The Puritan Twins Page 3

  III

  ON BOARD THE LUCY ANN

  The family rose at daybreak the next morning, tasks were quicklyperformed, and after breakfast the Goodman read a chapter in the Bibleand prayed long and earnestly that God would bless their journey,protect those who were left behind, and bring them all together againin safety. Then he and Daniel started down the path to the river, withNancy and her mother, both looking very serious, following after. Thetide was already coming in, and the bay stretched before them a widesheet of blue water sparkling in the sun. In the distance they couldsee the sails of the Lucy Ann being hoisted and Captain Sanders in hissmall boat rowing rapidly toward the landing-place.

  "Ship ahoy!" shouted Daniel, waving his cap as the boat approached.

  "Ahoy, there!" answered the Captain, and in a moment the keel gratedon the sand, and the Goodman turned to his wife and daughter.

  "The Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from theother," he said reverently, and "Amen!" boomed the Captain. Then therewere kisses and good-byes, and soon Nancy and her mother were alone onthe shore, waving their hands until the boat was a mere speck on thedancing blue waters. As it neared the Lucy Ann, they went back to thecabin, and there they watched the white sails gleaming in the sununtil they disappeared around a headland.

  "Come, Nancy," said her mother when the ship was quite out of sight,"idleness will only make loneliness harder to bear. Here is a task forthee." She handed her a basket of raw wool. "Take this and card it forme to spin."

  Nancy hated carding with all her heart, but she rose obediently,brought the basket to the doorway, and, sitting down in the sunshine,patiently carded the wool into little wisps ready to be wound on aspindle and spun into yarn by the mother's skillful hands.

  Meanwhile Daniel was standing on the deck of the Lucy Ann, drinkingin the fresh salt breeze and eagerly watching the shores as the boatpassed between Charlestown and Boston and dropped anchor in the harborto set the Captain's lobster-pots. All the wonderful bright day theysailed past rocky islands and picturesque headlands, with the Captainat the tiller skillfully keeping the vessel to the course and at thesame time spinning yarns to Daniel and his father about the adventureswhich had overtaken him at various points along the coast. AtGovernor's Island he had caught a giant lobster. He had been all butwrecked in a fog off Thompson's Island.

  "Ye see that point of land," he said, waving his hand toward a rockypromontory extending far out into the bay. "That 's Squantum. MilesStandish of Plymouth named it that after an Indian that was a goodfriend of the Colony in the early days. Well, right off there I wasoverhauled by a French privateer once. 'Privateer' is a polite namefor a pirate ship. She was loaded with molasses, indigo, and such fromthe West Indies, and I had a cargo of beaver-skins. If it had n't beenthat her sailors was mostly roarin' drunk at the time, it 's likelythat would have been the end of Thomas Sanders, skipper, sloop, andall, but my boat was smaller and quicker than theirs, and, knowingthese waters so well, I was able to give 'em the slip and get out intoopen sea; and here I be! Ah, those were the days!"

  The Captain heaved a heavy sigh for the lost joys of youth and wassilent for a moment. Then his eyes twinkled and he began anotherstory. "One day as we was skirtin' the shores of Martha's Vineyard,"he said, "we were followed by a shark. Now, there 's nothing a sailorhates worse than a shark; and for good reasons. They 're the piratesof the deep; that 's what they are. They 'll follow a vessel for days,snapping up whatever the cook throws out, and hoping somebody 'llfall overboard to give 'em a full meal. Well, sir, there was a sailoraboard on that voyage that had a special grudge against sharks. He 'dbeen all but et up by one once, and he allowed this was his chance toget even; so he let out a hook baited with a whole pound of salt pork,and the shark gobbled it down instanter, hook and all. They hauled himup the ship's side, and then that sailor let himself down over therails by a rope, and cut a hole in the shark's gullet, or whateverthey call the pouch the critter carries his supplies in, and took outthe pork. Then he dropped him back in the water and threw the pork inafter him. Well, sir, believe it or not, that shark sighted the porkbobbing round in the water; so he swallowed it again. Of course itdropped right out through the hole in his gullet, and, by jolly! aslong as we could see him that shark was continuing to swallow thatpiece of pork over and over again. I don't know as I ever see anyanimal get more pleasure out of his rations than that shark got outof that pound of pork. I believe in bein' kind to dumb critters," hefinished, "and I reckon the shark is about the dumbdest there is.Anyhow that one surely did die happy." Here the Captain solemnlywinked his eye.

