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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20340-8.txt b/20340-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..197ff22 --- /dev/null +++ b/20340-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5005 @@ +Project Gutenberg's A Little Maid of Old Maine, by Alice Turner Curtis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Little Maid of Old Maine + +Author: Alice Turner Curtis + +Release Date: January 11, 2007 [EBook #20340] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[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 two +girls to bring help to a little settlement on the Maine coast at the +time of the War of the Revolution. Parson Lyon, the father of Melvina, +was a friend and correspondent of Washington, and the capture of the +English gunboat by the Machias men is often referred to in history as +"The Lexington of the Seas," being the first naval battle after the +Lexington encounter. + +The story is based on facts, and its readers cannot fail to be +interested and touched by the courage and patriotism of Rebecca and Anna +Weston as they journeyed through the forest after the powder that was to +make 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 along +the path that led from their home to the Machias River. It was a +pleasant May morning in 1775, and the air was filled with the fragrance +of the freshly cut pine logs that had been poled down the river in big +rafts to be cut into planks and boards at the big sawmills. The river, +unusually full with the spring rains, dashed against its banks as if +inviting the little girls to play a game with it. Usually Anna and +Rebecca were quite ready to linger at the small coves which crept in so +near to the footpath, and sail boats made of pieces of birch-bark, with +alder twigs for masts and broad oak leaves for sails. They named these +boats _Polly_ and _Unity_, after the two fine sloops which carried +lumber from Machias to Boston and returned with cargoes of provisions +for the little settlement. + +But this morning the girls hurried along without a thought for such +pleasant games. They were both anxious to get to the lumber yard as soon +as possible, not only to fill their basket with chips, as their mother +had bidden them, but to hear if there were not some news of the _Polly_, +the return of which was anxiously awaited; for provisions were getting +scarce in this remote village, and not until the _Polly_ should come +sailing into harbor could there be any sugar cakes, or even bread made +of wheat flour. + +As they hurried along they heard the cheerful whistle of Mr. Worden +Foster, the blacksmith, who was just then taking a moment of well-earned +leisure in the door of his shop, and stood looking out across the quiet +waters of the river and harbor. As the girls came near he nodded +pleasantly, but did not stop whistling. People in Machias declared that +the blacksmith woke up in the morning whistling, and never stopped +except to eat. And, indeed, his little daughter Luretta said that when +her father wanted a second helping of anything at the table he would +whistle and point toward it with his knife; so it might be said that +Mr. Foster whistled even at his meals. + +"There's Father! There's Father!" Anna called out as they passed a big +pile of pine logs and came to where stacks of smooth boards just from +the sawmill shut the river from sight. + +"Well, Danna, do you and Rebby want your basket filled with golden +oranges from sunny Italy and dates from Egypt? Or shall it be with +Brazilian nuts and ripe pineapples from South America?" + +"Oh, Father! Say some more!" exclaimed Anna, laughing with delight; for +she never tired of hearing her father tell of the wonderful fruits of +far-off lands that he had seen in his sailor days, before he came to +live in the little settlement of Machias, in the Province of Maine, and +manage the big sawmill. + +"Father, tell us, is the _Polly_ coming up the bay?" Rebecca asked +eagerly. She had a particular reason for wanting the sloop to reach +harbor as soon as possible, for her birthday was close at hand, and her +father had told her that the _Polly_ was bringing her a fine gift; but +what it was Rebecca could not imagine. She had guessed everything from a +gold ring to a prayer-book; but at every guess her father had only +smilingly shook his head. + +"No sign of the _Polly_ yet, Rebby," Mr. Weston replied. + +Rebecca sighed as her father called her "Rebby," and a little frown +showed itself on her forehead. She was nearly fourteen, and she had +decided that neither "Rebecca" nor "Rebby" were names that suited her. +Her middle name was "Flora," and only that morning Anna had promised not +to 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, this +morning," he continued, taking the basket, "but pine chips. Well, come +over here and we will soon fill the basket," and he led the way to where +two men were at work with sharp adzes smoothing down a big stick of +timber. + +In a few minutes the basket was filled, and the little girls were on +their way home. + +"Would it not be a fine thing, Rebby, if we could really fill our basket +with pineapples and sweet-smelling spices?" said Anna, her brown eyes +looking off into space, as if she fancied she could see the wonderful +things of which her father spoke; "and do you not wish that we were both +boys, 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 see +them. Have you not heard Father say that there were no more beautiful +places in all the world than the shores of this Province?" responded +Rebecca reprovingly. She sometimes thought that it would have been far +better if Anna had really been a boy instead of a girl; for the younger +girl delighted to be called "Dan," and had persuaded her mother to keep +her brown curls cut short "like a boy's"; beside this, Anna cared little +for dolls, and was completely happy when her father would take her with +him for a day's deep-sea fishing, an excursion which Rebecca could never +be persuaded to attempt. Anna was also often her father's companion on +long tramps in the woods, where he went to mark trees to be cut for +timber. She wore moccasins on these trips, made by the friendly Indians +who often visited the little settlement, and her mother had made her a +short skirt of tanned deerskin, such as little Indian girls sometimes +wear, and with her blue blouse of homespun flannel, and round cap with a +partridge wing on one side, Anna looked like a real little daughter of +the woods as she trotted sturdily along beside her tall father. + +As the sisters passed the blacksmith shop they could hear the ringing +stroke on the anvil, for Mr. Foster had returned to his work of +hammering out forks for pitching hay and grain; these same forks which +were fated to be used before many months passed as weapons against the +enemies of American liberty. + +"To-morrow I am to go with Father to the woods," announced Anna as they +came in sight of the comfortable log cabin which stood high above the +river, and where they could see their mother standing in the doorway +looking for their return. The girls waved and called to their mother as +they hurried up the path. + +"We have fine chips, Mother," called Rebecca, while Anna in a sing-song +tone called out: "Pineapples and sweet-smelling spices! Strings of pink +coral and shells from far lands." + +Rebecca sighed to herself as she heard Anna's laughing recital of their +father's words. She resolved to ask her mother to forbid Anna talking +in 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 bellows +to liven up the coals, and I have a fine venison steak to broil for +dinner," and as she spoke Mrs. Weston took the basket and hurried into +the house, followed by the girls. + +"Mother, what is a 'liberty pole'?" questioned Anna, kneeling on the +hearth to help her mother start the fire with the pine chips. + +"What dost thou mean, child? Surely the men are not talking of such +matters as liberty poles?" responded her mother anxiously. + +Anna nodded her head. "Yes, Mother. There is to be a 'liberty pole' set +up so it can be well seen from the harbor, for so I heard Mr. O'Brien +say; and Father is to go to the woods to-morrow to find it. It is to be +the straightest and handsomest sapling pine to be found in a day's +journey; that much I know," declared Anna eagerly; "but tell me why is +it to be called a 'liberty pole'? And why is it to be set up so it can +be well seen from the harbor?" + +"Thou knowest, Anna, that King George of England is no longer the true +friend of American liberty," said Mrs. Weston, "and the liberty pole is +set up to show all Tories on land or sea that we mean to defend our +homes. And if the men are talking of putting up the tree of liberty in +Machias I fear that trouble is near at hand. But be that as it may, our +talking of such matters will not make ready thy father's dinner. Blaze +up the fire with these chips, Anna; and thou, Rebby, spread the table." + +Both the girls hastened to obey; but Anna's thoughts were pleasantly +occupied with the morrow's excursion when she would set forth with her +father to discover the "handsome sapling pine tree," which was to be +erected as the emblem of the loyalty of the Machias settlement to +Freedom's call. Anna knew they would follow one of the Indian trails +through the forest, where she would see many a wild bird, and that the +day would be filled with delight. + +But Rebecca's thoughts were not so pleasant. Here it was the fifth of +May, 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 and +unhappy. Only yesterday she had spent the afternoon with her most +particular friend, Lucia Horton, whose father was captain of the +_Polly_; and Lucia had told Rebecca something of such importance, after +vowing her to secrecy, that this talk of a liberty pole really +frightened her. And the thought that her own father was to select it +brought the danger very near. She wished that Lucia had kept the secret +to 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 she +quite forgot her errand until her mother called: + +"Rebby! Rebby! What are you about in the cupboard?" Then, bringing only +one plate instead of four, she came slowly back to the kitchen. + +"What ails the child?" questioned Mrs. Weston sharply. "I declare, I +believe both of my children are losing their wits. Here is Anna making +rhymes and sing-songing her words in strange fashion; and thou, Rebecca, +a girl of nearly fourteen, careless of thy work, and standing before me +on one foot like a heron, staring at naught," and Mrs. Weston hurried to +the pantry for the forgotten dishes. + +Anna smiled at her mother's sharp words, for she did not mind being +called 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 she +added more chips to the fire, and thought no more of it. + +But Rebecca, who was used to being praised for her good sense and who +was seldom found fault with, had looked at her mother in surprise, and +the 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 put +up a liberty pole, will you? You won't! Promise you won't, Father!" and +she clasped his arm with both hands. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + REBECCA'S SECRET + + +Mr. Weston looked down smilingly at his little daughter. He was +evidently 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 came +to this far-off place to make their home. Eastern Maine was then a +wilderness, and this little village was not connected with the outside +world except by the Indian trails or by the sailing craft which plied up +and down the coast. But its citizens were soon to write a page of +heroism and valor in their country's history. + +"Of course Machias is to have a liberty pole," continued Mr. Weston. "It +has been so decided by a vote in a town meeting; and Dan and I will +start off in good season to-morrow morning to look for the finest pine +sapling in the forest. It will be a great day for the village when 'tis +set up, with its waving green plume to show that we are pledged to +resist England's injustice to her long-suffering colonies." + +It was the custom to leave a tuft of verdure at the top of the liberty +tree as an emblem, the best they had at command, of the flag they meant +to fight for. + +Before her father had finished speaking Rebecca had relinquished her +grasp on his arm and ran toward the cupboard, and neither her father nor +mother gave much thought to her anxious question. The venison was just +ready to serve, and Mrs. Weston hurried from the fireplace to the table, +on which Rebecca had now placed the dishes, while Mr. Weston and Anna +talked happily together over the proposed excursion on the following +day. + +"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, and +you know: + + "'When sea-birds fly to land + A storm is at hand.'" + +"But look at Malty," responded Anna quickly, pointing to the fat Maltese +cat 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 will +hope for fair weather." + +Rebecca was very silent at dinner, and as the sisters began to clear +away the dishes Anna watched her with troubled eyes. + +"Perhaps it's because I called her 'Rebby,'" thought the little girl +regretfully. "I'll tell her I am sorry," and when their mother left the +kitchen Anna whispered: + +"Flora, I forgot when I called you 'Rebby.' But I will now surely +remember. You are not vexed at me, are you?" and Anna leaned her head +against her sister's arm and looked up at her pleadingly. + +Rebecca sniffed a little, as if trying to keep back the tears. She +wished she could talk over her worries with Anna; but of course that +would never do. + +"I believe I'd rather be called 'Rebby,'" she managed to say, to the +surprise of her younger sister. "Do you suppose they really mean to put +up a liberty pole?" + +"Of course," responded Anna. "I heard the minister say that it must be +done." + +Rebby sighed dolefully. She was old enough to understand the talk she +heard constantly of His Majesty's ships of war capturing the American +fishing sloops, and of the many troubles caused to peaceable Americans +all along the coast; and she, like all the American children, knew that +their rights must be defended; but Lucia Horton's talk had frightened +and confused Rebecca's thoughts. To set up a liberty pole now seemed to +her a most dangerous thing to do, and something that would bring only +trouble. + +She wished with all her heart that she could tell her father all that +Lucia 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 there +this afternoon, and we could see the _Polly_ if she chances to come into +harbor to-day," said Anna. + +"You had best ask Luretta Foster, Danna," she answered quickly. "I am +sure Mother will want my help with her quilting this afternoon." + +Rebby so often played at being "grown up" that this reply did not +surprise Anna, and she ran off to find her mother and ask permission to +go 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 was +running along the river path toward the blacksmith shop where a short +path led to Luretta's home. + +Anna often thought that there could not be another little girl in all +the world as pretty as Luretta. Luretta was not as tall or as strongly +made as Anna; her eyes were as blue as the smooth waters of the harbor +on a summer's day; her hair was as yellow as the floss on an ear of +corn, and her skin was not tanned brown like Anna's, but was fair and +delicate. Beside her Anna looked more like a boy than ever. But Luretta +admired Anna's brown eyes and short curly hair, and was quite sure that +there was no other little girl who could do or say such clever things as +Anna Weston. So the two little girls were always well pleased with each +other's company, and to-day Luretta was quite ready to go down to the +shore and watch for the _Polly_. Mrs. Foster tied on the big sunbonnet +which 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 may +be the _Unity_ will come sailing in beside her loaded with things from +far 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," she +answered; "but 'tis said the _Polly_ is to bring a fine silk gown for +Mistress Lyon; 'tis a present from her sister in Boston, and two dolls +for Melvina Lyon. Why is it that ministers' daughters have so many +gifts?" and Luretta sighed. Her only doll was made of wood, and, though +it was very dear to her, Luretta