[Illustration: SHE ADDED WOOD TO THE FIRE] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE BY ALICE TURNER CURTIS AUTHOR OF A LITTLE MAID OF PROVINCE TOWN A LITTLE MAID OF MASSACHUSETTS COLONY A LITTLE MAID OF NARRAGANSETT BAY A LITTLE MAID OF BUNKER HILL A LITTLE MAID OF TICONDEROGA A LITTLE MAID OF OLD CONNECTICUT A LITTLE MAID OF OLD PHILADELPHIA A LITTLE MAID OF OLD NEW YORK A LITTLE MAID OF VIRGINIA ILLUSTRATED BY ELIZABETH PILSBRY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA 1928 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- COPYRIGHT 1920 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY A Little Maid of Old Maine ----------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION "A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE" is a true story of the brave effort of twogirls to bring help to a little settlement on the Maine coast at thetime of the War of the Revolution. Parson Lyon, the father of Melvina, was a friend and correspondent of Washington, and the capture of theEnglish gunboat by the Machias men is often referred to in history as"The Lexington of the Seas, " being the first naval battle after theLexington encounter. The story is based on facts, and its readers cannot fail to beinterested and touched by the courage and patriotism of Rebecca and AnnaWeston as they journeyed through the forest after the powder that was tomake possible the conquest of America's foe. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS I. A LIBERTY POLE 9 II. REBECCA'S SECRET 19 III. MELVINA MAKES DISCOVERIES 33 IV. AT MR. LYON'S 45 V. A BIRTHDAY 57 VI. LUCIA HAS A PLAN 68 VII. "A TRAITOR'S DEED" 79 VIII. "WHITE WITCHES" 90 IX. REBECCA'S VISIT 102 X. AN AFTERNOON WALK 112 XI. AN EXCHANGE OF VISITS 121 XII. WILD HONEY 133 XIII. DOWN THE RIVER 143 XIV. AN UNINVITED GUEST 152 XV. REBBY AND LUCIA 165 XVI. REBBY DECIDES 178 XVII. A PERILOUS JOURNEY 189 XVIII. TRIUMPH 205 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ILLUSTRATIONS SHE ADDED WOOD TO THE FIRE Frontispiece PAGE "WE'LL WADE OUT TO FLAT ROCK" 34 "BUT WHICH ONE IS TO BE MINE?" 77 HOW LONG THE AFTERNOON SEEMED! 127 A MAN CAME AROUND THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE 175 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE CHAPTER I A LIBERTY POLE Anna and Rebecca Weston, carrying a big basket between them, ran alongthe path that led from their home to the Machias River. It was apleasant May morning in 1775, and the air was filled with the fragranceof the freshly cut pine logs that had been poled down the river in bigrafts to be cut into planks and boards at the big sawmills. The river, unusually full with the spring rains, dashed against its banks as ifinviting the little girls to play a game with it. Usually Anna andRebecca were quite ready to linger at the small coves which crept in sonear to the footpath, and sail boats made of pieces of birch-bark, withalder twigs for masts and broad oak leaves for sails. They named theseboats _Polly_ and _Unity_, after the two fine sloops which carriedlumber from Machias to Boston and returned with cargoes of provisionsfor the little settlement. But this morning the girls hurried along without a thought for suchpleasant games. They were both anxious to get to the lumber yard as soonas possible, not only to fill their basket with chips, as their motherhad bidden them, but to hear if there were not some news of the _Polly_, the return of which was anxiously awaited; for provisions were gettingscarce in this remote village, and not until the _Polly_ should comesailing into harbor could there be any sugar cakes, or even bread madeof wheat flour. As they hurried along they heard the cheerful whistle of Mr. WordenFoster, the blacksmith, who was just then taking a moment of well-earnedleisure in the door of his shop, and stood looking out across the quietwaters of the river and harbor. As the girls came near he noddedpleasantly, but did not stop whistling. People in Machias declared thatthe blacksmith woke up in the morning whistling, and never stoppedexcept to eat. And, indeed, his little daughter Luretta said that whenher father wanted a second helping of anything at the table he wouldwhistle and point toward it with his knife; so it might be said thatMr. Foster whistled even at his meals. "There's Father! There's Father!" Anna called out as they passed a bigpile of pine logs and came to where stacks of smooth boards just fromthe sawmill shut the river from sight. "Well, Danna, do you and Rebby want your basket filled with goldenoranges from sunny Italy and dates from Egypt? Or shall it be withBrazilian nuts and ripe pineapples from South America?" "Oh, Father! Say some more!" exclaimed Anna, laughing with delight; forshe never tired of hearing her father tell of the wonderful fruits offar-off lands that he had seen in his sailor days, before he came tolive in the little settlement of Machias, in the Province of Maine, andmanage the big sawmill. "Father, tell us, is the _Polly_ coming up the bay?" Rebecca askedeagerly. She had a particular reason for wanting the sloop to reachharbor as soon as possible, for her birthday was close at hand, and herfather had told her that the _Polly_ was bringing her a fine gift; butwhat it was Rebecca could not imagine. She had guessed everything from agold ring to a prayer-book; but at every guess her father had onlysmilingly shook his head. "No sign of the _Polly_ yet, Rebby, " Mr. Weston replied. Rebecca sighed as her father called her "Rebby, " and a little frownshowed itself on her forehead. She was nearly fourteen, and she haddecided that neither "Rebecca" nor "Rebby" were names that suited her. Her middle name was "Flora, " and only that morning Anna had promised notto call her by any other name save Flora in future. Mr. Weston smiled down at Rebecca's serious face. "So 'tis not spices from far Arabia, or strings of pink coral, thismorning, " he continued, taking the basket, "but pine chips. Well, comeover here and we will soon fill the basket, " and he led the way to wheretwo men were at work with sharp adzes smoothing down a big stick oftimber. In a few minutes the basket was filled, and the little girls were ontheir way home. "Would it not be a fine thing, Rebby, if we could really fill our basketwith pineapples and sweet-smelling spices?" said Anna, her brown eyeslooking off into space, as if she fancied she could see the wonderfulthings of which her father spoke; "and do you not wish that we were bothboys, and could go sailing off to see far lands?" "Anna! Only this morning you promised to call me 'Flora, ' and now it is'Rebby, ' 'Rebby. ' And as for 'far lands'--of course I don't want to seethem. Have you not heard Father say that there were no more beautifulplaces in all the world than the shores of this Province?" respondedRebecca reprovingly. She sometimes thought that it would have been farbetter if Anna had really been a boy instead of a girl; for the youngergirl delighted to be called "Dan, " and had persuaded her mother to keepher brown curls cut short "like a boy's"; beside this, Anna cared littlefor dolls, and was completely happy when her father would take her withhim for a day's deep-sea fishing, an excursion which Rebecca could neverbe persuaded to attempt. Anna was also often her father's companion onlong tramps in the woods, where he went to mark trees to be cut fortimber. She wore moccasins on these trips, made by the friendly Indianswho often visited the little settlement, and her mother had made her ashort skirt of tanned deerskin, such as little Indian girls sometimeswear, and with her blue blouse of homespun flannel, and round cap with apartridge wing on one side, Anna looked like a real little daughter ofthe woods as she trotted sturdily along beside her tall father. As the sisters passed the blacksmith shop they could hear the ringingstroke on the anvil, for Mr. Foster had returned to his work ofhammering out forks for pitching hay and grain; these same forks whichwere fated to be used before many months passed as weapons against theenemies of American liberty. "To-morrow I am to go with Father to the woods, " announced Anna as theycame in sight of the comfortable log cabin which stood high above theriver, and where they could see their mother standing in the doorwaylooking for their return. The girls waved and called to their mother asthey hurried up the path. "We have fine chips, Mother, " called Rebecca, while Anna in a sing-songtone called out: "Pineapples and sweet-smelling spices! Strings of pinkcoral and shells from far lands. " Rebecca sighed to herself as she heard Anna's laughing recital of theirfather's words. She resolved to ask her mother to forbid Anna talkingin future in such a silly way. "You are good children to go and return so promptly, " said Mrs. Weston, "but you are none too soon, for 'twill take a good blow with the bellowsto liven up the coals, and I have a fine venison steak to broil fordinner, " and as she spoke Mrs. Weston took the basket and hurried intothe house, followed by the girls. "Mother, what is a 'liberty pole'?" questioned Anna, kneeling on thehearth to help her mother start the fire with the pine chips. "What dost thou mean, child? Surely the men are not talking of suchmatters as liberty poles?" responded her mother anxiously. Anna nodded her head. "Yes, Mother. There is to be a 'liberty pole' setup so it can be well seen from the harbor, for so I heard Mr. O'Briensay; and Father is to go to the woods to-morrow to find it. It is to bethe straightest and handsomest sapling pine to be found in a day'sjourney; that much I know, " declared Anna eagerly; "but tell me why isit to be called a 'liberty pole'? And why is it to be set up so it canbe well seen from the harbor?" "Thou knowest, Anna, that King George of England is no longer the truefriend of American liberty, " said Mrs. Weston, "and the liberty pole isset up to show all Tories on land or sea that we mean to defend ourhomes. And if the men are talking of putting up the tree of liberty inMachias I fear that trouble is near at hand. But be that as it may, ourtalking of such matters will not make ready thy father's dinner. Blazeup the fire with these chips, Anna; and thou, Rebby, spread the table. " Both the girls hastened to obey; but Anna's thoughts were pleasantlyoccupied with the morrow's excursion when she would set forth with herfather to discover the "handsome sapling pine tree, " which was to beerected as the emblem of the loyalty of the Machias settlement toFreedom's call. Anna knew they would follow one of the Indian trailsthrough the forest, where she would see many a wild bird, and that theday would be filled with delight. But Rebecca's thoughts were not so pleasant. Here it was the fifth ofMay, and no sign of the _Polly_, and on the tenth she would be fourteen;and not a birthday gift could she hope for unless the sloop arrived. Beside this, the talk of a liberty pole in Machias made her anxious andunhappy. Only yesterday she had spent the afternoon with her mostparticular friend, Lucia Horton, whose father was captain of the_Polly_; and Lucia had told Rebecca something of such importance, aftervowing her to secrecy, that this talk of a liberty pole reallyfrightened her. And the thought that her own father was to select itbrought the danger very near. She wished that Lucia had kept the secretto herself, and became worried and unhappy. Rebecca was thinking of these things, and not of spreading the table, when she went to the cupboard to bring out the pewter plates, and shequite forgot her errand until her mother called: "Rebby! Rebby! What are you about in the cupboard?" Then, bringing onlyone plate instead of four, she came slowly back to the kitchen. "What ails the child?" questioned Mrs. Weston sharply. "I declare, Ibelieve both of my children are losing their wits. Here is Anna makingrhymes and sing-songing her words in strange fashion; and thou, Rebecca, a girl of nearly fourteen, careless of thy work, and standing before meon one foot like a heron, staring at naught, " and Mrs. Weston hurried tothe pantry for the forgotten dishes. Anna smiled at her mother's sharp words, for she did not mind beingcalled a silly girl for rhyming words. "'Tis no harm, " thought Anna, "and my father says 'tis as natural as for the birds to sing;" so sheadded more chips to the fire, and thought no more of it. But Rebecca, who was used to being praised for her good sense and whowas seldom found fault with, had looked at her mother in surprise, andthe pewter plate fell from her hands and went clattering to the floor. At that moment the door swung open and Mr. Weston entered the kitchen. "Father! Father!" exclaimed Rebecca, running toward him, "you won't putup a liberty pole, will you? You won't! Promise you won't, Father!" andshe clasped his arm with both hands. CHAPTER II REBECCA'S SECRET Mr. Weston looked down smilingly at his little daughter. He wasevidently amused at her excitement. "Is this the little girl who was born in loyal Boston?" he questioned;for Rebecca was six years of age and Anna three when their parents cameto this far-off place to make their home. Eastern Maine was then awilderness, and this little village was not connected with the outsideworld except by the Indian trails or by the sailing craft which plied upand down the coast. But its citizens were soon to write a page ofheroism and valor in their country's history. "Of course Machias is to have a liberty pole, " continued Mr. Weston. "Ithas been so decided by a vote in a town meeting; and Dan and I willstart off in good season to-morrow morning to look for the finest pinesapling in the forest. It will be a great day for the village when 'tisset up, with its waving green plume to show that we are pledged toresist England's injustice to her long-suffering colonies. " It was the custom to leave a tuft of verdure at the top of the libertytree as an emblem, the best they had at command, of the flag they meantto fight for. Before her father had finished speaking Rebecca had relinquished hergrasp on his arm and ran toward the cupboard, and neither her father normother gave much thought to her anxious question. The venison was justready to serve, and Mrs. Weston hurried from the fireplace to the table, on which Rebecca had now placed the dishes, while Mr. Weston and Annatalked happily together over the proposed excursion on the followingday. "I am afraid that we may have to postpone our journey, " said Mr. Weston, "for I noticed the gulls were coming in flocks close to the shores, andyou know: "'When sea-birds fly to land A storm is at hand. '" "But look at Malty, " responded Anna quickly, pointing to the fat Maltesecat who was industriously washing her face: "'If the cat washes her face over the ear 'Tis a sign the weather'll be fine and clear, '" quoted the little girl; "and you told me 'twas a sure sign, Father; and'tis what Matty is doing this minute. " "To be sure, " laughed Mr. Weston, "both are sure signs, and so we willhope for fair weather. " Rebecca was very silent at dinner, and as the sisters began to clearaway the dishes Anna watched her with troubled eyes. "Perhaps it's because I called her 'Rebby, '" thought the little girlregretfully. "I'll tell her I am sorry, " and when their mother left thekitchen Anna whispered: "Flora, I forgot when I called you 'Rebby. ' But I will now surelyremember. You are not vexed at me, are you?" and Anna leaned her headagainst her sister's arm and looked up at her pleadingly. Rebecca sniffed a little, as if trying to keep back the tears. Shewished she could talk over her worries with Anna; but of course thatwould never do. "I believe I'd rather be called 'Rebby, '" she managed to say, to thesurprise of her younger sister. "Do you suppose they really mean to putup a liberty pole?" "Of course, " responded Anna. "I heard the minister say that it must bedone. " Rebby sighed dolefully. She was old enough to understand the talk sheheard constantly of His Majesty's ships of war capturing the Americanfishing sloops, and of the many troubles caused to peaceable Americansall along the coast; and she, like all the American children, knew thattheir rights must be defended; but Lucia Horton's talk had frightenedand confused Rebecca's thoughts. To set up a liberty pole now seemed toher a most dangerous thing to do, and something that would bring onlytrouble. She wished with all her heart that she could tell her father all thatLucia had told her. But that she could not do because of her promise. Rebecca knew that a promise was a sacred thing, not to be broken. "Rebby, will you not go to the bluff with me? 'Twill be pleasant therethis afternoon, and we could see the _Polly_ if she chances to come intoharbor to-day, " said Anna. "You had best ask Luretta Foster, Danna, " she answered quickly. "I amsure Mother will want my help with her quilting this afternoon. " Rebby so often played at being "grown up" that this reply did notsurprise Anna, and she ran off to find her mother and ask permission togo to the shore with Luretta Foster, a girl of about her own age. Mrs. Weston gave her consent, and in a few moments the little girl wasrunning along the river path toward the blacksmith shop where a shortpath led to Luretta's home. Anna often thought that there could not be another little girl in allthe world as pretty as Luretta. Luretta was not as tall or as stronglymade as Anna; her eyes were as blue as the smooth waters of the harboron a summer's day; her hair was as yellow as the floss on an ear ofcorn, and her skin was not tanned brown like Anna's, but was fair anddelicate. Beside her Anna looked more like a boy than ever. But Lurettaadmired Anna's brown eyes and short curly hair, and was quite sure thatthere was no other little girl who could do or say such clever things asAnna Weston. So the two little girls were always well pleased with eachother's company, and to-day Luretta was quite ready to go down to theshore and watch for the _Polly_. Mrs. Foster tied on the big sunbonnetwhich Luretta always wore out-of-doors, and the two friends started off. "Will it not be fine if the _Polly_ reaches harbor to-day?" said Anna. "My father says she will bring sugar and molasses and spices, and it maybe the _Unity_ will come sailing in beside her loaded with things fromfar lands. Do you not wish our fathers were captains of fine sloops, Luretta, so that perhaps we could go sailing off to Boston?" But Luretta shook her head. "I'd much rather journey by land, " sheanswered; "but 'tis said the _Polly_ is to bring a fine silk gown forMistress Lyon; 'tis a present from her sister in Boston, and two dollsfor Melvina Lyon. Why is it that ministers' daughters have so manygifts?" and Luretta sighed. Her only doll was made of wood, and, thoughit was very dear to her, Luretta longed for a doll with a china head andhands, such as the fortunate little daughter of the minister alreadypossessed. "I care not for Melvina Lyon, if she be a minister's daughter, " Annaresponded bravely. "She can do nothing but sew and knit and make finecakes, and read from grown-up books. She is never allowed to gofishing, or wade in the cove on warm days, or go off in the woods as Ido. I doubt if Melvina Lyon could tell the difference 'twixt a partridgeand heron, or if she could tell a spruce tree from a fir. And as forpresents, hers are of no account. They are but dolls, and silverthimbles and silk aprons. Why! did not my father bring me home a finebeaver skin for a hood, and a pair of duck's wings, and a pair ofmoccasins the very last time he went north!" And Anna, out of breath, looked at her friend triumphantly. "But Melvina's things are all bought in stores in big towns, and yourpresents are all from the woods, just as if you were a little Indiangirl, " objected Luretta, who greatly admired the ruffled gowns ofMelvina's dolls, such as no other little girl in the settlementpossessed. Anna made no response to this; but she was surprised that Luretta shouldnot think as she did about the value of her gifts, and rather vexed thatMelvina Lyon should be praised by her own particular friend. The girls had passed the sawmill and lumber yard, and now turned fromthe well-traveled path to climb a hill where they could catch the firstglimpse of any sail entering the harbor. Farther along this bluff stoodthe church, not yet quite finished, and beyond it the house of theminister, the Reverend James Lyon, whose little daughter, Melvina, wassaid to be the best behaved and the smartest girl in the settlement. Although only ten years old Melvina had already "pieced" four patchworkquilts and quilted them; and her neat stitches were the admiration ofall the women of the town. But most of the little girls were a little inawe of Melvina, who never cared to play games, and always brought herknitting or sewing when she came for an afternoon visit. Anna and Luretta sat down on the short grass, and for a few momentstalked of the _Polly_, and looked in vain for the glimmer of a sail. "Look, Danna! Here comes Melvina now, " whispered Luretta, whose quickears had caught the sound of steps. Anna looked quickly around. "She's all dressed up, " she responded. "See, her skirts set out all around her like a wheel. " Melvina walked with great care, avoiding the rough places, and so intenton her steps that, if Anna had not called her name, she would havepassed without seeing them. She was thin and dark, and looked more likea little old lady than a ten-year-old girl. "How do you do?" she said, bowing as ceremoniously as if Luretta andAnna were grown up people of importance. "Come and sit down, Melly, and watch for the _Polly_, " said Anna. "And tell us about the fine dolls that are on board for you, " addedLuretta quickly. A little smile crept over Melvina's face and she took a step towardthem, but stopped suddenly. "I fear 'twould not be wise for me to stop, " she said a littlefearfully; but before she could say anything more Anna and Luretta hadjumped up and ran toward her. "Look!" exclaimed Anna, pointing to a flock of white gulls that had justsettled on the smooth water near the shore. "Look, Melly, at the fine partridges!" Melvina's dark eyes looked in the direction Anna pointed. "Thank you, Anna. How white they are, and what a queer noise they make, " sheresponded seriously. Anna's eyes danced with delight as she heard Luretta's half-repressedgiggle at Melvina's reply. She resolved that Luretta should realize ofhow little importance Melvina Lyon, with all her dolls, and her starchedskirts like wheels, really was. "And are those not big alder trees, Melly?" she continued, pointing to agroup of fine pine trees near by. Again Melvina's eyes followed the direction of Anna's pointing finger, and again the minister's little daughter replied politely that the treeswere indeed very fine alders. Luretta was now laughing without any effort to conceal her amusement. That any little girl in Maine should not know a partridge from a gull, or an alder bush from a pine tree, seemed too funny to even make itnecessary to try to be polite; and Luretta was now ready to join in thegame of finding out how little Melvina Lyon, "the smartest andbest-behaved child in the settlement, " really knew. "And, Danna, perhaps Melvina has never seen the birds we call clams?"she suggested. Melvina looked from Anna to Luretta questioningly. These little girlscould not be laughing at her, she thought, recalling with satisfactionthat it was well known that she could spell the names of every city inEurope, and repeat the list of all England's kings and queens. Sheremembered, also, that Anna Weston was called a tomboy, and that hermother said it was a scandal for a little girl to have short hair. Soshe again replied pleasantly that she had never known that clams werebirds. "We have them stewed very often, " she declared. Anna fairly danced about the neat little figure in the well-starchedblue linen skirt. "Oh, Melly! You must come down to the shore, and we will show you aclam's nest, " she said, remembering that only yesterday she haddiscovered the nest of a kingfisher in an oak tree whose branches nearlytouched the shore, and could point this out to the ignorant Melvina. "But I am to visit Lucia Horton this afternoon, and I must not linger, "objected Melvina. "It will not take long, " urged Anna, clasping Melvina's arm, whileLuretta promptly grasped the other, and half led, half pushed thesurprised and uncertain Melvina along the rough slope. Anna talkedrapidly as they hurried along. "You ought really to see a clam's nest, "she urged, between her bursts of laughter; "why, Melly, even Luretta andI know about clams. " Anna had not intended to be rude or cruel when she first began her gameof letting Luretta see that Melly and her possessions were of noimportance, but Melvina's ignorance of the common things about her, aswell as her neatly braided hair, her white stockings and kid shoes, suchas no other child in the village possessed, made Anna feel as if Melvinawas not a real little girl, but a dressed-up figure. She chuckled at thethought of Luretta's calling clams "birds, " with a new admiration forher friend. "I guess after this Luretta won't always be talking about Melvina Lyonand her dolls, " she thought triumphantly; and at that moment Melvina'sfoot slipped and all three of the little girls went sliding down thesandy bluff. The slide did not matter to either Anna or Luretta, in their stout shoesand every-day dresses of coarse flannel, but to the carefully dressedMelvina it was a serious mishap. Her starched skirts were crushed andstained, her white stockings soiled, and her slippers scratched. The hatof fine-braided straw with its ribbon band, another "present" from theBoston relatives, now hung about her neck, and her knitting-bag waslost. As the little girls gathered themselves up Melvina began to cry. Herdelicate hands were scratched, and never before in her short life hadshe been so frightened and surprised. She pulled herself away from Anna's effort to straighten her hat. "Youare a rough child, " she sobbed, "and I wish I had not stopped to speakwith you. And my knitting-bag with my half-finished stocking is lost!" At the sight of Melvina's tears both Anna and Luretta forgot all aboutshowing her a "clam's nest, " and became seriously frightened. After all, Melly was the minister's daughter, and the Reverend Mr. Lyon was aperson of importance; why, he even had a colored body-servant, LondonAtus by name, who usually walked behind the clergyman carrying his cloakand Bible, and who opened the door for visitors. Often Melvina wasattended in her walks by London, who thought his little mistress farsuperior to the other children. "Don't cry, Melvina, " pleaded Luretta. "We will find your bag, and wewill wash the stains from your stockings and dress, and help you back upthe slope. Don't cry, " and Luretta put a protecting arm about thefrightened Melvina. "Your hat has only slipped from your head; it isnot hurt at all, " she added consolingly. Melvina was finally comforted, and Anna climbed up the slope to searchfor the missing bag, while Luretta persuaded Melvina to take off herstockings in order that they might be washed. "They'll dry in