was long. 

The sun had set, and it was in the cool of the early evening when theydrove through Plymouth's main street. They were all tired and quiteready for bed. It seemed a very large town to Anne, with itsmeeting-houses and stores, but she was glad that it was nearly dark andhoped that no one would notice that she had no hat or sunbonnet. 

"If I had not run away Aunt Martha would have seen to it that I hadthings like other girls, " and she said to herself that "always, always, after this I'll tell Aunt Martha before I do things. "

"To-morrow night we'll be in Boston, Anne! Think of that, " said Rosehappily, when the landlady had shown them to the comfortable chamberthat they were to occupy for the night. "Father says we'll start bysunrise, and give Lady a rest at Scituate. Just think of all I shallhave to tell when I get home. And then we'll go to the shops the verynext day. Oh, Anne! I can't keep the secret another minute, " and Rosecame to the window where Anne stood looking out, and putting her armover the younger girl's shoulder whispered in her ear: "Captain Stoddardgave me two golden guineas to spend for you, Anne. He said your fatherleft them to buy clothes for you. I planned not to tell you until wewere really in the shops and ready to purchase, but I thought it toogood news to keep longer, " and Rose smiled down at her little friend. 

"Two guineas to buy clothes!" Anne's voice sounded as if such goodfortune was almost beyond belief. 

"And I can have a hat, and shoes and stockings, since my own were leftbehind in the wigwam?" she said questioningly. 

"Indeed you can. And mother will go with us, and I doubt not you willhave a pretty dress and slippers as well as shoes, and many fine things, for two guineas is a large sum to spend. "

"Perhaps I shall not need to spend it all for clothes, " said Anne; "thenI can buy a present for Aunt Martha and Uncle Enos, and perhapssomething for Amanda. "

"Amanda!" echoed Rose. "Well, Anne, I would not take her home a gift;she does not deserve one from you. "

Anne was silent, but she was excusing Amanda in her thoughts. As Amos sooften said of Jimmie Starkweather that "nothing ever happens to Jimmie, "so did Anne think of Amanda. She somehow felt sorry for Amanda, and hadquite forgiven the ugly slaps her playmate had given her. 

It took Anne a good while to go to sleep that night. Blue dimity dressesand shining slippers danced before her wakeful eyes, and a white ribbonto tie back her hair. Already she was trying to decide what her presentto Amanda should be; and it seemed to her that she had just gone tosleep when Rose was shaking her gently and saying: "Time to get up. "

The travelers were all in the best of spirits that morning: Rose, happyto be so near home, Anne delighted at the prospect of having dresseslike the girls who lived in Boston, and Mr. Freeman had had the best ofnews from Plymouth friends, who declared that news from Philadelphia hadbeen received stating that the Congress there was agreed upon declaringthe independence of America. 

"'Tis what Mr. Samuel Adams has worked so hard for, " Mr. Freeman toldthe girls; "and when the Congress has fully determined upon the form ofthe declaration word will be sent post-haste to Boston; and I trust, too, that Mr. Adams may be spared for a visit to his family. He has beenabsent from Boston for a year past. "

Mr. Freeman had asked the landlord to furnish them with a luncheon, ashe did not know if there would be a suitable place to procure food inScituate; and with a bag of oats for Lady fastened on top of the littletrunk, and a basket of luncheon under the seat of the chaise, thetravelers could choose just when and where to stop. 

"We'll keep a sharp outlook for a good clear stream of water, " said Mr. Freeman. 

"And I hope we can stop near the shore, " said Rose; "I'd like to go inwading. "

Anne thought that it would not make much difference where they stopped. The fragrant summer air, the pleasant shadow of the trees along theroad, and the hope of soon being in Boston so filled her thoughts thatwhere or what she ate seemed of little consequence. 

Several hours after leaving Plymouth they found themselves on a pleasantstretch of road bordering the water. 

"There is the very beach for wading!" exclaimed Rose happily, and evenas she spoke they heard the splash of falling water and just before themwas a rough bridge of logs over a rapid stream of clear water. Ladynearly stopped, and gave a little whinny as if asking for a drink. 

"Just the place!" declared Mr. Freeman; "and here's a good piece ofgreensward in the shade for Lady, " and he turned into a little grassyfield beyond the bridge where a big beech tree stood, making a gratefulcircle of shade. 

"Lady must have a couple of hours' rest, " said Mr. Freeman, "so yougirls can go down to the beach or do whatever you like until you areready for luncheon. "

The girls took off their shoes and stockings and ran down to the water'sedge, and were soon wading about enjoying the cool water. After alittle while they tired of wading and went up on the dry warm sand. Patches of bayberry bushes grew near the shore, and their fragrantleaves and small gray berries at once attracted Rose's attention. Shehad never before seen this shrub, a species of myrtle, and Anne wasdelighted to find something that she could tell the elder girl. 

"It's bayberry, Rose. Just rub the leaves between your fingers and seehow sweet it smells, " she said. "Aunt Martha makes candles of theselittle green berries, and likes them better than tallow candles. Whenyou snuff them out they make all the room smell just like this, " andAnne held the bruised leaves up for Rose to smell. 

"I don't see how candles could be made of these little berries, " saidRose. 

"And Aunt Martha makes a fine salve from them, too, " continued Anne. "When she makes the candles I gather the berries, quarts and quarts, andshe boils them in a kettle, and then skims off the top, and boils itagain, and then turns it into the molds. "

"Come to luncheon, girls!" called Mr. Freeman, and they ran back to thegrassy field and the shade of the beech tree. On one side Lady wasnibbling her oats happily. The lunch basket stood open; Mr. Freemanhanded Rose a small tin drinking cup, and the girls ran down to thebrook for a drink of the clear water. 

"Cape Cod twists about Massachusetts Bay like a long arm, doesn't it, father?" said Rose, as they all seated themselves around the lunchbasket. 

Mr. Freeman laughed at Rose's description of the Cape, but nodded hishead in agreement. 

"I believe it does, my dear, " he answered. "Province Town is the handcurved in, and Truro the wrist; Chatham must be the elbow, and now weare getting pretty well up to the shoulder. "

After luncheon they all went back to the shore, and picked up many tinyshells. Some of these were clear white, and others a delicate pink. Mr. Freeman told them that the Indian women pricked tiny holes, with a smallsharp-pointed awl, in these shells and strung them like beads, and Roseand Anne thought it would be a fine plan to carry a quantity of shellsto Boston and string them into necklaces. 

The time went swiftly, and when Mr. Freeman said that Lady had now had agood rest and would be quite ready to start on, the girls reluctantlyleft the beach and walked slowly toward the chaise. 

"I wonder where father and Lady are?" said Rose, and as she spoke Mr. Freeman came running across the little green field. 

"Lady is gone! Stolen, I'm afraid, " he called out. 

The girls looked at him in amazement. 

"She was securely fastened, and even if she got loose would not havegone far, " he continued, "and there is no trace of her. " Mr. Freeman'sface was very anxious, and Rose exclaimed:

"But who could take Lady, father? We have not seen a person since weleft Plymouth. "

"Some strolling person, " answered Mr. Freeman; "perhaps some frightenedTory from one of the loyal settlements on his way toward a place ofsafety. "

Anne stood silent, holding up the skirt of her dress filled with thepretty shells. 

"And shall we have to walk to Boston?" asked Rose. 

"And leave this good chaise? I think not; though I hardly know how wecan remain here, " said Mr. Freeman. 

For an hour or more they searched the near-by woods and up and down theroad, but there was no trace to be found of Lady, nor did they findanything to tell them of how she had vanished. 

"Your mother told me that it was no time for a visit so far from home, "said Mr. Freeman, "and if Lady is indeed stolen I shall have good reasonto wish that I had stayed at home. I hardly dare send you girls alongthe road alone, but if I leave this chaise it may disappear as Lady hasdone. "

"Where could we go, father?"

"We are not far from Scituate, and any of the settlers who have a horsewould come back and get the chaise, " he answered. "I do not know of anyharm that could befall you if you keep in the highway. "

"Of course we must go, " Rose decided quickly, and Anne looked at herfriend admiringly, thinking, as she so often did, that she would like tobe exactly like Rose Freeman. 

In the excitement of discovering that Lady had disappeared Rose haddropped all the pretty shells she had gathered, but Anne was holdingher skirt tightly clasped. 

"Put your shells in the lunch basket, Anne, " said Mr. Freeman; "I'llpick up those you have dropped, Rose. We shall reach Boston some time, and you will be glad of these to remind you of an adventurous journey, "and his smile made the girls ready to start off with better courage. 

"Stop at the first house on the road, " directed Mr. Freeman; "tell themwho you are, and what has befallen us, and ask them to come to myassistance, and for permission to stay at the house until I come foryou. "

"Yes, father, " replied Rose, and then she and Anne started down theroad. They kept in the shade for some distance, then the road ran up along sandy hill where the sun came down fully upon them, and before theyreached the summit they were very warm and tired. 

"There's a house!" exclaimed Anne, as they stopped to rest on the top ofthe hill. 

"Thank goodness!" exclaimed Rose. "And it's a farmhouse. See the bigbarns. There are sure to be horses there. "

The girls quite forgot the heat, and ran down the sandy hill andhurried along the road, which now was a smoother and better one than anyover which they had traveled, and in a short time were near thecomfortable farmhouse. A woman was standing in the doorway watchingthem. 

"Where in the world did you girls come from, " she called out as theyopened the gate, "in all this heat? Come right in. I should think yourfolks must be crazy to let you walk in the sun. Was that your father whowent galloping by on a brown horse just now?"

As soon as the woman finished speaking Rose told her their story. 

"Then that man had stolen your horse! A Tory, I'll wager; and likeenough a spy, " said the woman; "and my menfolks all away. There are twohorses in the pasture; if you girls can catch one of 'em and ride itback to where your father's waiting, why, you're welcome. "

Anne and Rose looked at each other almost in dismay. Neither of them hadever been on the back of a horse, and to go into a pasture and catch astrange horse seemed to them very much like facing a wild beast. 

"We'll try, " said Rose with a little smile. 

"I thought you would, " said the woman approvingly. "I'd go myself, butI've got bread in the oven, and I must see to it. "

The woman led the way to a shed and filling a shallow pan with oats froma big bin, handed it to Rose, saying: "You go right through thosebars--leave 'em down; I'll put 'em up for you--and shake these oats andcall 'Range, Range, ' and the old horse will be sure to come, and thecolt will follow. "

Rose took the pan, and Anne pulled back the heavy bars, and they went afew steps beyond the fence into the pasture and began to call "Range!Range!"

In a moment there was the thud, thud of hoofs and two black horses camedashing down the pasture. Their long manes and tails gave them aterrifying look to the two girls, who, nevertheless, stood their ground, Rose holding out the pan as the woman had bidden her. 

"Oh, Rose! They'll run right over us!" exclaimed Anne, watching thehorses rushing toward them so swiftly. 

CHAPTER X

AUNT ANNE ROSE

But the horses came to a sudden stop a few feet from where the girlsstood. Then one turned and rushed away, kicking up his heels as if tosay: "I'm not to be caught!"

Rose kept on calling "Range! Range!" and shaking the pan, and the otherhorse stepped forward and stuck his nose into the dish. 

"Grab hold of his mane, Anne. Quick! and hold on tight!" said Rose; "thewoman is coming now with the bridle. "

Anne obeyed, holding fast to the black mane until Mrs. Pierce camerunning from the barn, bringing a blanket and a bridle. 

"I'm glad you caught Range, " she said; "he's used to a saddle, and thecolt is wild as a deer. " While she talked she was strapping the blanketsecurely on the horse's back, and now slipped the bit into his mouth. 

"The little girl better go, " she continued, nodding toward Anne. "Youjust climb that fence, and I'll lead Range alongside and you can get onhis back nicely. Sit boy fashion; it's safer. No sense as I can see in agirl jest hanging on to one side of anything, " and almost before sheknew it Anne found herself on the back of the black horse. 

Mrs. Pierce, who had told the girls her name on the way to the pasture, led Range out into the road and headed him in the right direction. 

"If he don't go fast enough kick your heels against his sides and callto him, " directed the woman, handing the reins to Anne, and giving thehorse a sharp slap that sent him off at a good pace. 

It seemed to Anne as if she were going up into the air, or over thehorse's head. But somehow she managed to keep on Range's back, thoughshe did not dare to give a backward look. 