longed for a doll with a china head and +hands, such as the fortunate little daughter of the minister already +possessed. + +"I care not for Melvina Lyon, if she be a minister's daughter," Anna +responded bravely. "She can do nothing but sew and knit and make fine +cakes, and read from grown-up books. She is never allowed to go +fishing, or wade in the cove on warm days, or go off in the woods as I +do. I doubt if Melvina Lyon could tell the difference 'twixt a partridge +and heron, or if she could tell a spruce tree from a fir. And as for +presents, hers are of no account. They are but dolls, and silver +thimbles and silk aprons. Why! did not my father bring me home a fine +beaver skin for a hood, and a pair of duck's wings, and a pair of +moccasins 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 your +presents are all from the woods, just as if you were a little Indian +girl," objected Luretta, who greatly admired the ruffled gowns of +Melvina's dolls, such as no other little girl in the settlement +possessed. + +Anna made no response to this; but she was surprised that Luretta should +not think as she did about the value of her gifts, and rather vexed that +Melvina Lyon should be praised by her own particular friend. + +The girls had passed the sawmill and lumber yard, and now turned from +the well-traveled path to climb a hill where they could catch the first +glimpse of any sail entering the harbor. Farther along this bluff stood +the church, not yet quite finished, and beyond it the house of the +minister, the Reverend James Lyon, whose little daughter, Melvina, was +said to be the best behaved and the smartest girl in the settlement. +Although only ten years old Melvina had already "pieced" four patchwork +quilts and quilted them; and her neat stitches were the admiration of +all the women of the town. But most of the little girls were a little in +awe of Melvina, who never cared to play games, and always brought her +knitting or sewing when she came for an afternoon visit. + +Anna and Luretta sat down on the short grass, and for a few moments +talked of the _Polly_, and looked in vain for the glimmer of a sail. + +"Look, Danna! Here comes Melvina now," whispered Luretta, whose quick +ears 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 intent +on her steps that, if Anna had not called her name, she would have +passed without seeing them. She was thin and dark, and looked more like +a little old lady than a ten-year-old girl. + +"How do you do?" she said, bowing as ceremoniously as if Luretta and +Anna 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," added +Luretta quickly. + +A little smile crept over Melvina's face and she took a step toward +them, but stopped suddenly. + +"I fear 'twould not be wise for me to stop," she said a little +fearfully; but before she could say anything more Anna and Luretta had +jumped up and ran toward her. + +"Look!" exclaimed Anna, pointing to a flock of white gulls that had just +settled 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," she +responded seriously. + +Anna's eyes danced with delight as she heard Luretta's half-repressed +giggle at Melvina's reply. She resolved that Luretta should realize of +how little importance Melvina Lyon, with all her dolls, and her starched +skirts like wheels, really was. + +"And are those not big alder trees, Melly?" she continued, pointing to a +group 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 trees +were 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 it +necessary to try to be polite; and Luretta was now ready to join in the +game of finding out how little Melvina Lyon, "the smartest and +best-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 girls +could not be laughing at her, she thought, recalling with satisfaction +that it was well known that she could spell the names of every city in +Europe, and repeat the list of all England's kings and queens. She +remembered, also, that Anna Weston was called a tomboy, and that her +mother said it was a scandal for a little girl to have short hair. So +she again replied pleasantly that she had never known that clams were +birds. "We have them stewed very often," she declared. + +Anna fairly danced about the neat little figure in the well-starched +blue linen skirt. + +"Oh, Melly! You must come down to the shore, and we will show you a +clam's nest," she said, remembering that only yesterday she had +discovered the nest of a kingfisher in an oak tree whose branches nearly +touched 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, while +Luretta promptly grasped the other, and half led, half pushed the +surprised and uncertain Melvina along the rough slope. Anna talked +rapidly as they hurried along. "You ought really to see a clam's nest," +she urged, between her bursts of laughter; "why, Melly, even Luretta and +I know about clams." + +Anna had not intended to be rude or cruel when she first began her game +of letting Luretta see that Melly and her possessions were of no +importance, but Melvina's ignorance of the common things about her, as +well as her neatly braided hair, her white stockings and kid shoes, such +as no other child in the village possessed, made Anna feel as if Melvina +was not a real little girl, but a dressed-up figure. She chuckled at the +thought of Luretta's calling clams "birds," with a new admiration for +her friend. + +"I guess after this Luretta won't always be talking about Melvina Lyon +and her dolls," she thought triumphantly; and at that moment Melvina's +foot slipped and all three of the little girls went sliding down the +sandy bluff. + +The slide did not matter to either Anna or Luretta, in their stout shoes +and every-day dresses of coarse flannel, but to the carefully dressed +Melvina it was a serious mishap. Her starched skirts were crushed and +stained, her white stockings soiled, and her slippers scratched. The hat +of fine-braided straw with its ribbon band, another "present" from the +Boston relatives, now hung about her neck, and her knitting-bag was +lost. + +As the little girls gathered themselves up Melvina began to cry. Her +delicate hands were scratched, and never before in her short life had +she been so frightened and surprised. + +She pulled herself away from Anna's effort to straighten her hat. "You +are a rough child," she sobbed, "and I wish I had not stopped to speak +with 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 about +showing her a "clam's nest," and became seriously frightened. After all, +Melly was the minister's daughter, and the Reverend Mr. Lyon was a +person of importance; why, he even had a colored body-servant, London +Atus by name, who usually walked behind the clergyman carrying his cloak +and Bible, and who opened the door for visitors. Often Melvina was +attended in her walks by London, who thought his little mistress far +superior to the other children. + +"Don't cry, Melvina," pleaded Luretta. "We will find your bag, and we +will wash the stains from your stockings and dress, and help you back up +the slope. Don't cry," and Luretta put a protecting arm about the +frightened Melvina. "Your hat has only slipped from your head; it is +not hurt at all," she added consolingly. + +Melvina was finally comforted, and Anna climbed up the slope to search +for the missing bag, while Luretta persuaded Melvina to take off her +stockings in order that they might be washed. + +"They'll dry in no time," Luretta assured her. "I can wash them out +right 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-work +stockings, and curling her feet under her, sat down on a big rock to +watch Luretta dip the stockings in the little pool of sea water near by, +and to send anxious glances toward the sandy bluff where Anna was +searching for the missing bag. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + MELVINA MAKES DISCOVERIES + + +The sun shone warmly down on the brown ledges, the little waves crept up +the shore with a pleasant murmur, and Melvina, watching Luretta dipping +her white stockings in the pool, began to feel less troubled and +unhappy; and when Anna came running toward her waving the knitting-bag +she even smiled, and was ready to believe that her troubles were nearly +over. + +In spite of the sunshine dark clouds were gathering along the western +horizon; but the girls did not notice this. Anna and Luretta had +forgotten all about the sloop _Polly_, and were both now a little +ashamed of their plan to make sport of Melvina. + +"Here is your bag all safe, Melly," called Anna, "and while Luretta is +washing 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 to +Melvina, who put it carefully beside her hat and agreed promptly to +Anna's suggestion, stepping carefully along the rough shore to the edge +of the water. The rocks hurt her tender feet, but she said nothing; and +when she was near the water she could not resist dipping first one foot +and then the other in the rippling tide. + +"Oh, I have always wanted to wade in the ocean," she exclaimed, "and the +water is not cold." + +As Anna listened to Melvina's exclamation a new and wonderful plan came +into her thoughts; something she decided that would make up to Melvina +for her mischievous fun. She resolved quickly that Melvina Lyon should +have the happiest afternoon of her life. + +"Melly, come back a little way and slip off your fine skirts. I'll take +off 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 Luretta +nodded. + +The stains did not seem to come out of the stockings; they looked gray +and streaked, so Luretta dipped them again, paying little attention to +her companions. + +[Illustration: "WE'LL WADE OUT TO FLAT ROCK"] + +Melvina followed Anna's suggestion, and her starched skirts and hat were +left well up the beach with Anna's stout shoes and stockings, and the +two 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 pebbly +beach ended in soft mud that would not hurt Melvina's feet, so she led +her boldly out. + +"It's fun," declared Melvina, her dark eyes dancing as she smiled at +Anna, 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 leaned +away from her and with her free hand swept the water toward her, +spraying Anna and herself. In a moment both the girls had forgotten all +about their clothes, and were chasing each other along the water's edge +splashing in good earnest, and laughing and calling each other's names +in wild delight. Farther up the shore Luretta, a draggled stocking in +each hand, looked at them a little enviously, and wondered a little at +the sudden change in Melvina's behavior. + +"Now show me the clam's nest!" Melvina demanded, as out of breath and +thoroughly drenched the two girls stood laughing at each other. + +"All right," Anna responded promptly. "Come on down to the point," and +followed by Melvina, now apparently careless of the rough beach, she ran +along the shore toward a clam bed in the dark mud. + +"Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to the black flats-mud. "There is the +clam'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 really +are." + +"And those birds are gulls, not partridges," continued Anna, pointing to +the flock of gulls near shore, "and come here and I will show you a real +alder," and the two girls climbed over a ledge to where a little thicket +of alder bushes crept down close to the rocks. + +"And those splendid tall trees are pines," went on Anna, pointing to the +group of tall trees on the bluff. + +Melvina laughed delightedly. "Why, you know all about everything," she +exclaimed, "even if your hair is short like a boy's." + +"I know all the trees in the forest," declared Anna, "and I know where +squirrels hide their nuts for winter, and where beavers make their +houses in the river." + +The two girls were now beyond the ledge and out of sight of Luretta, and +Anna was so eager to tell Melvina of the wonderful creatures of the +forest, and Melvina, feeling as if she had discovered a new world, +listened with such pleasure, that for the moment they both forgot all +about Luretta. + +At first Luretta had been well pleased to see that Melvina was no longer +vexed and unhappy; but when both her companions disappeared, and she +found herself alone with Melvina's soiled and discarded skirts and the +wet stockings, she began to feel that she was not fairly treated, and +resolved to go home. + +"Dan can play with Melvina Lyon if she likes her so much," thought +Luretta resentfully, and started off up the slope. Luretta was nearly as +tidy as when she left home, so she would have no explanations to make on +her return. As she went up the slope she turned now and then and looked +back, but there was no sign of Anna or Melvina. "I don't care," thought +the little girl unhappily. "Perhaps they will think I am drowned when +they come back and don't find me." She had just reached the top of the +slope and turned toward home when she saw London Atus hurrying along the +path that led to the church. + +"Perhaps he has been sent after Melvina, and can't find her," thought +Luretta; and she was right; the colored man had been to Captain Horton's +house to walk home with his little mistress, and had been told that +Melvina had not been there that afternoon; and he was now hurrying home +with this alarming news. + +Anna and Melvina were now comfortably seated on a grassy knoll near the +alder bushes, Melvina asking questions about woodland birds, and the +wild creatures of the forest, which Anna answered with delight. + +"Perhaps you can go with Father and me to the forest to-morrow," said +Anna. "We are going to find a liberty pole, and 'twill be a fine walk." + +"I know about liberty poles," declared Melvina eagerly, "and my father +is well pleased that the town is to set one up. But, oh, Anna! surely it +is time that I went on to my visit with Lucia Horton!" and Melvina's +face grew troubled. "Do you think Luretta Foster will have my clothes +in good order?" + +At Melvina's words Anna sprang to her feet. "I think she will do her +best, and 'tis well for us to hurry," she responded; "but you have had a +good time, have you not, Melvina?" + +"Oh, yes! I would like well to play about on the shore often; but I fear +I may never again," said Melvina; her smile had vanished, and she looked +tired and anxious. + +"Let us hasten; the tide is coming in now, and Luretta will have taken +our things up from the beach," said Anna, taking Melvina's hand and +hurrying her along over the ledges. "I am glad indeed, Melvina, that we +are better acquainted, and we will often wade together." + +But Melvina shook her head dolefully. "My mother does not like me to +play out-of-doors," she said. "Do you think, Anna, that Luretta is quite +sure to have my things clean and nice?" + +The two little girls had now come in sight of the place where they had +left Luretta. They both stopped and looked at each other in dismay, for +the tide had swept up the beach covering the pool where Luretta had +endeavored to wash the stockings, and the rocks where Anna and Melvina +had left their things, and there was no trace either of Luretta or of +their belongings. + +"Luretta has taken our things up the slope," declared Anna. "She saw the +tide would sweep them away, so she did not wait for us." + +"But how can we find her?" wailed Melvina. "I cannot go up the slope +barefooted and in my petticoat. What would my father say if he met me in +such a plight? He tells me often to remember to set a good example to +other children. And I would be ashamed indeed to be seen like this." + +"You do look funny," Anna acknowledged soberly. Her own flannel dress +had dried, and, except for her bare feet, she looked about as usual; but +Melvina's white petticoat was still wet and draggled, her hair untidy, +and it was doubtful if her own father would have recognized her at the +first glance. + +"I will go and get your things," said Anna. "Come up the slope a little +way, and sit down behind those juniper bushes until I come back. Luretta +must be near the pine trees. I'll hurry right back, and you can dress in +a minute." + +Melvina agreed to this plan, and followed Anna slowly up to the juniper +bushes, and crouched down well under their branches so that she was +completely hidden from view; while Anna scrambled hurriedly up the slope +and looked anxiously about for some sign of Luretta and the missing +garments. But there was no sign of either; so she ran along the