A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony
Page 18
CHAPTER XVIII
A GREAT ADVENTURE
Anne's first impulse was to open the cabin door, but she had learned onelesson by her runaway journey--to obey and wait. It was very hard forthe little girl to keep quiet, for she could hear her father's voice,and that of Captain Starkweather, and loud commands in strange voices,and the sloop seemed to be moving this way and that as if it had lostits pilot.
"We are captured by that English boat; I know we are," Anne whispered toherself.
And that was really what had happened. The English schooner had sent ashot through Captain Starkweather's fine new mainsail, followed by acommand to lay to, and before Mr. Nelson had had time to fasten the doorof the cabin, the schooner was abreast of the sloop and in a few momentsthe Province Town boat was taken in tow by the English schooner, and Mr.Nelson and Captain Starkweather found themselves prisoners.
"Leave 'em on deck, but make sure they can't move hands or feet," Anneheard a rough voice command, and there was the sound of scuffling feet,and gradually the noise ceased; and all that Anne could hear was a faintmurmur of voices, and the ripple of the water against the side of theboat. These sounds gradually ceased, and the frightened child realizedthat the wind had died away, and that the boats were becalmed. Shepeered out of the little cabin window and saw that the English boat wasvery near. The tide sent the sloop close to the schooner, and now Annecould hear voices very plainly.
"Pull in that tow line, and make fast to the sloop," she heard the samegruff voice command, and in a few moments the sloop lay beside theschooner.
"I could get on board just as easy," Anne thought, and wondered if herfather would tell the English that his little daughter was in thesloop's cabin.
Poor John Nelson, lying on the schooner's deck, tied hand and foot,feared every moment that his conquerors would discover that there wasanother passenger on board the boat. "They would not harm my littlemaid," he assured himself, "but there is food and water in the sloop'scabin, and Anne is best off there."
Both he and Captain Starkweather hoped that some American vessel mightcome to their rescue. But now that the wind had died away there was nochance of that for the present.
"A midsummer calm. May be stuck here for twenty-four hours," Anne hearda grumbling voice declare.
The long summer day dragged by. Anne opened the lunch basket, but hadlittle appetite. At sunset there was a ripple of wind and the two boats,side by side, moved a short distance.
Anne, shut up in the tiny cabin, had come to a great resolve. "Fathertold me to stay here, but if I could creep aboard the schooner and untiethe cords, then father and Captain Starkweather could get free," shethought. And the more she thought of it, the more sure she was that shecould do it.
The twilight deepened, and now Anne ventured to push open the cabin doora little way. The sailors were in the forecastle, but Anne could see adark figure in the stern of the schooner. She ventured out and softlyclosed the cabin door. Now, on her hands and knees, the little girlcrept across the little space toward the side of the schooner. It lookedlike a black wall, but not very high above her, and there were ropes;and Anne was used to boats. Grasping a rope she drew herself up, handover hand, until she could reach the deck-rail. Now she gave a swiftglance toward the dark figure at the stern. "I do believe he's asleep,"she thought, and Anne now pulled herself to the top of the rail anddropped noiselessly to the deck of the schooner. For a few moments shecowered in the shadow, and then looked anxiously about. Near the cabinshe could see two black shadows, and knew that they were her father andCaptain Starkweather.
Keeping close in the shadow Anne crept along the deck. But, noiseless asher progress had been, Anne had been seen the moment her little figurereached the top of the deck rail. John Nelson's keen eyes, staring intothe summer night, had recognized his little daughter, and instantlyrealized that Anne meant to help them. He held his breath for fear thatsome sharp ear had caught a sound, and then whispered to his companion,"Don't move, or call out, captain; Anne is on deck and will help us."
The little girl was now close beside her father. "Feet first, Anne," hewhispered, and Anne's eager fingers pulled and worked at the tough knotsso securely tied until they loosened, and John Nelson could move hisfeet. Her father did not dare even whisper again. He longed to tell herto hurry, but dared not speak. Anne was now tugging and twisting at therope which held her father's wrists, and managed to loosen it so that hecould work his hands free. Then they both began to loosen CaptainStarkweather's cords, and in a few minutes he too was free. The samethought was running through the minds of both men: If a girl like Annehad such courage, why couldn't two sailors make a prize of this goodEnglish boat?
"Go back to the sloop's cabin, Anne. We'll follow," whispered herfather. And Anne obeyed. She was not afraid now. How easy it had been,she thought happily, as she slid down the rope to the sloop's deck, andfound herself again in the little cabin.
The dark figure, dozing at the schooner's helm, did not see the twocreeping men who so suddenly were upon him. A twisted scarf over hismouth, and no sound to warn his mates, his hands and feet bound withthe very cords that had secured his prisoners, he was left a captive.Then John Nelson and Captain Starkweather sped toward the forecastle;the open hatchway was closed so quickly that the men below hardlyrealized what had happened, and it was securely fastened before theycould help themselves.
"The breeze is coming," declared Captain Starkweather. "Shall we putback to Boston, John? We'll not know what to do with this craft inProvince Town."
"A good night's work this, and Boston folk will be glad to see thisEnglish 'Sea Bird' come in to her harbor. 'Tis the same craft that hascaused so much trouble to fishing boats. I'll bring Anne on board," andJohn Nelson ran to the schooner's side and called, "Anne! Anne!" Amoment later and he lifted his little daughter to the deck of theschooner.
"You are a brave child," declared Captain Starkweather. "This schooneris really your prize, for 'tis by your courage that we have taken her."
The schooner's course was changed, and, the wind increasing, she sweptoff toward Boston harbor.
"'Twill be a good tale for Mr. Samuel Adams to hear," said CaptainStarkweather, "and you will indeed be proud of your little daughter,John. I doubt not but this will be printed in the Boston papers, andnews of it sent to General Washington himself."
It was hardly sunrise when the "Sea Bird," towing Captain Starkweather'ssloop, came to anchor off the Freemans' wharf. John Nelson's hail to afriendly fisherman brought a number of boats alongside, and when he hadtold them of how the capture was made a chorus of huzzas filled the air.The news was carried to the other vessels in the harbor, and the "SeaBird" was soon surrounded by small boats. One of these boats pulled forthe shore, and its crew spread the news that a little girl and twosailors from Province Town had captured and brought into harbor a fineEnglish schooner. Mr. Freeman heard the news on his way to the wharf,and saw the crew of the "Sea Bird" being marched up the street under astrong guard. The church bells were rung, and when John Nelson and Annereached shore they were welcomed by cheers.
Rose came hurrying through the crowd.
"Oh, Anne!" she exclaimed. "Here is Mr. Samuel Adams waiting to speak toyou! You are the bravest girl in the colony."
"'Twill be a wonderful thing to tell Amanda," said Anne happily. "EvenAmos could hope for no finer adventure."
"There'll be prize money," added Frederick. "I heard my father say thatthere'll be a large sum for you and your father and for CaptainStarkweather."
It was a week later when they sailed once more for Province Town. It wasdecided that it would be safer to leave the harbor at nightfall, whenthere would be a better chance of the sloop not being recognized andfollowed by some watchful craft lurking in the lower harbor. This timethe little cabin was nearly filled, for Captain Starkweather was takinggifts to each one of his six boys, beside wonderful packages for theirmother, and Anne and her father could hardly wait for the time whenUncle Enos and Aunt Martha should see the se
t of lustre ware, the finepewter, and the boxes of figs, dates, jellies and sweets which they weretaking to Province Town.
"YOU ARE THE BRAVEST GIRL IN THE COLONY"]