  "What became of the sailor?" asked Dan.

  "That sailor was me," admitted the Captain. "That 's what became ofhim, and served him right, too."

  They slept that night on the deck of the sloop, and before light thenext morning Dan was awakened by the groaning of the chain as theanchor was hauled up, and the flapping of the sails as Timothy hoistedthem to catch a stiff breeze which was blowing from the northeast.The second day passed like the first. The weather was fine, the windsfavorable, and that evening they rounded Duxbury Point and enteredPlymouth Bay just as the sun sank behind the hills back of the town.

  "Here 's the spot where the Mayflower dropped anchor," said theCaptain, as the sloop approached a strip of sandy beach stretchinglike a long finger into the water. "I generally bring the Lucy Ann toat the same place. She can't go out again till high tide to-morrow,for the harbor is shallow and we 'd likely run aground; so ye 'll havethe whole morning to spend with your relations, and that 's more thanI 'd want to spend with some of mine, I 'm telling ye," and he roaredwith laughter. "Relations is like victuals," he went on. "Some agreeswith ye, and some don't."

  "Our relations are the Bradfords," said Goodman Pepperell withdignity.

  "And a better man than the Governor never trod shoe-leather," said theCaptain heartily. "He and Captain Standish and Mr. Brewster and EdwardWinslow--why, those four men have piloted this town through moresqualls than would overtake most places in a hundred years! Ifanything could kill 'em they would have been under ground years ago.They 've had starvation and Indians and the plague followin' after 'emlike a school of sharks ever since they dropped anchor here well nighon to twenty years ago, and whatever happens they just thank theLord as if 't was a special blessing and go right along! By jolly!"declared the Captain, blowing his nose violently, "they nigh aboutbeat old Job for patience! 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust inHim,' says old Job, but his troubles was all over after a bit, and hegot rewarded with another full set of wives and children and worldlygoods, so he could see plain as print that righteousness paid. Butthese men,--their reward for trouble is just more trouble, fer 's Ican see. They surely do beat all for piety."

  "'Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth,'" quoted the Goodman.

  "The Lord must be mighty partial to Plymouth, then," answered theCaptain as he brought the sloop gently round the point, "for she's been shown enough favor to spile her, according to my way ofthinkin'."

  It was too late to go ashore that night, and from the deck Dan watchedthe stars come out over the little village, not dreaming that it heldin its humble keeping the brave spirit of a great nation that was tobe.

  When Daniel opened his eyes next morning, his father and the Captainwere already stowing various packages in the small boat, and from thetiny forecastle came an appetizing smell of frying fish.

  "Here ye be," said the Captain cheerily to Dan, "bright as a newshilling and ready to eat I 'll be bound. As soon as we 've had a bitewe 'll go ashore. I 've got to row clear over to Duxbury after I do myerrands in Plymouth, but I 'll hunt ye up when I get back. Nobody canget lost in this town without he goes out of it! I could spot ye fromthe deck most anywhere on the map. Then, my lad, if your father saysthe word, I 'll bring ye back to the Lucy Ann while he goes across theneck. Ye 'll get a taste of mackerel-fishing if ye come along o' me.Ye can make yourself handy on deck and keep a quarter of your owncatch for yourself if you 're liv
ely. A tub of salt fish would be atidy present to your mother when you get back home."

  "Oh, I want to go with you," cried Daniel, remembering with terrorwhat was expected of him in the way of manners should he be invited tostay at the Governor's. He looked questioningly at his father, but wasanswered only by a grave smile, and he knew better than to plead.

  "Here, now," cried the Captain, as Timothy appeared with a bigtrencher of smoking fish and corn bread, "tie up to the dock and stowaway some of this cargo in your insides."