[Illustration: "YOU CAN GET ON HIS BACK"]

"Range will bring your pa back in no time, don't you worry, " said Mrs. Pierce, giving Rose a kindly pat on the shoulder; then exclaiming, "Thebread!" she ran back to the house, leaving Rose looking down the road, and wondering, a little fearfully, if Anne would reach the big beechtree without being thrown into the road. 

Then she looked the other way, in the direction of Boston, and wonderedwhat would befall Lady. 

"Come in, my dear, out of this hot sun, " Mrs. Pierce called from thedoorway, and Rose went slowly up the path and entered the big squareroom at the right of the small square entry. 

"You sit right down and I'll bring you a drink, " and Mrs. Pierce drewforward a comfortable rocking-chair for her young guest, and was soonback with a cup of milk and a square of fresh gingerbread. 

"I should admire to have a girl just like you, " declared Mrs. Pierce, taking the empty cup. "I can see that you've a real good disposition, and a girl would be a sight of company to me. "

Then Rose told her about her own mother, and had begun to tell her AnneNelson's little history, when Mrs. Pierce again exclaimed: "My bread!"and hurried off to the kitchen. 

Rose went to the open window and looked out, wondering how long it wouldbe before her father would reach the farmhouse, and it seemed a longtime to wait in spite of the friendly kindness of Mrs. Pierce. 

The black horse went along at an easy pace, and after a little Anneceased to be afraid, held the bridle-reins more easily, and evenventured to look about a little. 

"Things keep happening, " she thought. "I hope nothing has carried offMr. Freeman and the chaise!"

Mr. Freeman was standing in the roadway, and as he saw Range with Anneon his back coming rapidly toward him he gave an exclamation ofsurprise. At a word the horse stopped, and Mr. Freeman lifted Anne fromhis back. 

"A man went by Mrs. Pierce's with Lady before we got there, " said Anne, after she had told him of the farmhouse, of Mrs. Pierce, and of catchingRange. 

While she talked Mr. Freeman was harnessing Range into the chaise, andthey were soon on the way to the farm. 

Rose and Mrs. Pierce were at the gate to meet them. 

"Oh, father! Can't you go after Lady?" asked Rose. 

Mr. Freeman looked at Mrs. Pierce questioningly. "If Mrs. Pierce willlend me a horse I'll go at once, " he replied; "there are a good manyhouses along the way now, and I might get some trace of the thief. "

"You go right along. Take the colt; he's as fast as any horsehereabouts, and maybe you can overtake the fellow, " replied Mrs. Pierce. 

Mr. Freeman captured the colt, and, telling Rose not to worry if he didnot return until night, started off, the colt going at a pace that madethe girls exclaim in admiration. 

"I'm real sorry you folks should be so set back in your journey, butit's real pleasant for me to have company, " said Mrs. Pierce, with asmiling look at her young visitors. "It's days and weeks sometimeswithout my seeing any one but my husband and the boys. Now we'll sitdown here and you tell me all about your journey. "

"It's just like a story!" declared Mrs. Pierce, when they had finished. "And now you are going to Boston, and you will see the streets andshops, and churches. " She gave a little sigh as she finished, and Anneand Rose wished that it was possible for Mrs. Pierce to go to Bostonwith them. 

"I don't suppose you could mark out a little plan of Boston, could you?"she said to Rose. "I like to imagine things to myself when I'm herealone, and if I knew how the streets went, and where you lived, why, Icould say to myself, 'To-day Rose and Anne are going up King Streettoward the State House, and up Long-acre Street to the Common, ' and itwould seem almost as if I saw you when I looked at the plan. "

"Yes, I think I could, " said Rose, and Mrs. Pierce brought a sheet ofpaper and a red crayon from a big desk in the corner and laid them onthe table. 

Mrs. Pierce and Anne watched Rose mark out the Common and the Mall. "TheMall is where the fine people walk in the afternoon, " she said. "Mr. Hancock's mansion is right here, on Beacon Hill, where you get a fineview across the Charles River to Charlestown. "

Then she marked Copp's Hill. "This is where the British had their gunswhen the great battle was fought at Bunker Hill, " she said. 

Mrs. Pierce listened eagerly. "I can 'most see it all!" she exclaimed. "Now show me where your house is, " and Rose made a little square for herhome. 

"We are nearer the harbor than many houses are, " she explained, "for myfather owns a wharf, and it is convenient to be where he can see boatsand vessels coming in. "

The girls had been so interested, Rose in drawing and explaining, andAnne in listening, that time passed very rapidly, and when Rose finishedMrs. Pierce opened the door of a queer little cupboard beside thechimney and took out a small square box. 

"My! Is that a gold box!" exclaimed Anne admiringly, for the box shoneand glittered in the light. 

"If it was I wouldn't keep it these days, when our poor soldiers needfood and clothes, " replied Mrs. Pierce; "it is brass, one my grandfatherbrought from France. " As she spoke she lifted the cover and took out twolittle cases of brown leather, and handed one to Rose and the other toAnne. "Open the little clasps, " she said. 

The girls obeyed, and as the little cases opened they exclaimedadmiringly, for each case held a pair of scissors, a silver thimble, atiny emery ball and a needle book. 

"My uncle brought me those when I was about your age, " Mrs. Pierce saidto Anne. "I never quite made out why he brought two until this veryday, but I see now, " and she smiled happily at her little visitors. "Isee now, because I can give one to each of you girls!"

After the girls had thanked her, and tried on the thimbles, and declaredthat the cases were almost too nice to use, Mrs. Pierce left them for afew moments. 

"Rose, " exclaimed Anne, "wouldn't it be splendid if Mrs. Pierce wouldlet us make believe that she was our aunt?"

"Perhaps she will; she told me that she hadn't any brothers or sisters, or anybody except her husband and two sons, " said Rose. "We might askher if she would be willing for us, when we talk about her to eachother, to call her 'Aunt Anne Rose'!"

"If your father only gets Lady back we'll be real glad the man took her;shan't we, Rose?" said Anne thoughtfully. 

"Because we found Aunt Anne Rose? Why, yes, I suppose we shall, " repliedRose. "But isn't it funny she should have our names! You ask her, Anne, if she is willing for us to call her aunt. "

"There!" exclaimed Mrs. Pierce, when Anne ran into the kitchen andasked the question, "if I wasn't wishing for that very thing. I count itas a real blessing that some one went off with your horse! I do indeed. And if Rose's father don't find Lady he can borrow our colt for the restof the journey. "

It was late in the afternoon before Mr. Freeman returned, but he did notbring Lady, nor had he any news of her. 

Mr. Pierce and his sons returned home at nightfall, and made thetravelers feel that they were as pleased as "Aunt Anne Rose" to havetheir guests remain for the night. 

CHAPTER XI

IN BOSTON

Mr. Freeman looked a little puzzled when he heard the girls calling Mrs. Pierce "Aunt Anne Rose, " and when Mrs. Pierce told him that was reallyher name he thought, as the girls had, that it was almost likediscovering a relative. Mr. Pierce had insisted that they should borrowthe black colt for the remainder of their journey, and they were readyto start at an early hour the next morning. 

Rose was tying the ribbons to her pretty hat, while Anne watched her alittle wistfully, wishing that she had a hat--almost any kind of a hat, she thought--so that she might not look like "a little wild girl, " asshe had overheard some one call her at the Sandwich tavern. Just thenshe felt something placed gently on her head and saw two broad brownribbons falling each side of her face. 

"Oh!" she exclaimed, looking up in wonder. 

Mrs. Pierce stood beside her. "There!" she exclaimed. "What kind of amilliner do you think I should make for the fine ladies in Boston?" andshe lifted the hat from Anne's head, holding it up for the girls to see. 

It was a round flat hat, plaited of straw. It had no trimming save apretty bow and strings of brown ribbon, but Anne thought it was abeautiful hat. 

"It's one I plaited last year, " continued Mrs. Pierce, putting the hatback on Anne's head, and tying the brown ribbon under her chin. "I didit evenings, just to keep busy. I do wish I had a prettier ribbon forit. "

"Is it for me?" asked Anne, almost afraid that it was almost too muchgood fortune to expect. 

"Of course it is. 'Twill serve to remind you of your Aunt Anne, " and thefriendly woman smiled down at Anne's happy face. 

"We will write you a letter, Aunt Anne Rose, " said Rose, as they walkeddown the path to where the chaise awaited them, "and you will come andvisit my mother in Boston, will you not?"

"Mr. Pierce has already promised that they will both come, " said Mr. Freeman. 

"And, Anne, " and Mrs. Pierce patted the little hand she was holding soclosely, "you tell your father that you have found another aunt, andthat he must let you come and stay with me for a long long visit. "

Then good-byes were said, and they were again started on their journey. 

"No stops this time--except to ask for news of Lady--until I reach myown house, " declared Mr. Freeman. "'Tis a good cool morning and we oughtto get home by midday. "

"Perhaps we shall find Lady, " suggested Rose. But Mr. Freeman shook hishead. 

"I'm afraid it will be a long time before we get any news of her, " hesaid soberly. "I only hope the thief will not abuse her. " The brownhorse had always been petted and made much of, and neither Mr. Freemannor Rose could bear to think of her in the hands of people who would notbe kind to her. 

Every now and then Anne would take off the plaited straw hat and look atit with admiring eyes. "I shall not have to buy a hat now, Rose, " shesaid. 

"But you will want a prettier one than that, " responded her friend. 

"A prettier hat!" Anne's tone seemed to say that she could not imaginea prettier hat, and she shook her head. "I sha'n't ever want any otherhat, " she declared. "I mean to keep this always because Aunt Anne Rosegave it to me. "

The black colt sped along as if it was nothing but play to pull the bigchaise. The girls told Mr. Freeman of all that Aunt Anne Rose had saidabout the big farm, and of her own loneliness when her husband and sonswere away. Rose noticed that, although her father listened, his glancetraveled sharply over the pastures as they went along; and that now andthen he leaned out for a clearer view of some horse feeding near theroad, and she realized that he was keeping an outlook for Lady. 

But there was no sign of the pretty brown horse, and Mr. Freeman'sinquiries at houses and in villages along the way did not give him anynews of Lady. There was so much for Anne to see and think about that shehardly realized what a serious loss had befallen her good friends. Butas they drove down Long-acre Street, past Boston Common, and turned intothe street where the Freemans' house stood, she saw that Rose and Mr. Freeman both looked very downcast. 

"What will mother say?" Rose half whispered, as if to herself. 

Mrs. Freeman was at the door to welcome them. 

"And here is our little maid from Province Town, " she said, putting herarm about Anne. "You are indeed welcome, dear child; and it is a finetime for a little girl to visit Boston. "

Mr. Freeman had expected his wife to ask what had become of Lady, andwas surprised that she did not. He led the colt toward the stable, whichstood in a paved yard back of the house, and Frederick ran ahead to openthe stable door. 

"Upon my soul!" exclaimed Mr. Freeman, for there in her own comfortablestall was Lady, munching her noonday meal as if everything was just asusual. 

"The man got here last night with Lady, " explained Frederick; "he was ina great hurry to get a boat, and he told me--for mother was at aneighbor's--that you'd be coming on to-day. Was he taking a message toAmerican troops? Mother said that must be his business; that you'd lendLady for no other reason, " and the boy looked at his fatherquestioningly. 

"I hope that may have been his errand, " said Mr. Freeman, "but I fearhe was on other business. The Tories are more anxious than Americans forboats just now, " and he told the boy how Lady had been stolen. "But whoever it was must have known me and where I live, " he concluded; "'tisnot every thief who leaves the horse in its owner's stable. "

"But your name is on the little brass plate on Lady's bridle, " Frederickreminded him, "so 'twould be easy if the man were honest. "

Mr. Freeman cautioned them not to tell any one but Rose's mother oftheir discovery of the shingled house in the woods where Bill Mains hadthe hidden stores. 

"No one knows just whom to trust these days, " he said, "and if such newswas known to those who sympathize with the English they'd soon be afterhis guns and powder. "

"I think we will have a sewing-bee, " Mrs. Freeman said, when Rose hadtold her the story of Anne's flight from Province Town, and that thelittle girl had no clothing, but had two golden guineas to spend. "Youand Anne will have to be busy with your needles for a part of each dayuntil she has proper clothes. And early to-morrow morning we will walkup to Mistress Mason's shop on Cornhill and get her some shoes. "

The little room that opened from Rose's chamber had a broad window whichlooked toward the harbor. There were white curtains at this window, tiedback with crocheted bands of white cotton. The floor was painted a softgrayish brown, and there were strips of rag carpet spread beside thewhite covered bed, and in front of the mahogany bureau. There was alooking-glass hung over this bureau. By standing on tiptoe Anne couldsee herself in it. In one corner of the room was a wash-stand with ablue china bowl and pitcher. Near the window was a low table and arocking-chair. 