no time, " Luretta assured her. "I can wash them outright here in this clean puddle, and put them on the warm rocks to dry. "So Melvina reluctantly took off her slippers, and the pretty open-workstockings, and curling her feet under her, sat down on a big rock towatch Luretta dip the stockings in the little pool of sea water near by, and to send anxious glances toward the sandy bluff where Anna wassearching for the missing bag. CHAPTER III MELVINA MAKES DISCOVERIES The sun shone warmly down on the brown ledges, the little waves crept upthe shore with a pleasant murmur, and Melvina, watching Luretta dippingher white stockings in the pool, began to feel less troubled andunhappy; and when Anna came running toward her waving the knitting-bagshe even smiled, and was ready to believe that her troubles were nearlyover. In spite of the sunshine dark clouds were gathering along the westernhorizon; but the girls did not notice this. Anna and Luretta hadforgotten all about the sloop _Polly_, and were both now a littleashamed of their plan to make sport of Melvina. "Here is your bag all safe, Melly, " called Anna, "and while Luretta iswashing your stockings I'll rub off those spots on your pretty dress. Can't you step down nearer the water?" she suggested, handing the bag toMelvina, who put it carefully beside her hat and agreed promptly toAnna's suggestion, stepping carefully along the rough shore to the edgeof the water. The rocks hurt her tender feet, but she said nothing; andwhen she was near the water she could not resist dipping first one footand then the other in the rippling tide. "Oh, I have always wanted to wade in the ocean, " she exclaimed, "and thewater is not cold. " As Anna listened to Melvina's exclamation a new and wonderful plan cameinto her thoughts; something she decided that would make up to Melvinafor her mischievous fun. She resolved quickly that Melvina Lyon shouldhave the happiest afternoon of her life. "Melly, come back a little way and slip off your fine skirts. I'll takeoff my shoes and stockings and we'll wade out to Flat Rock and back. Luretta will fix your clothes, won't you, Lu?" she called, and Lurettanodded. The stains did not seem to come out of the stockings; they looked grayand streaked, so Luretta dipped them again, paying little attention toher companions. [Illustration: "WE'LL WADE OUT TO FLAT ROCK"] Melvina followed Anna's suggestion, and her starched skirts and hat wereleft well up the beach with Anna's stout shoes and stockings, and thetwo girls hurried back hand in hand to the water's edge. Flat Rock was not far out from the shore, and Anna knew that the pebblybeach ended in soft mud that would not hurt Melvina's feet, so she ledher boldly out. "It's fun, " declared Melvina, her dark eyes dancing as she smiled atAnna, quite forgetting all her fears. "It would be more fun if we had on real old clothes and could splash, "responded Anna; and almost before she finished speaking Melvina leanedaway from her and with her free hand swept the water toward her, spraying Anna and herself. In a moment both the girls had forgotten allabout their clothes, and were chasing each other along the water's edgesplashing in good earnest, and laughing and calling each other's namesin wild delight. Farther up the shore Luretta, a draggled stocking ineach hand, looked at them a little enviously, and wondered a little atthe sudden change in Melvina's behavior. "Now show me the clam's nest!" Melvina demanded, as out of breath andthoroughly drenched the two girls stood laughing at each other. "All right, " Anna responded promptly. "Come on down to the point, " andfollowed by Melvina, now apparently careless of the rough beach, she ranalong the shore toward a clam bed in the dark mud. "Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to the black flats-mud. "There is theclam's nest--in that mud. Truly. They are not birds; they are shellfish. I was only fooling. " "I don't care, " answered Melvina. "I shall know now what clams reallyare. " "And those birds are gulls, not partridges, " continued Anna, pointing tothe flock of gulls near shore, "and come here and I will show you a realalder, " and the two girls climbed over a ledge to where a little thicketof alder bushes crept down close to the rocks. "And those splendid tall trees are pines, " went on Anna, pointing to thegroup of tall trees on the bluff. Melvina laughed delightedly. "Why, you know all about everything, " sheexclaimed, "even if your hair is short like a boy's. " "I know all the trees in the forest, " declared Anna, "and I know wheresquirrels hide their nuts for winter, and where beavers make theirhouses in the river. " The two girls were now beyond the ledge and out of sight of Luretta, andAnna was so eager to tell Melvina of the wonderful creatures of theforest, and Melvina, feeling as if she had discovered a new world, listened with such pleasure, that for the moment they both forgot allabout Luretta. At first Luretta had been well pleased to see that Melvina was no longervexed and unhappy; but when both her companions disappeared, and shefound herself alone with Melvina's soiled and discarded skirts and thewet stockings, she began to feel that she was not fairly treated, andresolved to go home. "Dan can play with Melvina Lyon if she likes her so much, " thoughtLuretta resentfully, and started off up the slope. Luretta was nearly astidy as when she left home, so she would have no explanations to make onher return. As she went up the slope she turned now and then and lookedback, but there was no sign of Anna or Melvina. "I don't care, " thoughtthe little girl unhappily. "Perhaps they will think I am drowned whenthey come back and don't find me. " She had just reached the top of theslope and turned toward home when she saw London Atus hurrying along thepath that led to the church. "Perhaps he has been sent after Melvina, and can't find her, " thoughtLuretta; and she was right; the colored man had been to Captain Horton'shouse to walk home with his little mistress, and had been told thatMelvina had not been there that afternoon; and he was now hurrying homewith this alarming news. Anna and Melvina were now comfortably seated on a grassy knoll near thealder bushes, Melvina asking questions about woodland birds, and thewild creatures of the forest, which Anna answered with delight. "Perhaps you can go with Father and me to the forest to-morrow, " saidAnna. "We are going to find a liberty pole, and 'twill be a fine walk. " "I know about liberty poles, " declared Melvina eagerly, "and my fatheris well pleased that the town is to set one up. But, oh, Anna! surely itis time that I went on to my visit with Lucia Horton!" and Melvina'sface grew troubled. "Do you think Luretta Foster will have my clothesin good order?" At Melvina's words Anna sprang to her feet. "I think she will do herbest, and 'tis well for us to hurry, " she responded; "but you have had agood time, have you not, Melvina?" "Oh, yes! I would like well to play about on the shore often; but I fearI may never again, " said Melvina; her smile had vanished, and she lookedtired and anxious. "Let us hasten; the tide is coming in now, and Luretta will have takenour things up from the beach, " said Anna, taking Melvina's hand andhurrying her along over the ledges. "I am glad indeed, Melvina, that weare better acquainted, and we will often wade together. " But Melvina shook her head dolefully. "My mother does not like me toplay out-of-doors, " she said. "Do you think, Anna, that Luretta is quitesure to have my things clean and nice?" The two little girls had now come in sight of the place where they hadleft Luretta. They both stopped and looked at each other in dismay, forthe tide had swept up the beach covering the pool where Luretta hadendeavored to wash the stockings, and the rocks where Anna and Melvinahad left their things, and there was no trace either of Luretta or oftheir belongings. "Luretta has taken our things up the slope, " declared Anna. "She saw thetide would sweep them away, so she did not wait for us. " "But how can we find her?" wailed Melvina. "I cannot go up the slopebarefooted and in my petticoat. What would my father say if he met me insuch a plight? He tells me often to remember to set a good example toother children. And I would be ashamed indeed to be seen like this. " "You do look funny, " Anna acknowledged soberly. Her own flannel dresshad dried, and, except for her bare feet, she looked about as usual; butMelvina's white petticoat was still wet and draggled, her hair untidy, and it was doubtful if her own father would have recognized her at thefirst glance. "I will go and get your things, " said Anna. "Come up the slope a littleway, and sit down behind those juniper bushes until I come back. Lurettamust be near the pine trees. I'll hurry right back, and you can dress ina minute. " Melvina agreed to this plan, and followed Anna slowly up to the juniperbushes, and crouched down well under their branches so that she wascompletely hidden from view; while Anna scrambled hurriedly up the slopeand looked anxiously about for some sign of Luretta and the missinggarments. But there was no sign of either; so she ran along the bluff towhere the pines offered shelter, thinking Luretta must surely be there. And now Anna began to be seriously alarmed. Perhaps Luretta had beenswept out by the tide before she could save herself. And at this thoughtAnna forgot all about shoes and stockings, all Melvina's fine garments, and even Melvina herself, and ran as fast as her feet could carry hertoward Luretta's home. At the blacksmith shop she stopped to takebreath, and to see if Luretta might not, by some happy chance, be there;but the shop was silent. Mr. Foster had gone home to his supper; butAnna did not realize that the hour was so late, and ran swiftly on. As she neared the house she stopped suddenly, for Luretta was standingin the doorway, and Rebecca was beside her, and they were both lookingat Anna. There was no time to turn and run back. "Why, Dan! Where are your shoes and stockings?" said Rebecca, comingdown the path to meet her sister. "You were so late in coming home thatMother sent me to meet you. " "What did Luretta say?" gasped Anna, thinking to herself that if Lurettahad told of Melvina, and their making sport of her, that there wastrouble in store for them all. "Luretta hadn't time to say anything, " responded Rebecca, "for I hadjust reached the door when we saw you coming. Now we'll get your shoesand stockings and start home, for Mother is waiting supper for us. " "Luretta has my shoes, " said Anna, and ran on to the door, where Lurettawas still waiting. "Give me my shoes and stockings; quick, Lu! And then take all Melvina'sthings and run, as fast as you can, to the----" "Luretta! Luretta!" called Mrs. Foster; and Luretta with a hurriedwhisper: "Oh, Anna! I haven't her things. Don't say a word aboutMelvina, " vanished into the house. "Come, Anna, " called Rebecca reprovingly. "Father will come to look forus if you do not hasten. Why did not Luretta give you back your shoesand stockings?" she asked as Anna came slowly down the path. "It's astupid game for her to keep them, I will say;" and she put a protectingarm across her sister's shoulder. "But do not feel bad, Dan, dear; shewill bring them over before bedtime, if the storm holds off; and Motherhas made a fine molasses cake for supper. " But Anna made no response. "Oh! Here comes the minister. Keep a little behind me, Dan, and he maynot notice your bare feet, " exclaimed Rebecca. Usually the Reverend Mr. Lyon was very ceremonious in his greeting tothe children of the parish; but to-night he wasted no time insalutations. "Have you seen Melvina?" he asked anxiously. "She left home early thisafternoon to visit at Captain Horton's and did not appear there at all;nor can we find trace of her. " "No, sir, " responded Rebecca. "I have but come to fetch my sister homefrom Mr. Foster's, and have seen naught of Melvina. " Mr. Lyon turned and hurried back toward the main path, where London Atuswas inquiring at every house if anyone had seen his little mistress; butno one had news of her. "What can have befallen Melvina Lyon? And there's a storm coming up. Ido hope no harm has come to her, " said Rebecca, as she hurried Annaalong the path. "Oh, Rebby! It mustn't storm!" exclaimed Anna. "'Twill only postpone Father's trip to the forest, Dan, " said Rebby;"but look at those black clouds. 'Twill surely be a tempest. I hopewe'll reach home before it breaks, " and she started to run, pulling Annaalong with her. "Oh, Rebby, let me go! I can't go home! I can't!" exclaimed Anna, breaking away from her sister's clasping hand and darting ahead. Rebecca had not heard Anna's last words, and thought her sister wishedonly to outrun her in the race home. So she ran quickly after her, andwhen at the turn by the blacksmith shop she lost sight of Anna she onlythought that the younger girl was hidden by the turn of the path, andnot until she pushed open the kitchen door did Rebecca realize that Annahad run away from her, that she had not meant to come home. "Just in time, " said Mr. Weston, drawing Rebecca in and closing the dooragainst a gust of wind and rain. "But why did you not bring Danna home?It has set in for a heavy storm, and she will now have to stay the nightat Mr. Foster's. " CHAPTER IV AT MR. LYON'S Anna raced back along the path to the bluff as fast as she could go; butthe strong wind swept against her, and at times nearly blew her over. The rain came down in torrents; and, as it had grown dark with theapproaching storm, she could no longer see her way clearly, and stubbedher toes against roots and stones until her feet were hurt and bleeding. But she could not stop to think of this: she could think only ofMelvina, cowering, wet and afraid, under the juniper bushes. "Perhaps she will be blown down the slope into the river, " thought Anna, "and it will be my fault. Perhaps I have killed Melvina, by trying tomake myself out as cleverer than she. Oh! If she is only safe I'll nevertry to be clever again, " she vowed, as she fought her way on againstwind and rain. As she reached the top of the bluff there was a moment's lull in thestorm, and Anna could clearly see the wide branched juniper bushes whereshe had left Melvina. "Melly! Melly!" she called, scrambling down the slope. But there was noanswer; and in a moment Anna realized that Melvina was not under thetrees. The storm began again with even greater violence, and Anna was obligedto cling closely to the rough branches to keep from being swept down theslope. She could hear the dash of the waves on the shore, and shetrembled at the thought that Melvina might have been swept down into theangry waters. After a little Anna, on her hands and knees, crawled up the slope, clinging to bits of grass here and there, and not venturing to standupright until she had reached the top. She knew what she must do now, and she did not hesitate. She must gostraight to Mr. Lyon's house and tell him the story from the moment thatshe had told Melvina that pine trees were alders. For a moment shewondered what would become of her afterward; but only for a moment didshe think of herself. It seemed to the little girl that she would never reach the minister'shouse. For a moment she rested in the shelter of the church, and thendragged herself on. Her feet hurt so badly now that it was all she coulddo to walk. There were lights to be seen, up-stairs and down, at the parsonage; butAnna did not wonder at this. She managed to reach the front door and tolift the knocker. In a moment London opened the door, holding a candle above his head. "Well, boy, who be ye?" he questioned sharply, seeing only Anna's curlybrown head. "If you please, I am Anna Weston, " faltered the little girl. "I--I--mustsee the minister. It's about Melvina. " A smile showed on the black face, and London nodded his head. "Missy Melvina am safe in bed, " he whispered, then in a louder tone, "Step in, if ye please, Missy Anna. " Anna dragged herself up the high step, and Mr. Lyon just then opened adoor leading into his study. "What is it, London?" he questioned, and seeing Anna, lifted his handsin amazement. Anna stumbled toward him. "I am to blame about Melvina!" she exclaimed, and, speaking as quicklyas she could, she told the whole story. She told it exactly as it hadhappened, excepting Luretta's part of the mischief, and Melvina'swillingness to wade in the creeping tide. Mr. Lyon had taken her by the hand and led her into the candle-lit room. A little fire blazed on the brick hearth, and as Anna came near it alittle mist of steam rose from her wet clothes. The minister listened, keeping Anna's cold little hand fast in hisfriendly clasp. His face was very grave, and when she finished with: "IsMelvina safe? London said she was. But, oh, Mr. Lyon, all her fineclothes are swept away, and it is my fault, " he smiled down at hertroubled face. "Be in no further alarm, my child. But come with me, for your feet arecut and bruised, and Mrs. Lyon will give you dry clothing. Melvina doesnot blame you in her story of this mischievous prank. But I doubt notyou are both blameworthy. But 'twill be your parents' duty to see to thypunishment. " As the minister spoke he drew her toward a door at the farend of the room and opened it, calling for Mrs. Lyon, who rose from herseat near a low table in front of the big kitchen fireplace. All Anna's courage had vanished. She hung her head, not daring to lookat Mrs. Lyon, saying: "I must go home. I must not stay. " "London is at your father's house ere this, and will tell him that youare to spend the night here. They will not be anxious about you, " saidMrs. Lyon; "and now slip out of those wet garments. I have warm water tobathe your feet, " and almost before Anna realized what was happening shefound herself in a warm flannel wrapper, her bruised feet bathed andwrapped in comforting bandages, and a bowl of hot milk and corn bread onthe little table beside her. When this was finished Mrs. Lyon led thelittle girl to a tiny chamber at the head of the stairs. A big bedsteadseemed nearly to fill the room. "Say your prayers, Anna, " said Mrs. Lyon, and without another word sheleft the little girl alone. Anna was so thoroughly tired out that eventhe strange dark room did not prevent her from going to sleep, and whenshe awoke the tiny room was full of sunshine; she could hear robinssinging in the maples near the house, and people moving aboutdown-stairs. Then she sat up in bed with a little shiver ofapprehension. What would the minister and Mrs. Lyon and Melvina say to her? Perhapsnone of them would even speak to her. She had never been so unhappy inher life as she was at that moment. She slipped out of bed; but themoment her feet touched the floor she cried out with pain. For they werebruised and sore. There was a quick rap at the door, and Mrs. Lyon entered. "Good-morning, Anna. Here are your clothes. I have pressed them. And I suppose theseare your shoes and stockings!" and she set down the stout shoes and theknit stockings that Anna had supposed had been swept out to sea. "When you are dressed come to the kitchen and your breakfast will beready, " said Mrs. Lyon, and left the room before Anna had courage tospeak. Anna dressed quickly; but in spite of her endeavors she could notget on her shoes. Her feet hurt her too badly to take off the bandages;she drew her stockings on with some difficulty, and shoes in hand wentslowly down the steep stairs. When she was nearly down she heard Mrs. Lyon's voice: "She is amischievous child, and her parents encourage her. She looks like a boy, and I do not want Melvina to have aught to do with her. " Anna drew a quick breath. She would not go into the kitchen and facepeople who thought so unkindly of her. "I will go home, " she thought, ready to cry with the pain from her feet, and her unhappy thoughts. Thefront door was wide open. There was no trace of the storm of theprevious night, and Anna made her way softly across the entry and downthe steps. Every step hurt, but she hurried along and had reached thechurch when she gave a little cry of delight, for her father was comingup the path. "Well, here's my Danna safe and sound, " he exclaimed, picking her up inhis arms. "And what has happened to her little feet?" he asked, as hecarried her on toward home. And then Anna told all her sad story again, even to the words she hadoverheard Mrs. Lyon say. "Don't worry, Danna! I'd rather have my Dan than a dozen of theirMelvinas, " said Mr. Weston quickly. When London had come the previous night with the brief message from theminister that Anna was safe at his house and would stay the night there, the Westons had been vexed and troubled, and Mrs. Weston had declaredthat Anna should be punished for running off in such a tempest to theminister's house. But as Mr. Weston listened to his little daughter'sstory, and looked at her troubled and tear-stained face, he decided thatAnna had had a lesson that she would remember, and needed comfortingmore than punishment; and a few whispered words to Mrs. Weston, as heset Anna down in the big wooden rocker, made Anna's mother put her armstenderly about her little daughter and say kindly: "Mother's glad enough to have her Danna home again. And now let's lookat those feet. " Rebby came running with a bowl of hot porridge, and the little girl wasmade as comfortable as possible. But all that morning she sat in the bigchair with her feet on a cushion in a smaller chair, and she told hermother and Rebby all the story of her adventures; and when Rebby laughedat Melvina's not knowing an alder from a pine Danna smiled a little. ButMrs. Weston was very sober, although she said no word of blame. IfMelvina Lyon's things had been lost it would be but right that Anna'sparents should replace them to the best of their ability, and this wouldbe a serious expense for the little household. After dinner Rebby went to the Fosters', and came home with the story ofMelvina's return home. It seemed that the moment Anna left her shebecame frightened and had followed her up the slope; and then, while Mr. Lyon and London were searching for her, she had made her way home, toldher story, and had been put to bed. Luretta had carried Melvina's thingsand Anna's shoes and stockings well up the shore, and had put them underthe curving roots of the oak tree; so, although they were well soaked, they were not blown away, and early that morning Luretta had hastened tocarry the things to the parsonage. "You were brave, Dan, to go through all that storm last night to tellthe minister, " said Rebby, as she drew a footstool near her sister'schair and sat down. Rebby was not so troubled to-day; for her father hadpostponed his trip to the forest after the liberty tree, and Rebby hopedthat perhaps it would not be necessary that one should be set up inMachias. So she was ready to keep her little sister company, and try tomake her forget the troubles of her adventures. "Of course I had to go, Rebby, " Anna responded seriously, "but none ofit, not even my feet, hurt so bad as what Mrs. Lyon said about me. For Ido not think I am what she said, " and Anna began to cry. "Father says you are the bravest child in the settlement; and Mother isproud that you went straight there and took all the blame. And I am surethat no other girl is so dear as my Danna, " declared Rebby loyally. "After all, what harm did you do?" But Anna was not so easily comforted. "I tried to make fun of Melly fornot knowing anything. I tried to show off, " she said, "and now probablyshe will never want to see me again; and oh, Rebby! the worst of it allis that Melvina is just as brave as she can be, and I like her!" AndAnna's brown eyes brightened at the remembrance of Melvina's enjoymentof their sport together. "Don't you worry, Danna; Father will make it all right, " Rebecca assuredher; for Rebecca thought that her father could smooth out all thedifficult places. Anna did not speak of the excursion to the forest; she did not eventhink of it until that evening, when her father came home with a roll offine birch-bark, soft and smooth as paper, on whose smooth surface sheand Rebecca with bits of charcoal could trace crude pictures of treesand Indians, of birds and mice, and sometimes write letters to LuciaHorton or Luretta Foster. "You must take good care of your feet, Dan, for I must start after theliberty tree in a few days, " said Mr. Weston, "and I want your company. " Anna's face brightened, but Rebecca looked troubled. "Why must we have a liberty pole, Father?" she asked fretfully. "We have good reasons, daughter. And to-day tidings have come that thebrave men of Lexington and Concord, in Massachusetts, drove the Britishback to Boston on the nineteenth of April. 