bluff to +where the pines offered shelter, thinking Luretta must surely be there. + +And now Anna began to be seriously alarmed. Perhaps Luretta had been +swept out by the tide before she could save herself. And at this thought +Anna forgot all about shoes and stockings, all Melvina's fine garments, +and even Melvina herself, and ran as fast as her feet could carry her +toward Luretta's home. At the blacksmith shop she stopped to take +breath, 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; but +Anna did not realize that the hour was so late, and ran swiftly on. + +As she neared the house she stopped suddenly, for Luretta was standing +in the doorway, and Rebecca was beside her, and they were both looking +at Anna. There was no time to turn and run back. + +"Why, Dan! Where are your shoes and stockings?" said Rebecca, coming +down the path to meet her sister. "You were so late in coming home that +Mother sent me to meet you." + +"What did Luretta say?" gasped Anna, thinking to herself that if Luretta +had told of Melvina, and their making sport of her, that there was +trouble in store for them all. + +"Luretta hadn't time to say anything," responded Rebecca, "for I had +just reached the door when we saw you coming. Now we'll get your shoes +and stockings and start home, for Mother is waiting supper for us." + +"Luretta has my shoes," said Anna, and ran on to the door, where Luretta +was still waiting. + +"Give me my shoes and stockings; quick, Lu! And then take all Melvina's +things and run, as fast as you can, to the----" + +"Luretta! Luretta!" called Mrs. Foster; and Luretta with a hurried +whisper: "Oh, Anna! I haven't her things. Don't say a word about +Melvina," vanished into the house. + +"Come, Anna," called Rebecca reprovingly. "Father will come to look for +us if you do not hasten. Why did not Luretta give you back your shoes +and stockings?" she asked as Anna came slowly down the path. "It's a +stupid game for her to keep them, I will say;" and she put a protecting +arm across her sister's shoulder. "But do not feel bad, Dan, dear; she +will bring them over before bedtime, if the storm holds off; and Mother +has 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 may +not notice your bare feet," exclaimed Rebecca. + +Usually the Reverend Mr. Lyon was very ceremonious in his greeting to +the children of the parish; but to-night he wasted no time in +salutations. + +"Have you seen Melvina?" he asked anxiously. "She left home early this +afternoon 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 home +from Mr. Foster's, and have seen naught of Melvina." + +Mr. Lyon turned and hurried back toward the main path, where London Atus +was inquiring at every house if anyone had seen his little mistress; but +no one had news of her. + +"What can have befallen Melvina Lyon? And there's a storm coming up. I +do hope no harm has come to her," said Rebecca, as she hurried Anna +along 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 hope +we'll reach home before it breaks," and she started to run, pulling Anna +along 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 wished +only to outrun her in the race home. So she ran quickly after her, and +when at the turn by the blacksmith shop she lost sight of Anna she only +thought that the younger girl was hidden by the turn of the path, and +not until she pushed open the kitchen door did Rebecca realize that Anna +had run away from her, that she had not meant to come home. + +"Just in time," said Mr. Weston, drawing Rebecca in and closing the door +against 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 night +at Mr. Foster's." + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + AT MR. LYON'S + + +Anna raced back along the path to the bluff as fast as she could go; but +the 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 the +approaching storm, she could no longer see her way clearly, and stubbed +her 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 of +Melvina, 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 to +make myself out as cleverer than she. Oh! If she is only safe I'll never +try to be clever again," she vowed, as she fought her way on against +wind and rain. + +As she reached the top of the bluff there was a moment's lull in the +storm, and Anna could clearly see the wide branched juniper bushes where +she had left Melvina. + +"Melly! Melly!" she called, scrambling down the slope. But there was no +answer; and in a moment Anna realized that Melvina was not under the +trees. + +The storm began again with even greater violence, and Anna was obliged +to cling closely to the rough branches to keep from being swept down the +slope. She could hear the dash of the waves on the shore, and she +trembled at the thought that Melvina might have been swept down into the +angry 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 stand +upright until she had reached the top. + +She knew what she must do now, and she did not hesitate. She must go +straight to Mr. Lyon's house and tell him the story from the moment that +she had told Melvina that pine trees were alders. For a moment she +wondered what would become of her afterward; but only for a moment did +she think of herself. + +It seemed to the little girl that she would never reach the minister's +house. For a moment she rested in the shelter of the church, and then +dragged herself on. Her feet hurt so badly now that it was all she could +do to walk. + +There were lights to be seen, up-stairs and down, at the parsonage; but +Anna did not wonder at this. She managed to reach the front door and to +lift 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 curly +brown head. + +"If you please, I am Anna Weston," faltered the little girl. "I--I--must +see 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 a +door leading into his study. + +"What is it, London?" he questioned, and seeing Anna, lifted his hands +in amazement. + +Anna stumbled toward him. + +"I am to blame about Melvina!" she exclaimed, and, speaking as quickly +as she could, she told the whole story. She told it exactly as it had +happened, excepting Luretta's part of the mischief, and Melvina's +willingness 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 a +little mist of steam rose from her wet clothes. + +The minister listened, keeping Anna's cold little hand fast in his +friendly clasp. His face was very grave, and when she finished with: "Is +Melvina safe? London said she was. But, oh, Mr. Lyon, all her fine +clothes are swept away, and it is my fault," he smiled down at her +troubled face. + +"Be in no further alarm, my child. But come with me, for your feet are +cut and bruised, and Mrs. Lyon will give you dry clothing. Melvina does +not blame you in her story of this mischievous prank. But I doubt not +you are both blameworthy. But 'twill be your parents' duty to see to thy +punishment." As the minister spoke he drew her toward a door at the far +end of the room and opened it, calling for Mrs. Lyon, who rose from her +seat near a low table in front of the big kitchen fireplace. + +All Anna's courage had vanished. She hung her head, not daring to look +at 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 you +are to spend the night here. They will not be anxious about you," said +Mrs. Lyon; "and now slip out of those wet garments. I have warm water to +bathe your feet," and almost before Anna realized what was happening she +found herself in a warm flannel wrapper, her bruised feet bathed and +wrapped in comforting bandages, and a bowl of hot milk and corn bread on +the little table beside her. When this was finished Mrs. Lyon led the +little girl to a tiny chamber at the head of the stairs. A big bedstead +seemed nearly to fill the room. + +"Say your prayers, Anna," said Mrs. Lyon, and without another word she +left the little girl alone. Anna was so thoroughly tired out that even +the strange dark room did not prevent her from going to sleep, and when +she awoke the tiny room was full of sunshine; she could hear robins +singing in the maples near the house, and people moving about +down-stairs. Then she sat up in bed with a little shiver of +apprehension. + +What would the minister and Mrs. Lyon and Melvina say to her? Perhaps +none of them would even speak to her. She had never been so unhappy in +her life as she was at that moment. She slipped out of bed; but the +moment her feet touched the floor she cried out with pain. For they were +bruised 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 these +are your shoes and stockings!" and she set down the stout shoes and the +knit stockings that Anna had supposed had been swept out to sea. + +"When you are dressed come to the kitchen and your breakfast will be +ready," said Mrs. Lyon, and left the room before Anna had courage to +speak. Anna dressed quickly; but in spite of her endeavors she could not +get 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 went +slowly down the steep stairs. + +When she was nearly down she heard Mrs. Lyon's voice: "She is a +mischievous 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 face +people 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. The +front door was wide open. There was no trace of the storm of the +previous night, and Anna made her way softly across the entry and down +the steps. Every step hurt, but she hurried along and had reached the +church when she gave a little cry of delight, for her father was coming +up the path. + +"Well, here's my Danna safe and sound," he exclaimed, picking her up in +his arms. "And what has happened to her little feet?" he asked, as he +carried her on toward home. + +And then Anna told all her sad story again, even to the words she had +overheard Mrs. Lyon say. + +"Don't worry, Danna! I'd rather have my Dan than a dozen of their +Melvinas," said Mr. Weston quickly. + +When London had come the previous night with the brief message from the +minister that Anna was safe at his house and would stay the night there, +the Westons had been vexed and troubled, and Mrs. Weston had declared +that Anna should be punished for running off in such a tempest to the +minister's house. But as Mr. Weston listened to his little daughter's +story, and looked at her troubled and tear-stained face, he decided that +Anna had had a lesson that she would remember, and needed comforting +more than punishment; and a few whispered words to Mrs. Weston, as he +set Anna down in the big wooden rocker, made Anna's mother put her arms +tenderly about her little daughter and say kindly: + +"Mother's glad enough to have her Danna home again. And now let's look +at those feet." + +Rebby came running with a bowl of hot porridge, and the little girl was +made as comfortable as possible. But all that morning she sat in the big +chair with her feet on a cushion in a smaller chair, and she told her +mother and Rebby all the story of her adventures; and when Rebby laughed +at Melvina's not knowing an alder from a pine Danna smiled a little. But +Mrs. Weston was very sober, although she said no word of blame. If +Melvina Lyon's things had been lost it would be but right that Anna's +parents should replace them to the best of their ability, and this would +be a serious expense for the little household. + +After dinner Rebby went to the Fosters', and came home with the story of +Melvina's return home. It seemed that the moment Anna left her she +became 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, told +her story, and had been put to bed. Luretta had carried Melvina's things +and Anna's shoes and stockings well up the shore, and had put them under +the curving roots of the oak tree; so, although they were well soaked, +they were not blown away, and early that morning Luretta had hastened to +carry the things to the parsonage. + +"You were brave, Dan, to go through all that storm last night to tell +the minister," said Rebby, as she drew a footstool near her sister's +chair and sat down. Rebby was not so troubled to-day; for her father had +postponed his trip to the forest after the liberty tree, and Rebby hoped +that perhaps it would not be necessary that one should be set up in +Machias. So she was ready to keep her little sister company, and try to +make her forget the troubles of her adventures. + +"Of course I had to go, Rebby," Anna responded seriously, "but none of +it, not even my feet, hurt so bad as what Mrs. Lyon said about me. For I +do not think I am what she said," and Anna began to cry. + +"Father says you are the bravest child in the settlement; and Mother is +proud that you went straight there and took all the blame. And I am sure +that 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 for +not knowing anything. I tried to show off," she said, "and now probably +she will never want to see me again; and oh, Rebby! the worst of it all +is that Melvina is just as brave as she can be, and I like her!" And +Anna's brown eyes brightened at the remembrance of Melvina's enjoyment +of their sport together. + +"Don't you worry, Danna; Father will make it all right," Rebecca assured +her; for Rebecca thought that her father could smooth out all the +difficult places. + +Anna did not speak of the excursion to the forest; she did not even +think of it until that evening, when her father came home with a roll of +fine birch-bark, soft and smooth as paper, on whose smooth surface she +and Rebecca with bits of charcoal could trace crude pictures of trees +and Indians, of birds and mice, and sometimes write letters to Lucia +Horton or Luretta Foster. + +"You must take good care of your feet, Dan, for I must start after the +liberty 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 the +brave men of Lexington and Concord, in Massachusetts, drove the British +back to Boston on the nineteenth of April. 'Tis great news for all the +colonies. I wish some British craft would give Machias men a chance to +show their mettle," said Mr. Weston, his face flushing at the thought of +the patriotic action of the men of Massachusetts. + +Rebecca sighed. She, too, wished that her home town might do its part +to win a victory for America; but, remembering what Lucia Horton had +told her, the very mention of a liberty pole made her tremble. + +When Anna hobbled up-stairs that night she was in a much happier frame +of mind. + +"My father is the best father in all the world, and my mother is the +best mother, and my sister is the best sister," she announced to the +little group as she said good-night. But the shadow of Mrs. Lyon's +disapproval was not forgotten; Anna wondered to herself if there was not +some way by which she could win the approval of Mr. and Mrs. Lyon, and +so 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," and +with this discouraging thought her eyes closed, and she forgot her +troubles 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 were +quick 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 she +wanted her hair to grow long, and she even asked Rebecca to teach her +how to sew more evenly and with tinier stitches. + +For Anna had made a firm resolve; she would try in every possible way to +be like Melvina Lyon. She gave up so many of her out-of-door games that +Mrs. Weston looked at her a little anxiously, fearing that the child +might not be well. Every day Anna walked up the path to the church, and +lingered about hoping for a glimpse of Melvina; but a week passed and +the little girls did not meet. + +At last the day came when Mr. Weston was ready to start for the forest +to select the liberty tree; but, greatly to his surprise, Anna said that +she did not wish to go, and he started off without her. + +This was the first real sacrifice Anna had made toward becoming like +Melvina. She was quite sure that Melvina would not go for a tramp in the +forest. "It would spoil her clothes," reflected Anna, and looked +regretfully at her own stout gingham dress, wishing it could be changed +and 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 not +play any games, or hurt it. I will only walk as far as the church and +back." + +For a moment Mrs. Weston hesitated. It seemed a foolish thing to let +Anna wear her best dress on a week day; but the little girl had been so +quiet and unhappy since the night of her adventure that her mother +decided to allow her this privilege; and Anna ran up-stairs, and in a +few minutes had put on her Sunday dress. It was a blue