It was a very neat and pleasant room, and to Anne it seemed beautiful. That it opened directly into the big square chamber where Rose sleptmade her feel very much at home. She wished that Aunt Martha Stoddardcould see it, and she went to the window and looked off across the bluewaters of the harbor wishing that she could see Aunt Martha and tell herall the wonderful things that had befallen her. 

It was decided that Anne was to have a pair of slippers with strapsfastening around the in-step and a pair of shoes for every-day wear. Mrs. Freeman had a good store of white stockings which Rose had outgrownand from these a number were selected for Anne. When she was dressedready to go to the shops with Mrs. Freeman and Rose the latterexclaimed:

"Mother, mayn't I open the parlor shutters so that Anne can see herselfin the long mirror?"

"Why, yes; but be very careful to close them that the sun may not strikeon the carpet, " replied Mrs. Freeman, a little reluctantly; for theFreemans' parlor was a very grand room and opened only when company wasasked to tea, or when some distinguished person came to call. 

Rose turned the brass knob, pushed open the white-paneled door andtiptoed into the shadowy room. "Come in, Anne!" she called, and Annefollowed. She had not seen this room when she had visited the Freemanswith Uncle Enos two years before. 

"Oh!" she exclaimed, half fearfully, as her feet sank into the softcarpet. Then she stood quite still until Rose had opened the paneledinside shutters at one of the large windows. She looked about her inwonder. Directly opposite the door was a fireplace with a high whitemantel and over the mantel was the portrait of a very old lady whoseemed to be smiling straight at Anne. 

"Come in, " Rose repeated, with a little laugh of pleasure at Anne'sevident admiration, and she led her little visitor toward the front ofthe room where a long mirror, from ceiling to floor, was fastenedagainst the wall between the two windows. "Look at yourself, Anne. Youcan see the room afterward, " she said, and Anne looked into the mirrorand smiled, for she saw a little dark-eyed girl with smoothly braidedhair, wearing a hat of plaited straw with a brown ribbon, and a dress ofbrown linen with a pretty frill at the neck. She looked down admiringlyat her white stockings and new shoes, and then twisted her head in thehope of seeing the back of this neat little girl. She quite forgot thesoft carpet, and the shining tables and cushioned chairs. 

"I do wish Amanda could see me, " she said; "she'd be real glad I hadthese fine things. "

CHAPTER XII

A WONDERFUL DAY

Anne held Rose's hand very tightly as they walked along. It seemed tothe little girl that all the people of the town were out walking up anddown the streets. Now and then there would be a clatter of hoofs overthe cobblestone pavements and Anne would look up to see a man go by onhorseback. And Mrs. Freeman told her to notice a fine coach drawn by twohorses, that stood in front of the very shop they were about to enter. 

"If I spend a guinea for clothes will it not be enough?" Annequestioned, as Mrs. Freeman asked a smiling clerk to show them bluedimity. 

"Why, yes, Anne; I think we can manage very nicely with a guinea, "responded Mrs. Freeman, who meant to supply Anne with many needfulthings from her own stores. "Do you wish to save one?"

Anne shook her head. "No, " she responded, "but I want to buy a grandpresent for Aunt Martha and Uncle Enos, and something for Amanda Cary. I should like to take Amos and the Starkweather children something, butI fear there will not be enough money. "

Mrs. Freeman smiled at Anne's thought for her playmates. "You canperhaps make something for some of your little friends. Would not theStarkweather children like a little work-bag or a hemstitchedhandkerchief?" she asked. 

The thought of the Starkweather boys with work-bags and hemstitchedhandkerchiefs seemed very funny to Anne, and she gave a little laugh, saying, "But they are all boys. "

"Oh, well, then we will make some fine candy just before you go home, and you and Rose can make some pretty boxes to put it in. So there'syour present for the Starkweather boys. And you'll have a whole guineato buy gifts for Mrs. Stoddard and the captain, and for Amanda. Isuppose Amanda is your dearest friend, isn't she?" and Mrs. Freemanlooked down into Anne's happy smiling face, quite sure that Mrs. Stoddard must be very glad that she had taken the little girl into herown home. 

"Best friend, indeed!" exclaimed Rose, before Anne could answer. "Why, mother! Had it not been for that Amanda, Anne never would have runaway. "

"But Anne wants to take her a present, " said Mrs. Freeman. 

A little flush crept into Anne's brown cheeks. "I guess Amanda didn'tmean to, " she said. 

The clerk was waiting patiently, and Mrs. Freeman now begged his pardonfor so long delaying her purchases, and ordered enough dimity for Anne'sdress. It was a light blue with a tiny white sprig, and Anne thought itthe prettiest pattern that any one could imagine. 

"I have plenty of nainsook in the house for your underwear, so we willnot purchase that, " said Mrs. Freeman, "but we will buy some good whitecotton yarn so that I can make up some stockings for you. Itwill make work for you at odd times. " For in those days children weretaught that useful occupation brought as much pleasure as play, andevery girl had "pieced a quilt" before she was ten years of age, workeda sampler, and usually knit all her own stockings and mittens. 

"Can't Anne have some thread gloves like mine?" Rose asked, and Annedrew a quick breath of delight. "White thread gloves, " she thought toherself, would be more than she could hope for, but Mrs. Freeman seemedto think it a very reasonable request, and told Rose to go with Anne toa shop on Queen Street and select a pair of gloves. 

"I must go home now, " she added, "for it is Saturday, and I have much todo. After you have purchased the gloves you girls can walk up to theCommon if you wish; but be sure and be home in good season for dinner. "

The girls both promised, and Mrs. Freeman left them, with a word ofcaution to be careful in crossing Long-acre Street, where there werealways many teams, carriages and horsemen going back and forth. 

"You are almost a young lady, aren't you, Rose?" Anne said admiringly, as she looked up at her friend. 

"I suppose so, " Rose replied laughingly. "See, my skirts come to myankles, and Aunt Hetty said I must twist my braids around my head now. And I think it does become me better, " and Rose put up her white-glovedhand to be quite sure that the braids were smoothly fastened. 

The girls walked along the Mall, and a little way toward the CharlesRiver. Rose met several girls of her own age who greeted Annepleasantly. One of them asked Rose if she knew that a messenger hadreached Boston with a copy of the Declaration of Independence. "It is tobe read from the balcony of the State House on Tuesday, " said Rose'sfriend. "'Twill be a great day, and 'tis well you have reached Boston intime for it. "

When Anne and Rose reached the Freeman house little Millicent was at thedoor waiting for them. She had a big doll in her arms and told Anne thatits name was "Hetty, " because Aunt Hetty Freeman had made it and sent itto her. Frederick had hung the wasp's nest in his own room, and declaredthat there was not another boy in Boston who possessed one. Several ofhis friends had already seen it, and Frederick was quite sure that hewas a very fortunate boy to have it for his own. 

On Sunday morning Anne was awakened by the sound of the bells of ChristChurch, which was not far distant from the Freemans' house. She laylistening to the musical notes, and wondering if those could really bechurch-bells. 

"They sound like far-off voices singing, " she thought to herself. Andwhen Mrs. Freeman, at breakfast time, told her that there were eightbells, and that they came all the way from Gloucester, England, in 1745, and were the first ring of bells in North America, they seemed even morewonderful to the little girl. 

"William Shirley was Governor of Massachusetts at that time, " said Mr. Freeman, "and when the bells reached Boston it was found that there wasno money in the church treasury to raise them to the church belfry, andjust then Boston had the good news that the colonial forces underGeneral Pepperell had captured Louisburg. Well, every bell in Boston wasringing with triumph, and it did not take long to start a subscriptionand get money enough to put those fine bells where they could be heard. They were made by good English bell-makers, and there are none better, "concluded Mr. Freeman. Anne thought to herself that she would be sure toremember about these wonderful bells so that she could tell Amanda. 

On the morning of the 18th of July people began to gather in King Streetand the vicinity of the State House, so that long before one o'clock, the time advertised when the Declaration of Independence was to beread, there was a crowd. Mr. And Mrs. Freeman with Millicent, Frederick, Rose and Anne had a very good place where they could see the littlebalcony where Colonel Crafts was to stand. 

"Look, father! There are some of the British officers!" said Frederick. 

The crowd near where the Freemans were standing stood courteously backto make way for several British officers in full military dress. Theysecured a place where they could hear well, and Mr. Freeman and severalgentlemen exchanged smiles of satisfaction to see these officerspresent. When the clock struck one, Colonel Crafts, surrounded by anumber of gentlemen, appeared on the balcony, and in a clear voice readthe declaration announcing to the world that the American colonies wereno longer subject to Britain. 

What a chorus of shouts and huzzas filled the air! Frederick's cap wentso high that it lodged on the State House balcony, but no one seemed tonotice it, and Frederick could not recover his property until late thatafternoon. There sounded the measured boom of cannon, and thirteenvolleys of musketry. A military band played, and the people dispersed, quietly, and as if they had taken part in a great ceremony, as indeedthey had. 

"Now you girls will have to settle down; dresses do not makethemselves, " said Mrs. Freeman; "nor do stockings grow on trees. Yourfather's ship will be coming into harbor before you know it, Anne; andyou must have your clothing in order, and Rose has agreed to help you. So to-morrow we must begin in earnest. "

"I have a chance to send the black colt to Mr. Pierce to-morrow, " saidMr. Freeman, "and I have bought a good side-saddle for Mrs. Pierce, thatthey may know we do not forget their great kindness. "

"That is the very thing, father!" exclaimed Rose. "Now Aunt Anne Rosecan ride to the village and see her friends whenever she wishes. Shewill not be so lonely. "

"I thought of that, " said Mr. Freeman. 

"You girls must make up a little package for the colt to carry to yournew aunt, " suggested Mrs. Freeman. 

Anne had her golden guinea and several shillings besides in a prettyknit purse that Rose had given her, and she was very happy to thinkthat, out of her very own money, she could buy something for Aunt AnneRose. 

"I know what she'd like, " said Anne. "I told her about the fine bookthat my Aunt Martha keeps in the chest. 'Tis called 'Pilgrim'sProgress. ' And Aunt Anne Rose said that if she had a book to read attimes 'twould be as good as company. "

"You girls shall step into Mistress Mason's and select a suitable book, "said Mrs. Freeman. "You can write her name in it and put 'From Anne andRose to Aunt Anne Rose'; no doubt 'twill please her. And this evening wewill make some sweets to send her. We wish her to be very sure that wedo not lack in gratitude. "

Mistress Mason's shop in Cornhill seemed a very wonderful place to Anne, with its shelves filled with bright pewter, tall brass candlesticks, andlarge and small boxes. On a lower shelf at the back of the small roomwas a row of books. On a narrow counter stood boots, shoes, andslippers. Above this counter, fastened to a stout cord, were hung anumber of dolls dressed in the latest fashion. Each one of these dollshad a small white card fastened to its sleeve. 

When the girls entered they did not at first see any one in the shop, but in a moment Anne noticed that a very tiny old lady was standingbehind the further counter. 

"Why, she isn't any bigger than I am!" thought the little girl. 

"Good-afternoon, Mistress Mason, " said Rose; "this is my friend, littleAnne Nelson, from Province Town. "

"Not so very little, as I view it. Fully as large as I am myself. Ishould call her large; that is, large for a girl, " responded the littlewhite-haired woman, who was rather sensitive in regard to her size. "Isee you wear good shoes, " she continued, peering over the low counterand pointing a tiny finger toward Anne's feet. "I know my own shoes whenI see 'em, " and she laughed pleasantly. "My brother makes every shoe Isell; makes 'em right back here in his own shop, as Miss Rose Freemanwell knows. "

"Yes, indeed, " answered Rose, "and Mistress Mason makes dolls, Anne--allthose fine ones near the door. "

"All but the ones with china heads; I make only bodies for the heads. The china heads come from France and cost me dear. But they are goodbodies, as you can see, my dears; with joints where joints should be, and with feet and hands of soft kid. 'Tis some work, I do assure you, young ladies, to stitch fingers and toes as fingers and toes should bestitched, " and Mistress Mason looked very serious indeed. "And as formaking dolls with kid-covered heads, and then painting their faces andgiving a good expression to eyes and mouths, I do feel that it's almostbeyond me. I do indeed!"