'Tis great news for all thecolonies. I wish some British craft would give Machias men a chance toshow their mettle, " said Mr. Weston, his face flushing at the thought ofthe patriotic action of the men of Massachusetts. Rebecca sighed. She, too, wished that her home town might do its partto win a victory for America; but, remembering what Lucia Horton hadtold her, the very mention of a liberty pole made her tremble. When Anna hobbled up-stairs that night she was in a much happier frameof mind. "My father is the best father in all the world, and my mother is thebest mother, and my sister is the best sister, " she announced to thelittle group as she said good-night. But the shadow of Mrs. Lyon'sdisapproval was not forgotten; Anna wondered to herself if there was notsome way by which she could win the approval of Mr. And Mrs. Lyon, andso be allowed to become Melvina's friend. "Mrs. Lyon doesn't like me because my hair is short, for one reason, "thought Anna. "I'll let it grow; but 'twill take years and years, " andwith this discouraging thought her eyes closed, and she forgot hertroubles in sleep. CHAPTER V A BIRTHDAY In a few days Anna's feet were healed, and, wearing her soft moccasins, she could run about as well as ever. But her father and mother werequick to see that a great change had come over their little daughter. She no longer wanted to be called "Dan"; she told her mother that shewanted her hair to grow long, and she even asked Rebecca to teach herhow to sew more evenly and with tinier stitches. For Anna had made a firm resolve; she would try in every possible way tobe like Melvina Lyon. She gave up so many of her out-of-door games thatMrs. Weston looked at her a little anxiously, fearing that the childmight not be well. Every day Anna walked up the path to the church, andlingered about hoping for a glimpse of Melvina; but a week passed andthe little girls did not meet. At last the day came when Mr. Weston was ready to start for the forestto select the liberty tree; but, greatly to his surprise, Anna said thatshe did not wish to go, and he started off without her. This was the first real sacrifice Anna had made toward becoming likeMelvina. She was quite sure that Melvina would not go for a tramp in theforest. "It would spoil her clothes, " reflected Anna, and lookedregretfully at her own stout gingham dress, wishing it could be changedand become like one of Melvina's dresses of flounced linen. "I would look more like her if I wore better dresses, " she decided. "Mother, may I not wear my Sunday dress?" she asked eagerly. "I will notplay any games, or hurt it. I will only walk as far as the church andback. " For a moment Mrs. Weston hesitated. It seemed a foolish thing to letAnna wear her best dress on a week day; but the little girl had been soquiet and unhappy since the night of her adventure that her motherdecided to allow her this privilege; and Anna ran up-stairs, and in afew minutes had put on her Sunday dress. It was a blue muslin with tinywhite dots, and the neck and sleeves were edged with tiny whiteruffles. It had been Rebecca's best dress for several summers, until sheoutgrew it, and it was made over for the younger girl, but Anna was veryproud of it, and stood on tiptoe to see herself reflected in the narrowmirror between the windows of the sitting-room. Her mother had made asunbonnet of the same material as the dress, and Anna put this on withsatisfaction. Always before this she had despised a sunbonnet, and neverhad she put it on of her own accord. But to-day she looked at itapprovingly. "No one would know but that my hair is long, and braided, just like Melvina's, " she thought as she walked slowly toward thekitchen. "I will only walk to the church and straight back, Mother dear, " shesaid, "and then I will put on my gingham dress, and sew on mypatchwork. " "That's a good girl. You look fine enough for a party, " responded hermother, and stood at the door watching Anna as she walked soberly downthe path. "I know not what has come over the child, " she thought, with a littlesigh. "To be sure, she is more like other little girls, and perhaps itis well;" but Mrs. Weston sighed again, as if regretting her noisy, singing "Dan, " who seemed to have vanished forever. When Anna reached the church she stood for a moment looking wistfullytoward the parsonage. "If Mrs. Lyon could see me now she would not thinkme a tomboy, " thought Anna; and with the thought came a new inspiration:why should not Mrs. Lyon see her dressed as neatly as Melvina herself, and with the objectionable short hair hidden from sight? "I will go and call, " decided Anna, her old courage returning; "and Iwill behave so well that Mrs. Lyon will ask me to come often and playwith Melvina, " and, quite forgetting to walk quietly, she raced alongthe path in her old-time fashion until she was at the minister's door. Then she rapped, and stood waiting, a little breathless, but smilinghappily, quite sure that a little girl in so pretty a dress and so neata sunbonnet would receive a warm welcome. Perhaps Mrs. Lyon would cometo the door, she thought hopefully. But it was Melvina herself who opened the door. Melvina, wearing a whitedress and a long apron. For a moment the two little girls stood looking at each other insurprise. Then Melvina smiled radiantly. "Oh! It really is you, Anna!Come in. I am keeping house this afternoon, and nobody will know thatyou are here. " "But I came to call on your mother. I wanted her to see me, " explainedAnna. But Melvina did not seem to notice this explanation. She took Anna'shand and drew her into the house. "Oh, Dan! wasn't it fun to wade and run on the shore?" said Melvinaeagerly, as the two girls entered the big pleasant kitchen. "I didn'tmind being wet or frightened or punished. Did you?" "I wasn't punished, " Anna responded meekly. "I was. I was sent to bed without my supper for three nights; and I hadto learn two tables of figures, " declared Melvina triumphantly. "But Ididn't care. For I have a splendid plan----" But before Melvina couldsay another word the kitchen door opened and Mrs. Lyon entered. At first she did not recognize Anna, and smiled pleasantly at the neat, quiet little girl in the pretty dress and sunbonnet. "And who is thislittle maid?" she asked. "I am Anna Western, " Anna replied quickly, making a clumsy curtsy. Mrs. Lyon's smile vanished. She thought to herself that Anna had takenadvantage of her absence to steal into the house, perhaps to enticeMelvina for some rough game out-of-doors. "I came to call, " Anna continued bravely, her voice faltering a little. "I wanted to say I was sorry for being mischievous. " Mrs. Lyon's face softened, and she noticed approvingly that Anna's shortcurly locks were covered by the sunbonnet, and that she was dressed inher best; but she was still a little doubtful. "Well, Anna, I am glad indeed that you are so right-minded. It is mostproper that you should be sorry. I doubt not that your good parentspunished you severely for your fault, " said Mrs. Lyon. But she did notask Anna to sit down, or to remove her sunbonnet. Melvina looked fromAnna to her mother, not knowing what to say. "I think I must go now, " said Anna, almost ready to cry. "Good-bye, Melvina; good-afternoon, Mrs. Lyon, " and making another awkward curtsyAnna turned toward the door. "Oh, Danna! Don't go, " called Melvina, running toward her; but Mrs. Lyon's firm hand held her back. "Good-afternoon, Anna! I hope you will grow into a good and obedientgirl, " she said kindly. Anna's tears now came thick and fast. She could hardly see the path asshe stumbled along. But if she could have heard Melvina's words as hermother held her back from the kitchen door, she would have felt that hervisit had been worth while. For Melvina had exclaimed, greatly to Mrs. Lyon's dismay: "Oh, Mother! Ask her to come again. For I want to beexactly like Danna, and do all the things she does. " Luretta Foster, coming down the path, stopped short and stared at Annain amazement. It was surprising enough to see Anna dressed as if readyfor church, but to see her in tears was almost unbelievable. "What is the matter, Danna?" she asked, coming close to her littlefriend's side, and endeavoring to peer under the sunbonnet. "Would notyour father let you go with him to the forest?" Anna made no answer, and when Luretta put a friendly arm about hershoulders, she drew a little away. "Do not cry, Dan. My brother Paul has gone to the forest with yourfather, and he promised to bring me home a rabbit to tame for a pet. Iwill give it to you, Dan, " said Luretta. For a moment Anna forgot her troubles. "Will you, truly, Luretta?" andshe pushed back her sunbonnet that she might see her friend moreclearly. "Yes, I will. And I will give you a nice box with slats across the top, and a little door at the end that Paul made yesterday for the rabbit tolive in, " Luretta promised generously. "I do not suppose Melvina Lyonwould know a rabbit from a wolf, " she continued laughingly, quite surethat Anna would suggest asking Melvina to come and see their tame wolf. But Anna did nothing of the sort. "Melvina knows more than any girl in this settlement, " Anna repliedquickly. "She can do sums in fractions, and she can embroider, and makecakes. And she is brave, too. " "Why, Dan Weston! And only last week you made fun of her, and said thatall those things were of no account, " exclaimed Luretta. For a moment the two little friends walked on in silence, and then Annaspoke. "Luretta, I'll tell you something. I am going to try to be exactly likeMelvina Lyon. Everybody praises her, and your mother and mine are alwayssaying that she is well-behaved. And I am going to let my hair grow longand be well-behaved. But don't tell anyone, " Anna added quickly, "for Iwant Mrs. Lyon to find it out first of all. " "Oh, Dan! And won't you make funny rhymes any more? Or play on thetimber-rafts--or--or--anything?" asked Luretta. "I don't believe there is any harm in making rhymes. It's something youcan't help, " responded Anna thoughtfully. "And Parson Lyon has written abook, " she added quickly, as if that in some way justified her jingles. "I don't want you to be different, Dan!" declared Luretta. Anna stopped and looked at her friend reproachfully. "Well, LurettaFoster, I am surprised!" she said, and then clasping Luretta's hand shestarted to run down the path, saying: "Let's hurry, so I can take offthis dress; then we will walk a little way toward the forest to see ifFather and Paul are coming. Will you truly; give me the rabbit if Paulcaptures one?" "Yes, I will, " promised Luretta; but she began to wish that she had notsuggested such a thing. If Danna was going to be exactly like MelvinaLyon, thought Luretta, a rabbit would not receive much attention. Rebecca was sitting on the front step busy with her knitting as the twolittle girls came up the path. It was her birthday, but so far no onehad seemed to remember it. The _Polly_ had not reached port, so the finepresent she had been promised could not be expected. But Rebecca wassurprised and disappointed that everyone had seemed to forget that shewas fourteen on the tenth of May. But as she looked up and saw Annadressed in her best, and Luretta beside her, coming up the path, Rebby'sface brightened. "I do believe Mother has planned a surprise for me, "she thought happily. "Oh, there comes Lucia! Now I am sure that Motherhas asked her to come, and perhaps some of the other girls, " and Rebeccaput down her knitting and stood up, smiling at the girls expectantly, for she was quite sure that their first words would be a birthdaygreeting. At that moment Mrs. Weston, busy in her kitchen, remembered suddenlythat it was September tenth. "My Rebby's birthday! And, with my mindfull of all the worry about being shut off from the world by Britishcruisers, and provisions growing so scarce, I had forgotten, " and Mrs. Weston left her work and reached the front door just as Rebecca rose toher feet to greet her friends. "Fourteen to-day, Rebby dear, " said Mrs. Weston, putting her arm abouther tall daughter and kissing Rebecca. At the same moment, hearing her mother's words, Anna ran forward callingout: "Rebby is fourteen to-day. " Luretta and Lucia were close behind her, and Rebecca found herself thecentre of a smiling happy group, and for the moment quite forgot thatshe must do without the present from Boston that her father had promisedher. CHAPTER VI LUCIA HAS A PLAN "I have brought you a birthday gift, Rebby, " said Lucia, who had beenlooking forward all day to the moment when she could give her friend thesmall package that she now handed her. Rebecca received it smilingly, and quickly unwound the white tissuepaper in which it was wrapped, showing a flat white box. Inside this boxlay a pair of white silk mitts. Rebecca looked at them admiringly, and even Mrs. Weston declared thatvery few girls could hope for a daintier gift; while Anna and Lurettaurged Rebecca to try them on at once, which she was quite ready to do. They fitted exactly, and Lucia was as proud and happy as Rebecca herselfthat her gift was so praised and appreciated. "They came from France, " she said. "Look on the box, Rebby, and you willsee 'Paris, France. ' My father bought them of a Boston merchant, and Ihave a pair for myself. " "Are any more girls coming, Mother?" Rebecca asked as Mrs. Weston ledthe way to the living-room. "No, my dear. And I only----" Mrs. Weston hesitated. She had started tosay that she had only remembered Rebecca's birthday a few momentsearlier; but she stopped in time, knowing it would cloud the afternoon'spleasure; and Rebecca, smiling and delighted with Lucia's gift, and surethat her mother had some treat ready for them, exclaimed: "I do not mind now so much that the _Polly_ has not arrived; for I couldhave no gift finer than a pair of silk mitts. " Anna had taken off her sunbonnet and was sitting on one of the lowrush-bottomed chairs near a window. She was very quiet, reproachingherself in her thoughts that she had no gift for her sister. What couldshe give her? For little girls in revolutionary times, especially thosein remote villages, had very few possessions of their own, and Anna hadno valued treasure that might make a present. If she had remembered intime, she thought, she would have asked her mother to help her make aneedle-book. Suddenly she jumped up and ran across the room and kissed her sister, first on one cheek and then on the other, saying: "If I had golden beads in strings, I'd give you these, and other things. But Rebby, dear, I've only this To give to-day: a birthday kiss. " Lucia and Luretta were sure that Anna must have had her verse all readyto repeat; and even Rebecca, who knew that Anna rhymed words easily, thought that Anna had prepared this birthday greeting, and was veryproud of her little sister. But at the words, "golden beads, " a greathope came into Rebecca's heart. Perhaps that was what the _Polly_ wasbringing for her. "I am to have a rabbit, " said Anna happily. "What shall I name it?" Lucia did not seem much interested in anything so ordinary as a rabbit, and had no suggestion to offer, and while Anna and Luretta were decidingthis question Lucia whispered to Rebecca: "When I go home be sure andwalk a little way; I want to tell you something important. " Rebby nodded smilingly. For the moment she had entirely forgotten theuncomfortable secret that Lucia had confided in her, and was thinkingonly that it was really a wonderful thing to have a fourteenth birthday. While the four little girls were talking happily in the living-room, Mrs. Weston was trying to think up some sort of a birthday treat forthem. There was no white sugar in the house, or, for that matter, in theentire settlement. But the Westons had a small store of maple sugar, made from the sap of the maple trees, and Mrs. Weston quickly decidedthat this should be used for Rebecca's birthday celebration. She hurriedto the pantry, and when an hour later she opened the door and called thegirls to the kitchen they all exclaimed with delight. The round table was covered with a shining white cloth, and Mrs. Westonhad set it with her fine blue plates, that she had brought from Bostonwhen she came to Machias, and that were seldom used. By each plate stood a lustre mug filled with milk, and in the centre ofthe table was a heart-shaped cake frosted with maple sugar. "Oh, Mother! This is my very best birthday!" Rebecca declared happily, and as the other girls seated themselves at the table she stood withbowed head to say the "grace" of thanks before cutting her birthdaycake. Anna wished to herself that Melvina Lyon might have been one of theguests, and shared the delicious cake. She wondered just how Melvinawould behave on such an occasion; and was so careful with her crumbs, and so polite in her replies to the other girls that Lucia and Rebeccabegan to laugh, thinking Anna was making believe for their amusement. Before the little girls left the table Mr. Weston appeared at thekitchen door, and was quite ready to taste the cake, and again remindRebecca of the gift the _Polly_ was bringing. "Let me whisper, Father, " she responded, drawing his head down near herown. "It's _beads_!" she whispered, and when her father laughed she wassure she was right, and almost as happy as if the longed-for gift wasaround her neck. "Well, Paul and I found the liberty tree, " said Mr. Weston, "and I cutit down and trimmed it save for its green plume. Paul is towing itdownstream now; and when we set it up 'twill be a credit to the town. " Lucia rose quickly. "I must be going home, " she said, a little flushcoming into her cheeks. "I have enjoyed the afternoon very much, " sheadded politely; for if Melvina Lyon was the smartest girl in the villageno one could say that any of the other little girls ever forgot to bewell-mannered. Rebecca followed her friend to the door, and they walked down the pathtogether, while Anna and Luretta questioned Mr. Weston eagerly as toPaul's success in capturing a rabbit, and were made happy with the newsthat he had secured two young rabbits, and that they were safe in thecanoe which Paul was now paddling down the river, towing the libertytree behind him. Rebecca and Lucia had gone but a few steps when Lucia whispered: "Wemustn't let them put up the liberty tree. Oh, Rebby, why didn't you tryto stop your father going after it?" "How could I?" responded Rebecca. "And when I said: 'Why must Machiashave a liberty pole?' he was ill pleased with me, and said I must beloyal to America's rights. Oh, Lucia! are you sure that----" But Lucia's hand was held firmly over Rebby's mouth. "Ssh. Don't speakit aloud, Rebby. For 'twould make great trouble for my father, in anycase, if people even guessed that he knew the plans of the British. ButI could not help hearing what he said to Mother the day he sailed. But, Rebby, we must do something so the liberty pole will not be set up. " "Can't we tell my father?" suggested Rebecca hopefully. "Oh, Rebecca Weston! If your father knew what I told you he would do hisbest to have the liberty pole put up at once, " declared Lucia. "But I have a plan, and you must help me, " she continued. "Paul Fosterwill bring the sapling close in shore near his father's shop, and itwill rest there to-night; and when it is dark we must go down and cut itloose and push it out so that the current will take it downstream, andthe tide will carry it out to sea. Then, before they can get anotherone, the _Polly_ will come sailing in and all will be well. " "Won't the British ship come if we do not put up the liberty pole?"asked Rebecca. "There! You have said it aloud, Rebby!" whispered Lucia reprovingly. "Not all of it; but how can we go out of our houses in the night, Lucia?" replied Rebecca, who had begun to think that perhaps Lucia'splan was the easiest way to save the village. For Lucia had told herfriend that the _Polly_, of which Lucia's father was captain, and thesloop _Unity_, owned and sailed by a Captain Jones of Boston, would beescorted to Machias by an armed British ship; and if a liberty pole wasset up the British would fire upon the town. So it was no wonder thatRebecca was frightened and ready to listen to Lucia's plan to avert thedanger. She did not know that her father and other men of the settlement werealready beginning to doubt the loyalty of the two captains to America'scause. "It will be easy enough to slip out when everybody is asleep, " Luciareplied to Rebecca's question. "We can meet at Mr. Foster's shop. If Iget there first I will wait, and if you get there before me you mustwait. As near ten o'clock as we can. And then it won't take us but a fewminutes to push the sapling out into the current. Just think, Rebby, wewill save the town, and nobody will ever know it but just us two. " Rebby sighed. She wished that Lucia's father had kept the secret tohimself. Besides, she was not sure that it was right to prevent theliberty pole from being set up. But that the town should be fired uponby a British man-of-war, and everyone killed, as Lucia assured her, whenit could be prevented by her pushing a pine sapling into the current ofthe river, made the little girl decide that she would do as Lucia hadplanned. "All right. I will be there, at the blacksmith shop, when it strikes tento-night, " she agreed, and the friends parted. Rebecca walked slowly toward home, forgetting all the joy of theafternoon; forgetting even that it was her fourteenth birthday, and thata string of gold beads for her was probably on board the _Polly_. Paul Foster towed the fine sapling to the very place that Lucia hadmentioned, and his father came to the shore and looked at it admiringlyas he helped Paul make it secure. "It is safely fastened and no harm cancome to it, " Mr. Foster said after they had drawn the tree partly fromthe water. Paul drew his canoe up on the beach, and taking the rabbitsin the stout canvas bag, started for home. Anna and Luretta were both on the watch for him, and came running tomeet him. Anna now wore her every-day dress of gingham, and in hereagerness to see the rabbits she had quite forgotten to try and behavelike Melvina Lyon. "Why, it is a pity to separate the little creatures, " Paul declared, when Luretta told him that she had promised one to Anna. "See how closethey keep together. And this box is big enough for them both. And theyare so young they must be fed very carefully for a time. " "I know what we can do, " declared Anna; "my rabbit can live here untilhe is a little larger, and then my father will make a box for him and Ican take him home. " Paul said that would do very well, and that Anna could come each day andlearn how to feed the little creatures, and what they liked best to eat. "But which one is to be mine? They are exactly alike, " said Anna, alittle anxiously. And indeed there was no way of telling the rabbitsapart, so Anna and Luretta agreed that when the time came to separatethem it would not matter which one Anna chose for her own. At supper time Anna could talk of nothing but the rabbits, and had somuch to say that her father and mother did not notice how silent Rebeccawas. The little household retired early, and by eight o'clock Rebecca was inbed, but alert to every sound, and resolved not to go to sleep. Thesisters slept together, and in a few minutes Anna was sound asleep. Rebecca heard the clock strike nine, then very quietly she got out ofbed and dressed. Her moccasins made no noise as she stepped cautiouslyalong the narrow passage, and down the steep stairway. She lifted thebig bar that fastened the door and stood it against the wall, then sheopened the door, closing it carefully behind her, and stepped out intothe warm darkness of the spring night. CHAPTER VII "A TRAITOR'S DEED" It was one of those May evenings that promise that summer is close athand. The air was soft and warm; there was no wind, and in the clearstarlight Rebecca could see the shadows of the tall elm tree near theblacksmith shop, and the silvery line of the softly flowing river. Asshe stood waiting for Lucia she looked up into the clear skies andtraced the stars forming the Big Dipper, nearly over her head. Low downin the west Jupiter shone brightly, and the broad band of shimmeringstars that formed the Milky Way stretched like a jeweled necklace acrossthe heavens. The little village slept peacefully along the river's bank;not a light was to be seen in any of the shadowy houses. A chorus offrogs from the marshes sounded shrilly through the quiet. In years tocome, when Rebecca heard the first frogs sounding their call to spring, she was to recall that beautiful night when she stole out to try andsave the town, as she believed, from being fired on by a Britishgunboat. She had made so early a start that she had to wait what seemed a verylong time for Lucia, who approached so quietly that not until shetouched Rebby's arm did Rebby know of her coming. "I am late, and I nearly had to give up coming because Mother did notget to sleep, " Lucia explained, as the two girls hurried down to theriver. "She is so worried about Father, " continued Lucia; "she says thatsince the Americans defeated the English at Lexington they may drivethem out of Boston as well. " "Of course they will, " declared Rebecca, surprised that anyone couldimagine the righteous cause of America defeated. "And if the Englishgunboat comes in here the Machias men will capture it, " she added. "Well, I don't know, " responded Lucia despondently. "But if it destroyedthe town there wouldn't be anyone left to capture it; and that is why wemust push that liberty tree offshore. " The girls were both strong, and Lucia had brought a sharp knife withwhich to cut the rope holding the tree to a stake on the bank, so itdid not take them long to push the tree clear of the shore. They founda long pole near by, and with this they were able to swing the libertytree out until the current of the river came to their aid and carried itslowly along. "How slowly it moves, " said Rebecca impatiently, as they stood watchingit move steadily downstream. "But it will be well down the bay before morning, " said Lucia, "and wemust get home as quickly as we can. I wish my father could know thatthere will not be a liberty pole set up in Machias. " Rebecca stopped short. "No liberty pole, Lucia Horton? Indeed there willbe. Why, my father says that all the loyal settlements along the Mainecoast are setting up one; and as soon as the old British gunboat is outof sight Machias will put up a liberty tree. Perhaps 'twill even be setup while the gunboat lies in this harbor. " "Well, come on! We have tried to do what we could to save the town, anyway, " responded Lucia, who began to be sadly puzzled. If a libertytree was so fine a thing why should her father not wish Machias to haveone, she wondered. Lucia did not know that her father was even thenbargaining with the British in Boston to bring them a cargo of lumber onhis next trip from Machias, in return for permission to load the _Polly_with provisions to sell to the people of the settlement, and that, exactly as Lucia had heard him predict, an armed British gunboat wouldaccompany the sloops _Polly_ and _Unity_ when they should appear inMachias harbor. The two friends whispered a hasty "good-night, " and each ran in thedirection of home. Rebby pushed the big door open noiselessly, but shedid not try to replace the bar. As she crept up the stairs she couldhear the even breathing of her father and mother, and she slid into bedwithout waking Anna, and was too sleepy herself to lie long awake. The unfastened door puzzled Mr. Weston when he came down-stairs atdaybreak the next morning. "I was sure I put the bar up, " he thought, but he had no time to think much about trifles that morning, for, as hestood for a moment in the doorway, he saw Paul Foster running toward thehouse. "Mr. Weston, sir, the liberty pole is gone, " gasped the boy, out ofbreath. "The rope that held it to the stake was cut, " he continued. "Father says 'tis some Tory's work. " Mr. Weston did not stop for breakfast. He told Mrs. Weston that he wouldcome up later on, as soon as he had found out more about the missingliberty tree; and with Paul beside him, now talking eagerly of how hisfather had gone with him to take a look at the pine sapling and found notrace of it, Mr. Weston hurried toward the shore where a number of menwere now gathered. Anna had hard work to awaken Rebby that morning, and when she cameslowly down-stairs she felt cross and tired; but her mother's firstwords made her forget everything else. "We will eat our porridge without your father, " Mrs. Weston saidgravely. "A terrible thing has happened. Some traitor has made way withthe liberty tree that your father and Paul selected yesterday. " "Traitor?" gasped Rebby, who knew well that such a word meant the lowestand most to be despised person on earth, and could hardly believe thatwhat she had supposed to be a fine and brave action could be a traitor'sdeed. "Who else but a traitor would make way with our liberty pole?"responded Mrs. Weston. "But do not look so frightened, Rebby. Sit up tothe table; when your father comes home he will tell us who did the baseact. And we may be sure Machias men will deal with him as he deserves. " But Rebecca could not eat the excellent porridge; and when her motherquestioned her anxiously she owned that her head ached, and that she didnot feel well. "I'll steep up some thoroughwort; a good cup of herb tea will soon sendoff your headache, " said Mrs. Weston, "and you had best go back to bed. Maybe 'tis because of the birthday cake. " Rebecca made no response; she was glad to go back to her