muslin with tiny +white dots, and the neck and sleeves were edged with tiny white +ruffles. It had been Rebecca's best dress for several summers, until she +outgrew it, and it was made over for the younger girl, but Anna was very +proud of it, and stood on tiptoe to see herself reflected in the narrow +mirror between the windows of the sitting-room. Her mother had made a +sunbonnet of the same material as the dress, and Anna put this on with +satisfaction. Always before this she had despised a sunbonnet, and never +had she put it on of her own accord. But to-day she looked at it +approvingly. "No one would know but that my hair is long, and braided, +just like Melvina's," she thought as she walked slowly toward the +kitchen. + +"I will only walk to the church and straight back, Mother dear," she +said, "and then I will put on my gingham dress, and sew on my +patchwork." + +"That's a good girl. You look fine enough for a party," responded her +mother, and stood at the door watching Anna as she walked soberly down +the path. + +"I know not what has come over the child," she thought, with a little +sigh. "To be sure, she is more like other little girls, and perhaps it +is 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 wistfully +toward the parsonage. "If Mrs. Lyon could see me now she would not think +me 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 I +will behave so well that Mrs. Lyon will ask me to come often and play +with Melvina," and, quite forgetting to walk quietly, she raced along +the path in her old-time fashion until she was at the minister's door. +Then she rapped, and stood waiting, a little breathless, but smiling +happily, quite sure that a little girl in so pretty a dress and so neat +a sunbonnet would receive a warm welcome. Perhaps Mrs. Lyon would come +to the door, she thought hopefully. + +But it was Melvina herself who opened the door. Melvina, wearing a white +dress and a long apron. + +For a moment the two little girls stood looking at each other in +surprise. Then Melvina smiled radiantly. "Oh! It really is you, Anna! +Come in. I am keeping house this afternoon, and nobody will know that +you are here." + +"But I came to call on your mother. I wanted her to see me," explained +Anna. + +But Melvina did not seem to notice this explanation. She took Anna's +hand and drew her into the house. + +"Oh, Dan! wasn't it fun to wade and run on the shore?" said Melvina +eagerly, as the two girls entered the big pleasant kitchen. "I didn't +mind 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 had +to learn two tables of figures," declared Melvina triumphantly. "But I +didn't care. For I have a splendid plan----" But before Melvina could +say 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 this +little 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 taken +advantage of her absence to steal into the house, perhaps to entice +Melvina 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 short +curly locks were covered by the sunbonnet, and that she was dressed in +her best; but she was still a little doubtful. + +"Well, Anna, I am glad indeed that you are so right-minded. It is most +proper that you should be sorry. I doubt not that your good parents +punished you severely for your fault," said Mrs. Lyon. But she did not +ask Anna to sit down, or to remove her sunbonnet. Melvina looked from +Anna 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 curtsy +Anna 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 obedient +girl," she said kindly. + +Anna's tears now came thick and fast. She could hardly see the path as +she stumbled along. But if she could have heard Melvina's words as her +mother held her back from the kitchen door, she would have felt that her +visit 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 be +exactly like Danna, and do all the things she does." + +Luretta Foster, coming down the path, stopped short and stared at Anna +in amazement. It was surprising enough to see Anna dressed as if ready +for church, but to see her in tears was almost unbelievable. + +"What is the matter, Danna?" she asked, coming close to her little +friend's side, and endeavoring to peer under the sunbonnet. "Would not +your father let you go with him to the forest?" + +Anna made no answer, and when Luretta put a friendly arm about her +shoulders, she drew a little away. + +"Do not cry, Dan. My brother Paul has gone to the forest with your +father, and he promised to bring me home a rabbit to tame for a pet. I +will give it to you, Dan," said Luretta. + +For a moment Anna forgot her troubles. "Will you, truly, Luretta?" and +she pushed back her sunbonnet that she might see her friend more +clearly. + +"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 to +live in," Luretta promised generously. "I do not suppose Melvina Lyon +would know a rabbit from a wolf," she continued laughingly, quite sure +that 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 replied +quickly. "She can do sums in fractions, and she can embroider, and make +cakes. And she is brave, too." + +"Why, Dan Weston! And only last week you made fun of her, and said that +all those things were of no account," exclaimed Luretta. + +For a moment the two little friends walked on in silence, and then Anna +spoke. + +"Luretta, I'll tell you something. I am going to try to be exactly like +Melvina Lyon. Everybody praises her, and your mother and mine are always +saying that she is well-behaved. And I am going to let my hair grow long +and be well-behaved. But don't tell anyone," Anna added quickly, "for I +want Mrs. Lyon to find it out first of all." + +"Oh, Dan! And won't you make funny rhymes any more? Or play on the +timber-rafts--or--or--anything?" asked Luretta. + +"I don't believe there is any harm in making rhymes. It's something you +can't help," responded Anna thoughtfully. "And Parson Lyon has written a +book," 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, Luretta +Foster, I am surprised!" she said, and then clasping Luretta's hand she +started to run down the path, saying: "Let's hurry, so I can take off +this dress; then we will walk a little way toward the forest to see if +Father and Paul are coming. Will you truly; give me the rabbit if Paul +captures one?" + +"Yes, I will," promised Luretta; but she began to wish that she had not +suggested such a thing. If Danna was going to be exactly like Melvina +Lyon, thought Luretta, a rabbit would not receive much attention. + +Rebecca was sitting on the front step busy with her knitting as the two +little girls came up the path. It was her birthday, but so far no one +had seemed to remember it. The _Polly_ had not reached port, so the fine +present she had been promised could not be expected. But Rebecca was +surprised and disappointed that everyone had seemed to forget that she +was fourteen on the tenth of May. But as she looked up and saw Anna +dressed in her best, and Luretta beside her, coming up the path, Rebby's +face brightened. "I do believe Mother has planned a surprise for me," +she thought happily. "Oh, there comes Lucia! Now I am sure that Mother +has asked her to come, and perhaps some of the other girls," and Rebecca +put down her knitting and stood up, smiling at the girls expectantly, +for she was quite sure that their first words would be a birthday +greeting. + +At that moment Mrs. Weston, busy in her kitchen, remembered suddenly +that it was September tenth. "My Rebby's birthday! And, with my mind +full of all the worry about being shut off from the world by British +cruisers, and provisions growing so scarce, I had forgotten," and Mrs. +Weston left her work and reached the front door just as Rebecca rose to +her feet to greet her friends. + +"Fourteen to-day, Rebby dear," said Mrs. Weston, putting her arm about +her tall daughter and kissing Rebecca. + +At the same moment, hearing her mother's words, Anna ran forward calling +out: "Rebby is fourteen to-day." + +Luretta and Lucia were close behind her, and Rebecca found herself the +centre of a smiling happy group, and for the moment quite forgot that +she must do without the present from Boston that her father had promised +her. + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + LUCIA HAS A PLAN + + +"I have brought you a birthday gift, Rebby," said Lucia, who had been +looking forward all day to the moment when she could give her friend the +small package that she now handed her. + +Rebecca received it smilingly, and quickly unwound the white tissue +paper in which it was wrapped, showing a flat white box. Inside this box +lay a pair of white silk mitts. + +Rebecca looked at them admiringly, and even Mrs. Weston declared that +very few girls could hope for a daintier gift; while Anna and Luretta +urged 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 herself +that her gift was so praised and appreciated. + +"They came from France," she said. "Look on the box, Rebby, and you will +see 'Paris, France.' My father bought them of a Boston merchant, and I +have a pair for myself." + +"Are any more girls coming, Mother?" Rebecca asked as Mrs. Weston led +the way to the living-room. + +"No, my dear. And I only----" Mrs. Weston hesitated. She had started to +say that she had only remembered Rebecca's birthday a few moments +earlier; but she stopped in time, knowing it would cloud the afternoon's +pleasure; and Rebecca, smiling and delighted with Lucia's gift, and sure +that her mother had some treat ready for them, exclaimed: + +"I do not mind now so much that the _Polly_ has not arrived; for I could +have no gift finer than a pair of silk mitts." + +Anna had taken off her sunbonnet and was sitting on one of the low +rush-bottomed chairs near a window. She was very quiet, reproaching +herself in her thoughts that she had no gift for her sister. What could +she give her? For little girls in revolutionary times, especially those +in remote villages, had very few possessions of their own, and Anna had +no valued treasure that might make a present. If she had remembered in +time, she thought, she would have asked her mother to help her make a +needle-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 ready +to repeat; and even Rebecca, who knew that Anna rhymed words easily, +thought that Anna had prepared this birthday greeting, and was very +proud of her little sister. But at the words, "golden beads," a great +hope came into Rebecca's heart. Perhaps that was what the _Polly_ was +bringing 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 deciding +this question Lucia whispered to Rebecca: "When I go home be sure and +walk a little way; I want to tell you something important." + +Rebby nodded smilingly. For the moment she had entirely forgotten the +uncomfortable secret that Lucia had confided in her, and was thinking +only 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 for +them. There was no white sugar in the house, or, for that matter, in the +entire settlement. But the Westons had a small store of maple sugar, +made from the sap of the maple trees, and Mrs. Weston quickly decided +that this should be used for Rebecca's birthday celebration. She hurried +to the pantry, and when an hour later she opened the door and called the +girls to the kitchen they all exclaimed with delight. + +The round table was covered with a shining white cloth, and Mrs. Weston +had set it with her fine blue plates, that she had brought from Boston +when she came to Machias, and that were seldom used. + +By each plate stood a lustre mug filled with milk, and in the centre of +the 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 with +bowed head to say the "grace" of thanks before cutting her birthday +cake. + +Anna wished to herself that Melvina Lyon might have been one of the +guests, and shared the delicious cake. She wondered just how Melvina +would 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 Rebecca +began to laugh, thinking Anna was making believe for their amusement. + +Before the little girls left the table Mr. Weston appeared at the +kitchen door, and was quite ready to taste the cake, and again remind +Rebecca of the gift the _Polly_ was bringing. + +"Let me whisper, Father," she responded, drawing his head down near her +own. "It's _beads_!" she whispered, and when her father laughed she was +sure she was right, and almost as happy as if the longed-for gift was +around her neck. + +"Well, Paul and I found the liberty tree," said Mr. Weston, "and I cut +it down and trimmed it save for its green plume. Paul is towing it +downstream 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 flush +coming into her cheeks. "I have enjoyed the afternoon very much," she +added politely; for if Melvina Lyon was the smartest girl in the village +no one could say that any of the other little girls ever forgot to be +well-mannered. + +Rebecca followed her friend to the door, and they walked down the path +together, while Anna and Luretta questioned Mr. Weston eagerly as to +Paul's success in capturing a rabbit, and were made happy with the news +that he had secured two young rabbits, and that they were safe in the +canoe which Paul was now paddling down the river, towing the liberty +tree behind him. + +Rebecca and Lucia had gone but a few steps when Lucia whispered: "We +mustn't let them put up the liberty tree. Oh, Rebby, why didn't you try +to stop your father going after it?" + +"How could I?" responded Rebecca. "And when I said: 'Why must Machias +have a liberty pole?' he was ill pleased with me, and said I must be +loyal to America's rights. Oh, Lucia! are you sure that----" + +But Lucia's hand was held firmly over Rebby's mouth. "Ssh. Don't speak +it aloud, Rebby. For 'twould make great trouble for my father, in any +case, if people even guessed that he knew the plans of the British. But +I 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 his +best to have the liberty pole put up at once," declared Lucia. + +"But I have a plan, and you must help me," she continued. "Paul Foster +will bring the sapling close in shore near his father's shop, and it +will rest there to-night; and when it is dark we must go down and cut it +loose and push it out so that the current will take it downstream, and +the tide will carry it out to sea. Then, before they can get another +one, 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's +plan was the easiest way to save the village. For Lucia had told her +friend that the _Polly_, of which Lucia's father was captain, and the +sloop _Unity_, owned and sailed by a Captain Jones of Boston, would be +escorted to Machias by an armed British ship; and if a liberty pole was +set up the British would fire upon the town. So it was no wonder that +Rebecca was frightened and ready to listen to Lucia's plan to avert the +danger. + +She did not know that her father and other men of the settlement were +already beginning to doubt the loyalty of the two captains to America's +cause. + +"It will be easy enough to slip out when everybody is asleep," Lucia +replied to Rebecca's question. "We can meet at Mr. Foster's shop. If I +get there first I will wait, and if you get there before me you must +wait. As near ten o'clock as we can. And then it won't take us but a few +minutes to push the sapling out into the current. Just think, Rebby, we +will 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 to +himself. Besides, she was not sure that it was right to prevent the +liberty pole from being set up. But that the town should be fired upon +by a British man-of-war, and everyone killed, as Lucia assured her, when +it could be prevented by her pushing a pine sapling into the current of +the river, made the little girl decide that she would do as Lucia had +planned. + +"All right. I will be there, at the blacksmith shop, when it strikes ten +to-night," she agreed, and the friends parted. + +Rebecca walked slowly toward home, forgetting all the joy of the +afternoon; forgetting even that it was her fourteenth birthday, and that +a string of gold beads for her was probably on board the _Polly_. + +Paul Foster towed the fine sapling to the very place that Lucia had +mentioned, and his father came to the shore and looked at it admiringly +as he helped Paul make it secure. "It is safely fastened and no harm can +come to it," Mr. Foster said after they had drawn the tree partly from +the water. Paul drew his canoe up on the beach, and taking the