The little old lady trotted briskly across the shop and unfasteningseveral dolls from the line held them toward her visitors. "Now here isLady Melissa Melvina, " and Anne saw that on each of the white cards waswritten the name belonging to the doll on whose sleeve the card waspinned. "Lady Melissa Melvina is all kid, " went on Mistress Mason, "head, body, feet and fingers; and every stitch she wears is of thebest. She's worth twenty shillings. But----!" and Mistress Mason made animpressive pause and shook her head. "Could I get that amount? No. So, though 'tis far too little, you may have her for ten shillings six, " andshe smiled as if she were really bestowing a gift upon them. 

"We did not come to buy a doll, Mistress Mason, although I'm sure Annewould like greatly to have so fine a doll as this; but we want topurchase a book, " said Rose. 

The little old woman was evidently disappointed. "A book, indeed, " sheresponded. "I know not what is coming to people. Everybody, even thevery children, are asking for books. We can hardly keep our shelf neatlyfilled, and I have half a mind not to keep them. Many a person whoshould buy a stout pair of shoes puts the money in books, " and she shookher head as if not understanding such folly. 

"'Tis for a present, " responded Rose, as if to excuse their purchase, "to a lady who lives in the country and is much alone. "

"I see; well, maybe such folk find company in reading, " said theshopkeeper. "Here is a book may please her, " and she took up a thinvolume and opened it. "'Tis a book of verse, but 'tis well thought of. Isee but little sense in verse myself; but, for verse, this reads well:

 "'Great conquerors greater glory gain By foes in triumph led than slain, '"

she read, and went on to a second couplet:

 "'Ay me! What perils do environ The man that meddles with cold iron. '

"And I declare here is what I've always said of poetry. 'Tis as true as Imake good dolls:

 "'Those that write in rhyme still make The one verse for the other's sake. '"

"I think Aunt Anne Rose would like 'Pilgrim's Progress, '" Anne ventured, a little timidly, to suggest. 

"Maybe. I have a fine copy. Not too large, and easy to read. 'Twill costfive shillings, " and Mistress Mason put back the book of verse and tookfrom the shelf a small square book that she handed to Rose. 

The girls looked it over carefully. "But it is not like Aunt Martha'sbook, " said Anne; "'tis not so large, nor has it such fine pictures. These pictures are little and black. "

"It tells the same story, " Rose assured her, "and I know it would pleaseAunt Anne Rose. It will cost us two and six, sixty-two cents, apiece. "

They decided to purchase it, and Mistress Mason wrapped it up in a neatpackage for them, and said that she hoped they would step in again. Shefollowed them to the door, and Rose and Anne both bowed very politely asthey wished her good-day. 

CHAPTER XIII

ANNE'S BOOK

"Rose, " said Anne, as soon as they left the little shop, "I know what Ishall buy for Aunt Martha; I shall buy her one of those fine pewterdishes. "

"So you can! It will be sure to please her, " replied Rose, lookingkindly down at her little friend. "You are always thinking of givingpeople things, aren't you, Anne? My Grandmother Freeman, who lived inWellfleet, used to say that it was a sign that a child would grow upprosperous and happy if it had the spirit to give instead of to take. "

When the girls went up the brick walk to the Freeman house they sawFrederick and a number of small boys in the yard. Frederick was standingon a box with a paper in his hand, from which he was reading, and he andhis companions were so interested that they did not notice the girls. 

"He's playing that he's Colonel Crafts reading the Declaration, " Rosewhispered to Anne, as they opened the front door, and entered the house. "Fred has made believe everything that has happened here in Boston forthe last two years. "

"It's warm weather for candy-making, " said Mrs. Freeman, as the familygathered at the supper table in the cool pleasant dining-room, "butCaroline is going to see her mother this evening, so you children canhave the kitchen, and you will not have another opportunity for a longtime to send Aunt Anne Rose any remembrance. "

The children all declared that it was not too warm for candy-making, andas soon as Caroline, a young woman who helped Mrs. Freeman and Rose withthe household work, gave them permission Rose, Anne, Millicent andFrederick went into the kitchen. Rose opened a deep drawer in a chestwhich stood in one corner of the room. 

"Look, Anne, " she said, and Anne peered in, exclaiming:

"Why, it's filled with little boxes!"

"Yes, " said Rose, picking up one shaped like a heart; "stormy days, and sometimes in winter evenings, when I do not feel like knitting orsewing, I make boxes out of heavy paper or cardboard, and cover themwith any bits of pretty paper or cloth that I can get. Frederick helpsme. He can make even better ones than I can, and Millicent helps too, "and she smiled down at the little sister who stood close beside Anne. 

"Let's send Aunt Anne Rose the heart-shaped box, " said Anne. 

"And fill it with heart-shaped taffy, " added Frederick, running toward ashelf filled with pans and kettles of various shapes and sizes, andtaking down a box. "See, we have little shapes for candy, " and he openedthe box and took out some tiny heart-shaped pans, and dishes shaped inrounds and stars and crescents. 

"My!" exclaimed Anne, "and can you make the candies in these?"

"No!" and Frederick's voice was a little scornful. "We have to boil itin a kettle, of course; then we grease the inside of these little panswith butter and turn the candy into them, and when it cools we tip themout, and there they are. Fine as any you can buy, aren't they, Rose?"

"Yes, indeed, and Frederick knows just how to take them out withoutbreaking the candy. He is more careful than I am, " said Rose, who lostno opportunity of praising her little brother and sister, and who neverseemed to see any fault in them. 

"Molasses taffy is the best, " declared Frederick, "but you can make somesugared raisins, can't you, Rose?"

"We'll have to be very careful in putting the candy in the boxes so thatit will not melt, " said Rose. 

Before it was time to pack the candy Mrs. Freeman came into the kitchenand untied a bundle to show the children what it contained. 

"It's lovely, mother!" exclaimed Rose, lifting up a little fleecyshoulder cape of lavender wool. "Why, it's the one you knit foryourself!" and she looked at her mother questioningly. 

"It seemed all I had that was pretty enough to send Mrs. Pierce, "replied Mrs. Freeman. 

"But she lives way off in that lonesome place where she never seespretty things. She'd be pleased with anything, " said Rose, who almostwished that her mother would keep the pretty shawl. 

"That's why I want to send this to her, " responded Mrs. Freeman. "If shehad all sorts of nice things I wouldn't do it; I'd just send her a cakewith my love. "

"Send the cake, too, " said Mr. Freeman, who had followed his wife. "Sendthe cake with my love. "

"Why, so I will, " said Mrs. Freeman. "Caroline made two excellent loavesof spice cake this very day and we can well spare one of them. But youchildren must trot off to bed. It's been a very exciting day. "

Little Millicent was quite ready for bed, but neither Anne nor Rose wassleepy, and Rose followed her little friend into her room. 

"See how clear the night is, Anne, " she said, looking out of the windowtoward the harbor. "The water looks like a mirror. "

Anne came and stood beside her. Her thoughts traveled across the smoothwaters to the little house in Province Town. "I shouldn't wonder if AuntMartha were looking out at the water and thinking about me, " she said, drawing a little nearer to the tall girl beside her. "I wish she knewhow good everybody is to me. "

Rose put her arm about the little girl. "She expects everybody to begood to you, Anne, " she responded; "but I have thought of something thatyou can do for Mrs. Stoddard that I am sure will please her, and will besomething that she will always like to keep. "

"What is it, Rose?" and Anne's voice was very eager. 

"Let's sit down here on the window-seat, and I'll tell you. You havelearned to write, haven't you, Anne?"

"Not very well, " confessed the little girl. 

"All the better, for what I want you to do will teach you to write asneatly as possible. I want you to write a book. "

"A book!" Anne's voice expressed so much surprise and even terror thatRose laughed aloud, but answered:

"Why, yes, and you must call it 'Anne Nelson's Book, ' and you must beginit by telling what Amanda Cary did to you, and how you believed thatMrs. Stoddard would be glad if you went away. And then you can write allyour journey, about the Indians, the house in the woods, Aunt Anne Rose, and all that you see and do in Boston. "

"I haven't any paper, " said Anne, as if that settled the question. 

"I have a fine blank book, every page ruled, that will be just thething, " responded Rose, "and I will help you write it. I can draw alittle, and I have a box of water-colors. I will make little pictureshere and there so that Mrs. Stoddard can see the places. "

"Oh, Rose! That will be fine. Shall we begin the book to-morrow?"

Anne was soon in bed, but there were so many wonderful things to thinkof that she lay long awake. 

The Freeman household rose at an early hour. After breakfast Mrs. Freeman said: "Now, Anne, we will make believe that you are my ownlittle girl, and I will tell you what to do to help me, just as I doRose. You see, " she added with a little laugh, "that I am likeFrederick. I like to play that all sorts of pleasant things are reallytrue. "

Anne smiled back. "I like to make-believe, too, " she said. 

"Then we'll begin right now. You can help Rose put the chambers inorder, and dust the dining-room. After that Rose can show you theattic, if you want to see where the children play on stormy days, or youmay do whatever you please. "

"The attic will be the very place for Anne to write her book, " saidRose, and told her mother of their plan. 

It was a very happy morning for Anne. Rose tied a big white apron aroundher neck, gave her a duster of soft cloth, and showed her just how tomake a bed neatly, and put a room in order. Then, when the work wasfinished, the girls went up the narrow stairs to the attic, a longunfinished room running the whole length of the house with windows ateach end. Under one of these windows stood a broad low table. Rose hadbrought up the blank book, a number of pens, made from goose-quills, anda bottle of ink. She put them on the table and drew up a high-backedwooden chair for Anne. "I'll sit in this rocking-chair at the end of thetable with my knitting, " said Rose. 

Anne looked about the attic, and thought that the Freeman children hadeverything in the world. There was a big wooden rocking-horse, purchasedfor Frederick, but now belonging to Millicent. There were boxes ofblocks, a row of dolls beside a trunk, a company of tin soldiers, andon a tiny table was spread out a little china tea-set. It was ratherhard for Anne to turn away from all these treasures and sit down at thetable. She had never seen so many toys in all her life, and she thoughtshe would like to bring her own wooden doll, "Martha Stoddard, " that herfather had made for her years ago, up to the attic to visit with thesebeautiful dolls of china, wax, and kid. But Rose had opened the book andstood beside the table waiting for Anne to sit down. 

"How shall I begin?" questioned the little girl anxiously. 

"Why, I'd begin just as if I were writing a letter, " said Rose. 

So Anne dipped the quill in the ink, and, with her head on one side, andher lips set very firmly together, carefully wrote: "My dear AuntMartha. "

Rose looked over her shoulder. "That is written very neatly, Anne, " shesaid. 

"Don't you want to make a picture now, Rose?" said the little girlhopefully. 

Rose laughed at Anne's pleading look, but drew the book toward her endof the table, and taking a pencil from her box of drawing materialsmade a little sketch, directly under Anne's written words, of a littlegirl at a table writing, and pushed the book back toward Anne. 

"Now I will knit while you write, " she said. 

So Anne again dipped the quill into the ink, and wrote: "This is apicture of me beginning to write a book. Rose made it. " The attic wasvery quiet, the sound of Anne's pen, and of Rose's knitting-needlescould be heard, and for a little time there was no other sound; thencame a clatter of stout shoes on the stairway, and little Millicentappeared. 

"See, I found this in Anne's room!" she exclaimed. 

Anne looked around, and saw Millicent holding up her beloved "MarthaStoddard. " With a quick exclamation she sprang up and ran toward her. "That's my doll, " she exclaimed, and would have taken it, but Millicentheld it tightly exclaiming:

"I want it!"

Anne stood looking at the child not knowing what to do. This doll wasthe dearest of her possessions. She had given her beautiful coralbeads to the Indian girl, and now Millicent had taken possession of herdoll. She tried to remember that she was a big girl now, ten years old, and that dolls were for babies like six-year-old Millicent. But "MarthaStoddard" was something more than a plaything to Anne; she could notpart with it. But how could she take it away from the little girl?

"I want it, " repeated Millicent, looking up at Anne with a pretty smile, as if quite sure that Anne would be glad to give it to her. Anne put herhands over her face and began to cry. 