room, where sheburied her face in the pillow, hardly daring to think what would becomeof her. Supposing Lucia should tell, she thought despairingly, sayingover and over to herself, "Traitor! Traitor!" So that when Anna camesoftly into the room a little later she found her sister with flushedface and tear-stained eyes, and ran back to the kitchen to tell hermother that Rebby was very ill. It was an anxious and unhappy morning for Rebby and for her mother, forMrs. Weston became worried at the sight of her daughter's flushedcheeks and frightened eyes. She decided that it was best for Rebecca toremain in bed; and, had it not been for the frequent doses of bitterherb tea which her mother insisted on her drinking, Rebby would havebeen well satisfied to hide herself away from everyone. Anna helped her mother about the household work, thinking to herselfthat probably Melvina Lyon was doing the same. After the dishes had beenwashed and set away Mrs. Weston suggested that Anna should run down toLuretta Foster's. "'Twill be best to keep the house quiet this morning, and you can seethe rabbits, " she added. "But, Mother! I am not noisy. Do I not step quietly, and more softly?"pleaded Anna. She was quite ready to run off to her friend's, but shewas sure her mother must notice that she was no longer the noisy girlwho ran in and out of the house singing and laughing. "Well, my dear child, you have been 'Anna, ' not 'Dan, ' for a week past. And I know not what has turned you into so quiet and well-behaved agirl, " responded her mother. "But run along, and be sure and inquire ifthere be any news of the rascal who made way with the liberty tree. " Anna started off very sedately, measuring her steps and holding her heada little on one side as she had noticed that Melvina sometimes did. Shewas thinking of Rebby, and what a pity it was to have to stay indoorswhen the sun was so warm, and when there were so many pleasant things todo. "I will go over on the hill and get her some young checkerberryleaves, " resolved Anna, remembering how Rebby liked their sharp flavor. Then she remembered that the rabbits were to be named that morning; and, forgetting all about Melvina, she ran swiftly along the path, beginningto sing in her old-time manner. Luretta was watching for her, and smiled happily when she heard Anna'svoice. "Oh! She's going to stay 'Danna, ' and not be like that stuck-upMelvina Lyon, " she thought with delight; for Luretta did not think Annawould make a satisfactory playmate if she were going to change into aquiet, well-behaved girl like the minister's little daughter. In a few minutes the girls were beside the box that held the captiverabbits, who looked up at them with startled eyes. Paul had brought abasket of fresh grass, and some bits of tender bark and roots on whichthe little creatures were nibbling. "I do wish they were not exactly alike, " said Anna. But Luretta declared that she thought it was much better that way. "Because I should want you to have the prettiest one, and you would wantme to have the prettiest one, and how could we ever choose?" sheexplained; and Anna acknowledged that perhaps it was better that therabbits should be alike in every way. After much discussion of namesthey decided that the rabbits must be called as nearly alike aspossible; and so the new pets were named "Trit" and "Trot. " Every little child in the neighborhood enjoyed a visit at Luretta'shome. In the first place because of Mrs. Foster's pleasant smile andkind welcome, and also because of the wonderful treasures it contained. There was a great round ostrich egg, which Mr. Foster's brother hadbrought from far-off Africa. This egg was carefully kept in a wooden boxon the high mantel shelf; but Mrs. Foster was never too busy to take itdown and let the little visitor gaze at it with admiring eyes. Thenthere was a model of a water-mill, with its tiny wheels, as complete asif it could begin work at once. This stood on a table in the corner ofthe sitting-room, where anyone might stand and admire it, and hearLuretta or Paul tell that their father had made every bit of it himself. Besides these treasures Mrs. Foster, with a pair of scissors and a bitof paper, could make the most beautiful paper dolls that any little girlcould wish to possess; and whenever Luretta's friends came for a visitthey usually took home a paper doll, or perhaps a bird cut from paper, or a horse. So Anna was ready to leave even the beautiful rabbits and goindoors. But this morning Mrs. Foster did not seem her usual cheerfulself. "This is sad news about our liberty tree; but the men have set out inboats to search for it, and 'twill be a good omen indeed if they findand bring it back, " she said. "My father says 'twill be a great day for the settlement when 'tis putup, " said Anna, looking longingly toward the box on the high mantel, andhoping she might have a look at the wonderful egg. "And so it will be. With Boston in the hands of the British, and nosafety on land or sea 'tis time each town showed some mark of loyalty, "declared Mrs. Foster. "I will put on my sunbonnet and we will walk tothe wharves, and perhaps hear some news of the traitor who made way withit. I said at first maybe 'twas the mischief of some boy who did notrealize what the tree stood for; but Paul flared up at once and saidthere was no boy on the coast of Maine who would do such a thing, unless'twas a young Tory; and we know of no Tory here. " As they neared the wharf they heard a loud cheer from a group of men, and could see that a boat, rowed by Mr. Weston and Mr. Foster, wascoming rapidly toward the shore and behind it trailed the fine pinesapling. "And there comes Parson Lyon with his little daughter, " said Mrs. Foster. "He is as good a patriot as General Washington himself, " sheadded admiringly. As Mr. Lyon came near the little group he stopped for a moment. "May I leave my daughter with you?" he asked. "I wish to be one of thosewho lift that sacred tree to safety. " And he hurried on to the wharf, leaving Melvina, who stood smiling delightedly at this unexpectedmeeting with Anna. CHAPTER VIII "WHITE WITCHES" For a moment both Anna and Luretta looked at Melvina a littledoubtfully, for they could but remember and be ashamed of their part inthe foolish game they had tried to play with her so short a time ago. But Melvina was smiling and friendly, and evidently had cherished noill-feeling toward them. By the time she had replied to Mrs. Foster'sfriendly inquiries in regard to her mother, Anna and Luretta were quiteat their ease; and Luretta said to herself that she did not wonder Annawanted to be like Melvina. Luretta even began to wonder if it would notbe well for her to learn to speak as softly as did Melvina Lyon; itcertainly had a pleasant sound, she thought admiringly. "I must return home, " said Mrs. Foster, "but Melvina's father willexpect her to wait here for him; so, Luretta, you and Anna may stay withher until he comes. Here is a clean log where you can sit comfortably, and do not go far from this spot. " The little girls promised, and Mrs. Foster started for home. Hardly hadshe turned her back when Melvina clasped Anna by the hand, andexclaimed: "Now you can tell me more about the woods, and the littleanimals who live in hollow logs or burrow under rocks, and about thedifferent birds and their nests! Oh, begin quickly, for my father maysoon return, " and she drew Anna toward the big log that lay near thepath. "Tell her about our rabbits, Danna, " suggested Luretta. "My brother Paulbrought me two little gray rabbits from the forest, " she explained; andMelvina listened eagerly to the description of Trit and Trot, and oftheir cunning ways and bright eyes, and was told that they had alreadylost their fear of Luretta and Anna. "I wish I could see them. I have never seen any little animals exceptkittens, " said Melvina. It seemed to Melvina that Anna and Luretta werevery fortunate children. They could run about in old clothes, play onthe shore and among the piles of lumber, and they knew many strange andinteresting things about the creatures of the forest which she hadnever before heard. The long lessons that she had to learn each morning, the stint of neat stitches that she had to set each day, and theceremonious visits now and then, when she always had to take herknitting, and was cautioned by her anxious mother to "remember that shewas a minister's daughter, and behave properly, and set a goodexample"--all these things flitted through Melvina's thoughts astiresome tasks that she would like to escape, and be free as Anna seemedto be. "Mayn't I bring the rabbits down here for Melvina to see?" asked Anna. "The box would not be very heavy. " But Luretta had objections to this plan. Her brother had told her not tomove the box from the sunny corner near the shed; and, beside this, shewas sure it was too heavy for Anna to lift. "If you should let it fallthey might get out and run away, " she concluded. Then, noticing Anna'slook of disappointment, she added: "I know what you may do, Danna. Youand Melvina may go up and see the rabbits, and I will wait here forParson Lyon and tell him where Melvina is, and that we will see hersafely home; and then I will hurry after you. " "Oh! Yes, indeed; that is a splendid plan, " said Melvina eagerly, jumping up from the log. "Let us go now, Anna. And is not Luretta kindto think of it?" Anna agreed rather soberly. Mrs. Foster had told them to remain near thelog, she remembered, but if Melvina saw no harm in Luretta's plan shewas sure it must be right; so taking Melvina's hand they started off. "Let's run, Anna, " urged Melvina; for Anna was walking sedately, in themanner in which she had so often seen Melvina come down the path, andshe was a little surprised that her companion had not at once noticedit. But Anna was always ready to run, and replied quickly: "Let's race, and see who can get to the blacksmith shop first. " Away went the two little girls, Melvina's long braids dancing about, andher starched skirts blown back as she raced along; and, greatly toAnna's surprise, Melvina passed her and was first at the shop. "I beat! I beat!" exclaimed Melvina, her dark eyes shining and her faceflushed with the unwonted exercise. "You do everything best, " Anna declared generously, "but I did not knowthat you could run so fast. " "Neither did I, " Melvina acknowledged laughingly. Anna felt a littlepuzzled by this sudden change in Melvina, which was far more noticeablethan Anna's own effort to give up her boyish ways and become a quiet, sedate little girl. For ever since the few hours of freedom on theshore, on the day of the tempest, Melvina had endeavored to be as muchlike Anna as possible. She ran, instead of walking slowly, whenever shewas out of her mother's sight. She had even neglected her lessons to goout-of-doors and watch a family of young robins one morning, and hadbeen immediately called in by her surprised mother. In fact, Melvina hadtried in every way to do things that she imagined Anna liked to do. Shehad even besought her mother to cut off her hair; but, as she dared notgive her reason for such a wish, Mrs. Lyon had reproved her sharply, saying that it was a great misfortune for a little girl not to havesmoothly braided hair, or long curls. So while Anna endeavored to coverher pretty curly hair, to behave sedately, and give up many of heroutdoor games, in order to be like Melvina, Melvina was wishing thatshe could be exactly like Anna; and as they stood looking at each otherat the end of their race each little girl noticed a change in the otherwhich she could not understand, and they started off toward Luretta'shome at a more sober pace. "Here they are, " said Anna, as they came to the corner of the shed andsaw the rabbits looking out at them between the slats of the box. Melvina kneeled down close to the box and exclaimed admiringly as Tritand Trot scurried away to the farthest corner. "I do wish I could touch one! Would it not be fun to dress them up likedolls!" she said. "If they were mine I would dress them up in bonnetsand skirts, and teach them to bow. Oh, Anna! Can't we take one out? Oneof them is yours, Luretta said so; let us take out your rabbit, Anna. " "But we haven't anything to dress it up in, " said Anna, beginning tothink that Melvina was a good deal like other little girls after all. "Could we not take your rabbit over to my house, Anna? My mother hasgone to Mrs. Burnham's to spend the day, and we could take Trot up to myroom and dress her up and play games. Do, Anna!" urged Melvina. "It would be great sport indeed, " agreed Anna eagerly; "we could callTrot by some fine name, like Queen Elizabeth, and have your dolls forvisitors. " "Yes, yes, we could! Or play Trot was a lion that we had captured inAfrica. Where is the door to the box, Anna?" and Melvina's dark eyesshone more brightly than ever as Anna slid back the little door thatPaul had so carefully made, and, after several vain efforts, finallysecured one of the rabbits and quickly wrapped it in the skirt of herdress. "Shut the door, Melvina! Quick! or the other will run out, " she said, but although Melvina hastened to obey she was only just in time to catchthe second rabbit in her hands; an instant later and it would havescampered away free. "Put your skirt around it. Hurry, and let's run. Mrs. Foster is coming, "whispered Anna, and the two little girls ran swiftly behind the shed, holding the trembling frightened rabbits, and then across the fieldstoward Mr. Lyon's house. Not until they reached the back door of theparsonage did either of them remember Luretta, and then it was Anna whoexclaimed: "But what will Luretta think when she comes home and does not find us, and sees the empty box?" "She won't go home for a long time; we will be back and the rabbits safein their box by that time, " declared Melvina. "We will go up the backstairs, Anna; and we need not be quiet, for London has gone fishing. Wewill have a fine time! Oh, Anna, I am so glad you stopped me that daywhen we went wading, for now we are friends, " she continued, leading theway up-stairs. "But I was horrid, Melvina, " Anna said, recalling her efforts to makeMelvina appear silly and ignorant so that Luretta would scorn her. "No, indeed, you were not, " responded Melvina. "When we played on theshore you made me laugh and run. I never played like that before. " "Well, I think you are real good, " said Anna humbly, as she followedMelvina into a pleasant sunny chamber. "Most girls would have been angrywhen their fine clothes were spoiled; and you were punished too, and Iwas not;" and Anna looked at Melvina admiringly, thinking to herselfthat she would do anything that Melvina could ask to make up to her forthat undeserved punishment. "You will have to hold both the rabbits while I get my dolls, " saidMelvina; and Anna's attention was fully occupied in keeping the twolittle creatures safe and quiet in the folds of her skirt, which sheheld together bag fashion, while Melvina drew a large box from thecloset and took out three fine dolls. Anna gazed at the dolls admiringly. Each one wore a gown of blue silk, and little shirred bonnets to match. Melvina explained that they, thedolls, all wanted to dress just alike. "We will put these on Trit and Trot, " she said, drawing out two whiteskirts from her collection of doll clothes. "And see these little whitebonnets!" and she held up two tiny round bonnets of white muslin; "thesewill be just the thing. " The rabbits submitted to being dressed. Both the girls were very gentlewith them, and gradually the little creatures grew less frightened. Neither Anna nor Melvina had ever had such delightful playthings before. The rabbits were Queen Elizabeth and Lady Washington, and the dollscame to bow low before them. The time passed very rapidly, and not untilLondon was seen coming toward the house to prepare the noonday meal didthe little girls give another thought to Luretta. Melvina, glancing fromthe window, saw London coming up the path with his basket of fish. Shewas holding Lady Washington, and for a second her clasp was less firm, and that was enough. With a leap the rabbit was through the open window, the white skirt fluttering about it. Anna, starting up in surprise, letgo Queen Elizabeth, who followed Lady Washington through the window soclosely that it was small wonder that London dropped his basket of fishand ran back a few steps with a loud cry. After a few scrambling leapsthe rabbits disappeared, and London, trembling with fright, for hebelieved that the strange leaping creatures dressed in white must besome sort of evil witches, picked up his basket, and shaking his headand muttering to himself, came slowly toward the house. "And there comes my father, and Luretta is with him, " exclaimed Melvina. "What shall we do, Anna? And what will Luretta say when we tell herabout the rabbits? Come, we must be at the front door when they gethere, or my father will fear I am lost. " Mr. Lyon smiled as he saw his little girl standing in the doorway, andhis troubled look vanished. But Luretta looked flushed and angry. Allthe morning she had been sitting on the log waiting for Mr. Lyon, andwhen he came at last she had hurried home only to find that her motherhad not seen either of the girls, and Luretta had run after Mr. Lyon totell him this, and accompanied him to the door. "I will walk home with Luretta, " Anna said with unusual meekness. Melvina watched them go, a little frightened at the end of the morning'sfun. She did not know what they could say to Luretta to explain theirmischief. At that moment London came into the front entry. "I'se seen strange sights this mornin', massa!" he said, rolling hiseyes. "I'se seen white witches flyin' out ob dis house. " "London! Do not talk of such wickedness, " said Mr. Lyon sharply. "Evenyour little mistress is amused at such absurd talk, " for Melvina, knowing what London had seen, was laughing heartily. But London, shakinghis head solemnly, went back to the kitchen, sure that he had seen astrange and awful sight, and resolved to speak to Mr. Lyon again of thematter. "Well, Danna Weston! You can't have one of my rabbits now, aftertreating me this way, " said Luretta. "And I am not going to walk homewith you, either, " and she ran swiftly ahead. Anna did not hurry after her, as Luretta hoped and expected. She beganto feel very unhappy. Trit and Trot were gone, and who could tell butthe skirts and bonnets might not strangle them? Then, suddenly, sheremembered that Rebecca was at home ill, and that she had entirelyforgotten her, and the young checkerberry leaves she had intendedpicking for her sister. She put the thought that it was all Melvina'sfault out of her mind. Even if it were, had not she, Anna, led Melvinainto a more serious trouble on the day of the tempest? She resolved thatshe would take all the blame of the lost rabbits, that Melvina shouldnot even be questioned about them if she could help it. But it was avery sober little girl who went up the path toward home. CHAPTER IX REBECCA'S VISIT Before Anna reached home Rebecca had decided that she must see LuciaHorton as soon as possible; for she began to fear that Lucia in some waymight betray their secret; but Rebecca knew that her mother would notconsent to her going out until she appeared more like her usual selfthan she had at breakfast time. So she brushed her hair neatly, bathedher face, and just before Anna's return home, came into the kitchen. "My head does not ache at all, Mother, " she announced, "and I feel aswell as ever. " Mrs. Weston looked at Rebby in astonishment. "I declare!" she exclaimed, "if thoroughwort tea doesn't beat all! But I never knew it to act asquickly before. Well, I must take time and go to the swamp for a goodsupply of it before this month goes. 'Tis best when gathered in May. " "May I not walk over and see Lucia?" Rebby asked a little fearfully, wondering what she could do if her mother refused. "Why, yes; it will very likely do you good. But walk slowly, dearchild, " responded Mrs. Weston, taking Rebecca's sunbonnet from its pegbehind the door and tying the strings under Rebby's round chin. "When the _Polly_ comes into harbor you will have the gold beads fromyour Grandmother Weston, in Boston; but how Danna guessed it is morethan I can imagine, " she said, and Rebecca started down the path. Mrs. Weston stood for a moment in the doorway looking after her. She was moredisturbed by Rebecca's sudden illness than she wished to acknowledge. "I wish indeed that the _Polly_ and _Unity_ would come; perchance it isthe lack of proper food that ails the children: too much Indian meal, and no sweets or rice or dried fruits, " she thought anxiously. "And tothink 'tis England, our own kinsfolk, who can so forget that we learnedwhat justice and loyalty mean from England herself, " she said aloud, asshe returned to her household duties. For Mrs. Weston, like so many ofthe American colonists, had been born in an English village, and knewthat the trouble between England and her American colonies was causedby the injustice of England's king, and his refusal to listen to wiseadvisers. Lucia Horton's home lay in an opposite direction from the blacksmithshop. It stood very near the shore, and from its upper windows there wasa good view of the harbor. It had no yard or garden in front, as did somany of the simple houses of the settlement, and the front door openeddirectly on the rough road which led along the shore. Rebecca rapped on the door a little timidly, and when Mrs. Horton openedit and said smilingly: "Why, here is the very girl I have been wantingto see. Come right in, Rebecca Flora, " she was rather startled. "Lucia is not very well, " Mrs. Horton continued, "and she has beensaying that she must, _must_ see Rebecca Flora; so it is most fortunatethat you have arrived. Some great secret, I suppose, " and Mrs. Hortonsmiled pleasantly, little imagining how important the girls' secret was. Her two elder sons, boys of fifteen and seventeen, were on the _Polly_with their father, and she and Lucia were often alone. Rebecca had but stepped into the house when she heard her name calledfrom the stairway. "Oh, Rebecca, come right up-stairs, " called Lucia, and Mrs. Horton nodded her approval. "Yes, run along. 'Twill do Luciagood to see you. I cannot imagine what ails her to-day. I saw one of theO'Brien boys passing just now, and he tells me their liberty tree hasbeen found and brought to shore!" "Oh!" exclaimed Rebecca in so surprised a tone that Mrs. Horton laughed. "'Twould have been full as well if the tree had been allowed to driftout to sea, " she added in a lower tone. Rebecca went up-stairs so slowly that Lucia called twice before herfriend entered the chamber where Lucia, bolstered up in bed, and withflushed cheeks and looking very much as Rebby herself had looked an hourearlier, was waiting for her. "Shut the door tightly, " whispered Lucia, and Rebecca carefully obeyed, and then tiptoed toward the bed. For a moment the two girls looked at each other, and then Luciawhispered: "What will become of us, Rebecca? Mr. O'Brien told Motherthat the men were determined to find out who pushed the liberty treeafloat, and that no mercy would be shown the guilty. That's just whathe said, Rebby, for I heard him, " and Lucia began to cry. "But the tree is found and brought back, " said Rebecca, "and how cananyone ever find out that we did it? No one will know unless we tell;and you wouldn't tell, would you, Lucia?" Lucia listened eagerly, and gradually Rebecca grew more courageous, anddeclared that she was not at all afraid; that is, if Lucia wouldsolemnly promise never to tell of their creeping down to the shore andcutting the rope that held the tree to the stake. "Of course I never would tell, " said Lucia, who was now out of bed anddressing as rapidly as possible. "I wasn't ill; but I stayed up-stairsbecause I was afraid you might tell, " she confessed; and then Rebeccaowned that she had felt much the same. "But I had to take a big bowlfulof bitter thoroughwort tea, " she added, making a little face at theremembrance. "Well, you are a better medicine than thoroughwort tea, " said Lucia; andMrs. Horton opened the door just in time to hear this. "Why, it is indeed so, " she said, looking in surprise at her littledaughter, who seemed quite as well as usual. "Your father has justpassed, Rebecca, and I asked his permission for you to stay to dinnerwith us, and he kindly agreed. I think now I must have a littlecelebration that Lucia has recovered so quickly, " and with a smiling nodshe left the two girls. "I know what that means, " declared Lucia, for the moment forgetting thedanger of discovery. "It means that we shall have rice cooked withraisins, and perhaps guava jelly or sugared nuts. " Rebecca looked at her friend as if she could hardly believe her ownears; for the dainties that Lucia named so carelessly were seldomenjoyed in the remote settlement; and although Captain Horton took carethat his own pantry was well supplied it was not generally known amonghis neighbors how many luxuries his family enjoyed. "Surely you are but making believe, " said Rebecca. "No, truly, Rebby; we will likely have all those things to-day, sinceMother said 'twould be a celebration; and I am glad indeed that you arehere. You do not have things like that at your house, do you?" saidLucia. Rebecca could feel her cheeks flush, but she did not know why she feltangry at what Lucia had said. It was true that the Westons, like most oftheir neighbors, had only the plainest food, but she wished herself athome to share the corn bread and baked fish that would be her mother'snoonday meal. She was silent so long that Lucia looked at herquestioningly; and when Mrs. Horton called them to dinner they wentdown-stairs very quietly. The table was set with plates of shining pewter. There was a loaf ofwhite bread, now but seldom seen in the settlement, and a fine omelet;and, even as Lucia had said, there was boiled rice with raisins in it, and guava jelly. Rebecca was hungry, and here was a treat spread before her such, asLucia had truly said, she never had at home; but to Mrs. Horton'ssurprise and Lucia's dismay, Rebecca declared that she must go home; andtaking her sunbonnet, with some stammering words of excuse she hastenedaway. "A very ill-bred child, " declared Mrs. Horton, "and I shall be wellpleased if your father can take us away from this forsaken spot on hisnext trip. " Lucia sat puzzled and half frightened at Rebecca's sudden departure. Lucia did not for a moment imagine that anything she had said could havesent Rebecca flying from the house. Mr. And Mrs. Weston and Anna were nearly through dinner when Rebeccaappeared, and Mrs. Weston declared herself well pleased that Rebby hadcome home; there were no questions asked, and it seemed to Rebby thatnothing had ever tasted better than the corn bread and the boiled fish;she had not a regretful thought for the Hortons' dainties. Anna told the story of all that had occurred to her that morning; oftaking the rabbits to the parsonage, and of London's exclamation andterror at the "white witches, " and last of all of Luretta's anger. "AndI didn't even tell Luretta that the rabbits were lost, " concluded thelittle girl, and then, with a deep sigh, she added: "I suppose I willhave to go right over and tell her. " "Yes, " replied her mother gravely, "you must go at once. And you musttell Luretta how sorry you are for taking the rabbits from the box. Andfail not to say to Mrs. Foster that you are ashamed at not keeping yourpromise. " Mr. Weston did not speak, but Rebecca noticed that he seemed pleasedrather than vexed with his little daughter. "That's because Anna alwaystells everything, " thought Rebecca. "But if I should tell what I didlast night he would think me too wicked to forgive, " and at the thoughtshe put her head on the table and began to cry. "Why, Rebby, dear! 