rabbits +in the stout canvas bag, started for home. + +Anna and Luretta were both on the watch for him, and came running to +meet him. Anna now wore her every-day dress of gingham, and in her +eagerness to see the rabbits she had quite forgotten to try and behave +like 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 close +they keep together. And this box is big enough for them both. And they +are so young they must be fed very carefully for a time." + +"I know what we can do," declared Anna; "my rabbit can live here until +he is a little larger, and then my father will make a box for him and I +can take him home." + +Paul said that would do very well, and that Anna could come each day and +learn 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, a +little anxiously. And indeed there was no way of telling the rabbits +apart, so Anna and Luretta agreed that when the time came to separate +them it would not matter which one Anna chose for her own. + +At supper time Anna could talk of nothing but the rabbits, and had so +much to say that her father and mother did not notice how silent Rebecca +was. + +The little household retired early, and by eight o'clock Rebecca was in +bed, but alert to every sound, and resolved not to go to sleep. The +sisters slept together, and in a few minutes Anna was sound asleep. +Rebecca heard the clock strike nine, then very quietly she got out of +bed and dressed. Her moccasins made no noise as she stepped cautiously +along the narrow passage, and down the steep stairway. She lifted the +big bar that fastened the door and stood it against the wall, then she +opened the door, closing it carefully behind her, and stepped out into +the 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 at +hand. The air was soft and warm; there was no wind, and in the clear +starlight Rebecca could see the shadows of the tall elm tree near the +blacksmith shop, and the silvery line of the softly flowing river. As +she stood waiting for Lucia she looked up into the clear skies and +traced the stars forming the Big Dipper, nearly over her head. Low down +in the west Jupiter shone brightly, and the broad band of shimmering +stars that formed the Milky Way stretched like a jeweled necklace across +the 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 of +frogs from the marshes sounded shrilly through the quiet. In years to +come, when Rebecca heard the first frogs sounding their call to spring, +she was to recall that beautiful night when she stole out to try and +save the town, as she believed, from being fired on by a British +gunboat. + +She had made so early a start that she had to wait what seemed a very +long time for Lucia, who approached so quietly that not until she +touched Rebby's arm did Rebby know of her coming. + +"I am late, and I nearly had to give up coming because Mother did not +get to sleep," Lucia explained, as the two girls hurried down to the +river. "She is so worried about Father," continued Lucia; "she says that +since the Americans defeated the English at Lexington they may drive +them out of Boston as well." + +"Of course they will," declared Rebecca, surprised that anyone could +imagine the righteous cause of America defeated. "And if the English +gunboat comes in here the Machias men will capture it," she added. + +"Well, I don't know," responded Lucia despondently. "But if it destroyed +the town there wouldn't be anyone left to capture it; and that is why we +must push that liberty tree offshore." + +The girls were both strong, and Lucia had brought a sharp knife with +which to cut the rope holding the tree to a stake on the bank, so it +did not take them long to push the tree clear of the shore. They found +a long pole near by, and with this they were able to swing the liberty +tree out until the current of the river came to their aid and carried it +slowly along. + +"How slowly it moves," said Rebecca impatiently, as they stood watching +it move steadily downstream. + +"But it will be well down the bay before morning," said Lucia, "and we +must get home as quickly as we can. I wish my father could know that +there will not be a liberty pole set up in Machias." + +Rebecca stopped short. "No liberty pole, Lucia Horton? Indeed there will +be. Why, my father says that all the loyal settlements along the Maine +coast are setting up one; and as soon as the old British gunboat is out +of sight Machias will put up a liberty tree. Perhaps 'twill even be set +up 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 liberty +tree was so fine a thing why should her father not wish Machias to have +one, she wondered. Lucia did not know that her father was even then +bargaining with the British in Boston to bring them a cargo of lumber on +his 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 would +accompany the sloops _Polly_ and _Unity_ when they should appear in +Machias harbor. + +The two friends whispered a hasty "good-night," and each ran in the +direction of home. Rebby pushed the big door open noiselessly, but she +did not try to replace the bar. As she crept up the stairs she could +hear the even breathing of her father and mother, and she slid into bed +without waking Anna, and was too sleepy herself to lie long awake. + +The unfastened door puzzled Mr. Weston when he came down-stairs at +daybreak 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 he +stood for a moment in the doorway, he saw Paul Foster running toward the +house. + +"Mr. Weston, sir, the liberty pole is gone," gasped the boy, out of +breath. "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 would +come up later on, as soon as he had found out more about the missing +liberty tree; and with Paul beside him, now talking eagerly of how his +father had gone with him to take a look at the pine sapling and found no +trace of it, Mr. Weston hurried toward the shore where a number of men +were now gathered. + +Anna had hard work to awaken Rebby that morning, and when she came +slowly down-stairs she felt cross and tired; but her mother's first +words made her forget everything else. + +"We will eat our porridge without your father," Mrs. Weston said +gravely. "A terrible thing has happened. Some traitor has made way with +the liberty tree that your father and Paul selected yesterday." + +"Traitor?" gasped Rebby, who knew well that such a word meant the lowest +and most to be despised person on earth, and could hardly believe that +what she had supposed to be a fine and brave action could be a traitor's +deed. + +"Who else but a traitor would make way with our liberty pole?" +responded Mrs. Weston. "But do not look so frightened, Rebby. Sit up to +the table; when your father comes home he will tell us who did the base +act. 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 mother +questioned her anxiously she owned that her head ached, and that she did +not feel well. + +"I'll steep up some thoroughwort; a good cup of herb tea will soon send +off 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 she +buried her face in the pillow, hardly daring to think what would become +of her. Supposing Lucia should tell, she thought despairingly, saying +over and over to herself, "Traitor! Traitor!" So that when Anna came +softly into the room a little later she found her sister with flushed +face and tear-stained eyes, and ran back to the kitchen to tell her +mother that Rebby was very ill. + +It was an anxious and unhappy morning for Rebby and for her mother, for +Mrs. Weston became worried at the sight of her daughter's flushed +cheeks and frightened eyes. She decided that it was best for Rebecca to +remain in bed; and, had it not been for the frequent doses of bitter +herb tea which her mother insisted on her drinking, Rebby would have +been well satisfied to hide herself away from everyone. + +Anna helped her mother about the household work, thinking to herself +that probably Melvina Lyon was doing the same. After the dishes had been +washed and set away Mrs. Weston suggested that Anna should run down to +Luretta Foster's. + +"'Twill be best to keep the house quiet this morning, and you can see +the 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 she +was sure her mother must notice that she was no longer the noisy girl +who 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 a +girl," responded her mother. "But run along, and be sure and inquire if +there be any news of the rascal who made way with the liberty tree." + +Anna started off very sedately, measuring her steps and holding her head +a little on one side as she had noticed that Melvina sometimes did. She +was thinking of Rebby, and what a pity it was to have to stay indoors +when the sun was so warm, and when there were so many pleasant things to +do. "I will go over on the hill and get her some young checkerberry +leaves," 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, beginning +to sing in her old-time manner. + +Luretta was watching for her, and smiled happily when she heard Anna's +voice. "Oh! She's going to stay 'Danna,' and not be like that stuck-up +Melvina Lyon," she thought with delight; for Luretta did not think Anna +would make a satisfactory playmate if she were going to change into a +quiet, well-behaved girl like the minister's little daughter. + +In a few minutes the girls were beside the box that held the captive +rabbits, who looked up at them with startled eyes. Paul had brought a +basket of fresh grass, and some bits of tender bark and roots on which +the 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 want +me to have the prettiest one, and how could we ever choose?" she +explained; and Anna acknowledged that perhaps it was better that the +rabbits should be alike in every way. After much discussion of names +they decided that the rabbits must be called as nearly alike as +possible; and so the new pets were named "Trit" and "Trot." + +Every little child in the neighborhood enjoyed a visit at Luretta's +home. In the first place because of Mrs. Foster's pleasant smile and +kind welcome, and also because of the wonderful treasures it contained. +There was a great round ostrich egg, which Mr. Foster's brother had +brought from far-off Africa. This egg was carefully kept in a wooden box +on the high mantel shelf; but Mrs. Foster was never too busy to take it +down and let the little visitor gaze at it with admiring eyes. Then +there was a model of a water-mill, with its tiny wheels, as complete as +if it could begin work at once. This stood on a table in the corner of +the sitting-room, where anyone might stand and admire it, and hear +Luretta 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 bit +of paper, could make the most beautiful paper dolls that any little girl +could wish to possess; and whenever Luretta's friends came for a visit +they 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 go +indoors. But this morning Mrs. Foster did not seem her usual cheerful +self. + +"This is sad news about our liberty tree; but the men have set out in +boats to search for it, and 'twill be a good omen indeed if they find +and bring it back," she said. + +"My father says 'twill be a great day for the settlement when 'tis put +up," said Anna, looking longingly toward the box on the high mantel, and +hoping she might have a look at the wonderful egg. + +"And so it will be. With Boston in the hands of the British, and no +safety 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 to +the wharves, and perhaps hear some news of the traitor who made way with +it. I said at first maybe 'twas the mischief of some boy who did not +realize what the tree stood for; but Paul flared up at once and said +there 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, was +coming rapidly toward the shore and behind it trailed the fine pine +sapling. + +"And there comes Parson Lyon with his little daughter," said Mrs. +Foster. "He is as good a patriot as General Washington himself," she +added 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 those +who lift that sacred tree to safety." And he hurried on to the wharf, +leaving Melvina, who stood smiling delightedly at this unexpected +meeting with Anna. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + "WHITE WITCHES" + +For a moment both Anna and Luretta looked at Melvina a little +doubtfully, for they could but remember and be ashamed of their part in +the foolish game they had tried to play with her so short a time ago. +But Melvina was smiling and friendly, and evidently had cherished no +ill-feeling toward them. By the time she had replied to Mrs. Foster's +friendly inquiries in regard to her mother, Anna and Luretta were quite +at their ease; and Luretta said to herself that she did not wonder Anna +wanted to be like Melvina. Luretta even began to wonder if it would not +be well for her to learn to speak as softly as did Melvina Lyon; it +certainly had a pleasant sound, she thought admiringly. + +"I must return home," said Mrs. Foster, "but Melvina's father will +expect her to wait here for him; so, Luretta, you and Anna may stay with +her 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 had +she turned her back when Melvina clasped Anna by the hand, and +exclaimed: "Now you can tell me more about the woods, and the little +animals who live in hollow logs or burrow under rocks, and about the +different birds and their nests! Oh, begin quickly, for my father may +soon return," and she drew Anna toward the big log that lay near the +path. + +"Tell her about our rabbits, Danna," suggested Luretta. "My brother Paul +brought me two little gray rabbits from the forest," she explained; and +Melvina listened eagerly to the description of Trit and Trot, and of +their cunning ways and bright eyes, and was told that they had already +lost their fear of Luretta and Anna. + +"I wish I could see them. I have never seen any little animals except +kittens," said Melvina. It seemed to Melvina that Anna and Luretta were +very fortunate children. They could run about in old clothes, play on +the shore and among the piles of lumber, and they knew many strange and +interesting things about the creatures of the forest which she had +never 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 the +ceremonious visits now and then, when she always had to take her +knitting, and was cautioned by her anxious mother to "remember that she +was a minister's daughter, and behave properly, and set a good +example"--all these things flitted through Melvina's thoughts as +tiresome tasks that she would like to escape, and be free as Anna seemed +to 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 to +move the box from the sunny corner near the shed; and, beside this, she +was sure it was too heavy for Anna to lift. "If you should let it fall +they might get out and run away," she concluded. Then, noticing Anna's +look of disappointment, she added: "I know what you may do, Danna. You +and Melvina may go up and see the rabbits, and I will wait here for +Parson Lyon and tell him where Melvina is, and that we will see her +safely 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 kind +to think of it?" + +Anna agreed rather soberly. Mrs. Foster had told them to remain near the +log, she remembered, but if Melvina saw no harm in Luretta's plan she +was 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 the +manner in which she had so often seen Melvina come down the path, and +she was a little surprised that her companion had not at once noticed +it. 