CHAPTER XIV

ANNE AND MILLICENT

Anne had sprung up from her seat so quickly that she did not think ofher book, pen, or ink. Her arm had given the book a careless push, sending it against and overturning the ink-bottle, and she had droppedthe pen on the white paper, where it made a long ugly blot. 

Rose had been quick to seize the bottle before it rolled to the floor, and was now using a big dusting cloth to wipe up the ink. Her attentionwas so taken with this that she did not really know what was happening, when the sound of Millicent crying made her look quickly around. 

"What is the matter?" she asked, turning toward the little girls. 

Anne, with her hands over her face, was evidently crying; and Millicent, grasping the wooden doll with both hands, was making as much noise asshe possibly could in a series of half-angry little sobs. 

"Millicent, stop this minute, " said Rose, going toward them, "and you, too, Anne, and tell me what you are crying about, " and, quite forgettingthe inky cloth in her hand, Rose took hold of Anne's arm. 

Anne looked up, the tears streaming down her cheeks. 

"There, there, " said Rose, wiping Anne's face, and leaving it almostblacker than the cloth. "Oh, what have I done!" exclaimed Rose, whileMillicent's sobs ceased for a moment to be followed by a shriek ofterror to see Anne's face turn black so suddenly. "Stop, Millicent, "said Rose. "Come down-stairs, Anne, and I'll wash the ink off. And tellme what the matter is. "

"Rose! Rose!" called Mrs. Freeman from the floor below. "What is thematter?"

"I've got ink on Anne's face and Millicent is frightened, " Rose calledback, drawing Anne toward the stairs. Millicent stopped crying, andfinding that no one took the wooden doll from her, trotted across theattic and introduced the newcomer as "Lady Washington" to the otherdolls, sat down on the floor beside them and began to play happily. 

Anne followed Rose down the stairs and into the sink-room, where Rosebegan to scour her face vigorously. 

"I don't mean to hurt you, Anne, " she said laughingly, "and I'm awfullysorry I wiped your face with that dreadful inky cloth, but I have to rubhard to get it off. "

"It's my--fault, " Anne managed to say. "I was crying. "

"There isn't any blame in crying, if you have anything to cry about, "said Rose. 

"Millicent wanted my doll, " said Anne. 

Rose did not speak for a moment. She was very fond of Anne Nelson, andthought her a very generous and thoughtful child, and could notunderstand why she should cry because little Millicent had taken whatRose called to herself "an old wooden doll. "

"Well, " she said, "Millicent won't hurt your doll. "

"But she wants to keep it, " said Anne, as Rose gave her face a vigorouswiping with a rough towel. 

Rose made no answer. She thought it rather selfish of Anne, when theyhad all done so much for her, that she should be unwilling for Millicentto keep the doll. 

Anne was not a dull child, and Rose's silence made her realize that shehad acted selfishly; still, she could not feel that wanting to keep"Martha Stoddard" was wrong. 

"There! You are quite rid of ink now, " said Rose, "and there is an hourbefore dinner. Do you want to write some more in your book?"

"No, " said Anne. It seemed to her that she should never want to write inthe book again. She wished that she and "Martha Stoddard" were safe backwith Aunt Martha in Province Town. 

"Well, I have some errands to do for mother, so I'll run along, " saidRose pleasantly, and left Anne alone in the little square room calledthe "sink-room, " because of two sinks near the one window whichoverlooked the green yard at the back of the house. There was a dooropening into the yard, and Anne looked out feeling more unhappy than shehad since the night when Aunt Martha had sent her up-stairs. 

Frederick was in the yard. He was setting what looked to Anne likewooden bottles in a straight row at the further end of the square ofgreensward. Then he ran across to the open door where Anne wasstanding. 

[Illustration: HE HANDED HER A BALL]

"Want to play bowls?" he asked. 

"I don't know how, " replied Anne. 

"I'll show you; it's easy, " replied the boy, picking up a big woodenball and balancing it on one hand. "Come on out and try, " he urged, andAnne stepped out into the yard. "Watch me!" said Frederick. 

He stepped back a little, sent a keen glance toward the wooden"bottles, " as if measuring the distance, then holding the ball in onehand and leaning a little sideways, swung it back and forth for a fewtimes and then sent it rolling across the grass. It struck one of the"bottles, " and that in falling sent over two more. 

"Oh, I can do that!" exclaimed Anne. 

"All right, try. I'll set up the pins for you, " said Frederick. 

Anne thought to herself that it was funny to call those wooden objects"pins. "

"You'd better take a smaller ball, " said Frederick, selecting one from anumber lying near the door; and he handed her a ball that Anne thoughtwas about the size of a pint dipper. 

Frederick told her how to hold it, how to stand, and how to get theright motion to send it in a straight line. 

"It's all in your eye, looking straight, and getting the right swing, "he said. 

Anne's first ball did not go half the proper distance, but she kept ontrying, and before dinner time could send a ball nearly as well asFrederick himself. 

"It's fun, " she declared. Her face was flushed with the exercise, andher eyes shining with pleasure. For the moment she had forgotten allabout the wooden doll. She and Frederick stopped in the sink-room towash their hands before going in to dinner. 

"Anne plays a good game of bowls, " said Frederick, as they took theirplaces at the table. 

"I want to bowl, " exclaimed little Millicent. 

"You can, any time you want to, " said Frederick, with his pleasantsmile. "I'll show you after dinner when Rose and Anne are sewing. "

Anne thought to herself that the family all wanted Millicent to doeverything she wanted to, and she remembered "Martha, " and wondered whatMillicent had done with her beloved doll, but did not dare ask. Theywere all pleasant and kind to Anne, but she felt as if Rose did not lookat her quite as kindly as usual. 

"I have your blue dimity all basted, my dear, " Mrs. Freeman said toAnne as they left the dining-room, "and you can sit with me and stitchup the seams this afternoon. Rose is to help Caroline with somecooking. "

Anne felt rather glad of this, for she dreaded having Rose say somethingabout the happening of the morning. Mrs. Freeman led the way to herpleasant chamber. A little rush-bottomed rocking-chair stood near one ofthe windows. 

"You may sit in the little chair, Anne; that is where Rose always sits. Now let's see if this will fit your thimble-finger, " and Mrs. Freemanheld out a little shining steel thimble, and fitted it on Anne's finger. "It's just right, " she said. "That is a little present for you, Anne; togo with the work-case that Mrs. Pierce gave you. "

"Thank you, " said Anne in a very low voice, looking at the prettythimble, and wondering if Rose had told her mother about her trying totake the wooden doll from Millicent. "I'll always keep it, " she said, looking up into the friendly face. 

"Here is your work, my dear. Now set your stitches right along thebasting, and set them evenly and as small as possible, " and Mrs. Freemanhanded Anne the strips of dimity. "But about your thimble, Anne, " shecontinued. "I shall be better pleased if some time, when you perhapshave a thimble of silver, or have outgrown this one, you will give it tosome other child who is learning to sew and has no thimble. We mustn'tplan to keep gifts always, even if we do prize them. Sometimes it isbest to pass them on. "

Anne was quite sure that Mrs. Freeman meant that she ought to give thewooden doll to Millicent. 

"I gave my coral beads, that Mistress Starkweather gave me, to theIndian girl, " she said, wishing in some way to prove that she was notselfish. 

"That was quite right, and I am sure that Mrs. Starkweather will tellyou so, " responded Mrs. Freeman. 

Anne stitched away, setting her stitches very carefully. But she feltunhappy. She had quite forgotten the pleasant game with Frederick, thebook that she was to write for Aunt Martha, and even the delightful factthat she was sewing on the pretty dimity dress, and had a new thimble ofshining steel. All that she could think of was that she was sure thatMrs. Freeman and Rose believed her to be a selfish and ungrateful girl. "They think I want to keep everything, " she said to herself. The Julyday grew very warm. Mrs. Freeman leaned back in her comfortable chair, closed her eyes, and indulged in a little nap. Anne's dark head began tonod, the pretty dimity slipped from her fingers to the floor, and thenew thimble fell off and rolled under the table. Anne had gone fastasleep. 

Rose, looking in at the chamber door, smiled to herself, tiptoed gentlyin and picked up the dimity dress and carried it to her own room, whereMillicent was having her afternoon nap on her sister's bed. 

"I'll stitch up these seams while Anne's asleep, " thought thekind-hearted girl, "and I'll tell her that we have a family of fairiesliving in this house who do things for people. I wonder if Anne everheard of fairies?"

Mrs. Freeman was the first to wake, and, noticing that Anne's work hadvanished, smiled to herself, quite sure that Rose had taken it. It wassome time later when Rose brought it back and laid the thin goods onAnne's lap. 

"Oh, " exclaimed Anne, waking suddenly, "I dreamed of 'MarthaStoddard, '" and then, noticing the smile fade from Rose's face, Annewished that she had not spoken, for she felt that Rose would be surethat she was still blaming little Millicent, who entered the room thatvery moment holding the wooden doll. 

"Where did you get the wooden doll, dear?" Mrs. Freeman asked. 

"Anne gave it to me, " replied Millicent. 

"O-oh!" Anne exclaimed impulsively, only to be sorry the next momentthat she had not kept silent, for Mrs. Freeman looked up questioningly. 

"Didn't you give the doll to Millicent, Anne?" she asked. 

Millicent looked as if she wondered why Anne had said "Oh!" and Roselooked at her wonderingly. She could not understand why Anne should notwant Millicent to have the doll, and Rose began to think that Anne wasindeed selfish and ungrateful, and Anne knew what her friend wasthinking, and tried hard not to cry. 

"You let me have it, Anne, didn't you?" Millicent said confidently, andAnne, feeling as if she was parting from her dearest friend, managed tosay: "Yes. "

Mrs. Freeman's face brightened. "What is the doll's name?" she asked. 

"I called her 'Martha Stoddard, '" Anne replied. 

"I've named her over, " said Millicent. "I've named her 'Anne Rose, ' andI like her best of all my dolls. "

"Have you thanked Anne for giving you her doll?" asked Mrs. Freeman. 

"I'm going to give her one of mine back, " declared Millicent. "I'm goingto give her Miss Fillosee Follosee. "

Anne wanted to cry out that she didn't want any other doll, that shewanted her own dear "Martha Stoddard, " but she kept silent. 

CHAPTER XV

AMOS APPEARS

Anne picked up her thimble and said: "I'm sorry I went to sleep. I sewedonly a little. "

"Let me see, " and Mrs. Freeman picked up the dress, and looked at theneatly stitched seams. "These seams are all stitched, " she saidsmilingly. 

Anne looked at them in surprise. "Did you do them?" she asked. 

Mrs. Freeman shook her head. "No, " she replied; "you see, I went tosleep, and awoke only a few moments since. "

Anne hardly knew what to make of this, for she was quite sure that shehad waked when Rose entered the room. 

"P'raps it's fairies!" said little Millicent hopefully. "Don't you knowabout fairies, Anne?" and Millicent came close to Anne and laid thebeloved "Martha" in her lap. "I'll tell you, " she went on, in responseto Anne's puzzled look. "Fairies are little, oh, littler than my thumb. I've never seen one, but Caroline's grandmother saw one, and real goodchildren may see them some time. "

"But how could anything so small sew?" questioned Anne. 

"Fairies can do anything!" declared Millicent. "Caroline knows all aboutthem. Let's go out in the yard where she is sitting with her sewing andget her to tell us a fairy story. "

"Run along, " said Mrs. Freeman. "You see you need not stay in to sew, since the seams are stitched. "

Anne actually forgot "Martha Stoddard, " so that when she jumped up tofollow Millicent the wooden doll fell to the floor without either Anneor Millicent heeding it. 

Rose smiled as she picked it up. "Fairies are useful little peoplesometimes, " she said to her mother. 

The days went very rapidly. Every morning Anne helped Rose with thehousehold work, and sewed on the garments Mrs. Freeman basted for her. Every day, too, she wrote in the book for Aunt Martha. Rose made tinysketches on many pages: of a wasp's nest, of Anne riding "Range, " ofAunt Anne Rose; and here and there were little landscapes. Anne hadmade up her mind to let Millicent keep the wooden doll, but shesometimes wished that she had left "Martha Stoddard" safe at home inProvince Town. 