'Tis my fault in letting you go out this morning, "exclaimed Mrs. Weston, now quite sure that Rebecca was really ill. Butin a few moments her tears ceased, and she was ready to help withwashing the dishes and setting the room in order. "I will walk along with you, Danna, " said her father, when Anna wasready to start on the unpleasant errand of owning her fault to Luretta, and they started out together, Anna holding fast to her father's hand. "I wish I need not go, Father, " Anna said as they walked along. Mr. Weston's clasp on his little daughter's hand tightened. "Let me see;do you not remember the verse from the Bible that 'he who conquers hisown spirit is braver than he who taketh a city'?" he questioned gently. Anna looked up at him wonderingly, and Mr. Weston continued: "It isyour courage in owning your fault that makes you a conqueror, and asbrave as a brave soldier. " "As brave as Washington?" asked Anna, and when her father smiled down ather she smiled back happily. Probably a little girl could not be asbrave as a great soldier, she thought, but if her father was pleased itwould not be so hard, after all, to tell Luretta about Trit and Trot. But Anna again firmly resolved that she would take all the blameherself; Melvina should not be blamed in any way for the loss of therabbits. CHAPTER X AN AFTERNOON WALK At the turn by the blacksmith shop Mr. Weston said good-bye, and Annawent on alone to Luretta's home. The front door was open, and before shereached the house she heard someone crying, and when she stood on thedoorstep she realized that it was Luretta, and that Mrs. Foster wasendeavoring to comfort her. "The rabbits are much happier to be free to run back to the woods. Perhaps by this time they have found their mother, and are telling alltheir adventures to their brothers and sisters, " she heard Mrs. Fostersay. "But Danna and Melvina may have taken them, " sobbed Luretta; and thenAnna rapped at the door. "Come in, " called Mrs. Foster, and Anna, a little timidly, entered thesitting-room. Luretta looked up, but did not speak. "Come right in, Anna, " said Mrs. Foster pleasantly. "Luretta has badnews for you; the rabbits are gone. " Anna did not look up, and there was an uncomfortable silence for amoment. Then she began her story: "If you please, Mistress Foster, I am sorry I broke my promise to youthis morning. You bade me to wait with Melvina by the big log, and I didnot. " "You came and took my rabbits, " wailed Luretta, "and I s'pose you gaveone to that stuck-up Melvina. " Anna nodded. "Yes, I did take them; but I meant to bring them back, Luretta, truly I did. But they got away. " A fresh wail from Luretta made Anna look pleadingly up at Mrs. Foster, whose eyes rested kindly upon her. "Luretta, stop thy foolish crying, " said Mrs. Foster, "and let Anna tellyou all the story of the rabbits. " Then she rested her hand on Anna'sshoulder and said kindly: "I am glad, Anna, that you and Luretta are friends, for thou art a braveand honest child. Now, I must attend to my work, and I will leave you, "and the two little girls found themselves alone in the room. Luretta was sitting in the big cushioned wooden rocker, with her facehidden against the back. Anna was standing in front of her, trying tothink of something to say that would make Luretta forgive her. Then sheheard Luretta's half-smothered voice say: "Do you s'pose our rabbits didfind their mother?" "I don't know, Luretta, but I only meant to let Melvina play with them. We--I took them out and carried them over to Melvina's house and wedressed them up in doll's clothes----" "Yes? Yes? And what else?" asked Luretta eagerly, now facing about andforgetting all her anger in hearing what Anna had to tell. So Anna wenton and described all that had happened, imitating London's cry of terrorat the sight of the "white witches. " At this Luretta began to laugh, andAnna came nearer to the big chair, and even ventured to rest against itsarm. "Luretta, let's you and I go up the trail toward the forest. Perhaps wemight find Trit and Trot, " she suggested. Luretta was out of the chair in a moment; and, quite forgetting all heranger toward Anna, she agreed promptly and the two little girls, handin hand, came into the kitchen and told Mrs. Foster their plan. She listened smilingly, but cautioned them not to go beyond the edge ofthe forest. "You might meet some animal larger than a rabbit, " she warned them;"'tis the time when bears are about nibbling the tender bark and buds ofthe young trees; so go not into the wood. Beside that a party of Indianswere seen near the upper falls yesterday. " "But the Indians come often to the village, and do no harm, " said Anna. But Mrs. Foster shook her head. She remembered that the Indians couldnot always be trusted. The little girls promised to follow the trailonly to the edge of the wood, and started soberly off. "We might see Trit and Trot behind any bush, might we not?" suggestedLuretta hopefully. "Perhaps we might see a little baby bear! Would it not be fine if wecould catch two little bears instead of rabbits?" responded Anna, asthey climbed the hill, stopping now and then to pick the tender youngcheckerberry leaves, or listen to the song of some woodland bird. Agroup of young spruce trees stood beside the trail, and here the twolittle girls stopped to rest. The sun was warm, and they both were gladto sit down in the pleasant shade. They talked about the _Polly_, wondering when she would come to port, and then their thoughts went back to their lost pets. "I do think you ought not to have taken them from the box. I am surePaul will not like it when I tell him they are gone, " said Luretta. Anna's face grew grave. "Must you tell him?" she asked. "Of course I must. He will bring home young leaves and roots for themto-night, and what will he say!" and Luretta's voice sounded as if tearswere very near. While Luretta spoke Anna's eyes had been fixed on a little clump ofbushes on the other side of the trail. The bushes moved queerly. Therewas no wind, and Anna was sure that some little animal was hiding behindthe shrubs. Greatly excited, Anna leaned forward, grasping Luretta'sarm. "Look! those bushes!" she whispered. At that moment a queer ball of dingy white appeared on the oppositeside of the trail, and instantly Anna sprang toward it. Her handsgrasped the torn and twisted piece of floating cloth, and closed uponthe poor frightened little creature, one of the lost rabbits, nearlyfrightened to death by the strange garment that had prevented hisescape. If he could have spoken he would have begged for the freedom that hisbrother had achieved; but he could only tremble and shrink from thetender hands that held him so firmly. In a moment Anna had unfastened the doll's skirt, and Trit, or Trot, wasonce more clear of the detested garment. "Oh, Danna! Do you suppose we can take it safely home?" exclaimed thedelighted Luretta. "Just see how frightened he is, " Anna responded. Somehow she no longerwished to take the little creature back and shut it up. "Do you suppose its mother is trying to find it?" she continuedthoughtfully. "And would it tell its brothers and sisters all its adventures, just asMother said?" questioned Luretta. "Why not?" Anna's brown eyes sparkled. "Of course it would. ProbablyTrot is safe home by this time, and all the rabbit family are lookingout for Trit. " Anna looked hopefully toward Luretta. If Trit went free it must beLuretta's gift. Anna felt that she had no right to decide. "Let him go, Danna, " said Luretta softly; and very gently Anna releasedher clasp on the soft little rabbit. It looked quickly up, and with abound it was across the trail and out of sight. Both the girls drew a long breath. "I will tell Paul about Trit's mother and brothers and sisters, " saidLuretta, as they started toward home. "Probably he will laugh; but Iguess he will say they ought to be free. " Both Anna and Luretta were very quiet on the walk home. Anna began tofeel tired. It seemed to her that a great deal had happened sincemorning. She remembered the liberty pole, with a little guilty sense ofhaving been more interested in the rabbits, and in Melvina and Luretta, than in the safety of the emblem of freedom. But she was glad thatLuretta was no longer angry at her. "You don't care much about the rabbits, do you, Danna?" Luretta asked, as they stopped near Luretta's house to say good-bye. "I am glad they are free, " replied Anna. "It would be dreadful to havegiants catch us, wouldn't it?" Luretta agreed soberly, thinking that to the rabbits she must haveseemed a giant. "Father will say 'twas best to let them go, whatever Paul says, " sheadded, and promising to meet the next day the friends parted. Anna danced along the path in her old fashion, quite forgettingMelvina's measured steps. Everything was all right now. She and Lurettawere friends; Mrs. Foster had pardoned her; and the liberty pole wasfound. So she was smiling and happy as she pushed open the door andentered the pleasant kitchen, expecting to see her mother and Rebby; butno one was there. The room looked deserted. She opened the door leadinginto the front room and her happy smile vanished. Her mother sat there, looking very grave and anxious; and facing thekitchen door and looking straight at Anna was Mrs. Lyon, while on astool beside her sat Melvina, her flounced linen skirt and embroideredwhite sunbonnet as white as a gull's breast. Anna looked from one to the other wonderingly. Of course, she thought, Mrs. Lyon had come to call her a mischievous girl on account of therabbits. All her happiness vanished; and when her mother said: "Come in, Anna. Mrs. Lyon has come on purpose to speak with you, " she quite forgotto curtsy to the minister's wife, and stood silent and afraid. CHAPTER XI AN EXCHANGE OF VISITS "IT is Mr. Lyon's suggestion, " concluded Mrs. Lyon, "and Melvina iseager to come and live with you, Mrs. Weston, if Anna is ready to cometo me. " Mrs. Lyon, it seemed to Anna, had been talking a long time. She had saidthat Melvina was not very strong, and that possibly she was kept toomuch indoors; and then had come the astounding suggestion that, on thevery next day, Anna should go and live with the minister and his wife, and Melvina should come and take her place. "Oh, do, Anna! Say you will, " Melvina whispered, as the two little girlsfound a chance to speak together while their mothers discussed the plan. For Melvina was sure that if she came to live in Anna's home she wouldbecome exactly like Anna; as brave and as independent, and who couldtell but what she might grow to look like her as well! The same thought came to Anna. Of course, if she lived with Mrs. Lyonshe would learn to behave exactly like Melvina. But to go away from herfather and mother and from Rebby; this seemed hardly to be possible. "Do you want me to go, Mother?" she asked, half hoping that her mothermight say at once that it was not to be thought of. "I must talk with your father; 'tis a great opportunity for your good, and I am sure he will be pleased, " replied Mrs. Weston. For had not theReverend Mr. Lyon written a book, and, it was rumored, composed musicfor hymns; for any little girl to live in his family would be a highprivilege. And this was what Mr. Weston thought when he heard of theplan. "Why, it is a wise scheme indeed, " he said gravely; "my little Danna isbeing too much favored at home, and to be with the minister and his wifewill teach her as much as a term in school. " "But I am not to stay long, Father. I am only to stay for two weeks, "said Anna, "and you must not learn to think Melvina is your littlegirl. " "Mr. Lyon wishes Melvina to run about as freely as we have allowedAnna, " Mrs. Weston explained, "and to have no lessons or tasks of anykind, and to spend an hour each afternoon at home while Anna does thesame. " "But I am to have lessons, just as if I were Melvina, " Anna declared, and before bedtime it was decided that on the next day Anna should go tothe minister's to remain a fortnight. Rebecca was the only one who did not think well of the plan. "I do notwant Danna to go, " she said over and over; and added that she should notknow how to treat Melvina, or what to say to her. It was Rebecca whowent with Anna to Mr. Lyon, carrying the small package containing Anna'sclothing, and she brought back Melvina's carefully packed basket. Mrs. Lyon looked worried and anxious as she saw Melvina start off for theWestons'; but she gave her no cautions or directions, beyond telling herto be obedient to Mrs. Weston. Then she took Anna's hand and led herup-stairs to the pleasant room where she and Melvina had played sohappily with the rabbits. "You can leave your sunbonnet here, Anna, and then come down to thelibrary. This is the hour for your lesson in English history. " "'English history, '" Anna repeated to herself excitedly. She wonderedwhat it could mean. But if it was something that Melvina did she waseager to begin. Mr. Lyon smiled down at his little visitor as she curtsied in thedoorway. He hoped his own little daughter might return with eyes asbright and cheeks as glowing. "This is where Melvina sits for her study hour, " he said, pointing to asmall chair near a side window. There was a table in front of the chair, and on the table was spread a brightly colored map. "To-day we are to discover something of the English opinion ofAmericans, " began Mr. Lyon, taking up a small book. "It is always wiseto know the important affairs of the time in which we live, is it not, Anna?" he said thoughtfully. "Yes, sir, " responded Anna seriously, sitting very straight indeed andfeeling of greater consequence than ever before. "America's great trouble now, remember, is taxation withoutrepresentation, " continued the minister; "and now listen carefully towhat an Englishman has to say of it: 'While England contends for theright of taxing America we are giving up substance for the shadow; weare exchanging happiness for pride. If we have no regard for America, let us at least respect the mother country. In a dispute with Americawho would we conquer? Ourselves. Everything that injures America isinjurious to Great Britain, and we commit a kind of political suicidewhen we endeavor to crush them into obedience. ' "Ah! There is still wisdom in the English council; but I fear it is toolate, " said Mr. Lyon, as if speaking his thoughts aloud. "And now, mychild, what is the subject of our lesson?" he questioned, looking kindlyat Anna. "England and America, " she replied promptly. Mr. Lyon nodded. "And why does America firmly resolve not to be unjustlytaxed?" he asked. "Because it wouldn't be right, " said Anna confidently. Mr. Lyon was evidently pleased by her direct answers. "If an Englishman sees the injustice of his government it is smallwonder that every American, even to a little girl, can see that it isnot to be borne, " said Mr. Lyon, rising and pacing up and down thenarrow room, his thoughts full of the great conflict that had alreadybegun between England and her American colonies. Anna's eyes turned toward the map. There was a long yellow strip marked"American Colonies, " then, lower down, a number of red blots and circleswith "The West Indies" printed across them. Far over on the end of themap was a queerly shaped green object marked "Asia" and below it abeautiful blue place called "Europe. " Anna was so delighted andinterested in discovering France, and Africa, the Ægean Sea, and theBritish Isles, that she quite forgot where she was. But as she looked atthe very small enclosure marked "England, " and then at the long line ofAmerica she suddenly exclaimed: "America need not be afraid. " Mr. Lyon had seated himself at his desk, and at the sound of Anna'svoice he looked up in surprise. "Why, child! You have been so quiet I had forgotten you. Run out to thesitting-room to Mrs. Lyon, " and Anna obeyed, not forgetting to curtsy asshe left the room. [Illustration: HOW LONG THE AFTERNOON SEEMED!] Mrs. Lyon had a basket piled high with work. There were stockings to bedarned, pillow-cases to be neatly repaired, and an apron of stoutdrilling to be hemmed. Anna's task was to darn stockings. She was givenMelvina's thimble to use, a smooth wooden ball to slip into thestocking, and a needle and skein of cotton. How long the afternoon seemed! Never before had Anna stayed indoors forthe whole of a May afternoon. She felt tired and sleepy, and did notwant to walk about the garden after supper--as Mrs. Lyon kindlysuggested; and not until Mrs. Lyon said that Melvina, on every pleasantday, walked about the garden after supper, did Anna go slowly down thepath. But she stood at the gate looking in the direction of her homewith wistful eyes. "Two weeks, " she whispered; it seemed so long a time could never pass. Then she remembered that the next day she would go home for the dailyvisit agreed upon. If the days passed slowly with Anna, to Melvina they seemed only tooshort. She had quickly made friends with Rebecca, and the elder girl wasastonished at the daring spirit of the minister's daughter. Melvinawould balance herself on the very edge of the bluff, when she and Rebby, often followed by a surprised and unhappy Luretta, went for a morningwalk. Or on their trips to the lumber yard for chips Melvina would climbto the top of some pile of timber and dance about as if trying to makeRebby frightened lest she fall. She went wading along the shore, andbrought home queerly shaped rocks and tiny mussel-shells; and, as herfather had hoped, her cheeks grew rosy and her eyes bright. The day set for the erection of the liberty pole was the last day of the"exchange visit" of the two little girls, and Anna was now sure thatMrs. Lyon must think her very much like Melvina, for she had learned herdaily lessons obediently, and moved about the house as quietly as amouse. But when she awoke on the morning of the day upon which she was toreturn home she was sure it was the happiest day of her life. Mrs. Lyonhad even called her a "quiet and careful child, " and the minister smiledupon her, and said that she "was a loyal little maid. " So she had greatreason for being pleased; and the thought of being home again made herready to dance with delight. The day that the tree of liberty was planted was declared a holiday, andthe inhabitants of the town gathered on the bluff where it was to beset. Melvina and Anna and Luretta were together, and the other childrenof the neighborhood were scattered about. "Where is Rebby, Mother?" Anna asked, looking about for her sister. "To be sure! She started off with Lucia Horton, but I do not see them, "responded Mrs. Weston, smiling happily to think that her own littleDanna would no longer be absent from home. There was great rejoicing among the people as the tree was raised, andcitizen after citizen stepped forward and made solemn pledges to resistEngland's injustice to the American colonies. Then, amid the shouts ofthe assembled inhabitants, the discharge of musketry, and the sound offife and drum, Machias took its rightful place among the defenders ofAmerican liberty. But Rebecca Weston and Lucia Horton, sitting in an upper window of theHorton house, looked out at the inspiring scene without wishing to beany nearer. Rebecca was ashamed when she remembered her own part intrying to prevent the erection of a liberty pole, for now she realizedall it stood for; and she was no longer afraid of an attack upon thetown by an English gunboat. To Rebecca it seemed that such an attackwould bring its own punishment. Her thoughts were now filled by a greatdesire to do something, something difficult and even dangerous to herown safety, in order to make up for that evening when she had crept outin the darkness and helped Lucia send the tree adrift. But Lucia's mind was filled with entirely different thoughts. She wasready to cry with disappointment and fear in seeing the liberty pole setup. She could not forget that her father had said that such a thingwould mean trouble. "If we had not set it adrift, Lucia, we could be on the bluff now withthe others, " Rebby whispered, as they heard the gay notes of the fife. "Bosh! Who wants to be any nearer? My mother says 'tis a silly andfoolish performance, " replied Lucia. "But perhaps 'twill be cut downbefore the _Polly_ comes into harbor. " Rebecca jumped up from the window-seat, her face flushed and her eyesshining. "No one would dare, Lucia Horton. And if it is cut down I'll know you, or someone in this house, planned it; and I will tell my father justwhat you told me and what we did, " she exclaimed, starting toward thedoor. "You can't tell, ever, Rebecca Weston! You promised not to, " Luciacalled after her, and Rebecca stopped suddenly. Lucia was right. Nomatter what happened she could never reveal what Lucia had told her, because of her promise; and a promise was a sacred thing. Without a word of good-bye Rebecca went slowly down the stairs. This wasthe second time she had left the Horton house in anger. "I won't comehere again, " she thought, a little sadly, for she and Lucia had been"best friends" ever since Captain Horton had brought his family to theremote settlement. "There's Rebby, " Anna called joyfully, as holding her father's hand, andwith her mother walking close behind, she came along the path towardhome. Rebby was walking slowly along a short distance in front of thelittle party, and Anna soon overtook her. "Oh, Rebby! Was it not a splendid sight to see the liberty tree set up?"Anna exclaimed eagerly, "and all the men taking off their hats andcheering?" "Yes, " responded Rebby briefly; and then looking at Anna she said: "Oh, Danna! I wish, more than anything, that I could do something to protectthe liberty tree. " "Perhaps you can, Rebby, sometime, you and I together, " replied Annahopefully; "anyway, isn't it lovely that I am home to stay?" And to this Rebby could agree smilingly, but she kept in her heart thewish she had just uttered. CHAPTER XII WILD HONEY Anna went singing about the house quite satisfied now to be herself; andRebby and her mother smiled at each other at the happiness of the littlegirl. "I doubt not you have learned many things, Danna, " said Rebby, a littlewistfully, as the sisters sat on the broad doorstep after supperlooking down at the broad flowing river. "Yes, indeed!" replied Anna confidently. "Why, Rebby, I know all abouthistory. The minister told me that a hundred and fifty years ago therewere English traders living right here, and they were driven away by theFrench. And then, some forty years ago, Governor Belcher ofMassachusetts came cruising along this coast, and there was no one atall here. And, Rebby, Mr. Lyon says there are no such pine forests inall the colonies as stretch along behind this settlement. But, Rebby, you are not listening!" and Anna looked reproachfully at her sister. "Oh, yes, indeed, Danna, I heard every word. And I heard Father say thatvery soon there would be a regular school here, with a master, as soonas America conquers her enemies. But, Danna, do you suppose anyone willdare touch the liberty pole?" For Rebby's thoughts could not long strayfrom Lucia Horton's prediction that it might be cut down. "What's that?" exclaimed Mr. Weston from the doorway behind them. "Cutdown the liberty pole? Why, there is not a man in Machias who would dosuch a traitorous deed. " Rebby's face flushed scarlet at his words, but before she could speak, her father continued: "Well, Danna, are you ready for a day's tramp withme to-morrow? I must go up to the mill at Kwapskitchwock Falls, and wewill start early. " "Oh, yes!" exclaimed Danna, jumping up and clasping her father's hand. "And perhaps we shall catch a salmon above the falls, and broil it overa fire for our dinner. " "That is what we will hope to do, " replied Mr. Weston. "And, Rebby, whydo you not come with us? 