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, and +her starched skirts blown back as she raced along; and, greatly to +Anna's surprise, Melvina passed her and was first at the shop. + +"I beat! I beat!" exclaimed Melvina, her dark eyes shining and her face +flushed with the unwonted exercise. + +"You do everything best," Anna declared generously, "but I did not know +that you could run so fast." + +"Neither did I," Melvina acknowledged laughingly. Anna felt a little +puzzled by this sudden change in Melvina, which was far more noticeable +than 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 the +shore, on the day of the tempest, Melvina had endeavored to be as much +like Anna as possible. She ran, instead of walking slowly, whenever she +was out of her mother's sight. She had even neglected her lessons to go +out-of-doors and watch a family of young robins one morning, and had +been immediately called in by her surprised mother. In fact, Melvina had +tried in every way to do things that she imagined Anna liked to do. She +had even besought her mother to cut off her hair; but, as she dared not +give 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 have +smoothly braided hair, or long curls. So while Anna endeavored to cover +her pretty curly hair, to behave sedately, and give up many of her +outdoor games, in order to be like Melvina, Melvina was wishing that +she could be exactly like Anna; and as they stood looking at each other +at the end of their race each little girl noticed a change in the other +which she could not understand, and they started off toward Luretta's +home at a more sober pace. + +"Here they are," said Anna, as they came to the corner of the shed and +saw the rabbits looking out at them between the slats of the box. + +Melvina kneeled down close to the box and exclaimed admiringly as Trit +and Trot scurried away to the farthest corner. + +"I do wish I could touch one! Would it not be fun to dress them up like +dolls!" she said. "If they were mine I would dress them up in bonnets +and skirts, and teach them to bow. Oh, Anna! Can't we take one out? One +of 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 to +think 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 has +gone to Mrs. Burnham's to spend the day, and we could take Trot up to my +room and dress her up and play games. Do, Anna!" urged Melvina. + +"It would be great sport indeed," agreed Anna eagerly; "we could call +Trot by some fine name, like Queen Elizabeth, and have your dolls for +visitors." + +"Yes, yes, we could! Or play Trot was a lion that we had captured in +Africa. Where is the door to the box, Anna?" and Melvina's dark eyes +shone more brightly than ever as Anna slid back the little door that +Paul had so carefully made, and, after several vain efforts, finally +secured one of the rabbits and quickly wrapped it in the skirt of her +dress. + +"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 catch +the second rabbit in her hands; an instant later and it would have +scampered 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 fields +toward Mr. Lyon's house. Not until they reached the back door of the +parsonage did either of them remember Luretta, and then it was Anna who +exclaimed: + +"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 safe +in their box by that time," declared Melvina. "We will go up the back +stairs, Anna; and we need not be quiet, for London has gone fishing. We +will have a fine time! Oh, Anna, I am so glad you stopped me that day +when we went wading, for now we are friends," she continued, leading the +way up-stairs. + +"But I was horrid, Melvina," Anna said, recalling her efforts to make +Melvina appear silly and ignorant so that Luretta would scorn her. + +"No, indeed, you were not," responded Melvina. "When we played on the +shore you made me laugh and run. I never played like that before." + +"Well, I think you are real good," said Anna humbly, as she followed +Melvina into a pleasant sunny chamber. "Most girls would have been angry +when their fine clothes were spoiled; and you were punished too, and I +was not;" and Anna looked at Melvina admiringly, thinking to herself +that she would do anything that Melvina could ask to make up to her for +that undeserved punishment. + +"You will have to hold both the rabbits while I get my dolls," said +Melvina; and Anna's attention was fully occupied in keeping the two +little creatures safe and quiet in the folds of her skirt, which she +held together bag fashion, while Melvina drew a large box from the +closet 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, the +dolls, all wanted to dress just alike. + +"We will put these on Trit and Trot," she said, drawing out two white +skirts from her collection of doll clothes. "And see these little white +bonnets!" and she held up two tiny round bonnets of white muslin; "these +will be just the thing." + +The rabbits submitted to being dressed. Both the girls were very gentle +with 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 dolls +came to bow low before them. The time passed very rapidly, and not until +London was seen coming toward the house to prepare the noonday meal did +the little girls give another thought to Luretta. Melvina, glancing from +the window, saw London coming up the path with his basket of fish. She +was 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, let +go Queen Elizabeth, who followed Lady Washington through the window so +closely that it was small wonder that London dropped his basket of fish +and ran back a few steps with a loud cry. After a few scrambling leaps +the rabbits disappeared, and London, trembling with fright, for he +believed that the strange leaping creatures dressed in white must be +some sort of evil witches, picked up his basket, and shaking his head +and 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 her +about the rabbits? Come, we must be at the front door when they get +here, or my father will fear I am lost." + +Mr. Lyon smiled as he saw his little girl standing in the doorway, and +his troubled look vanished. But Luretta looked flushed and angry. All +the morning she had been sitting on the log waiting for Mr. Lyon, and +when he came at last she had hurried home only to find that her mother +had not seen either of the girls, and Luretta had run after Mr. Lyon to +tell 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's +fun. She did not know what they could say to Luretta to explain their +mischief. At that moment London came into the front entry. + +"I'se seen strange sights this mornin', massa!" he said, rolling his +eyes. "I'se seen white witches flyin' out ob dis house." + +"London! Do not talk of such wickedness," said Mr. Lyon sharply. "Even +your little mistress is amused at such absurd talk," for Melvina, +knowing what London had seen, was laughing heartily. But London, shaking +his head solemnly, went back to the kitchen, sure that he had seen a +strange and awful sight, and resolved to speak to Mr. Lyon again of the +matter. + +"Well, Danna Weston! You can't have one of my rabbits now, after +treating me this way," said Luretta. "And I am not going to walk home +with you, either," and she ran swiftly ahead. + +Anna did not hurry after her, as Luretta hoped and expected. She began +to feel very unhappy. Trit and Trot were gone, and who could tell but +the skirts and bonnets might not strangle them? Then, suddenly, she +remembered that Rebecca was at home ill, and that she had entirely +forgotten her, and the young checkerberry leaves she had intended +picking for her sister. She put the thought that it was all Melvina's +fault out of her mind. Even if it were, had not she, Anna, led Melvina +into a more serious trouble on the day of the tempest? She resolved that +she would take all the blame of the lost rabbits, that Melvina should +not even be questioned about them if she could help it. But it was a +very 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 Lucia +Horton as soon as possible; for she began to fear that Lucia in some way +might betray their secret; but Rebecca knew that her mother would not +consent to her going out until she appeared more like her usual self +than she had at breakfast time. So she brushed her hair neatly, bathed +her 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 as +well 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 as +quickly before. Well, I must take time and go to the swamp for a good +supply 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, dear +child," responded Mrs. Weston, taking Rebecca's sunbonnet from its peg +behind the door and tying the strings under Rebby's round chin. + +"When the _Polly_ comes into harbor you will have the gold beads from +your Grandmother Weston, in Boston; but how Danna guessed it is more +than 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 more +disturbed by Rebecca's sudden illness than she wished to acknowledge. + +"I wish indeed that the _Polly_ and _Unity_ would come; perchance it is +the lack of proper food that ails the children: too much Indian meal, +and no sweets or rice or dried fruits," she thought anxiously. "And to +think 'tis England, our own kinsfolk, who can so forget that we learned +what justice and loyalty mean from England herself," she said aloud, as +she returned to her household duties. For Mrs. Weston, like so many of +the American colonists, had been born in an English village, and knew +that the trouble between England and her American colonies was caused +by the injustice of England's king, and his refusal to listen to wise +advisers. + +Lucia Horton's home lay in an opposite direction from the blacksmith +shop. It stood very near the shore, and from its upper windows there was +a good view of the harbor. It had no yard or garden in front, as did so +many of the simple houses of the settlement, and the front door opened +directly on the rough road which led along the shore. + +Rebecca rapped on the door a little timidly, and when Mrs. Horton opened +it and said smilingly: "Why, here is the very girl I have been wanting +to see. Come right in, Rebecca Flora," she was rather startled. + +"Lucia is not very well," Mrs. Horton continued, "and she has been +saying that she must, _must_ see Rebecca Flora; so it is most fortunate +that you have arrived. Some great secret, I suppose," and Mrs. Horton +smiled 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 called +from the stairway. "Oh, Rebecca, come right up-stairs," called Lucia, +and Mrs. Horton nodded her approval. "Yes, run along. 'Twill do Lucia +good to see you. I cannot imagine what ails her to-day. I saw one of the +O'Brien boys passing just now, and he tells me their liberty tree has +been 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 drift +out to sea," she added in a lower tone. + +Rebecca went up-stairs so slowly that Lucia called twice before her +friend entered the chamber where Lucia, bolstered up in bed, and with +flushed cheeks and looking very much as Rebby herself had looked an hour +earlier, 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 Lucia +whispered: "What will become of us, Rebecca? Mr. O'Brien told Mother +that the men were determined to find out who pushed the liberty tree +afloat, and that no mercy would be shown the guilty. That's just what +he said, Rebby, for I heard him," and Lucia began to cry. + +"But the tree is found and brought back," said Rebecca, "and how can +anyone 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, and +declared that she was not at all afraid; that is, if Lucia would +solemnly promise never to tell of their creeping down to the shore and +cutting the rope that held the tree to the stake. + +"Of course I never would tell," said Lucia, who was now out of bed and +dressing as rapidly as possible. "I wasn't ill; but I stayed up-stairs +because I was afraid you might tell," she confessed; and then Rebecca +owned that she had felt much the same. "But I had to take a big bowlful +of bitter thoroughwort tea," she added, making a little face at the +remembrance. + +"Well, you are a better medicine than thoroughwort tea," said Lucia; and +Mrs. Horton opened the door just in time to hear this. + +"Why, it is indeed so," she said, looking in surprise at her little +daughter, who seemed quite as well as usual. "Your father has just +passed, Rebecca, and I asked his permission for you to stay to dinner +with us, and he kindly agreed. I think now I must have a little +celebration that Lucia has recovered so quickly," and with a smiling nod +she left the two girls. + +"I know what that means," declared Lucia, for the moment forgetting the +danger of discovery. "It means that we shall have rice cooked with +raisins, and perhaps guava jelly or sugared nuts." + +Rebecca looked at her friend as if she could hardly believe her own +ears; for the dainties that Lucia named so carelessly were seldom +enjoyed in the remote settlement; and although Captain Horton took care +that his own pantry was well supplied it was not generally known among +his 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, since +Mother said 'twould be a celebration; and I am glad indeed that you are +here. You do not have things like that at your house, do you?" said +Lucia. + +Rebecca could feel her cheeks flush, but she did not know why she felt +angry at what Lucia had said. It was true that the Westons, like most of +their neighbors, had only the plainest food, but she wished herself at +home to share the corn bread and baked fish that would be her mother's +noonday meal. She was silent so long that Lucia looked at her +questioningly; and when Mrs. Horton called them to dinner they went +down-stairs very quietly. + +The table was set with plates of shining pewter. There was a loaf of +white 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, as +Lucia had truly said, she never had at home; but to Mrs. Horton's +surprise and Lucia's dismay, Rebecca declared that she must go home; and +taking her sunbonnet, with some stammering words of excuse she hastened +away. + +"A very ill-bred child," declared Mrs. Horton, "and I shall be well +pleased if your father can take us away from this forsaken spot on his +next 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 have +sent Rebecca flying from the house. + +Mr. and Mrs. Weston and Anna were nearly through dinner when Rebecca +appeared, and Mrs. Weston declared herself well pleased that Rebby had +come home; there were no questions asked, and it seemed to Rebby that +nothing 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; of +taking the rabbits to the parsonage, and of London's exclamation and +terror at the "white witches," and last of all of Luretta's anger. "And +I didn't even tell Luretta that the rabbits were lost," concluded the +little girl, and then, with a deep sigh, she added: "I suppose I will +have to go right over and tell her." + +"Yes," replied her mother gravely, "you must go at once. And you must +tell Luretta how sorry you are for taking the rabbits from the box. And +fail not to say to Mrs. Foster that you are ashamed at not keeping your +promise." + +Mr. Weston did not speak, but Rebecca noticed that he seemed pleased +rather than vexed with his little daughter. "That's because Anna always +tells everything," thought Rebecca. "But if I should tell what I did +last night he would think me too wicked to forgive," and at the thought +she 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. But +in a few moments her tears ceased, and she was ready to help with +washing the dishes and setting the room in order. + +"I will walk along with you, Danna," said her father, when Anna was +ready 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 his +own spirit is braver than he who taketh a city'?" he questioned gently. + +Anna looked up at him wonderingly, and Mr. Weston continued: "It is +your courage in owning your fault that makes you a conqueror, and as +brave as a brave soldier." + +"As brave as Washington?" asked Anna, and when her father smiled down at +her she smiled back happily. Probably a little girl could not be as +brave as a great soldier, she thought, but if her father was pleased it +would not be so hard, after all, to tell Luretta about Trit and Trot. +But Anna again firmly resolved that she would take all the blame +herself; Melvina should not be blamed in any way for the loss of the +rabbits. + + + + + CHAPTER X + + AN AFTERNOON WALK + + +At the turn by the blacksmith shop Mr. Weston said good-bye, and Anna +went on alone to Luretta's home. The front door was open, and before she +reached the house she heard someone crying, and when she stood on the +doorstep she realized that it was Luretta, and that Mrs. Foster was +endeavoring 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 all +their adventures to their brothers and sisters," she heard Mrs. Foster +say. + +"But Danna and Melvina may have taken them," sobbed Luretta; and then +Anna rapped at the door. + +"Come in," called Mrs. Foster, and Anna, a little timidly, entered the +sitting-room. + +Luretta looked up, but did not speak. + +"Come right in, Anna," said Mrs. Foster pleasantly. "Luretta has bad +news for you; the rabbits are gone." + +Anna did not look up, and there was an uncomfortable silence for a +moment. Then she began her story: + +"If