Beside the work there were games of bowls on the green back of thehouse, and pleasant walks about the town. Rose and Anne had made severalvisits to Mistress Mason, and Anne had already purchased a fine pewterpitcher to take home to Aunt Martha, and was knitting a warm scarf forUncle Enos. She had not spent all of her money, and planned to buy awonderful blue silk sash, which Mistress Mason had shown the girls onone of their visits, as a gift for Amanda. She had sent a letter to AuntMartha Stoddard by a Province Town fisherman known to the Freemans, andthe time was near when "The Yankee Hero, " of which Anne's father wasfirst mate, was due in Boston. 

"Like as not your father's vessel will bring a fine prize into harbor, "Frederick said one morning as he and Anne were teaching Millicent tobowl, "unless some English frigate has captured her, " he added. 

All up and down the coast English vessels were on the alert to seizeAmerican ships; but the American vessels were also on the outlook andhad captured many of the enemy's ships. 

"They'll not capture 'The Yankee Hero, '" declared Anne. "She's sailed byProvince Town sailors, " and Anne gave her head a little toss, as if tosay that Province Town sailors were the best in the world, as she indeedthought they were. 

Frederick laughed pleasantly. "You think a good deal of that old sandheap, " he replied. 

Anne held a ball ready to roll, but at Frederick's remark she droppedit, and stood looking at him angrily. 

"It's your turn!" he reminded her, looking at her in surprise. 

"It's not an old sand heap. It's the loveliest place in the world. Youcan see twice as much salt water there as you can in Boston, " shedeclared. 

"So you can, " agreed Frederick, "but it's a sand heap just the same. Agood place to catch cod, though. "

"Want to see my workshop?" the boy asked when they were all tired ofbowling. "Father's given me some fine pieces of wood, and I'm making asled for Millicent to play with next winter. "

Frederick's workshop was a corner of the carriage-house, where the finechaise stood, and he had a work-bench there well supplied with tools, and spent many happy hours over his work. 

"I'm going to have a shipyard and build ships, " he told Anne. "See thislittle model!" and he held up a tiny wooden ship, fully rigged, with alittle American flag fastened at the top of the mainmast. "Rose madethat flag, " he said proudly. "See, there's a star for each colony, thirteen of 'em. "

Almost every day Anne and Rose walked to the wharves with Mr. Freeman tohear if there was any news of "The Yankee Hero. " It was the very lastday of July when Mr. Freeman said, as they walked down the wharf, "There's a Province Town schooner in harbor, Anne--'The Sea Gull. ' Shecame for a new mainsail and will probably sail when the tide serves. There's a boat from her now, headed for my wharf. "

Anne did not know that Amos Cary was on board the "Sea Gull, " but shewas eager to see any one who came from the place Frederick had called"the old sand heap, " and watched the boat from the schooner as it cameswiftly toward the Freeman wharf. 

"Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly, and ran further out on the pier, quicklyfollowed by Rose. "It looks just like Amos Cary's head. Do you supposeit is?" she asked turning to Rose. 

"If it is, Amos is probably with it, " Rose answered laughingly. "Isuppose Amos is Amanda's brother, who came to Brewster with you. Is itthat red-headed boy sitting in the bow?"

"Yes, yes!" answered Anne, fairly jumping up and down in her excitement. 

Amos was now near enough to recognize Anne, and took off his cap andwaved it gaily. The boat drew up to the wharf, but Amos did not jump outas Anne expected. 

"I can't, " he explained. "Father told Captain Nash not to let me setfoot on shore, " and Amos grinned as if he was delighted at what hisfather thought would be discipline. "I'm going to be on the 'Sea Gull'for months; maybe a whole year! Isn't that fine?"

"Jump out, Amos, " said Captain Nash. 

"But father said I wasn't to step foot on shore, " responded thesurprised boy. 

"Unless I told you to, " added the captain, and Amos scrambled up ontothe wharf a little disappointed at the permission. "Mr. Freeman hasinvited you to dinner, " added the captain, "but you must be here at thewharf at two sharp. "

"Yes, indeed, sir, " Amos answered promptly, looking back almostreluctantly toward the boat. 

"Born for a sailor, " the captain said to Mr. Freeman, as Amos walkedwith Anne and Rose toward the Freemans' house. He answered Anne'squestions about Aunt Martha, Uncle Enos, Amanda and the Starkweathers, and listened to her account of the wonderful journey to Boston. 

"Wasn't it great to be shut up in that dark room!" he exclaimed, whenAnne told him of Bill Mains' mistake. "Wish I'd been there. But maybethe 'Sea Gull' will run afoul of a pirate ship before long, " heconcluded hopefully. 

When Anne introduced him to Mrs. Freeman Amos took off his cap and bowedvery politely, as he had noticed Captain Nash do. Frederick and hebecame friends instantly, and Amos was taken out to the workshop to seethe model ship which had the American flag fastened to its mainmast, and he listened to Frederick's plans for building ships approvingly. 

"Maybe I'll sail one of your vessels for you, " he said. "I'm going tolearn navigation. I'm not planning to be on shore much after this, I cantell you. "

Frederick listened enviously; he thought Amos was a very fortunate boyto be going for a year's voyage on the "Sea Gull. "

CHAPTER XVI

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR

"I'll bring you some coral beads, Anne, " Amos promised as he saidgood-bye, and started back for the wharf. Frederick went with him, andlistened admiringly to Amos's plans of all he meant to see and do. Frederick began to think that it would be better to go to sea than tobuild ships. He watched the "Sea Gull's" sails as they caught the wind, and his eyes followed the little vessel until it looked not unlike thewhite-winged bird whose name it bore. 

As he entered the yard Rose came down the path to meet him. She had asmall package in her hand. 

"I want you to do something for me, Fred, " she said, "and I don't wantany one, especially Anne and Millicent, to know anything about it. "

This sounded interesting to Frederick, and he looked up hopefully. Perhaps there was some message to be carried from Boston to theAmerican troops in New York, and that he, Frederick Freeman, had beenselected to carry it. Probably it was wrapped up in that package whichRose held so carefully. Why, it would be a greater adventure than anyAmos Cary would encounter on the "Sea Gull. "

"Is it in that package, Rose?" he asked eagerly. 

"How did you guess?" and Rose looked at her small brother in surprise. 

"Come on out to the carriage-house, and tell me when you want me tostart, " and Frederick grasped Rose's arm and hurried her along. "When doyou want me to start?" he asked. 

"Why, right away, " answered Rose in rather a puzzled tone. 

The brother and sister entered the carriage-house, and Frederick led theway to the corner where his work-bench stood, and they sat down. 

"Nobody will hear us here, " said Frederick in a mysterious whisper, looking sharply about the room. 

"Oh, Fred! I do believe that you are making believe that you are a Toryspy in danger of capture, " laughed Rose. 

"Indeed I'm not! I wouldn't make believe be a spy, " responded the boyscornfully. "I'm a loyal messenger, ready to carry news to GeneralWashington!"

"Here is the message, " and Rose handed her brother the package. 

Frederick took it with shining eyes, and held it closely. 

"Oh, Rose, is it truly? And where am I to take it?" he asked. 

"Why, Fred, you 'pretend' splendidly, " said his sister. "I suppose you'dreally like to be messenger for Washington, but that isn't it, you know. Just unroll that package and tell me how good a doll you can make. "

"Make a doll!" Fred flung the little bundle to the floor and lookedready to cry. "I suppose you think it's funny to make me believe I coulddo something to help Washington, when you really just had an old woodendoll to show me. "

"Now, Fred, " and Rose put her hand on her brother's shoulder, "own upthat I didn't say a word to make you imagine such a thing. You know Ididn't! I asked you if you would do something for me, and not let anyone know. "

"Well, I might have known nothing interesting would happen to me, " saidFrederick. "Nothing ever does, " and he regarded poor "Martha Stoddard"with scornful eyes. 

"I want you to make a wooden doll as nearly like this one as you can, "said Rose. "Millicent has taken possession of this one, and it's theonly doll Anne has, and I'm sure that she doesn't want Millicent to haveit. I thought if you could make one just like it that Millicent wouldlike the new one better, and then Anne could have her own. "

"All right, " but Fred's voice was a little surly. 

"And as for nothing happening to you, Fred, you ought to be thankfulthat nothing does happen, and that we are all safe and well. Suppose theBritish had won the battles at Concord and Lexington and Bunker Hill, "and Rose looked at her small brother more sternly than ever before. "Icould tell you of something very pleasant that is going to happen toyou, " she concluded. 

"What is it, Rose?" and Fred was again eager and hopeful. 

But Rose shook her head. "You just wait and see. Make the wooden doll. I'll tell you when the doll is finished, " and she picked "Martha" upfrom the floor where Frederick had dropped her. 

"Can't I keep her for a pattern?" asked Frederick. 

"Yes. Anne and Millicent are making paper dolls, and they won't miss herfor a little while, but bring her in before supper time. "

"All right, " and Frederick nodded cheerfully. He was already lookingover his stock of wood for suitable pieces for the new doll, andwondering what the pleasant surprise would be. 

Millicent could cut out very queer little dolls, and she and Anne werequite happy together under the big horse-chestnut tree until Anne said:"Where is my wooden doll, Millicent?"

"It's mine; my Anne Rose, " said little Millicent placidly. "I don't knowwhere she is. I guess she's lost, " and Millicent carefully folded apiece of paper to cut another doll. 

"Lost!" Anne repeated. 

"Yes, " agreed Millicent, indifferently. "I guess she is; p'raps sheisn't, though. "

Anne remembered Caroline's story of elves, and was quite sure that herhead was filled with them, for she felt as if she wanted to shakeMillicent, and at the thought that her dear "Martha" was really lostAnne began to cry. 

Millicent put down the scissors and paper, and looked at Anne withstartled eyes, and then she began to cry. Rose came running out from thecarriage-house. 

"What is the matter, dear?" and she kneeled down beside her littlesister. But Millicent sobbed on. 

"Tell me, Anne, " and she turned toward her little visitor. 

"Millicent has lost 'Martha Stoddard, '" Anne managed to reply, wipingher eyes, and feeling very much ashamed that Rose should have seen hercry. 

"Nonsense! The doll isn't lost. I saw it a minute ago. Come, Millicent;I'll go with you and Anne for a little walk toward King's Chapel, " andRose held out a hand to each of the girls. 

"Rose, " exclaimed Anne suddenly, "I know that you think I'm selfishabout 'Martha Stoddard, ' but Rose, listen!" and Anne looked uppleadingly into her friend's face. "When I was a little girl, not aslarge as Millicent, and my mother had died, and my father and I wereall alone, he made me that wooden doll! I never had anything else toplay with until I went to live with Aunt Martha. It isn't just a doll, Rose; it's--why, it's most like a real person, " and Anne's voice soundedas if it was hard work to keep back the tears. 

"You ought to have told me before, " replied Rose kindly. "You see, Millicent is too little to understand, and we all love her and don'tlike to make her unhappy. 'Martha' is all right, and you shall have hersafely back, dear, " and Rose's voice was even more kind and friendlythan usual as she told Anne of the new doll that Fred was making forMillicent. 

"A new doll!" exclaimed Millicent happily, and could hardly wait for thetime when Fred would finish it. 

"So there goes my great secret!" laughed Rose. Anne was looking quiteher happy self again, and Millicent was skipping along quite forgettingthat she had ever wanted the wooden doll from Province Town. 

"I don't believe I like secrets anyway, " continued Rose; "let's go backto the carriage-house and watch Fred make the new doll, and I'll bringout the clothes I have made to dress it. "

Frederick looked up from his work in surprise when the girls entered thecarriage-house. "Thought it was a secret!" he exclaimed. 

"No more secrets in this family, " declared Rose. 

"Glad to hear it. Now I can know what's going to happen to me, "responded Fred. 

"Of course you can. Father has to go to Salem next week and he is goingto take you with him. "

"Nothing will happen in driving to Salem in the morning and back atnight, " said Frederick, a little scornfully. 

"Wait and see!" and Rose nodded so hopefully that Frederick wondered tohimself if she had really told him all she knew about his father'splans. 

While the children were in the carriage-house they heard the clatter ofhorses' hoofs on the driveway. 

"Look!" exclaimed Frederick. "There's a man and a woman riding into ouryard. Why, the woman is riding that black colt that brought you home. "

But Rose and Anne had not waited for the end of Frederick's exclamation. Looking out they had seen the pretty black colt, and on its back aslight figure in a brown dress sitting very straight indeed, and wearinga hat of plaited straw with a brown ribbon--a hat exactly like the oneAnne was so proud of. 