'Tis but a few miles, and a day in the woodswill do you good. " "Why, perhaps I shall, if Mother does not need me, " Rebby answered. Sheso seldom cared for woodland tramps that Anna gave a little exclamationof surprised delight. "I'll make a corn-cake to take with us, " Rebby added, "and since westart early I had best bake it to-night, " and she went into the kitchenfollowed by Anna singing: "We'll go to the forest of liberty trees, Where there are rabbits and birds and bees. " Mrs. Weston smiled as she listened. "'Twould indeed be fine if you couldfind a store of wild honey in the woods; 'twould be a great help, " shesaid, measuring out the golden meal for Rebby to use for her corn-cake. There was no butter or eggs to use in its making, for all food wasgetting scarce in most of the loyal households. Rebby scalded the mealand stirred it carefully, then added milk, and turned the batter into aniron pan which she set over the fire. When it was cooked it would be athin crispy cake that would be appetizing and nourishing. Rebby'sthoughts traveled away to the dainties of the Hortons' cupboard, butshe said to herself that the "spider cake, " as the corn-cake was called, especially when eaten in the woods with freshly broiled salmon, wouldtaste far better than the jellies and preserved fruits of the Hortons. Rebby could not forget Mrs. Horton's scorn of the liberty pole. The Westons were up at an early hour the next morning. The sun was justshowing itself above the tops of the tall pines when the family sat downto their simple breakfast. Anna wore her skirt of tanned deerskin, moccasins, and her blouse of home-made flannel, while Rebecca's dresswas of stout cotton. Each of the girls wore round, turban-like hats. Anna's was trimmed with the scarlet wings of a red bird, while Rebby'shad the white breast of a gull. Mr. Weston wore deerskin breeches and moccasins and a flannel blouse. Astout leather belt about his waist carried a couple of serviceableknives, and he carried his musket, for the forest was filled with manywild animals, and the settlers were always ready to protect themselves. Rebby carried a basket that held the corn-cake, and a flint and steelfrom which they would strike the spark for their noonday fire. Anna ran along close beside her father, until the path narrowed so thatonly one could walk, followed by the others. The air was cool and fullof the forest odors. Now and then birds flitted past them, and once ortwice Anna had a glimpse of startled rabbits, which she was sure wereTrit and Trot. "If I could only catch one to give Luretta, " she thought, "then shewould forgive me for taking the other rabbits, " for Anna's thoughts wereoften troubled because of the loss of Luretta's pets. Mr. Weston stopped at one point to show his daughters an arrow marked ona tall pine and pointing east. "That is to show the beginning of thepath to Chandler's River settlement, " he explained. "The trail is so dimthat the woodsmen have blazed the trees to show the way. There is a goodstore of powder and shot at Chandler's River, " he added, a littlethoughtfully. Rebby looked at the arrow, and afterward she had reason to remember herfather's words. The mill at Kwapskitchwock Falls was not in use at the time of theirvisit, and the mill workers were in Machias. But great booms of logs, waiting to be sawed into lumber, lay all along the river banks. The sun was high in the heavens when the little party came in sight ofthe falls dashing over the rocks. Mr. Weston led the way to a big flat rock above the mill, and where twolarge beech trees cast a pleasant shade. "You can rest here while I look over the mill, " he said, "and then Iwill see if I can spear a salmon for our dinner. " The girls were quite ready to rest, and Rebby set the basket carefullyon the rock beside them. "Would it not be fine if we could catch a salmon and have it all cookedwhen Father comes back?" Anna suggested, but Rebby shook her head. "We haven't any salmon spear, and it is quick and skilful work, " sheresponded. "Father will be better pleased if we obey him and rest here. " From where the girls were sitting they could look some distance up thequiet stream, and it was Anna who first discovered a canoe being paddledclose to the opposite shore. "Look, Rebby, " she said, pointing in the direction of the slow-movingcraft. "Isn't that an Indian?" Rebby looked, and after a moment answered: "Why, I suppose it is, andafter salmon. But he won't come down so near the falls. " But the girlswatched the slow-moving canoe rather anxiously until it drew close in tothe opposite shore, and was hidden by the overhanging branches of thetrees. Rebby decided that she would gather some dry grass and sticks for thefire, and asked Anna to go down near the mill and bring up some of thebits of wood lying about there. "Then when Father does bring the salmon we can start a blaze rightaway, " she said. Anna ran off toward the mill yard, and Rebby left the shade of the bigbeeches to pull handfuls of the sun-dried grass. Rebby had gone but a few steps when she heard a queer singing murmurthat seemed to be just above her head. She looked up, but the sky wasclear; there was no bird flying low, as she had imagined; but as shewalked along the murmur became louder, and Rebby began to look about hermore carefully. A short distance from the flat rock was a huge stump ofa broken tree, and Rebby soon realized that the noise came from thestump, and she approached it cautiously. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "It's a honey-tree! It is! It is!" for she had seenthe bees as they went steadily in a dark murmuring line, direct to theold stump. "A honey-tree" was a fortunate discovery at any time, for it meant astore of delicious wild honey. It was, as in this case, usually apartially decayed tree where the wild bees had swarmed, and where storesof honey were concealed. Sometimes the bees had filled the cavities ofthe tree so full that they were forced to desert it and find newquarters; but it was evident that here they were very busy indeed. "They will have to be smoked out, " decided Rebby, who had often heardher father tell of the way in which such stores were captured. "I wish Icould do it, and get some honey for dinner, " she exclaimed aloud. "Well, why not?" she heard someone say from behind her, and she turnedquickly to find Paul Foster, looking so much like an Indian boy in hisfringed leggins and feathered cap that it made her jump quickly. Paul laughed at her surprise. "I came up-stream in my canoe after salmon, " he explained, "and I havespeared three beauties; I saw you from across the stream, so I paddledover. You've made a great find, " and he nodded toward the old stump. "Could we smoke out the bees and get some honey, Paul?" Rebby askedeagerly. She and Paul were nearly of an age, and Paul was a friendlyboy, always ready to make bows and arrows or toy boats for his littlesister and her girl playmates. "I don't see why not, " he responded, as if smoking out a hive of wildbees was a very usual undertaking; "but I haven't a flint and steel, " headded. "I have, in my basket, " declared Rebecca; and in a few minutes Paul andRebecca had gathered a mass of sticks and grass, heaping it a shortdistance from the stump. "Mustn't get a blaze, only a heavy smoke, " said Paul as he struck theflint and steel together, and carefully sheltered the spark which thedry grass instantly caught. At the sight of the smoke Mr. Weston came running from the mill, andwith his assistance the bees were speedily disposed of. The old stump proved well filled with honey. "I have a bucket in my canoe, " said Paul, and it was decided to fill thebucket and take home all it would hold, and to return the next day inPaul's canoe with tubs for the rest of the honey. Paul insisted that Mr. Weston should accept one of his fine salmon tobroil for their midday meal, and then Rebby exclaimed: "Where is Danna? She went to the mill after wood before we found thehoney-tree, and she isn't back yet. " "Oh! She is probably playing that she is an explorer on a journey to theSouth Seas, " laughed Mr. Weston. "I will go after her, " and he startedoff toward the mill, while Rebecca added wood to the fire, and Paulprepared the salmon to broil. Mr. Weston called "Danna!" repeatedly, but there was no answer. Hesearched the yard and the shore, but there was no trace of his littledaughter. He went through the big open mill, and peered into shadowycorners, but Anna was not to be found. And at last he hurried back totell Paul and Rebby, and to have them help him in his search for themissing girl. CHAPTER XIII DOWN THE RIVER Anna had gathered an armful of dry wood and was just starting back whena queer little frightened cry made her stop suddenly and look quicklyaround. In a moment the noise was repeated, and she realized that itcame from a pile of logs near the river bank. Anna put down the wood, and tiptoed carefully in the direction of the sound. As she came near the logs she could see a little gray creaturestruggling to get loose from a coil of string in which its hind legswere entangled. "Oh! It's a rabbit!" Anna exclaimed. "Perhaps it is Trit, " and she ranquickly forward. But the little creature was evidently more alarmed ather approach than at the trap that held him, and with a frantic leap hewas off, the string trailing behind him; but his hind feet were stillhampered by the twisting string, and he came to a sudden halt. "Poor Trit! Poor Trit!" called the little girl pityingly, as she ranafter him. Just as she was near enough to touch him another boundcarried him beyond her reach. On leaped the rabbit, and on followed Annauntil they were some distance below the mill and near the river'ssloping bank, over which the rabbit plunged and Anna after him. A smallboat lay close to the shore, and Bunny's plunge carried him directlyinto the boat, where, twisted in the string, he lay struggling andhelpless. Anna climbed into the boat and picked up "Trit, " as she called therabbit, and patiently and tenderly untied the string from thefrightened, panting little captive, talking gently as she did so, untilhe lay quiet in her hands. The little girl was so wholly absorbed in her task that she did notnotice that the boat was not fastened, or that her spring into it hadsent it clear from the shore. Not until Trit was free from the stringdid she look up, and then the little boat was several feet from theshore, and moving rapidly downstream. If Anna had stepped overboard then she could easily have waded ashoreand made her way back to the mill; but she was so surprised that such acourse did not come into her thoughts, and in a few moments the boat wasin deep water and moving with the current downstream. On each side of the river the woods grew down to the shore, and now andthen the wide branches of overhanging trees stretched for some distanceover the stream. A blue heron rose from the river, making its loud callthat drowned Anna's voice as she cried: "Father! Father!" Even had Mr. Weston been near at hand he could hardly have distinguished Anna'svoice. But Anna was now too far downstream for any call to reach herfather or Rebby and Paul, who were all anxiously searching for her. At first the little girl was not at all frightened. The river ran toMachias, and, had it not been that she was sure her father and sisterwould be worried and sadly troubled by her disappearance, Anna wouldhave thought it a fine adventure to go sailing down the stream with hercaptured rabbit. Even as it was, she had a gleeful thought of Luretta'ssurprise and of Melvina's admiration when she should tell them thestory. She soon discovered that the boat leaked, and, holding the rabbittightly in one hand, she took off her round cap and began to bail outthe water, which had now risen to her ankles. Very soon the little capwas soggy and dripping; and now Anna began to wonder how long the leakylittle craft could keep afloat. Both Anna and Rebby could swim; their father had taught them when theywere very little girls, and Anna knew that if she would leave the rabbitto drown that she could reach the shore safely; but this seemed hardlyto be thought of. She now resolved to clutch at the first branch withinreach, hoping in that way to scramble to safety with Trit. But the boatwas being carried steadily along by the current, although the water camein constantly about her feet. "I mustn't get frightened, " Anna said aloud, remembering how often herfather had told her that to be afraid was to lose the battle. The boat swayed a little, and then Anna found that the board seat waswabbling. "I never thought of the seat, " she whispered, slipping down to her kneesand pulling the seat from the loose support on which it rested. It washard work to use the board as a paddle with only one hand, but Anna wasstrong and resolute, and managed to swing the boat a little toward theshore, so when a turn of the river came, bringing the boat close towarda little point of land, she quickly realized that this was heropportunity, and holding Trit close she sprang into the shallow waterand in a moment was safe on shore. The old boat, now half-filled with water, moved slowly on, and Anna knewthat it would not be long afloat. She looked about her landing-placewith wondering eyes. Behind the little grassy point where she stood theforest stretched close and dark; the curve of the river shut away thecourse by which she had come, but she could look down the smooth flowingcurrent, and toward the wooded shores opposite. The rabbit moved uneasily in her hands, and the little girl smoothed himtenderly. "I don't know who will ever find me here, unless it should beIndians, " she said aloud, remembering the canoe that she and Rebby hadnoticed as they sat on the big rock. Anna felt a little choking feeling in her throat at the remembrance. Itseemed so long ago since she had seen Rebby and her father. "And it'sall your fault, Trit, " she told the rabbit; "but you could not help it, "she added quickly, and remembered that the rabbit must be hungry andthirsty, and for a little while busied herself in finding tender leavesand buds for Trit to eat, and in holding him close to the water's edgeso that he could drink. Then she wandered about the little clearing andto the edge of the dark forest. She began to feel hungry, and knew bythe sun that it was well past noon. "Oh! If that Indian we saw in the canoe would only come downstream, "she thought longingly. For Anna well knew that when night came she wouldbe in danger from the wild beasts of the wilderness, but that almost anyof the Indians who fished and hunted in that region would take hersafely back to her home. An hour or two dragged slowly by; Anna was very tired. She held Tritclose, and sat down not far from the river's edge. "Father will find mesome way, " she said to herself over and over, and tried not to letthoughts of fear and loneliness find a place in her mind. The littlewild rabbit was no longer afraid of its captor, and Anna was sure thatit was sorry it had led her into such trouble. But now and then tearscame to the little girl's eyes, when suddenly she heard a voice from theriver just above the curve singing a familiar air: "Success to fair America, -- To courage to be free, Success to fair America, Success to Liberty. " "Oh! That is Paul! That is Paul!" cried Anna, jumping up and down withjoy; and the next moment a canoe swung round the curve, paddled by atall boy with a cap ornamented by tall feathers. Paul nearly dropped his paddle as he saw Anna at the river's edge. "However did you get here?" he exclaimed, as with a swift stroke of hispaddle he sent his canoe to shore. Anna told him quickly of the capture of Trit, the leaking boat, and herjump to safety, while Paul listened with astonished eyes, and, in histurn, told of the discovery of the honey-tree, and then of the searchfor Anna. "Your father and Rebby are sadly frightened, " he concluded; "they arewell on the way home now, thinking possibly you might have followed thepath. Now, get in the canoe, and I'll try my best to get you home by thetime they reach the settlement. " Anna sat in the bottom of the canoe, and Paul skilfully wielded thepaddle, sending the little craft swiftly down the river. "That bucket is full of honey, " he said, nodding toward the bow of thecanoe. But Anna was not greatly interested in the honey; she had evenforgotten that she was hungry and thirsty. She could think only of herfather and Rebby searching along the path for some trace of her. It was late in the afternoon when the canoe swept across the river tothe same landing where Paul had fastened the liberty tree earlier in themonth. And in a few moments Anna was running up the path toward home, followed by Paul with the bucket of honey. "Why, child! Where are Father and Rebby? and where is your cap?"questioned Mrs. Weston. "Oh, Mother!" began Anna, but now the tears could not be kept back, andheld close in her mother's arms she sobbed out the story of the captureof Trit, and all that had followed. And then Paul told the story of thehoney-tree, and his story was not finished when Anna exclaimed: "Father!Rebby!" and ran toward the door. How Mr. Weston's face brightened when he saw Danna safe and sound, andhow closely Rebby held her little sister, as Anna again told the storyof her journey down the river. When Paul started for home Mrs. Weston insisted that a generous portionof the bucket of honey should go with him; and Trit, safely fastened ina small basket, was sent to Luretta as a gift from Anna. He promised tobe ready the next morning to return to the falls with Mr. Weston in thecanoe to bring home the store of honey. As the Westons gathered about the table for their evening meal theylooked at each other with happy faces. "I couldn't feel happier if the _Polly_ were in port, and Americatriumphant over her enemies, " declared Mr. Weston, as he helped Anna toa liberal portion of honey. CHAPTER XIV AN UNINVITED GUEST Paul and Mr. Weston started off at an early hour the next morning inPaul's canoe to bring home the honey. Beside a tub they took with them anumber of buckets, for the old stump had a rich store of honey. It was a time of leisure for the lumbering settlement. The drives oflogs had all come down the river and were safely in the booms. The millscould not run as usual, for the conflict with England made it difficultto send lumber to Boston. The crops were now planted, so Mr. Weston, like other men of the settlement, had time for hunting and fishing orfor improving their simple homes. Some of the men passed a good part ofeach day lounging around the shores and wharves, looking anxiously downthe harbor hoping to see Captain Jones' sloops returning with thegreatly needed provisions. Rebecca was up in season to see her father start, but Anna, tired fromthe adventure of the previous day, had not awakened. "Is the liberty tree safe?" Rebby asked a little anxiously, as shehelped her mother about the household work that morning. "Why, Rebby dear, what harm could befall it?" questioned her mother. "The traitor who set it afloat will not dare cut it down. 'Tis a strangething that, search though they may, no trace can be found of therascals. " Rebecca's hands trembled, and she dared not look up. It seemed to thelittle girl that if her mother should look into her eyes she would atonce know that she, Rebecca Flora Weston, who had been born in Boston, and whose parents were loyal Americans, had committed the dreadful deed. She wished with all her heart that she could tell her mother all thatLucia Horton had said; but the promise bound her. She could never tellanyone. Rebecca knew that she could never be happy again. "Not unless Icould do some fine thing to help America, " she thought, a littlehopelessly; for what could a little girl, in a settlement far away fromall the strife, do to help the great cause for which unselfish men weresacrificing everything? Mrs. Weston was troubled about Rebecca. "The child has not really beenwell since her birthday, " she thought, "although I cannot think what thetrouble can be. " "Your father says that the honey is really yours, Rebby dear, " continuedMrs. Weston, "and that you may decide how it shall be disposed of. " "I don't care, " Rebby responded, a little faintly. "Only, of course, Paul ought to have half, because he helped. " "Yes, of course; but even then your share will be a good quantity, " saidMrs. Weston. Before Rebecca could speak Anna came running into the room, her brown eyes shining, and her curls, now long enough to dance abouther face, falling over her brown cheeks. As she ate her porridge her mother questioned her about the adventure ofthe previous day, and for a time Rebby forgot her own worries inlistening to Anna's account of her journey in the leaking boat, and ofher leap to safety. "It was not mischief, was it, Mother, to try and capture Trit?" sheconcluded. "No, indeed, dear child. Who could foresee such an adventure?" repliedMrs. Weston. "And we are all proud that you did so well; that you didnot wander into the forest, where you would surely have been lost. I wasjust asking Rebby what use we would make of the honey. Of course we wantto share it with our neighbors. 'Tis rare good fortune to have such astore of sweets. " "Let's have a honey party, " suggested Anna. "Could we not, Mother?" "Why, that is a splendid idea!" declared Mrs. Weston. "'Twill cheer upthe whole settlement to be asked to a party. To be sure I can offer themonly honey; but perhaps 'twill take their minds from the _Polly_, andfrom England's injustice toward us. Rebecca, you and Anna shall startout at once and ask the neighbors as far as Mr. Lyon's house. That willbring as many as twenty people. And tell each one to bring a cup andspoon, as I have no extra dishes. " As soon as Anna had finished her breakfast the two girls put on theirsunbonnets and started on their pleasant errand. The neighbors were tobe asked to come the next afternoon for a taste of wild honey, and Mrs. Weston again cautioned them to be sure and speak of the cup and spoonthat each guest was to bring. "I wish I could offer them a dish of tea, " thought Mrs. Weston, and thenreproached herself for the thought, for was not the tea tax one ofEngland's sins against the colonies, and had not loyal women refused tobrew a single cup until America gained her rights? Mr. Foster was busy in his blacksmith shop. The mill men could be idle, but Worden Foster hammered busily away day in and day out. His hay-forkswere always in demand, and he made many stout locks and keys, as well asdoor-latches and hooks. "Shall we ask him first?" questioned Anna. "Yes, " replied Rebecca. "He is our best neighbor, so 'tis right to askhim first. " Rebecca and Anna stood in the open doorway for a moment watching theglow of the forge and the bright sparks that sprang from the red bar ofiron which Mr. Foster was shaping into a spearhead. He nodded toward his little visitors smilingly, and listened withevident pleasure to Rebecca's invitation. "But you tell me Paul is to have a good portion of the honey; 'tishardly fair we Fosters should come, " he replied, and then addedquickly, "But why not let us have the neighbors, and divide the honeythat is left after the party?" "Why, yes, sir; I think that will be a good plan, " responded Rebbysoberly, "and perhaps Luretta will go with us to ask the neighbors. " Mr. Foster nodded again, whistling softly to himself, and as the littlegirls bade him a polite "Good-morning" and went on toward his house theycould hear his whistle ring above the sound of his hammer. Luretta came running to meet them. "I was just coming to your house to thank you for Trit. Oh, Anna! Youare the bravest girl in the settlement. Paul says you are. And to thinkyou caught the rabbit for me. " Luretta, quite out of breath, with herarm across Anna's shoulders, looked admiringly at her friend. "It's only fair, " Anna replied, "because I lost yours. " And then Annahad to tell again the story of her capture of Trit. Luretta listenedeagerly. "I do wish I could have been with you, Danna, " she said. ButAnna shook her head. "The boat would have sunk, " she responded soberly. Mrs. Foster thought the plan for a honey party an excellent idea, andpromised to come in good season; and Luretta was greatly pleased to gowith her friends to invite the neighbors. "Will not Lucia Horton be pleased when we tell her about the honey?"said Anna. Rebecca stopped suddenly. "We are not to ask the Hortons, " sheannounced. "Not ask Lucia! Why not?" questioned Anna, while Luretta looked at Rebbywith wondering eyes. "No, " Rebecca declared firmly. "The Hortons have a cupboard filled withjellies, and candied fruits, and jars of syrups, and fine things fromthe West Indies and from far places, and 'tis not fair. We have only thewild bees' honey, a taste for each neighbor. " Rebecca stopped with alittle sigh. She had not thought about not asking Lucia until Annaspoke, but now she realized that, if she could help it, she would neveragain go to the Hortons' house. Rebecca was old enough to realize thedifference between loyalty and selfish indecision, and she was sure thatthe Hortons were thinking more of their own comfort than of the good ofAmerica. "But Lucia is your best friend, " said Anna; "she gave you thosebeautiful silk mitts on your birthday. " Rebecca's face colored. She made no answer. The silk mitts, sheresolved, must be given back. Probably she would never have anotherpair; but never mind, if she gave up Lucia's friendship she must give upthe mitts. For a few minutes the little girls walked on in silence, but Luretta waseager to talk about Trit, and very soon she and Anna were talkinghappily of plans to teach the captured rabbit, and were no longertroubled by Rebecca's decision not to ask the Hortons to the honeyparty. If they thought of it at all it was to agree with Rebby: thatpeople with a cupboard full of dainties, when their neighbors had onlythe coarsest fare, ought not to be asked to share the wild honey. Mrs. Lyon welcomed the little girls in a most friendly manner, and Annawas made happy when the minister's wife said that she really believedthat Anna's stitches were as tiny and as neatly set as those of Melvinaherself. "Melvina is out-of-doors, " she continued; "I have decided that she ismuch stronger to be in the open air a portion of each day, and Londonhas made her a playhouse under the pines behind the house. " Both Anna and Luretta hoped that Mrs. Lyon would ask them to go and seeMelvina's playhouse, but as she did not they said their polite"Good-day, Mrs. Lyon, " curtsied, and followed Rebecca down the path. The invitations had now all been given and accepted, and Luretta waseager to get home, urging Anna to stop and see Trit, who was safe in thesame box that had been made for the other rabbits. "You may both run ahead if you wish, " said Rebby with quite a grown-upmanner, for she really felt a great deal older than her little sister, "and I will go straight home and tell Mother that everybody is coming. " "Everybody except the Hortons, " Luretta reminded her. "Yes; I meant everyone whom we had asked, " Rebby rejoined. Off ran the two younger girls, and Rebecca followed more slowly. Although she had intended to go directly home she now decided to takethe path along the bluff and see for herself that the liberty tree stoodsafe, defiant of all enemies. Rebby's thoughts were filled with acertain fear that Lucia Horton might contrive some new plan to make awaywith this emblem of freedom; and she gave an exclamation ofsatisfaction as she saw the handsome young pine, well braced with rocksand timber supports, standing on the bluff. "The _Polly_ will see it first thing when she comes into harbor, "thought Rebby, "and nobody will dare fire on it, " and vaguely comfortedby this thought she started on toward home. Mr. Weston and Paul were just landing their load of honey, and Rebeccawent down to the shore to tell them of the plan for the honey party, ofwhich they both approved. The tubs and buckets were all carried to theWestons' and safely stored away in the big pantry. Mrs. Foster and Mrs. Weston were talking over arrangements for the nextday. Mrs. Foster had suggested that they should each bake a quantity of"spider-cakes. " "They are thin and crispy, and will relish well with thehoney, " she said, and Mrs. Weston agreed, although both the womenrealized that by making these cakes they would diminish their householdstores of Indian meal almost to the danger point. But the _Polly_, withher cargo of wheat flour, sugar, and other necessities, was longoverdue; she must soon come to their relief, they thought hopefully;and if she failed to arrive why then they must do their best. "The neighbors need something cheerful to think of, " declared Mrs. Foster, "and I am sure a taste of honey will cheer us all. " The next day was clear and warm with a pleasant southerly wind. Mr. Weston decided to put up some seats under the tall elms, so that theguests could enjoy the spring air. Paul was quite ready to help him;they brought planks from the lumber yard, and long before the firstvisitor arrived the low comfortable seats were ready. Anna and Rebby were busy all the morning making small plates ofbirch-bark, which they stripped from the big logs. These little plateswould each hold a square of "spider-cake" and a helping of honey; and asthe guests would bring their own cups, to be filled with clear springwater, and their own spoons, the Westons felt that all was ready. Rebby and Anna both wore their Sunday best, but their dresses werecarefully covered by their long pinafores. For they would serve eachguest, and it would not do that any careless movement should send astream of honey over their best gowns. Luretta and Melvina would alsohelp, and had been warned to bring pinafores to wear. There was a pleasant air of excitement all through the little settlementas the people, dressed in their simple best, walked along the pathleading to the Westons'. The minister and his wife, each holding Melvinaby the hand, were among the first comers. "It was a friendly thought to ask your neighbors to share your goodfortune, " said Mr. Lyon as he greeted Mrs. Weston. "To tell the truth, 'twas Anna who first thought of it, " she responded, and was well pleased when Mrs. Lyon declared that she was not surprisedto hear it, as she considered Anna a very thoughtful and generous child. Rebecca had forgotten for the time her own sense of unworthiness, andwas smiling happily as friend after friend arrived, when suddenly hersmile vanished. For coming up the path in a fine dress of pale yellowmuslin and wearing a flower-trimmed hat was Lucia Horton. No one butRebecca, of course, was surprised to see Lucia. It was to be expectedthat she would be a guest at Rebecca's house. Anna and Luretta did notsee Lucia's arrival, but Rebby stood quite still, pale and angry, andwatched Lucia smiling and speaking to the neighbors. Then Lucia camestraight toward Rebecca, and, making an ugly face at her, exclaimed: "Who is afraid of you, anyway, Rebecca Flora Weston?" CHAPTER XV REBBY AND LUCIA Rebby was too astonished at Lucia's unexpected appearance to make anyresponse to this rude salutation; and, with another scornful glance, Lucia went on her way to where Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Weston were talkingtogether, and took a seat beside them, and was cordially welcomed byRebecca's mother, who, of course, knew nothing of the trouble betweenthe two girls. "Lucia has forgotten her cup and spoon, Rebby; bring her your lustremug, " called Mrs. Weston. For a moment Rebby pretended not to hear. She was filling the cups withcool spring water, and not until her mother called the second time didshe start toward the house for her cherished lustre mug. She was readyto cry at the thought of Lucia's insulting words, and now she must carrythe pretty mug to her, and serve her as though she were a welcomeguest. "I won't let her know that I care; and I must be polite because she is aguest, even if she wasn't invited, " thought Rebby, as carrying thelustre mug and a birch-bark plate with a square of honeycomb and abrownish crisp "spider-cake" she went toward Lucia. Neither of the little girls spoke, and Rebby did not look at her formerfriend who had led her into such sad mischief. Then suddenly there was acrash, a loud cry from Lucia and from Rebby as the lustre mug fell tothe ground, and the contents of the frail plate streamed over thedelicate yellow muslin of Lucia's fine dress. "Oh! She has spoiled my dress! She did it on purpose! She did! She did!"wailed Lucia, while Rebecca stood looking at the pieces of her cherishedmug that had been brought from Boston when the Westons moved to Machias. "She dropped it on purpose, " Rebby said, but no one seemed to think ofher mug. Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Weston were both endeavoring to comfortLucia, and to repair the harm done to the yellow muslin. But the honeyand water were not easily removed from the delicate fabric. "I am going home. It's a cheap, foolish party anyway. Honey and water, and corn-bread!" sobbed Lucia angrily, pulling away from the friendlywomen, and running down the path. Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Weston looked after her in amazed disapproval. "I begin to think there is something in the rumors that Captain Hortonand his wife are not trustworthy, " Mrs. Lyon said. "The child is soill-bred she can be but indulged and spoiled at home, " and Mrs. Westonagreed. But neither of them imagined that Lucia's mother and father weredisloyal to the American cause, and only waiting a profitableopportunity to betray the little settlement to its enemies. Lucia's angry words cast but a brief shadow over the gathering, and noone noticed that Rebecca had disappeared. At the moment Lucia startedfor home Rebby had run toward the house. She hurried up the stairs tothe little room under the roof where she and Anna slept, and from thecloset she drew out the square wooden box that her father had made forher. Her initials R. F. W. Were carved inside a small square on thecover, and it had a lock and key. Rebby was very proud of this box, andin it she kept her most treasured possessions: a handkerchief of finelawn with a lace edge, a pin made from a silver sixpence, and theprayer-book her Grandmother Weston had given her. When Lucia gave herthe silk mitts for a birthday present Rebby had put them carefully awaywith these other treasures. Now she pulled them out hurriedly, and, without waiting to close the box, she ran down the stairs through thekitchen, keeping carefully out of sight of the group under the elmtrees, until she could not be seen from the house. Then she caught aglimpse of Lucia's yellow dress, and ran faster than before. But she didnot call Lucia's name. She said to herself that she would never speak toLucia again. Hearing the hurrying steps behind her Lucia looked over her shoulder, and seeing Rebby she became frightened and ran faster than ever. Luciadid not know why she was afraid, but she remembered that she had notbeen asked to the party, that she had spoken insultingly to Rebby, and--she had dropped the mug purposely. So it was small wonder that herguilty conscience accused her, and that she was eager to reach homebefore Rebby could overtake her. On raced the two girls along the narrow path. A few men at the wharveswatched the flying figures, but no one imagined it more than a game. Very soon the Horton house was in sight. Its front door opening on thestreet stood open to admit the pleasant spring air. In a moment Luciawas in the house and had slammed and fastened the door behind her. Rebby stood on the step breathless, the silk mitts clasped in her hand. After a moment she rapped loudly on the door. There was no response. Butin a moment an upper window opened, and Mrs. Horton looked down atRebby. "Why, Rebecca Flora!" she exclaimed in her pleasant voice. "Lucia hasgone to your party. " "If you please, Mrs. Horton, I have brought back the mitts Lucia gave mefor a birthday present, " responded Rebby, her voice faltering a little. "Oh! Don't they fit? Why, that is a shame. Well, lay them on the step, "said Mrs. Horton, wondering why Rebby should look so flushed and warm, and why she had not given the mitts to Lucia. Later on, when she heardLucia's account of Rebby's turning honey and water over the prettyyellow muslin, she decided that Rebecca was ashamed to keep a gift aftertreating Lucia so badly. Rebby went slowly toward home tired and unhappy. All the pleasure ofthe party, she said to herself, was spoiled. She was not sorry to giveup the mitts, for everything that reminded her of Lucia made her thinkof the night when they had pushed the liberty tree from its moorings. When she was nearly home she heard Mr. Foster's whistle and in a momentthey were face to face. "Well, Rebecca Flora, 'twas a fine party, " he said smilingly, for Mr. Foster had not seen the accident to the mug. "The neighbors are allsmiling and cheerful, and we are all the better for meeting in thisneighborly fashion, " and Mr. Foster ended his sentence with a whistlelike a bird's note. "You must come with the others to the liberty poleon Sabbath morning, " he added. "Parson Lyon is to preach to us there, and 'twill be a great occasion. " "Yes, sir, " Rebby responded, and went slowly on up the slope. It beganto seem to her that she would never escape from the liberty pole. Andnow she met Mr. And Mrs. Lyon, with Melvina dancing along in front ofthem. "More like Danna than Danna is like herself, " thought Rebby, smiling, as she remembered how sedately and quietly Melvina had walkedbefore Danna and Luretta had played their mischievous pranks on the dayof the tempest. The neighbors had all gone when Rebecca reached home, and Mrs. Westonand Anna were in the house, while Mr. Weston and Paul were taking up theseats under the elm trees. The pieces of the broken lustre mug lay onthe kitchen table, and Rebby's face clouded as she stood looking atthem. "Lucia Horton dropped it on purpose!" she said. "I know she did. " "And nobody asked her to come to our party, " added Anna; "'twas rude ofher to come. " Mrs. Weston looked in astonishment at her two little daughters. "Not ask Lucia?" she questioned, and listened to Rebby's explanation:that, because of the Hortons' store of dainties, and their scorn of thesimple fare of their neighbors, Rebby had decided not to ask Lucia toher party. But when the little girl had finished her story, Mrs. Weston shook herhead disapprovingly. "I am not pleased with you, Rebecca, " she said. "'Twas not a kindthought to sit in judgment and decide to punish a friend for somethingthat is no fault of hers. Lucia did right to come. Of course she thoughtyou would welcome her. " "She didn't! She didn't!" exclaimed Rebby. "She made up faces at me, andsaid--" "Never mind, Rebecca. You see what comes from quarreling. Your mug isbroken, Lucia's dress is spoiled, and you had no pleasure from theafternoon. Now, there is something for you to do to put this straight. You must take off your pinafore, put on your sunbonnet, and go straightto Mrs. Horton's and ask Lucia's pardon. " "Oh, Mother!" wailed Rebby. "It isn't fair. It isn't my fault. " But Mrs. Weston was firm. From Rebby's own story her mother decided thatshe had been unfair to Lucia; she did not ask if Rebby had purposelyspilled the honey on Lucia's muslin dress, but she felt it was not thetime to allow any ill feeling among the families of the settlement, andthat Rebecca's failure to ask the Hortons to come with the otherneighbors to taste the wild honey could easily offend them. Anna stood looking first at Rebby and then at her mother. It was soseldom that Rebby cried, that it seemed a very dreadful thing to heryounger sister. "I'll go, Mother, let me go!" she asked eagerly. "Do not be so foolish, Anna, " responded Mrs. Weston. "This is yoursister's duty. It has nothing to do with you. Take off your pinafore, Rebecca, and do as I bid you. " Rebecca was sobbing bitterly. She could not believe that her motherreally meant that she should go and ask Lucia Horton's forgiveness. "If you knew----" she began, tempted to tell her mother all that Luciahad said about the liberty pole, and even what they had done to preventits erection. But the memory of her promise held her. She knew that hermother expected obedience, and she took off her pinafore, took hersunbonnet, and, still sobbing, went slowly from the room. Anna startedto follow her, but Mrs. Weston called her back sharply. "Anna, you are not to go with your sister, " she said, and the littlegirl came slowly back. "Oh, dear, " she sighed, "I wish Lucia Horton would go sailing off to farlands. To--to Egypt, " she concluded. For Anna had never heard much thatwas pleasant about Egypt, and was sure that all this trouble wasLucia's fault. Rebecca had never been so unhappy in her life as when she realized thather mother expected her to go to the Hortons' and ask Lucia's pardon fornot inviting Mrs. Horton and Lucia to the honey party. There were robinssinging in the trees, bluebirds flitting about with gay little notes, and the spring day was full of beauty, but Rebby was not conscious of itas she went slowly along the path. Very soon she was again standing in front of the Hortons' door, andsummoning all her courage she rapped loudly. There was no response, andafter a few moments she rapped again; but the house seemed silent anddeserted, and no one came to open the door. And now Rebecca did not know what to do. If she went home she knew thather mother would say that she must return at a later hour to fulfil hererrand. So the little girl decided to sit down on the steps and wait fora time. Twilight was near at hand. The sun was low in the western sky, and acool little breeze crept up from the river and stirred the tree-tops. Shadows gathered about the house, and still there was no sign or soundof the Hortons, and Rebby was about to start for home when a man camearound the corner of the house and spoke to her. He was evidently a sailor, and in a great hurry. He asked no questionsbut began speaking as if he had no time to lose. "Tell your mother that the _Polly_ and _Unity_ will come into harborto-morrow, and that Captain Jones is on board the _Unity_. There's aBritish gunboat along with them, and your father says there may betrouble, and for you and your mother to keep close indoors until hecomes. " The sailor started to move off, but Rebby found courage to ask: "Where--where are the sloops now?" "Anchored below Round Island; but we'll be sailing in with morning tide. The Captain bade me keep well out of sight and come straight back to thesloop. Be sure you tell your mother, " responded the man, speaking insuch low tones that Rebby had to listen sharply to understand. "Yes, I'll tell my mother, " she replied, and without a moment'shesitation she started for home as fast as her feet could carry her. Shehad entirely forgotten her anger toward Lucia, or her mother's reproof. All she could think of was the news this sailor, evidently a member ofthe _Polly's_ crew, had told her, believing that he was speaking toLucia Horton. And now Rebecca recalled all that Lucia had told her of what mightbefall the little village if a British gunboat sailed into harbor andsaw a liberty tree flaunting its courageous defiance to injustice. Butnow she could tell her father, not Lucia's secret, but what the sailorhad told her. "And Father will know what to do. Father and Mr. Lyon, " she thoughtbreathlessly, as she ran swiftly up the path and burst into the kitchen, where her father and mother and Anna were waiting her return. She told her story quickly, and without any mention of what Lucia hadconfided in her weeks before. "The sailor thought I was Captain Horton'slittle girl, " she concluded. Mr. Weston questioned Rebby carefully, and then said: "I'll take this news to Captain O'Brien and to Parson Lyon; but saynothing about it to anyone until we see what news the _Polly_ brings. "And he hurried away to prepare his neighbors for possible danger. "You see, Rebby, your obedience may have saved the settlement, " saidMrs. Weston, putting her arm about Rebecca. "But I had not seen Lucia, Mother. I was waiting for her, " said Rebecca. Mrs. Weston made no answer; her thoughts were too full of the possibledangers to the settlement from the British gunboat to think much of thepostponed apology; nor was the matter ever again mentioned. "Now, Rebby, you really have done something for America, " declared Anna, as the sisters went up to their room that night. But Rebby shook herhead. "No, Danna, I haven't. But perhaps I can sometime, and you too, " shereplied. For some reason, that Rebby could not explain even to herself, her thoughts centered around what her father had said on their trip tothe Falls of the store of powder and shot at Chandler's Riversettlement. She had heard her father say that Machias was but illprovided with munitions; and with a British gunboat coming into harborthe next day who could tell how quickly powder and shot might beneeded? CHAPTER XVI REBBY DECIDES The next morning dawned bright and tranquil. The fragrance of pine woodsand broad meadows filled the air, and practically all the inhabitants ofMachias gathered about the wharves to watch for the _Polly_ and _Unity_to come sailing into harbor. The provisions the sloops were bringing were greatly needed; but whenMr. Weston had told the men of the settlement that the sloops were beingconvoyed by a British war vessel their alarm and consternation can beimagined. Mrs. Horton and Lucia were about the only ones absent from thewharf when, silently and without a cheer of welcome, the _Polly_ and_Unity_, and the boat flying the hated English flag came to anchor. Captain Jones came ashore, greeting his old-time friends cordially, andexplaining that the presence of the gunboat was only to protect him fromattacks by British cruisers. But his explanation was received insilence. The memory of the recent battle in Lexington was fresh in thepeople's hearts, and much as they needed the provisions on the sloopsthey were ready to do without them unless Captains Horton and Jonescould assure their fellow-townsmen of their loyalty and send the Britishgunboat from the harbor. Finally he received consent to land his goods, and commenced tradingwith the people as usual, while the _Margaretta_, the British gunboat, lay at anchor off White's Point, some distance below the town. Mrs. Lyon received many packages from her Boston relatives, and therewere two dolls for Melvina, the ones of which Luretta had spoken on theday when she and Anna had led Melvina to the shore to show her a "clam'snest. " Rebecca's gold beads, intended for her birthday, were safely delivered;and beside the beads was a pair of silk mitts for both Rebby and Anna. To Rebby this seemed a very wonderful thing, and she felt it almost areward for carrying back those Lucia had given her. Mrs. Horton now kept Lucia closely at home. Anna and Luretta wereinvited to spend an afternoon with Melvina, and become acquainted withthe new dolls, and Melvina urged Luretta to bring Trit, resolving todress up the rabbit as she and Anna had done before. Rebecca was more aware of the troubled condition of the settlement thanwere these younger girls. Paul Foster told her that his Uncle Benjamin, a bold and energetic man who had served in the old French War, said thatthe Machias men ought to capture the British gunboat, and take thesloops, making their captains and crews prisoners. Rebby listenedeagerly. "But we couldn't capture them, Paul; I heard Father say there was butlittle powder and shot in the settlement, " she said. "We'd get 'em, " declared Paul. "If Jones and Horton think they are goingto load up their sloops with lumber for British barracks in Bostonthey'll see trouble. " "And Parson Lyon is not to preach at the liberty pole, " said Rebby alittle thoughtfully. Paul made no response to this. He had come up to the Westons' on anerrand for his mother, and was now eager to get back to the wharveswhere the sloops were being unloaded. "If the Britisher fires on our liberty pole they'll hear a sermon allright, " he called back as he ran down the path. It was difficult for Rebby to attend to the simple duties that hermother required of her. Whenever her father entered the house shewatched his face anxiously, half-expecting him to say that the Machiasmen were ready to capture the gunboat before it could attack the town. When Anna came home eager to describe Melvina's new dolls, and to tellof dressing up Trit, and that London Atus, coming into the room wherethe little girls were playing and seeing the rabbit wearing a whiteskirt and bonnet, had turned and run out muttering something about"witches, " Rebby listened, but with little interest. "Danna, " she said, as soon as the sisters were alone, "do you supposeyou and I could find the way to Chandler's River?" "Of course we could, " Anna declared. "Don't you remember that Fathershowed us where the trail began, marked by 'spotted' trees?" "Yes, I remember. Listen, Anna; there is hardly any powder or shot inMachias; if there were the men could protect the liberty pole. " "Yes, yes, " Anna responded quickly. "I heard Parson Lyon tellingCaptain O'Brien that all the men ought to be ready to defend thesettlement. " "Oh, Anna! There are quantities of powder stored at Chandler's Mills. Why couldn't we go after it?" Rebby whispered. "Then indeed we would behelping, and perhaps 'twould save the liberty pole. " "Would Father let us?" Anna asked doubtfully. "Don't you see? We must go after it without telling anyone; then when webring it back the men can drive off or capture the gunboat, " Rebeccaexplained. "I think Father ought to know, " persisted Anna, so that at last Rebbysaid no more, after Anna had promised not to repeat Rebby's plan toanyone. But Rebby slept but little that night. If the gunboat fired on the townshe felt it would be her fault for having kept Lucia's secret toherself; and yet she dared not break a promise. In some way Rebby feltthat she must do something to make right her foolish act in helpingLucia set the liberty tree adrift. The next day Captain Jones began his preparations to load the sloopswith lumber for Boston, and the Machias men, doubtful of the Captain'sloyalty, determined that the sloops should not return to Boston. Rebbyand Anna were in the lumber yard filling a basket with chips, when anumber of men talking of this decision passed them. "If we only had more powder and shot, " said one; "but we cannot spare asingle man to go to Chandler's River after supplies. " "There, Anna!" exclaimed Rebby. "Did you hear what those men said? Doyou not see that we can help as much as a real soldier? We can go toChandler's River. We must. " "Perhaps Father would give us permission if we asked him, " Annapersisted. But Rebecca shook her head at this suggestion; she dared notrisk the chance of a refusal. "We ought to go at once, " she said earnestly. "'Twill be a long tramp, and the gunboat may come up the harbor and threaten the settlement anyday. Do say you will go, Anna. " Rebby knew that Anna's knowledge of the forest, her strength andcourage, would be all that could enable her to undertake the task. Without Anna she feared that she might fail in finding her way, andnever reach Chandler's River. "Think, Danna! The gunboat will shoot down our liberty pole! Perhapsburn the church and our houses, and they may carry off our father aprisoner! 'Tis what they try to do whenever Americans resist; and if theMachias men have powder and shot they'll not let the gunboat come near. And we can get the powder and save the settlement. Oh, Danna----" Rebby's petition ended in a wail. And now Anna was as eager to start as Rebby herself. The thought of herfather being taken a prisoner and that she and Rebby could prevent sogreat a misfortune made her no longer hesitate. "We will start to-morrow morning, early, " she said. "We must make surethat our moccasins are in good shape, Rebby; and we must take somecorn-bread, for 'twill be a good journey. How early can we start, Rebby?" "Before sunrise, surely, " responded Rebby, "and I will write on a stripof birch-bark what we are going to do, and pin it to Father's hat. Thenthey will not worry about us. " "Worry! Why, Father will think it a brave deed, " declared Anna. "I wishwe had started this morning. " That day seemed very long to the sisters. They made their preparationscarefully for the next day's journey, and at an early hour went to bed, so that they might awaken in good season. The next morning dawned clear. Before the sun was up Anna was wideawake, and at her whispered "Rebby, " her sister's eyes opened quickly, and they slipped quietly out of bed. In a few moments they were fullydressed for their tramp through the forest. Very cautiously they madetheir way down the stairs. The house was silent. Neither Mr. Nor Mrs. Weston heard the faintest sound to disturb their slumbers. On the piece of smooth birch-bark that Rebby had made ready on theprevious day, with a bit of charcoal from the fireplace she wrote: "Dear Mother and dear Father: Anna and I are going to Chandler's Riverto bring home powder and shot for Machias men to use to save thesettlement. We will be home to-morrow. Your loving Rebby and Danna. " They slipped this under the deerskin thong that was twisted about Mr. Weston's hat, opened the kitchen door gently, and moved noiselesslyalong in the shadow of the house, then ran swiftly up the path, and in ashort time were out of sight of the houses of the settlement. "Now we must walk slowly for a time, " cautioned Anna, remembering herfather's warnings against hurrying at the beginning of a tramp. "We mustgo on steadily for a time, and rest before we begin to feel tired. Thatis the way Indians do, and Father says it is why they can travel dayafter day and not be exhausted. " Rebby looked at her little sister admiringly. In woodland lore sherealized that Danna was much wiser than herself, and she was quite readyto be guided by her. When Mrs. Weston called the girls the next morning and received noresponse she was not greatly surprised, as they often slept a littlelater than their parents. "The extra sleep will do them no harm, " shesaid smilingly, as she and Mr. Weston sat down to the breakfast table;therefore Rebby and Danna were well on their way before their fathertook his hat from its accustomed place and discovered the strip ofbirch-bark with its surprising message. Mr. Weston read the note, and stood for a moment silent, thinking whatcould be done. His first impulse was to hasten after his girls andbring them safely home. Then came the thought of the peril of thesettlement. At any moment he might be called upon to help in itsdefense. Every man would be needed. He recalled Danna's strength andfearlessness, and her knowledge of the forest, and Rebby's quiet goodjudgment. If there were dangers he believed his girls could meet themfearlessly. Then, too, what a blessing it would be to have them bringhome a store of powder and shot. It would mean the salvation of thesettlement. Mr. Weston began to feel very proud of his little daughtersand to feel sure they would return safely. "What is the trouble with your hat, Father?" questioned his wife. "Youstand looking at it as if it had some message for you. " "Indeed it has, " Mr. Weston replied smilingly. "It tells me that we havetwo of the bravest girls in America. Listen, " and he read Rebby's notealoud. "'Tis a deed to make us proud, " he said, "and 'twill give new courage toevery man in the settlement to know that a supply of powder will be hereto-morrow. " But it was a long and anxious day for Mrs. Weston. She knew the perilsof the forest, and her thoughts centered about lurking bears that mightspring out upon Rebby and Danna as they went through the wilderness. Sheendeavored to find comfort by remembering that their errand was for thecause of justice and freedom, and that a love stronger than her own wasabout them. CHAPTER XVII A PERILOUS JOURNEY Not until the girls reached the beginning of the forest trail, wheretheir father had pointed out the dim path leading toward Chandler'sRiver, did they feel really sure that their father would not followthem. But as they stopped for a brief rest under the shadow of awide-spreading beach tree Rebby said: "Father could have overtaken us by this time, Danna, if he did not thinkit was right for us to go. " Danna agreed cheerfully, and now both the girls felt a new courage forthis perilous undertaking that was sure to tax their strength to theutmost. The fact that their father had not hastened after them made themboth realize how important it was that powder and shot should reach theMachias settlement as soon as possible. The faint path soon disappeared entirely, and had Rebby been alone shewould not have known which way to turn. But Anna went on confidently, keeping a sharp outlook for the "blazed" trees of which her father hadtold her as marking the way toward Chandler's River. They forced their way through dense masses of tangled