  Neither Daniel nor his father needed a second invitation, for the keensalt air had given them the appetite of wolves, and the breakfast wassoon disposed of according to directions. Then the two followed theCaptain over the side and into the boat, which had been lowered andwas now bobbing about on the choppy waves of the bay. When they weresettled and the boat was properly trimmed, the Captain rowed toward asmall stream of clear water which flowed down from the hills back ofthe town, and landed them at the foot of the one little street of thevillage. The Captain drew the boat well up on the shore and stowedletters and parcels in various places about his person, and the threestarted up the hill together. They had not gone far, when a childishvoice shouted, "There 's Captain Sanders," and immediately every childwithin hearing came tumbling down the hill till they swarmed about himlike flies about a honey-pot.

  "Pirates!" cried the Captain, holding up his hands in mock terror."I surrender. Come aboard and seize the cargo!" He held open thecapacious pocket which hung from his belt, and immediately half adozen small hands plunged into it and came out laden with raisins.

  "Here, now, divide fairly," shouted the Captain. "No pigs!" and withchildren clinging to his hands and coat-tails he made a slow progressup the hill, Daniel and his father following closely in his wake.

  As they were nearing the Common House, two more children caught sightof him and came racing to meet him. The Captain dived into hispocket for more raisins and found it empty, but he was equal to theemergency. "Here, you, Mercy and Joseph Bradford," he cried, "I 'vebrought you something I have n't brought to any one else. I 'vebrought you a new cousin." The other children had been so absorbed intheir old friend they had scarcely noticed the strangers hitherto, butnow they turned to gaze curiously at Daniel and his father. Joseph andMercy were both a little younger than Daniel, and all three were shy,but no one could stay shy long when the Captain was about, and soonthey were walking along together in the friendliest manner.

  "Where 's thy father, young man?" said the Captain, speaking toJoseph. "I have a letter for him, and I have brought a relation forhim too."

  "I wish you would bring me a cousin," said one little girl enviously.

  "Well, now," roared the Captain, "think of that! I have a fewrelations of my own left over that I 'd be proper glad to parcel outamongst ye if I 'd only known ye was short, but I have n't got 'emwith me."

  "Father 's in there," said Joseph, pointing to the Common House. "They're having a meeting. Elder Brewster 's there, too, and Mr. Winslowand Captain Standish and Governor Prence." It was evident that somematter of importance was being discussed, for a little knot of womenhad gathered before the door as if waiting for some decision to beannounced.

  They had almost reached the group, when suddenly from the north therecame a low roaring noise, and the earth beneath their feet shook andtrembled so violently that many of the children were thrown to theground, while the bundles Goodman Pepperell was carrying for theCaptain flew in every direction. Those who kept their feet at allreeled and staggered in a strange, wild dance, and every child in thegroup screamed with all his might. The women screamed, too, callingfrantically to the children, and the men came pouring out of the doorof the Common House, trying to steady themselves as they were flungfirst one way, then another by the heaving ground. It lasted but a fewdreadful moments, and the Captain was the first to recover his speech.

  "There, now," said he, a little breathlessly, "ain't it lucky I had mysea legs on! 'T wa'n't anything but an earthquake, anyway."

  The instant they could stay on their feet, the children ran to theirmothers, who were also running to them, and in less time than it takesto tell it the whole village was gathered before the Common House. AsDaniel, with the Captain and his father, joined the stricken company,Governor Bradford was speaking. He had been Governor of the Colony forso long that in time of sudden stress the people still turned to himfor counsel though Mr. Prence was really the Governor.

  "Think ye not that the finger of the Lord would direct us by thisvisitation?" he said to the white-faced group. "We were met togetherin council because some of our number wish to go away from Plymouth tofind broader pastures for their cattle, even as Jacob separated fromEsau with all his flocks and herds. In this I see a sign of God'sdispleasure at our removals one from another."

  John Howland now found his voice. "Nay, but," he said, "shall we limitthe bounty of the Lord and say, 'Only here shall He prosper us'?"

  "What say the Scriptures to him who was not content with abundance,but must tear down his barns to build bigger?" answered the Governor."'This night thy soul shall be required of thee.'"

  There was no reply, and the pale faces grew a shade paler as a secondrumble was heard in the distance, the earth again began to tremble,and a mighty wave, rolling in from the sea, crashed against the shore.Above the noise of the waters rose the voice of Governor Bradford. "Helooketh upon the earth and it trembleth. He toucheth the hills andthey smoke. The Lord is merciful and gracious. He will not alwayschide, neither will He keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt withus after our sins."