There was a chorus of "Aunt Anne Rose! Aunt Anne Rose!" in whichMillicent and Frederick joined, as the children ran out to welcome theunexpected visitors. 

"I am here, too!" said Mr. Pierce laughingly. 

The visitors were warmly welcomed by Mr. And Mrs. Freeman. 

"I couldn't be satisfied, after this fine saddle came, until I had takena journey, " declared Aunt Anne Rose, with a happy little laugh. "And myboys were sure that they could keep house without us, so Silas and Istarted off. Having nieces to visit I felt as if I must come. "

"Anne Rose has never been in Boston before, and she thinks it must be aslarge as London itself, " said Mr. Pierce. 

"There are indeed many places to see, " said Mrs. Freeman, "and it willbe a great pleasure for us to show them to Mrs. Pierce. "

"There is Mistress Mason's shop, " suggested Anne. 

"And Governor Hancock's fine house, " added Rose. 

"And the wharves and shipyards, " said Frederick. 

As they talked the little party moved toward the house. Rose ran to thekitchen to help Caroline prepare an early supper, and Mrs. Freeman sentAnne to show the visitors to the big spare chamber. 

"I wear my fine hat every day, " said Anne, as she and Aunt Anne Rosewent up the stairs together. 

"I really think that we must take Anne back to Scituate with us, " saidMr. Pierce. "What do you say, Anne?"

"My father's ship may come any day now, " answered the little girl, "andthen we must go home to Province Town. "

It seemed to Anne as if Mrs. Pierce's face grew very grave, and shewondered to herself if Aunt Anne Rose would really like to have her livewith them. 

"Your cheeks are just as red, and your eyes shine; you look just like agirl, Aunt Anne Rose, " she said admiringly, as Mrs. Pierce took off herhat and brushed her pretty black hair, that waved back from her face. 

"It's because I'm on a visit, " declared Mrs. Pierce, "and a visit toBoston. I've always wanted to come, and here I am! Everybody looks youngand pretty when she is happy, Anne. But I'm not young. I'm past forty, and I never was pretty, " and the dark-eyed little woman smiledradiantly, as if everything in life was planned just right. 

The Pierces declared that they could stay only two days, so that eveningmany plans were made that they should fill the time with as muchpleasure as possible. Mr. Pierce had some business to attend to withvarious merchants, and Anne and Rose were eager to show Mrs. Pierce theshops, the fine houses and churches; and directly after breakfast thenext morning Mrs. Freeman sent them all off. Millicent was quite happyto stay with Frederick and watch him finish the wooden doll, while Roseand Anne, with Aunt Anne Rose between them, started off to visitMistress Mason's shop, where Mrs. Pierce insisted on buying the largestof the fine dolls as a present for little Millicent, a pink silk sashfor Anne and a lace collar for Rose. 

"I want you girls to think often of your new aunt, " she said. "And I amhoping that when Anne's father comes he will decide to bring her tovisit us. I have written a letter to him, Anne, and I will give it toyou. You must hand it to him, and tell him that you would like to come. "

"Yes, ma'am, " answered the little girl, but not very eagerly. For Annewas now counting the hours until the "Yankee Hero" should reach Bostonharbor, and when she and her dear father could sail off to Province Townand tell Aunt Martha all about the wonderful visit, and give Amanda theblue silk sash. She almost wished that Aunt Anne Rose had not told herabout the letter. 

CHAPTER XVII

THE STRANGE SCHOONER

On the morning when Mr. And Mrs. Pierce started for home, Rose and Annewent to Mistress Mason's shop on an errand. As they walked along thestreet Rose exclaimed suddenly: "Anne, look! There is one of father'sbest friends!" And Anne looked up to see a gentleman, wearing a cockedhat and red cloak, coming toward them. He was very erect and his wig wastied with a narrow ribbon. 

"Good-morning, Mistress Rose, " he said, and Anne thought to herself thathis voice was very kind and pleasant. 

"Good-morning, Mr. Adams, " Rose responded. "This is Anne Nelson fromProvince Town. "

The friendly smile now rested on Anne. "Let me see; was there not alittle maid from Province Town who helped the cause of Liberty bycarrying a message to Newburyport?" he asked, clasping her hand. 

Anne looked up at him and smiled. "I went with Uncle Enos, " sheanswered. 

"So you did! And now you are a visitor in Boston, as I am myself, for myfamily are now living in Dedham, " he responded pleasantly, and, with afriendly message for Mr. Freeman, he bade the girls good-bye, and walkedon. 

"That is Mr. Samuel Adams, " explained Rose; "he came from Philadelphiabut a few days ago. He signed the Declaration of Independence, Anne. Andfather says had it not been for Samuel Adams 'twould have been yearsbefore Congress would have come to so great a decision. "

"And to think he knew of me!" said Anne. 

"He knows of everybody who helped even a little bit toward Americanindependence, " said Rose. "Mr. Adams goes back to Philadelphia inSeptember. 'Twill be a fine thing to write in your book, Anne, that youhave spoken to him, " said Rose, "and very likely your father will bepleased to have you go and stay with Mrs. Pierce. It's so much nearerBoston than Province Town, and the Pierces have such a pleasant house. "

"It's not so pleasant as my Aunt Martha's, " declared Anne loyally. 

It seemed to Rose that it would be a very fortunate thing for her littlefriend to live with Aunt Anne Rose, and she could not understand Anne'seagerness to return to Province Town. 

"May we not walk down to the wharf, Rose?" Anne asked eagerly. "Yourfather may have news of the ship. "

But Mr. Freeman only shook his head, a little soberly, Anne thought, andthe day passed without any sight or news of the "Yankee Hero. "

Anne was not very happy that day. She wondered what would happen to herfather if the English had captured his ship, and wished with all herheart that she was with Aunt Martha Stoddard. That night she dreamed ofa fairy hid beneath her pillow, and that it whispered to her, "There isyour father! Right beside the bed, " and when she awoke the next morningAnne said to herself, "I feel happy, but I don't know why, " and thendecided that a good fairy had visited her. But when she wentdown-stairs, there in the front hall stood a dark man smiling as Anneexclaimed, "My father!"

For the "Yankee Hero" had arrived in the early evening of the previousnight, and John Nelson had lost no time in making his way to Mr. Freeman's house, hoping for news of Anne. And he had tiptoed into herroom for a look at his little daughter, just as the fairy whispered. 

There was so much for Anne to tell him! John Nelson looked very gravewhen he heard of Anne's running away in the night. 

"But Uncle Enos and Aunt Martha know that I believed they no longerwanted me, " pleaded Anne. "And, oh, father, Aunt Martha said I was notto go to Brewster and journey to Boston with the Freemans to see you. "

Anne had not known that her father could be so stern. 

"You might never have been heard from, Anne, starting off like that. Ido not know if Mistress Stoddard will be willing to again take charge ofyou, " he said. 

But after Rose had told him the story of their journey, of Anne'scourage when they believed themselves prisoners in the house in thewoods, and had said that it was really Amanda Cary's fault more thanAnne's that she had run away, Mr. Nelson was quite ready to forgive her. 

"I am glad indeed that my little girl has a good friend in Mrs. Pierce, "said Mr. Nelson, after he had read Aunt Anne Rose's letter, "but Ithink we must go to Province Town at the first opportunity. "

Anne now felt that there was nothing to wish for. With her dear fathersafe on shore, and the prospect of soon sailing away to Province Townshe was quite happy. 

"You must make Rose a fine present, Anne, " he said one day as they camedown King Street. 

"I heard her say once that she hoped some day to have a gold ring, "replied Anne. 

"You shall give her one, " said Mr. Nelson. 

"I'll give it to her when I say good-bye, " said Anne as they walkedtoward home. 

"That may be to-morrow, " responded Mr. Nelson, "for Mr. Freeman saysthat not a boat from Truro, Wellfleet or Province Town has come in toBoston for a week, so if the wind favors, 'tis like to-morrow will giveus a chance for a passage. "

Rose was on the porch, and as she watched Anne come up the path thoughtto herself that she would be very lonely without the little maid fromProvince Town. 

"Captain Starkweather from Province Town is at father's wharf, " shesaid, "and I had half a mind to tell him not to take any passengersback to Province Town, for father says he will start back when the tideserves very early to-morrow morning. "

Mr. Nelson hurried away to the wharves, and Anne and Rose went up to theattic for Anne's book. "For I suppose we must pack up your thingsto-night, " Rose said. "Your father has bought you a fine portmanteau. It's in your room now. "

Anne picked up the book, and was eager to hurry to her room to see thenew bag, but Rose detained her a moment. 

"Why, Anne, " she exclaimed, "you have left out the most importantthing. "

"What did I leave out?" questioned Anne. 

"Why, about Amanda!" replied Rose. "You started this on purpose forMistress Stoddard, so that she could know all about your running away. "

"Oh, " said Anne, in a tone of relief, "then I haven't forgottenanything. You see, Rose, Amanda told Aunt Martha all about it, so it'sall right. "

Rose looked at her little friend for a moment as if she were going toscold her, then she began to smile, and leaning down kissed the littlegirl's cheek. 

"You know how to be a friend, Anne, " she said, "and I'm sure Amanda willnever do another hateful thing to you. "

"Captain Starkweather says he'll take me to Province Town to see hisboys some time, " Frederick announced as the family gathered at thesupper table, "and Anne's father tells me that if I go to Salemto-morrow I'll see ships that go to all parts of the world. "

"That is true, my son, " replied his father. "There's a ship now in Salemjust arrived from Cadiz with a load of salt, and another with tea andsilks from China. 'Twas great good fortune that they reached harborsafely. They would have been a fine prize for some British ship. "

The Freemans all went down to the wharf with Anne the next morning. Thefine portmanteau, filled with Anne's new clothing and with her gifts forthe Province Town friends, was placed carefully in the little cabin. Captain Starkweather had already hoisted the sloop's mainsail, and gaveAnne a warm welcome as her father helped her on board. 

"Good-bye, good-bye, dear Rose, " Anne called back. 

As the sloop swung off from the wharf and the little girl looked backtoward the friends who had been so kind to her there was a little mistin her eyes. 

"It's good luck indeed to have this favoring wind, " said CaptainStarkweather, as the boat moved swiftly down the harbor. "I doubt notAmanda Cary is on the beach already hoping we may have sailed atmidnight, " and the Captain nodded smilingly toward Anne. "What are youwatching so sharply, John?" he asked, for Mr. Nelson, shading his eyeswith one hand, was watching a small schooner. 

"Why, I'm wondering a bit about that schooner, " he replied. "Her sailswere hoisted and her anchor up when we left the wharf, and she's keptthe same course. She couldn't be after us right in Boston harbor, but Idon't like her keeping so close. "

"'Tis hard work to know friends from foes on land or sea these days, "said Captain Starkweather a little anxiously. For several fishermen hadrecently been captured by English vessels, the men taken to England, and their boats kept by the captors. 

"Hoist the jib, John, " directed the captain. "We'll sail away from thatcraft; I don't like her company. "

Up went the jib, but the sloop did not increase the distance from theschooner. Both boats had now left Boston harbor well behind them. Thesloop could not hope for any help now if the schooner really meant tocapture it. 

"There are guns on that schooner, " exclaimed John Nelson. "Go into thecabin, Anne, and don't come out until I tell you to. Remember, stay inthe cabin, " and almost before she realized what had happened Anne foundherself in the sloop's cabin, and the little door shut. A moment latershe heard the bang! bang! of a gun, and felt the boat swing heavily toone side. 

CHAPTER XVIII

A GREAT ADVENTURE

Anne's first impulse was to open the cabin door, but she had learned onelesson by her runaway journey--to obey and wait. It was very hard forthe little girl to keep quiet, for she could hear her father's voice, and that of Captain Starkweather, and loud commands in strange voices, and the sloop seemed to be moving this way and that as if it had lostits pilot. 

"We are captured by that English boat; I know we are, " Anne whispered toherself. 

And that was really what had happened. The English schooner had sent ashot through Captain Starkweather's fine new mainsail, followed by acommand to lay to, and before Mr. Nelson had had time to fasten the doorof the cabin, the schooner was abreast of the sloop and in a few momentsthe Province Town boat was taken in tow by the English schooner, and Mr. Nelson and Captain Starkweather found themselves prisoners. 