underbrush, overfallen trees, and through the shadowy stretches of thickly growing pine. Now and then they came to some marshy stretch, which Anna wouldcarefully avoid, for she remembered how often her father had warned herof the dangers of such places, with their unmarked quicksands that wouldquickly swallow the heedless person who ventured upon them. Notwithstanding Anna's caution in regard to resting frequently theypushed on steadily, with but one stop until the sound of water as itdashed over a rocky bed warned them that they were near WhitneyvilleFalls, and half-way to their destination. The sun was now directly overhead, and as they came out from the shadeof the forest to the open space along the river's bank Rebby sank downon the grass with a long breath of relief. "I never was so tired in all my life, " she declared. "We will take a good rest and eat our corn-bread, " responded Anna. "I amsure the remainder of the way will not be so hard, because we can followthe river up to the settlement. " Rebby was too tired to reply. She stretched herself out on the warmgrass and closed her eyes. "Poor Rebby, " thought Danna, looking down at her elder sister andremembering that Rebecca had never enjoyed woodland tramps, andrealizing that this undertaking was much harder for her sister than forherself. "She's asleep, " Anna whispered to herself, with a little smile ofsatisfaction. "Now I will have a fine surprise for her when she awakes, "and the little girl tiptoed noiselessly back to the edge of the woods, where she had noticed a quantity of checkerberry leaves. There were manycrimson berries still clinging to the vines, and Anna picked thesecarefully, using her cap for a basket, and gathering a quantity of theyoung checkerberry leaves. "Rebby is sure to like these, " she thoughthappily. Anna's sharp glance moved about quickly and finally rested near an oldstump. "Partridge eggs!" she exclaimed joyfully, and in a moment she wasbeside the stump peering down at a circle of small brownish eggs. Shecounted them, and before she had whispered "twenty!" a whirring, scrambling noise close at hand told her that the partridge to whom theeggs belonged was close at hand. "You won't miss a few eggs, Mistress Partridge, " said Anna soberly, carefully selecting four from the outer edge of the circle, and thengoing softly away, that she might not unnecessarily frighten thewoodland bird. She now carried the cap with great care, as she looked about hoping todiscover some sign of a woodland spring. She kept along at the edge ofthe woods, and very soon she heard the sound of a noisy little brookhurrying along to the river. It was not far up the river from the placewhere Rebby was so comfortably asleep, and Anna decided that it would bejust the place for their noonday luncheon. She set the cap, with all its treasures, carefully under the shade of atiny fir tree near the side of the brook and then ran back to awakenRebby. "Dinner is ready!" she called gaily as she ran; and the sound of hervoice made Rebecca sit up quickly, and exclaim: "The British will shoot down our liberty pole!" For her dreams had beenof soldiers in red coats firing at the liberty pole, while Mr. WordenFoster, with a big pitchfork, tried to drive them away. "It is a truly dinner, with eggs, " declared Anna happily, as she led theway back to the noisy little brook. The raw eggs tasted good to the hungry girls, and the good corn-breadand spicy berries and tender checkerberry leaves, with cool water todrink, made them both feel refreshed and rested, and ready for theremaining distance to Chandler's River settlement. They crossed the little brook and went sturdily on. Now and then apartridge flew in front of them. Squirrels scolded and chattered amongthe tree tops, and once or twice a rabbit leaped out from behind somestump and ran ahead of them as if daring them to capture him. Both the girls well knew that there were larger and more dangerousanimals in the forests. There were bears prowling somewhere in those dimshadowy woods, eating the young buds and leaves, and capturing suchdefenseless birds and rabbits as they could. Once or twice they heardsome heavy creature crashing through the underbrush, and looked at eachother with startled eyes; but no harm came near them, and by the middleof the afternoon they reached the first house of the settlement, and hadtold their errand. "Every man in the settlement is on his way to Machias this very hour, "declared the friendly woman who had welcomed the girls with amazedadmiration; and, when they told of the scarcity of powder and shot inMachias, had said that the men of Chandler's River settlement hadbelieved Machias well supplied with powder, and had taken but a smallquantity with them. "One of our fishermen brought news of the British gunboat, and our menstarted at once. They went by the lower trail, " explained the woman, asshe stirred the hot porridge she was cooking for the girls' supper. "'Tis well your parents had courage to let you come, and you must rest, and get early to bed. I will go to the powder-house and bring back asmuch as you can carry, and I will go with you a part of the wayto-morrow, " she added, and Rebecca and Danna thanked her gratefully. After they had eaten their porridge they were quite ready to bathetheir tired feet in the hot water their hostess had ready, and go tobed, although the sun was yet an hour above the horizon. While the girls slept Mrs. Getchell hurried to the other houses of thesettlement, telling the story of the two courageous girls who had comethrough the forest on their patriotic errand. "'Tis hardly to be believed, " she declared. "These little maids arebrave as soldiers, and they will carry the powder and shot back in goodtime to be of use. General Washington shall hear of them, and theProvince of Maine will not forget their names. " The women and children listened eagerly, and all were anxious for asight of the little maids who had shown such courage and hardihood. ButMrs. Getchell declared that they must not be disturbed, or they wouldnot be equal to the return journey on the next day. "But you can all come in the morning and see them start for Machias, "she said, and with the powder and shot, ten pounds of each, safelypacked, she returned home. It was broad daylight when Rebecca and Anna awoke. Mrs. Getchell hadbreakfast ready for them, and they enjoyed the hot batter cakes andmaple syrup and the rich milk. They had not finished eating when amurmur of voices outside the door made them look up in surprise. "'Tis the women and children, " explained Mrs. Getchell smilingly. "Theyhave come to wish you good fortune. " Rebecca and Anna hardly knew what to say as the women of the settlemententered the big kitchen, and with friendly smiles praised the two girlsfor their courage and loyalty. Boys and girls of their own age gatheredabout the doorway and looked at them admiringly; and when Mrs. Getchellsaid it was time to start, and with Rebby and Anna led the way towardthe river, young and old followed them. One of the older women slipped aslender gold chain around Anna's neck, saying: "Wear it, dear littlemaid, to remind you that there is no sacrifice too great to make forAmerica's freedom. " And a little girl of about Rebecca's age shylypressed a little purse into her hand. "'Tis a golden sovereign that mymother bade me give you, " she said, "and my mother says that always thechildren of Maine will remember what you have done for America's cause. " Rebby hardly knew what to reply. "If they knew that I set the libertytree afloat they would not praise me, " she thought unhappily. A short distance beyond the settlement the women and children bade thegirls good-bye, with many good wishes for their safe return to Machias. But Mrs. Getchell was to go on with them for a part of their journey. As Rebby and Anna turned to wave their hands to these new friends a loudcheer went up, the boys waving their caps and the girls calling: "Goodluck to the brave little maids from Machias. " Mrs. Getchell went on with them for several miles, carrying the powderand shot, and a flat package containing food for their journey. She toldthem to follow the river down, as that trail was more traveled and oversmoother ground, although farther to travel than the forest trail; andkissing the girls good-bye, after they had promised to visit her "assoon as the English had been sent home, " she turned back toward thesettlement. Rebby and Danna watched Mrs. Getchell's stout figure until it was hiddenby the forest, and then, more serious and anxious than at any timeduring their perilous undertaking, they picked up the heavy packagesthat Mrs. Getchell had placed on the trunk of a fallen tree, andprepared to continue their journey. The shot was in two strong bags, while the powder, in order that itmight be kept perfectly dry and safe, was in two tin canisters, each onecarefully sewn up in stout sailcloth. Mrs. Getchell had fastened a stoutstrap to each bag of powder and a bag of shot. These straps went overthe girls' shoulders, and made them easier to carry than in any otherway. It was of course a tough job for each girl to carry ten pounds forthe long distance that lay before them, but they pushed on valiantly. At first the river trail was fairly smooth, and they made good progress, but after a few miles they encountered a long stretch of rocky ground. Here they had to clamber over high ledges, or else go a long distanceout of their way. Before noonday Rebby declared that she could not goanother step, and sat down at the foot of a high mass of rocks overwhich they must climb. "You will have to go on and leave me, Danna, " she said. "My feet won'tgo, they are so tired: and my shoulders ache. " The day had grown very warm; there was not a breath of air, and Annaowned that she had never seen so difficult a trail. Mrs. Getchell hadwarned them to be sure and keep in sight of the river and it would leadthem straight to Machias. As Anna looked at her sister she began to fearthat they might not be able to reach home before night, and she knew allthe danger and peril that a night spent in that lonely spot would mean. They had not found a spring or brook since leaving Mrs. Getchell, andthey were both very thirsty as well as tired and hungry. "We will take a good rest, Rebby, and eat our luncheon. I saw Mrs. Getchell stirring up a molasses cake while we ate breakfast, " said Anna, encouragingly, "and she put a tin dipper with the luncheon. See!" andAnna held up the small cup-shaped dish. "I'll fetch you a drink from theriver, " she added, and putting her burden of powder and shot on theground beside Rebby, she made her way down the steep bank of the river. The bank was covered by a thick growth of alders, with here and there asmall spruce tree. Anna wondered how she would ever manage to bring acup filled with water up that bank; but she kept on, and was soon at theriver's edge. The rushing water was clear and cool, and Anna drankthirstily. Then she bathed her face and hands, slipped off her moccasinsand stockings and dipped her feet in the cool stream. She felt restedand refreshed, as with the tin cup filled with water, and covered with abroad leaf of a water-lily, she made her careful way back to where shehad left her sister. Rebby had taken off her hat and moccasins. She drank the water eagerlybefore saying a word. "I feel better already, " she said, "and by the time we have eaten ourlunch I know we can start. We _must_, " she added soberly, "for if we donot get home before dark Father will surely start after us. " Danna was opening the package of food and made no response, but she waswondering if Rebby could really hold out until they reached thesettlement. "I couldn't leave her alone, " the little girl thought alittle fearfully, wondering if their long journey was, after all, to endin failure. For she knew that if they did not reach Machias by the earlyevening their attempt to aid the settlement would have been in vain. "Look, Rebby! White bread, spread with butter, " she said, as sheunfastened the package, "and here are slices of chicken, and big squaresof molasses cake, " and Rebby smiled at her little sister's evidentdelight. The two girls thoroughly enjoyed the excellent food, and whenthe last crumb had been eaten Rebecca declared herself rested, and readyto start on. As she picked up her moccasins she exclaimed: "Oh, Danna!" in so tragica tone that her sister looked at her with frightened eyes. "What is it, Rebby?" she whispered. "A hole in my moccasin. Look!" and Rebby held up the moccasin, showing along narrow slit on the sole. "These awful rocks! I can never walkwithout cutting my foot, and then I can't walk at all. " "I can fix it, " Danna declared instantly. "Give it to me, Rebby; quick!"and the elder sister obeyed. Danna reached into the pocket of her doeskin skirt and drew out hersharp clasp-knife; very carefully she cut a broad strip from the top ofRebby's moccasin, and skilfully fitted it inside over the sole. "I saw Father do this very thing once, " she said. "It will surely lastuntil we reach home. " "I knew I could never make this trip without you, Danna, " Rebby saidgratefully. "You are as wise as a real little Indian girl. " They went on now at a slower pace, for both girls realized that if Rebbywas again overcome by heat and fatigue that it might be impossible forher to continue. Even Danna owned to herself that she had never been sotired. The strap across her shoulders, supporting the heavy load, pressed heavily and at times became almost unbearable; but not for amoment did it occur to Danna to relinquish the burden. They had left the rocky stretch behind them and come out to acomparatively smooth pasture. The deep forest lay on their right; to theleft was the sloping bank leading to the river. Suddenly Anna stoppedshort and grasped Rebby's arm; a second later a deer leaped directlyacross their path and plunged down the bank, followed by a leaping, panting creature that hardly seemed to touch the ground. "A bear!" whispered Rebby with frightened eyes. "Hurry, Rebby, " responded Danna, and the girls, forgetting their tiredfeet and lame shoulders, sped silently over the open pasture land. Danna was the first to speak, but it was in a whisper: "We need notfear, Rebby. He was after the deer. " Rebby made no response. More fully than ever the elder girl realized theperil into which she had led her younger sister. But nevertheless shewhispered to herself that it was the only way: the powder and shot wereall that could save the settlement from the hands of the enemy. The girls did not stop again to rest, nor did they speak until theyreached the top of a rise of ground from which they could see the firsthouses of the settlement. The sun was dropping behind the tall pines onthe western side of the river, and they could see the _Polly_ and_Unity_ as they lay at anchor in the harbor. "We are safe now, Danna, " said Rebby thankfully, and the sisters smiledat each other happily. "Can't we leave the powder and shot here?" pleaded Danna, twisting theuncomfortable strap into an easier position. "Father would come and getit, and it's so heavy. " But Rebby shook her head. "It would not be safe. We must carry itstraight home, " she said; so, with a sigh of endurance, Danna startedon. They were now in the broad trail that led straight to the littlesettlement, and before they reached the first house they saw a tallfigure striding toward them. It was Mr. Weston, and in a moment theirload of powder and shot was swung over his shoulders, Rebby was claspingone hand and Anna the other, and they were both talking at once, tryingto tell him the story of their journey. Their mother came running down the path to meet them, and clasped themin her thankful embrace. The Westons had not told their neighbors of thegirls' undertaking, thinking it wiser to await their return; but as soonas Rebby and Anna were safely indoors their father hastened away to tellthe men of the settlement that a supply of powder and shot had beenbrought to Machias by his courageous daughters. CHAPTER XVIII TRIUMPH The day following the return of Rebecca and Anna Weston from theirperilous and difficult undertaking to bring the much needed powder andshot to Machias was Sunday, the eleventh of June, 1775. Very early that morning there was an air of unusual excitement about thelittle settlement. It was known that the English officers from thegunboat would attend service in the meeting-house that morning; and theMachias men had decided, with the approval of Parson Lyon, to surroundthe church and capture them before they had time to carry out theirplans against the settlement. Rebby and Danna were eating their breakfast when Captain Benjamin Fosterappeared at the kitchen door, saying that he had come to thank them fortheir courageous effort to aid the men in defending their rights. As heentered the room the girls jumped up from their seats at the table andcurtseyed; and as he went on to praise their loyalty and valor, the twolittle girls, hand in hand, stood before him with downcast eyes, flushedand happy at his approving words. In spite of anxious thoughts as to the result of the conflict betweenthe men of Machias and the English soldiers, Mrs. Weston was very proudand happy that morning as she walked to church with Rebecca and Annabeside her. Many neighbors stopped them to praise the little girls, andall declared that the people of the settlement would always rememberwhat they had done. Even Parson Lyon and his wife were waiting at the church door to speakto the two little heroines; and Melvina and Luretta felt as if theyshared in their friends' honors as they walked up the aisle of thechurch beside them. Before the English officers had landed from their boat a number of theMachias men had quietly hidden their guns in the building; while CaptainBenjamin Foster, with men armed and ready for action, were concealedamong the tall pines close at hand, ready to surround the church andseize the English officers; and had they taken London Atus into theirconfidence this well-prepared scheme might have succeeded. But London was entirely innocent of any trouble near at hand. From hisplace in a side pew he kept a watchful eye upon Melvina, and perhapswondered a little at all the attention lavished on the little Westongirls. Rebby saw Captain and Mrs. Horton and Lucia, with Captain Jones, enterthe church. Lucia did not look toward the group of girls seated in theWestons' pew. The Hortons were no longer trusted by their neighbors, andafter that morning in church they vanished from the community and neverreturned. Rebby's glance now rested on London. How queerly he looked, she thoughtwonderingly. He was leaning sideways peering out of an open window. AsRebecca watched him he rose to his feet with a loud cry, and before anyrestraining word could reach him he had leaped through the open window. In a moment all was confusion. There were loud cries of "Stop him!" Menrushed from the church, but the English officers, followed by CaptainJones and the Hortons, had scrambled through the open windows and werewell on their flight toward their boats, which they reached in safety, although numerous shots were fired after them. The gunboat at onceturned her guns on the town. Shot after shot echoed across the quietwaters of the harbor, but the range was too long, and no harm was done. The women and children huddled in the pews of the church, until ParsonLyon, musket in hand, came up from the shore to tell them that all wasquiet and to return to their homes. Melvina and Anna left the church together, and Luretta and Rebbyfollowed with Mrs. Weston. Melvina said good-bye to her friends verysoberly, and clasped her father's hand very closely as they walkedtoward home. "Will the English soldiers shoot down our liberty pole, Father?" sheasked. "The English captain has sent us word that we are to take it down beforesunset, so that he may be saved that trouble, " replied Parson Lyon, histone indicating that he considered the English captain's remark as anamusing utterance, not to be seriously considered. "But it will not be taken down, " said Melvina confidently. "Indeed it will not. And had that scamp London but held his peaceinstead of mistaking Captain Foster's men for an armed enemy marchingupon us, the English would be our prisoners at this moment, " declaredher father. "But that is but postponed, " he added quietly, "andto-morrow morning Machias men will give the English captain a lesson. " There were many anxious hearts in the settlement that night, for it hadbeen determined that in the early dawn of the following morning the menshould seize the sloop _Unity_, and make the attempt to capture theEnglish gunboat. Neither Rebecca nor Anna knew of this plan; and, stilltired from their journey, as well as by the excitement that morning atthe church, they were glad to go early to bed and were soon soundasleep. Mrs. Weston, unable to sleep, waited in the kitchen for herhusband's return. For Mr. Weston and his neighbors were busy with theirpreparations for the coming battle. It was decided that Captain O'Brienshould take command of the sloop, and before the sun rose the nextmorning forty Machias men were on board the _Unity_. Half this numberwere armed with broad-axes and pitchforks; the remainder had muskets. It was just at sunrise when a warning shot from the gunboat reverberatedalong the harbor, and Rebecca awakened suddenly. She realized at oncethat the conflict had begun. In an instant she was out of bed, slippedquickly into her clothing, and leaving Danna sound asleep, she sped downthe path and along the trail to the high bluff that commanded a view ofthe harbor. There was a favoring wind and the _Unity_, with her crew of untrainedmen, was now in full chase of a vessel well-armed and equipped. On sweptthe sloop, and a sudden volley of musketry from her deck astonished andconfused the enemy. The gunboat swerved, and the bowsprit of the _Unity_plunged into her mainsail, holding the two vessels together for a briefmoment. Rebecca, standing on the bluff, shouted aloud. She was sure that themoment of triumph for the Machias men was close at hand. But victory wasnot so easily achieved; the vessels suddenly parted, and now a storm ofbullets rained upon the _Unity_. Captain O'Brien swung the sloop alongside the _Margaretta_ and twenty ofhis men armed with pitchforks sprang to the enemy's deck. A hand-to-handconflict ensued. Surprised by the dauntless valor of the Machias menthe English were forced to yield. The English flag was pulled down amidtriumphant shouts of the Americans; the wounded were cared for, andEnglish officers and crew made prisoners of war. When Rebecca saw the English flag vanish from the gunboat's mast andheard the resounding cheers, she knew that the Americans had conqueredtheir enemy, and that the liberty tree would stand unchallenged. But shedid not realize that she had been a witness to the first naval exploitin America after the battle of Lexington. All the women and children and such men as had been left behind, werenow hurrying toward the wharves. Cheer after cheer rang out across theharbor as the _Unity_ and the captured gunboat came slowly to theiranchorage. Mrs. Weston and Anna came hurrying down the path and Rebby ran to meetthem. "I saw the battle, Mother!" she exclaimed eagerly. "I was on the bluffand saw it all. " But before Mrs. Weston could respond to thisastonishing statement a boat-load of men from the _Unity_ had landed. "Your father is safe, " whispered Mrs. Weston, "and now let me see ofwhat use I can be to the wounded men. Rebby, take Anna back to the houseand stay there until I come. " The two little girls walked silently back to the house. The battle thathad been so feared was over; the enemy was conquered, and Rebecca andAnna knew that by their bringing the powder from Chandler's River theyhad helped to win the conflict. But just then they did not think ofthat. They could think only of the wounded men, who had been socarefully brought on shore by their companions. On the following day the inhabitants, such as were not caring for thewounded English and American soldiers, gathered at the liberty pole. Itwas a quiet and reverent gathering. Several men of the settlement hadbeen wounded, and two had given their lives for America's cause. ParsonLyon gave loving tribute to these heroes, as he offered thanks for thetriumph of loyalty. And then, before all the people, he praised Rebecca and Anna Weston fortheir courage in undertaking the difficult and dangerous journey throughthe wilderness to bring aid to the settlement. "Step forward, Rebecca and Anna Weston, " he said smilingly; and, alittle fearfully, the sisters, hand in hand, left their mother's sideand approached the liberty pole. Taking each by the hand Parson Lyonsmiled down upon them. There was a little murmur of approval among the people, and one by onethe older members of the congregation came forward and praised thelittle girls. "It is Rebby who should be praised, not me, " Anna insisted. "It is notfair for me to be praised. " While Rebecca, in her turn, declared eagerlythat she could never have brought home the powder without Anna's help. There were many hard and troublous days ahead for the little settlement, but their courage did not falter. The valor of the Machias men wasspeedily recognized by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, who, onJune 26, 1775, passed a resolution extending to them the thanks of theCongress for their courageous conduct. The news of the brilliant victorywas heralded throughout the land, stimulating the colonists everywhereto emulate the example of the courageous settlers of Machias. Rebecca often thought of her former friend, Lucia Horton; but she nevertold the story of the night when, misled by Lucia's plausible story, she had tried to defeat the loyalty of the settlers by setting theirliberty tree adrift. As she looked up at the tall sapling, the emblem ofthe loyalty of the settlement, she was proud indeed that she had been ofuse in its protection. Anna's gold chain was her greatest treasure. It was shown to everylittle girl in the settlement, and each one knew its story. The goldensovereign given to Rebecca was no less highly prized. "That sovereign has a value beyond money. It is a medal for valor, " herfather said; and on the year when peace was firmly established betweenEngland and America Rebecca's golden sovereign was smoothed, and upon itthese words were engraved: "Presented to A Brave Little Maid of Maine, For Loyalty, June, 1775. " ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Stories In this Series are: A LITTLE MAID OF PROVINCE TOWN. A LITTLE MAID OF MASSACHUSETTS COLONY. A LITTLE MAID OF NARRAGANSETT BAY. A LITTLE MAID OF BUNKER HILL. A LITTLE MAID OF TICONDEROGA. A LITTLE MAID OF OLD CONNECTICUT. A LITTLE MAID OF OLD PHILADELPHIA. A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE. A LITTLE MAID OF OLD NEW YORK. A LITTLE MAID OF VIRGINIA. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Transcriber's Notes: 1. Punctuation has been normalized to contemporary standards. 2. Rebecca's birthday is inconsistently reported as the 10th of May and the 10th of September.