  Seeing how frightened the people were, the Captain broke the silencewhich fell upon the trembling group after the Governor's words. "Lordlove ye!" he cried heartily. "This wa'n't no earthquake to speak of.'T wa'n't scarcely equal to an ague chill down in the tropics! Theywould n't have no respect for it down there. 'T would n't more thangive 'em an appetite for their victuals."

  His laugh which followed cheered many hearts, and was echoed in faintsmiles on the pale faces of the colonists. Governor Bradford himselfsmiled and, turning to the Captain, held out his hand. "Thou art evera tonic, Thomas," he said, "and there is always a welcome for thee inPlymouth and for thy friends, too," he added, turning to the Goodman.

  "Though thou knowest him not, he is haply more thy friend than mine,"said the Captain, pushing the Goodman and Daniel forward to shakehands with the Governor, "He is married to Mistress Bradford's nieceand his name is Pepperell."

  "Josiah Pepperell, of Cambridge?" said the Governor's lady, comingforward to welcome him.

  "At your service, madam," answered the Goodman, bowing low, "and thisis my son Daniel."

  Daniel bowed in a manner to make his mother proud of him if she couldhave seen him, and then Mercy and Joseph swarmed up, bringing theirolder brother William, a lad of fifteen, to meet his new cousin, andthe four children ran away together, all their tongues wagging brisklyabout the exciting event of the day. The earthquake had now completelypassed, and the people, roused from their terror, hastened to theirhomes to repair such damage as had been done and to continue thetasks which it had interrupted. Meanwhile the Captain distributed hisletters and parcels, leaving the Governor to become acquainted withhis new relative, learn his errand, and help him on his journey, whilehis wife hastened home to prepare a dinner for company.

  It was a wonderful dinner that she set before them. There weresuccotash and baked codfish, a good brown loaf, and pies made ofblueberries gathered and dried the summer before. Oh, if only Daniel'smother could have been there to see his table manners on thatoccasion! He sat up as straight as a ramrod, said "please" and "thankyou," ate in the most genteel manner possible, even managing blueberrypie without disaster, and was altogether such an example of behaviorthat Mistress Bradford said before the meal was half over, "Thou'lt leave the lad with us, Cousin Pepperell, whilst thou art on thyjourney?"

  "I fear to trouble thee," said the Goodman. "And the Captain hath apurpose to take him to
Provincetown and meet me here on my return."

  "The land is mayhap safer than the sea should another earthquake visitus," said the Governor gravely, "and he will more than earn his keepif he will but help William with the corn and other tasks. Likethyself we are in sad need of more hands."

  Daniel looked eagerly at his father, for he already greatly admiredhis cousin William and longed to stay with him. Moreover, theearthquake had somewhat modified his appetite for adventure.

  "His eyes plead," said the Goodman, "and I know it would please hismother. So by your leave he may stay."

  A whoop of joy from the three young Bradfords was promptly suppressedby their mother. "For shame!" she said. "Thy cousin Daniel will thinkthou hast learned thy manners from the savages. Thou shouldst take alesson from his behavior."

  Poor Daniel squirmed on his stool and thought if he must be an exampleevery moment of his stay he would almost choose being swallowed up bya tidal wave at sea after all. The matter had been settled, however,and that very afternoon the Goodman set off on a hired horse, with hismusket across his saddle-bow, and a head full of instructions fromthe Governor about the dangers of the road, and houses where he mightspend the nights.

  There was a queer lump in Daniel's throat as he caught the lastglimpse of his father's sturdy back as it disappeared down the foresttrail, and that night, when he went to bed with William in the loft ofthe Governor's log house, he thought long and tenderly of his motherand Nancy. If he had only had a magic mirror such as Beauty had in thepalace of the Beast, he might have looked into it and seen them goingpatiently about their daily tasks with nothing to break the monotonousroutine of work except a visit from Gran'ther Wattles, who came to seeif Nancy knew her catechism. The earthquake had been felt there sovery slightly that they did not even know there had been one, untilthe Captain stopped on his return voyage the next week to bring themword of the safe journey to Plymouth.