"Leave 'em on deck, but make sure they can't move hands or feet, " Anneheard a rough voice command, and there was the sound of scuffling feet, and gradually the noise ceased; and all that Anne could hear was a faintmurmur of voices, and the ripple of the water against the side of theboat. These sounds gradually ceased, and the frightened child realizedthat the wind had died away, and that the boats were becalmed. Shepeered out of the little cabin window and saw that the English boat wasvery near. The tide sent the sloop close to the schooner, and now Annecould hear voices very plainly. 

"Pull in that tow line, and make fast to the sloop, " she heard the samegruff voice command, and in a few moments the sloop lay beside theschooner. 

"I could get on board just as easy, " Anne thought, and wondered if herfather would tell the English that his little daughter was in thesloop's cabin. 

Poor John Nelson, lying on the schooner's deck, tied hand and foot, feared every moment that his conquerors would discover that there wasanother passenger on board the boat. "They would not harm my littlemaid, " he assured himself, "but there is food and water in the sloop'scabin, and Anne is best off there. "

Both he and Captain Starkweather hoped that some American vessel mightcome to their rescue. But now that the wind had died away there was nochance of that for the present. 

"A midsummer calm. May be stuck here for twenty-four hours, " Anne hearda grumbling voice declare. 

The long summer day dragged by. Anne opened the lunch basket, but hadlittle appetite. At sunset there was a ripple of wind and the two boats, side by side, moved a short distance. 

Anne, shut up in the tiny cabin, had come to a great resolve. "Fathertold me to stay here, but if I could creep aboard the schooner and untiethe cords, then father and Captain Starkweather could get free, " shethought. And the more she thought of it, the more sure she was that shecould do it. 

The twilight deepened, and now Anne ventured to push open the cabin doora little way. The sailors were in the forecastle, but Anne could see adark figure in the stern of the schooner. She ventured out and softlyclosed the cabin door. Now, on her hands and knees, the little girlcrept across the little space toward the side of the schooner. It lookedlike a black wall, but not very high above her, and there were ropes;and Anne was used to boats. Grasping a rope she drew herself up, handover hand, until she could reach the deck-rail. Now she gave a swiftglance toward the dark figure at the stern. "I do believe he's asleep, "she thought, and Anne now pulled herself to the top of the rail anddropped noiselessly to the deck of the schooner. For a few moments shecowered in the shadow, and then looked anxiously about. Near the cabinshe could see two black shadows, and knew that they were her father andCaptain Starkweather. 

Keeping close in the shadow Anne crept along the deck. But, noiseless asher progress had been, Anne had been seen the moment her little figurereached the top of the deck rail. John Nelson's keen eyes, staring intothe summer night, had recognized his little daughter, and instantlyrealized that Anne meant to help them. He held his breath for fear thatsome sharp ear had caught a sound, and then whispered to his companion, "Don't move, or call out, captain; Anne is on deck and will help us. "

The little girl was now close beside her father. "Feet first, Anne, " hewhispered, and Anne's eager fingers pulled and worked at the tough knotsso securely tied until they loosened, and John Nelson could move hisfeet. Her father did not dare even whisper again. He longed to tell herto hurry, but dared not speak. Anne was now tugging and twisting at therope which held her father's wrists, and managed to loosen it so that hecould work his hands free. Then they both began to loosen CaptainStarkweather's cords, and in a few minutes he too was free. The samethought was running through the minds of both men: If a girl like Annehad such courage, why couldn't two sailors make a prize of this goodEnglish boat?

"Go back to the sloop's cabin, Anne. We'll follow, " whispered herfather. And Anne obeyed. She was not afraid now. How easy it had been, she thought happily, as she slid down the rope to the sloop's deck, andfound herself again in the little cabin. 

The dark figure, dozing at the schooner's helm, did not see the twocreeping men who so suddenly were upon him. A twisted scarf over hismouth, and no sound to warn his mates, his hands and feet bound withthe very cords that had secured his prisoners, he was left a captive. Then John Nelson and Captain Starkweather sped toward the forecastle;the open hatchway was closed so quickly that the men below hardlyrealized what had happened, and it was securely fastened before theycould help themselves. 

"The breeze is coming, " declared Captain Starkweather. "Shall we putback to Boston, John? We'll not know what to do with this craft inProvince Town. "

"A good night's work this, and Boston folk will be glad to see thisEnglish 'Sea Bird' come in to her harbor. 'Tis the same craft that hascaused so much trouble to fishing boats. I'll bring Anne on board, " andJohn Nelson ran to the schooner's side and called, "Anne! Anne!" Amoment later and he lifted his little daughter to the deck of theschooner. 

"You are a brave child, " declared Captain Starkweather. "This schooneris really your prize, for 'tis by your courage that we have taken her. "

The schooner's course was changed, and, the wind increasing, she sweptoff toward Boston harbor. 

"'Twill be a good tale for Mr. Samuel Adams to hear, " said CaptainStarkweather, "and you will indeed be proud of your little daughter, John. I doubt not but this will be printed in the Boston papers, andnews of it sent to General Washington himself. "

It was hardly sunrise when the "Sea Bird, " towing Captain Starkweather'ssloop, came to anchor off the Freemans' wharf. John Nelson's hail to afriendly fisherman brought a number of boats alongside, and when he hadtold them of how the capture was made a chorus of huzzas filled the air. The news was carried to the other vessels in the harbor, and the "SeaBird" was soon surrounded by small boats. One of these boats pulled forthe shore, and its crew spread the news that a little girl and twosailors from Province Town had captured and brought into harbor a fineEnglish schooner. Mr. Freeman heard the news on his way to the wharf, and saw the crew of the "Sea Bird" being marched up the street under astrong guard. The church bells were rung, and when John Nelson and Annereached shore they were welcomed by cheers. 

Rose came hurrying through the crowd. 

"Oh, Anne!" she exclaimed. "Here is Mr. Samuel Adams waiting to speak toyou! You are the bravest girl in the colony. "

"'Twill be a wonderful thing to tell Amanda, " said Anne happily. "EvenAmos could hope for no finer adventure. "

"There'll be prize money, " added Frederick. "I heard my father say thatthere'll be a large sum for you and your father and for CaptainStarkweather. "

It was a week later when they sailed once more for Province Town. It wasdecided that it would be safer to leave the harbor at nightfall, whenthere would be a better chance of the sloop not being recognized andfollowed by some watchful craft lurking in the lower harbor. This timethe little cabin was nearly filled, for Captain Starkweather was takinggifts to each one of his six boys, beside wonderful packages for theirmother, and Anne and her father could hardly wait for the time whenUncle Enos and Aunt Martha should see the set of lustre ware, the finepewter, and the boxes of figs, dates, jellies and sweets which they weretaking to Province Town. 

[Illustration: "YOU ARE THE BRAVEST GIRL IN THE COLONY"]

CHAPTER XIX

"HOMEWARD BOUND"

Captain Starkweather had renamed his sloop. The old name had beenpainted out, and now, on each side of the boat, in gilt letters on awhite scroll the new name "Anne Nelson" could be seen. 

The little craft was anchored off the Freeman wharf, and at earlytwilight Mr. Nelson and Anne said their good-byes to the Freemans, andput off in the sloop's tender. Captain Starkweather was on board thesloop, and as noiselessly as possible they made ready to start. 

The favoring winds swept the little craft along, and as the sun camesmiling up from the far horizon Anne awoke, and was quite ready for thecrackers, boiled eggs and doughnuts that Mrs. Freeman had packed fortheir breakfast. 

The long "arm" of land now stretched out as if to welcome the returningvoyagers, and the sloop ran in beside the little pier just as CaptainEnos and Jimmie Starkweather came down the beach. 

"Been watching your craft since sunup, " declared Uncle Enos. "What'skept you in Boston so long, Starkweather? We began to worry about you, John, and feared some ill news of our little maid. "

Anne did not wait to hear her father tell the story of their greatadventure, but ran swiftly up the path toward home. Aunt Martha wasstanding in the doorway, and as Anne saw the loving smile and felt thekind arms encircle her she was indeed sure that this was home, and thatthe most fortunate thing that had ever befallen her had been the welcomeAunt Martha had given her two years before, when she had come to thatvery door asking for shelter. 

How much there was to tell! And how Aunt Martha exclaimed over theadventures of her little maid, and thanked heaven that she was safelyback in Province Town. 

Then when Uncle Enos and John Nelson came up the path, each wheeling abarrow filled with the fine gifts that Anne and her father had broughthome, then indeed did Mistress Stoddard declare that it was enough tomake one believe in good fairies. And that reminded Anne of Caroline'sstory, which she had written down in the book. 

Captain Enos put on his glasses and looked the book over admiringly. 

"It should be in print, " he declared; "this book is the finest thing ofall, Anne. 'Twould be an excellent idea, Martha, for us to ask theneighborhood in to hear it read. "

But Mrs. Stoddard shook her head, and said Anne must not think too wellof what, after all, was Miss Rose Freeman's book as much as it wasAnne's. "You must not overpraise our little maid, " she warned CaptainEnos reprovingly. But the book was ever one of Mistress Stoddard's mostvalued treasures, and was kept with "Pilgrim's Progress" in the bigchest. 

It was late in the afternoon before all the dishes, pewter, the fine newtable-cloths, and the pretty brown cloth for Mistress Stoddard's newgown, were unpacked. 

"This package is for Amanda, " Anne said, holding up a good-sized bundle. 

"For Amanda, indeed!" exclaimed Mistress Stoddard. "I'm not too surethat she deserves it. 'Twas she that sent you out into the night, thinking your Aunt Martha hard-hearted and unfair. And now a finepresent for her--I do not know about it. "

"Oh, Aunt Martha, Amanda didn't mean to, " pleaded Anne, "and she cameand told you. "

Anne picked up the bundle and sped away. Down past the spring and up thesandy path toward Amanda's home she ran, hoping to meet Amanda coming towelcome her. Amanda was on the door-step with her knitting. At the sightof Anne she started up as if to run indoors, but Anne's call made herhesitate, and in a moment Anne was beside her, saying: "Amanda! Amanda!Isn't it fine that I am home again! And see, I've brought you thesepresents from Boston. See, Amanda!" and she held up the silk sash, andspread out the pretty dimity. 

But instead of exclaiming with delight, as Anne had expected, poorAmanda dropped her work, covered her face with her hands and began tocry. 

"Stop crying, Amanda Cary! You'll get spots on your lovely sash, " saidAnne, and Amanda's tears ceased in sudden terror lest she spoil thatwonderful length of shining blue silk. 

"Taste of that barley sugar, Amanda, " continued Anne, opening aheart-shaped box, and helping herself to a piece. Amanda obeyed almostunconsciously, and when Mrs. Cary came to the door a little later shefound the two girls sitting close together, talking and laughing. 

That night after Anne was fast asleep in the little loft chamber, JohnNelson told his good friends that he wished all the little settlement toshare in his good fortune. 

"My little maid and I have found a home and friends here, " he said, "andI should like well to do some friendly thing for the people before Ireturn to Boston. "

"'Twould be a pleasant thing for us all to have a day together, and agood dinner, " suggested Mistress Stoddard, "with figs, dates, and someof those fine crackers and jellies, and of course, a good fish chowder;'twould be a treat indeed, " and so it was decided that the neighborhoodshould be bidden to come as the guests of John Nelson and Anne for aday's pleasuring. 

"We'll spread a sail in the yard to make a shelter from the sun, "suggested Captain Enos. 

"I'll make the chowder myself, " declared John Nelson. "Mistress Stoddardshall not be burdened with work, and I'll see that the Starkweatherboys earn a shilling by helping me, " and it was settled that thefollowing Thursday should be the day. 

Anne thought it the finest plan in the world, and she and Amanda broughtbranches of pine, and fragrant fir balsam to cover the ground under thebig sail. Mrs. Stoddard insisted on spreading her two new finetable-cloths over the rough table, and on using her tall pewterpitchers. 

"And Elder Haven is to have a plate and cup of china, " she said proudly. 

Not a boat put out from harbor on that Thursday morning, and the day wasnot far advanced when the guests, all wearing their Sunday best, beganto come up the hill toward Captain Stoddard's house. John Nelson andAnne gave them all a warm welcome, and as they all stood together aroundthe white covered table and Elder Haven asked a blessing to rest on themall it seemed to Anne and Amanda that it was the happiest day thatProvince Town had ever known. 

The Stories in this Series are:

 A LITTLE MAID OF PROVINCE TOWN A LITTLE MAID OF MASSACHUSETTS COLONY A LITTLE MAID OF NARRAGANSETT BAY

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:

Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors;otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author'swords and intent.