you please, Mistress Foster, I am sorry I broke my promise to you +this morning. You bade me to wait with Melvina by the big log, and I did +not." + +"You came and took my rabbits," wailed Luretta, "and I s'pose you gave +one 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 tell +you all the story of the rabbits." Then she rested her hand on Anna's +shoulder and said kindly: + +"I am glad, Anna, that you and Luretta are friends, for thou art a brave +and 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 face +hidden against the back. Anna was standing in front of her, trying to +think of something to say that would make Luretta forgive her. Then she +heard Luretta's half-smothered voice say: "Do you s'pose our rabbits did +find 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 we +dressed them up in doll's clothes----" + +"Yes? Yes? And what else?" asked Luretta eagerly, now facing about and +forgetting all her anger in hearing what Anna had to tell. So Anna went +on and described all that had happened, imitating London's cry of terror +at the sight of the "white witches." At this Luretta began to laugh, and +Anna came nearer to the big chair, and even ventured to rest against its +arm. + +"Luretta, let's you and I go up the trail toward the forest. Perhaps we +might find Trit and Trot," she suggested. + +Luretta was out of the chair in a moment; and, quite forgetting all her +anger toward Anna, she agreed promptly and the two little girls, hand +in hand, came into the kitchen and told Mrs. Foster their plan. + +She listened smilingly, but cautioned them not to go beyond the edge of +the 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 of +the young trees; so go not into the wood. Beside that a party of Indians +were 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 could +not always be trusted. The little girls promised to follow the trail +only to the edge of the wood, and started soberly off. + +"We might see Trit and Trot behind any bush, might we not?" suggested +Luretta hopefully. + +"Perhaps we might see a little baby bear! Would it not be fine if we +could catch two little bears instead of rabbits?" responded Anna, as +they climbed the hill, stopping now and then to pick the tender young +checkerberry leaves, or listen to the song of some woodland bird. A +group of young spruce trees stood beside the trail, and here the two +little girls stopped to rest. The sun was warm, and they both were glad +to 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 sure +Paul 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 them +to-night, and what will he say!" and Luretta's voice sounded as if tears +were very near. + +While Luretta spoke Anna's eyes had been fixed on a little clump of +bushes on the other side of the trail. The bushes moved queerly. There +was no wind, and Anna was sure that some little animal was hiding behind +the shrubs. Greatly excited, Anna leaned forward, grasping Luretta's +arm. + +"Look! those bushes!" she whispered. + +At that moment a queer ball of dingy white appeared on the opposite +side of the trail, and instantly Anna sprang toward it. Her hands +grasped the torn and twisted piece of floating cloth, and closed upon +the poor frightened little creature, one of the lost rabbits, nearly +frightened to death by the strange garment that had prevented his +escape. + +If he could have spoken he would have begged for the freedom that his +brother had achieved; but he could only tremble and shrink from the +tender hands that held him so firmly. + +In a moment Anna had unfastened the doll's skirt, and Trit, or Trot, was +once more clear of the detested garment. + +"Oh, Danna! Do you suppose we can take it safely home?" exclaimed the +delighted Luretta. + +"Just see how frightened he is," Anna responded. Somehow she no longer +wished to take the little creature back and shut it up. + +"Do you suppose its mother is trying to find it?" she continued +thoughtfully. + +"And would it tell its brothers and sisters all its adventures, just as +Mother said?" questioned Luretta. + +"Why not?" Anna's brown eyes sparkled. "Of course it would. Probably +Trot is safe home by this time, and all the rabbit family are looking +out for Trit." + +Anna looked hopefully toward Luretta. If Trit went free it must be +Luretta's gift. Anna felt that she had no right to decide. + +"Let him go, Danna," said Luretta softly; and very gently Anna released +her clasp on the soft little rabbit. It looked quickly up, and with a +bound 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," said +Luretta, as they started toward home. "Probably he will laugh; but I +guess he will say they ought to be free." + +Both Anna and Luretta were very quiet on the walk home. Anna began to +feel tired. It seemed to her that a great deal had happened since +morning. She remembered the liberty pole, with a little guilty sense of +having been more interested in the rabbits, and in Melvina and Luretta, +than in the safety of the emblem of freedom. But she was glad that +Luretta 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 have +giants catch us, wouldn't it?" + +Luretta agreed soberly, thinking that to the rabbits she must have +seemed a giant. + +"Father will say 'twas best to let them go, whatever Paul says," she +added, and promising to meet the next day the friends parted. + +Anna danced along the path in her old fashion, quite forgetting +Melvina's measured steps. Everything was all right now. She and Luretta +were friends; Mrs. Foster had pardoned her; and the liberty pole was +found. So she was smiling and happy as she pushed open the door and +entered the pleasant kitchen, expecting to see her mother and Rebby; but +no one was there. The room looked deserted. She opened the door leading +into the front room and her happy smile vanished. + +Her mother sat there, looking very grave and anxious; and facing the +kitchen door and looking straight at Anna was Mrs. Lyon, while on a +stool beside her sat Melvina, her flounced linen skirt and embroidered +white 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 the +rabbits. All her happiness vanished; and when her mother said: "Come in, +Anna. Mrs. Lyon has come on purpose to speak with you," she quite forgot +to 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 is +eager to come and live with you, Mrs. Weston, if Anna is ready to come +to me." + +Mrs. Lyon, it seemed to Anna, had been talking a long time. She had said +that Melvina was not very strong, and that possibly she was kept too +much indoors; and then had come the astounding suggestion that, on the +very 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 girls +found 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 would +become exactly like Anna; as brave and as independent, and who could +tell but what she might grow to look like her as well! + +The same thought came to Anna. Of course, if she lived with Mrs. Lyon +she would learn to behave exactly like Melvina. But to go away from her +father and mother and from Rebby; this seemed hardly to be possible. + +"Do you want me to go, Mother?" she asked, half hoping that her mother +might 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 the +Reverend Mr. Lyon written a book, and, it was rumored, composed music +for hymns; for any little girl to live in his family would be a high +privilege. And this was what Mr. Weston thought when he heard of the +plan. + +"Why, it is a wise scheme indeed," he said gravely; "my little Danna is +being too much favored at home, and to be with the minister and his wife +will 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 little +girl." + +"Mr. Lyon wishes Melvina to run about as freely as we have allowed +Anna," Mrs. Weston explained, "and to have no lessons or tasks of any +kind, and to spend an hour each afternoon at home while Anna does the +same." + +"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 to +the minister's to remain a fortnight. + +Rebecca was the only one who did not think well of the plan. "I do not +want Danna to go," she said over and over; and added that she should not +know how to treat Melvina, or what to say to her. It was Rebecca who +went with Anna to Mr. Lyon, carrying the small package containing Anna's +clothing, and she brought back Melvina's carefully packed basket. Mrs. +Lyon looked worried and anxious as she saw Melvina start off for the +Westons'; but she gave her no cautions or directions, beyond telling her +to be obedient to Mrs. Weston. Then she took Anna's hand and led her +up-stairs to the pleasant room where she and Melvina had played so +happily with the rabbits. + +"You can leave your sunbonnet here, Anna, and then come down to the +library. This is the hour for your lesson in English history." + +"'English history,'" Anna repeated to herself excitedly. She wondered +what it could mean. But if it was something that Melvina did she was +eager to begin. + +Mr. Lyon smiled down at his little visitor as she curtsied in the +doorway. He hoped his own little daughter might return with eyes as +bright and cheeks as glowing. + +"This is where Melvina sits for her study hour," he said, pointing to a +small 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 of +Americans," began Mr. Lyon, taking up a small book. "It is always wise +to 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 and +feeling of greater consequence than ever before. + +"America's great trouble now, remember, is taxation without +representation," continued the minister; "and now listen carefully to +what an Englishman has to say of it: 'While England contends for the +right of taxing America we are giving up substance for the shadow; we +are exchanging happiness for pride. If we have no regard for America, +let us at least respect the mother country. In a dispute with America +who would we conquer? Ourselves. Everything that injures America is +injurious to Great Britain, and we commit a kind of political suicide +when we endeavor to crush them into obedience.' + +"Ah! There is still wisdom in the English council; but I fear it is too +late," said Mr. Lyon, as if speaking his thoughts aloud. "And now, my +child, what is the subject of our lesson?" he questioned, looking kindly +at Anna. + +"England and America," she replied promptly. + +Mr. Lyon nodded. "And why does America firmly resolve not to be unjustly +taxed?" 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 small +wonder that every American, even to a little girl, can see that it is +not to be borne," said Mr. Lyon, rising and pacing up and down the +narrow room, his thoughts full of the great conflict that had already +begun 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 circles +with "The West Indies" printed across them. Far over on the end of the +map was a queerly shaped green object marked "Asia" and below it a +beautiful blue place called "Europe." Anna was so delighted and +interested in discovering France, and Africa, the Ægean Sea, and the +British Isles, that she quite forgot where she was. But as she looked at +the very small enclosure marked "England," and then at the long line of +America she suddenly exclaimed: "America need not be afraid." + +Mr. Lyon had seated himself at his desk, and at the sound of Anna's +voice he looked up in surprise. + +"Why, child! You have been so quiet I had forgotten you. Run out to the +sitting-room to Mrs. Lyon," and Anna obeyed, not forgetting to curtsy as +she left the room. + +[Illustration: HOW LONG THE AFTERNOON SEEMED!] + +Mrs. Lyon had a basket piled high with work. There were stockings to be +darned, pillow-cases to be neatly repaired, and an apron of stout +drilling to be hemmed. Anna's task was to darn stockings. She was given +Melvina's thimble to use, a smooth wooden ball to slip into the +stocking, and a needle and skein of cotton. + +How long the afternoon seemed! Never before had Anna stayed indoors for +the whole of a May afternoon. She felt tired and sleepy, and did not +want to walk about the garden after supper--as Mrs. Lyon kindly +suggested; and not until Mrs. Lyon said that Melvina, on every pleasant +day, walked about the garden after supper, did Anna go slowly down the +path. But she stood at the gate looking in the direction of her home +with 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 daily +visit agreed upon. + +If the days passed slowly with Anna, to Melvina they seemed only too +short. She had quickly made friends with Rebecca, and the elder girl was +astonished at the daring spirit of the minister's daughter. Melvina +would balance herself on the very edge of the bluff, when she and Rebby, +often followed by a surprised and unhappy Luretta, went for a morning +walk. Or on their trips to the lumber yard for chips Melvina would climb +to the top of some pile of timber and dance about as if trying to make +Rebby frightened lest she fall. She went wading along the shore, and +brought home queerly shaped rocks and tiny mussel-shells; and, as her +father 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 that +Mrs. Lyon must think her very much like Melvina, for she had learned her +daily lessons obediently, and moved about the house as quietly as a +mouse. + +But when she awoke on the morning of the day upon which she was to +return home she was sure it was the happiest day of her life. Mrs. Lyon +had even called her a "quiet and careful child," and the minister smiled +upon her, and said that she "was a loyal little maid." So she had great +reason for being pleased; and the thought of being home again made her +ready to dance with delight. + +The day that the tree of liberty was planted was declared a holiday, and +the inhabitants of the town gathered on the bluff where it was to be +set. Melvina and Anna and Luretta were together, and the other children +of 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 little +Danna would no longer be absent from home. + +There was great rejoicing among the people as the tree was raised, and +citizen after citizen stepped forward and made solemn pledges to resist +England's injustice to the American colonies. Then, amid the shouts of +the assembled inhabitants, the discharge of musketry, and the sound of +fife and drum, Machias took its rightful place among the defenders of +American liberty. + +But Rebecca Weston and Lucia Horton, sitting in an upper window of the +Horton house, looked out at the inspiring scene without wishing to be +any nearer. Rebecca was ashamed when she remembered her own part in +trying to prevent the erection of a liberty pole, for now she realized +all it stood for; and she was no longer afraid of an attack upon the +town by an English gunboat. To Rebecca it seemed that such an attack +would bring its own punishment. Her thoughts were now filled by a great +desire to do something, something difficult and even dangerous to her +own safety, in order to make up for that evening when she had crept out +in the darkness and helped Lucia send the tree adrift. + +But Lucia's mind was filled with entirely different thoughts. She was +ready to cry with disappointment and fear in seeing the liberty pole set +up. She could not forget that her father had said that such a thing +would mean trouble. + +"If we had not set it adrift, Lucia, we could be on the bluff now with +the 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 and +foolish performance," replied Lucia. "But perhaps 'twill be cut down +before the _Polly_ comes into harbor." + +Rebecca jumped up from the window-seat, her face flushed and her eyes +shining. + +"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 just +what you told me and what we did," she exclaimed, starting toward the +door. + +"You can't tell, ever, Rebecca Weston! You promised not to," Lucia +called after her, and Rebecca stopped suddenly. Lucia was right. No +matter 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 was +the second time she had left the Horton house in anger. "I won't come +here again," she thought, a little sadly, for she and Lucia had been +"best friends" ever since Captain Horton had brought his family to the +remote settlement. + +"There's Rebby," Anna called joyfully, as holding her father's hand, and +with her mother walking close behind, she came along the path toward +home. Rebby was walking slowly along a short distance in front of the +little 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 and +cheering?" + +"Yes," responded Rebby briefly; and then looking at Anna she said: "Oh, +Danna! I wish, more than anything, that I could do something to protect +the liberty tree." + +"Perhaps you can, Rebby, sometime, you and I together," replied Anna +hopefully; "anyway, isn't it lovely that I am home to stay?" + +And to this Rebby could agree smilingly, but she kept in her heart the +wish she had just uttered. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + WILD HONEY + + +Anna went singing about the house quite satisfied now to be herself; and +Rebby and her mother smiled at each other at the happiness of the little +girl. + +"I doubt not you have learned many things, Danna," said Rebby, a little +wistfully, as the sisters sat on the broad doorstep after supper +looking down at the broad flowing river. + +"Yes, indeed!" replied Anna confidently. "Why, Rebby, I know all about +history. The minister told me that a hundred and fifty years ago there +were English traders living right here, and they were driven away by the +French. And then, some forty years ago, Governor Belcher of +Massachusetts came cruising along this coast, and there was no one at +all here. And, Rebby, Mr. Lyon says there are no such pine forests in +all 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 that +very soon there would be a regular school here, with a master, as soon +as America conquers her enemies. But, Danna, do you suppose anyone will +dare touch the liberty pole?" For Rebby's thoughts could not long stray +from Lucia Horton's prediction that it might be cut down. + +"What's that?" exclaimed Mr. Weston from the doorway behind them. "Cut +down the liberty pole? Why, there is not a man in Machias who would do +such 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 with +me to-morrow? I must go up to the mill at Kwapskitchwock Falls, and we +will 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 over +a fire for our dinner." + +"That is what we will hope to do," replied Mr. Weston. "And, Rebby, why +do you not come with us? 'Tis but a few miles, and a day in the woods +will do you good." + +"Why, perhaps I shall, if Mother does not need me," Rebby answered. She +so seldom cared for woodland tramps that Anna gave a little exclamation +of surprised delight. + +"I'll make a corn-cake to take with us," Rebby added, "and since we +start early I had best bake it to-night," and she went into the kitchen +followed 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 could +find a store of wild honey in the woods; 'twould be a great help," she +said, 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 was +getting scarce in most of the loyal households. Rebby scalded the meal +and stirred it carefully, then added milk, and turned the batter into an +iron pan which she set over the fire. When it was cooked it would be a +thin crispy cake that would be appetizing and nourishing. Rebby's +thoughts traveled away to the dainties of the Hortons' cupboard, but +she said to herself that the "spider cake," as the corn-cake was called, +especially when eaten in the woods with freshly broiled salmon, would +taste 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 just +showing itself above the tops of the tall pines when the family sat down +to their simple breakfast. Anna wore her skirt of tanned deerskin, +moccasins, and her blouse of home-made flannel, while Rebecca's dress +was 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's +had the white breast of a gull. + +Mr. Weston wore deerskin breeches and moccasins and a flannel blouse. A +stout leather belt about his waist carried a couple of serviceable +knives, and he carried his musket, for the forest was filled with many +wild animals, and the settlers were always ready to protect themselves. + +Rebby carried a basket that held the corn-cake, and a flint and steel +from which they would strike the spark for their noonday fire. + +Anna ran along close beside her father, until the path narrowed so that +only one could walk, followed by the others. The air was cool and full +of the forest odors. Now and then birds flitted past them, and once or +twice Anna had a glimpse of startled rabbits, which she was sure were +Trit and Trot. + +"If I could only catch one to give Luretta," she thought, "then she +would forgive me for taking the other rabbits," for Anna's thoughts were +often troubled because of the loss of Luretta's pets. + +Mr. Weston stopped at one point to show his daughters an arrow marked on +a tall pine and pointing east. "That is to show the beginning of the +path to Chandler's River settlement," he explained. "The trail is so dim +that the woodsmen have blazed the trees to show the way. There is a good +store of powder and shot at Chandler's River," he added, a little +thoughtfully. + +Rebby looked at the arrow, and afterward she had reason to remember her +father's words. + +The mill at Kwapskitchwock Falls was not in use at the time of their +visit, 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 of +the falls dashing over the rocks. + +Mr. Weston led the way to a big flat rock above the mill, and where two +large beech trees cast a pleasant shade. + +"You can rest here while I look over the mill," he said, "and then I +will see if I can spear a salmon for our dinner." + +The girls were quite ready to rest, and Rebby set the basket carefully +on the rock beside them. + +"Would it not be fine if we could catch a salmon and have it all cooked +when Father comes back?" Anna suggested, but Rebby shook her head. + +"We haven't any salmon spear, and it is quick and skilful work," she +responded. "Father will be better pleased if we obey him and rest here." + +From where the girls were sitting they could look some distance up the +quiet stream, and it was Anna who first discovered a canoe being paddled +close to the opposite shore. + +"Look, Rebby," she said, pointing in the direction of the slow-moving +craft. "Isn't that an Indian?" + +Rebby looked, and after a moment answered: "Why, I suppose it is, and +after salmon. But he won't come down so near the falls." But the girls +watched the slow-moving canoe rather anxiously until it drew close in to +the opposite shore, and was hidden by the overhanging branches of the +trees. + +Rebby decided that she would gather some dry grass and sticks for the +fire, and asked Anna to go down near the mill and bring up some of the +bits of wood lying about there. + +"Then when Father does bring the salmon we can start a blaze right +away," she said. + +Anna ran off toward the mill yard, and Rebby left the shade of the big +beeches to pull handfuls of the sun-dried grass. + +Rebby had gone but a few steps when she heard a queer singing murmur +that seemed to be just above her head. She looked up, but the sky was +clear; there was no bird flying low, as she had imagined; but as she +walked along the murmur became louder, and Rebby began to look about her +more carefully. A short distance from the flat rock was a huge stump of +a broken tree, and Rebby soon realized that the noise came from the +stump, and she approached it cautiously. + +"Oh!" she exclaimed. "It's a honey-tree! It is! It is!" for she had seen +the bees as they went steadily in a dark murmuring line, direct to the +old stump. + +"A honey-tree" was a fortunate discovery at any time, for it meant a +store of delicious wild honey. It was, as in this case, usually a +partially decayed tree where the wild bees had swarmed, and where stores +of honey were concealed. Sometimes the bees had filled the cavities of +the tree so full that they were forced to desert it and find new +quarters; but it was evident that here they were very busy indeed. + +"They will have to be smoked out," decided Rebby, who had often heard +her father tell of the way in which such stores were captured. "I wish I +could do it, and get some honey for dinner," she exclaimed aloud. + +"Well, why not?" she heard someone say from behind her, and she turned +quickly to find Paul Foster, looking so much like an Indian boy in his +fringed 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 have +speared three beauties; I saw you from across the stream, so I paddled +over. 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 asked +eagerly. She and Paul were nearly of an age, and Paul was a friendly +boy, always ready to make bows and arrows or toy boats for his little +sister and her girl playmates. + +"I don't see why not," he responded, as if smoking out a hive of wild +bees was a very usual undertaking; "but I haven't a flint and steel," he +added. + +"I have, in my basket," declared Rebecca; and in a few minutes Paul and +Rebecca had gathered a mass of sticks and grass, heaping it a short +distance from the stump. + +"Mustn't get a blaze, only a heavy smoke," said Paul as he struck the +flint and steel together, and carefully sheltered the spark which the +dry grass instantly caught. + +At the sight of the smoke Mr. Weston came running from the mill, and +with 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 the +bucket and take home all it would hold, and to return the next day in +Paul's canoe with tubs for the rest of the honey. + +Paul insisted that Mr. Weston should accept one of his fine salmon to +broil for their midday meal, and then Rebby exclaimed: + +"Where is Danna? She went to the mill after wood before we found the +honey-tree, and she isn't back yet." + +"Oh! She is probably playing that she is an explorer on a journey to the +South Seas," laughed Mr. Weston. "I will go after her," and he started +off toward the mill, while Rebecca added wood to the fire, and Paul +prepared the salmon to broil. + +Mr. Weston called "Danna!" repeatedly, but there was no answer. He +searched the yard and the shore, but there was no trace of his little +daughter. He went through the big open mill, and peered into shadowy +corners, but Anna was not to be found. And at last he hurried back to +tell Paul and Rebby, and to have them help him in his search for the +missing girl. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + DOWN THE RIVER + + +Anna had gathered an armful of dry wood and was just starting back when +a queer little frightened cry made her stop suddenly and look quickly +around. In a moment the noise was repeated, and she realized that it +came 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 creature +struggling to get loose from a coil of string in which its hind legs +were entangled. + +"Oh! It's a rabbit!" Anna exclaimed. "Perhaps it is Trit," and she ran +quickly forward. But the little creature was evidently more alarmed at +her approach than at the trap that held him, and with a frantic leap he +was off, the string trailing behind him; but his hind feet were still +hampered by the twisting string, and he came to a sudden halt. + +"Poor Trit! Poor Trit!" called the little girl pityingly, as she ran +after him. Just as she was near enough to touch him another bound +carried him beyond her reach. On leaped the rabbit, and on followed Anna +until they were some distance below the mill and near the river's +sloping bank, over which the rabbit plunged and Anna after him. A small +boat lay close to the shore, and Bunny's plunge carried him directly +into the boat, where, twisted in the string, he lay struggling and +helpless. + +Anna climbed into the boat and picked up "Trit," as she called the +rabbit, and patiently and tenderly untied the string from the +frightened, panting little captive, talking gently as she did so, until +he lay quiet in her hands. + +The little girl was so wholly absorbed in her task that she did not +notice that the boat was not fastened, or that her spring into it had +sent it clear from the shore. Not until Trit was free from the string +did she look up, and then the little boat was several feet from the +shore, and moving rapidly downstream. + +If Anna had stepped overboard then she could easily have waded ashore +and made her way back to the mill; but she was so surprised that such a +course did not come into her thoughts, and in a few moments the boat was +in deep water and moving with the current downstream. + +On each side of the river the woods grew down to the shore, and now and +then the wide branches of overhanging trees stretched for some distance +over the stream. A blue heron rose from the river, making its loud call +that drowned Anna's voice as she cried: "Father! Father!" Even had Mr. +Weston been near at hand he could hardly have distinguished Anna's +voice. But Anna was now too far downstream for any call to reach her +father or Rebby and Paul, who were all anxiously searching for her. + +At first the little girl was not at all frightened. The river ran to +Machias, and, had it not been that she was sure her father and sister +would be worried and sadly troubled by her disappearance, Anna would +have thought it a fine adventure to go sailing down the stream with her +captured rabbit. Even as it was, she had a gleeful thought of Luretta's +surprise and of Melvina's admiration when she should tell them the +story. + +She soon discovered that the boat leaked, and, holding the rabbit +tightly in one hand, she took off her round cap and began to bail out +the water, which had now risen to her ankles. Very soon the little cap +was soggy and dripping; and now Anna began to wonder how long the leaky +little craft could keep afloat. + +Both Anna and Rebby could swim; their father had taught them when they +were very little girls, and Anna knew that if she would leave the rabbit +to drown that she could reach the shore safely; but this seemed hardly +to be thought of. She now resolved to clutch at the first branch within +reach, hoping in that way to scramble to safety with Trit. But the boat +was being carried steadily along by the current, although the water came +in constantly about her feet. + +"I mustn't get frightened," Anna said aloud, remembering how often her +father 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 was +wabbling. + +"I never thought of the seat," she whispered, slipping down to her knees +and pulling the seat from the loose support on which it rested. It was +hard work to use the board as a paddle with only one hand, but Anna was +strong and resolute, and managed to swing the boat a little toward the +shore, so when a turn of the river came, bringing the boat close toward +a little point of land, she quickly realized that this was her +opportunity, and holding Trit close she sprang into the shallow water +and in a moment was safe on shore. + +The old boat, now half-filled with water, moved slowly on, and Anna knew +that it would not be long afloat. She looked about her landing-place +with wondering eyes. Behind the little grassy point where she stood the +forest stretched close and dark; the curve of the river shut away the +course by which she had come, but she could look down the smooth flowing +current, and toward the wooded shores opposite. + +The rabbit moved uneasily in her hands, and the little girl smoothed him +tenderly. "I don't know who will ever find me here, unless it should be +Indians," she said aloud, remembering the canoe that she and Rebby had +noticed as they sat on the big rock. + +Anna felt a little choking feeling in her throat at the remembrance. It +seemed so long ago since she had seen Rebby and her father. "And it's +all your fault, Trit," she told the rabbit; "but you could not help it," +she added quickly, and remembered that the rabbit must be hungry and +thirsty, and for a little while busied herself in finding tender leaves +and buds for Trit to eat, and in holding him close to the water's edge +so that he could drink. Then she wandered about the little clearing and +to the edge of the dark forest. She began to feel hungry, and knew by +the 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 would +be in danger from the wild beasts of the wilderness, but that almost any +of the Indians who fished and hunted in that region would take her +safely back to her home. + +An hour or two dragged slowly by; Anna was very tired. She held Trit +close, and sat down not far from the river's edge. "Father will find me +some way," she said to herself over and over, and tried not to let +thoughts of fear and loneliness find a place in her mind. The little +wild rabbit was no longer afraid of its captor, and Anna was sure that +it was sorry it had led her into such trouble. But now and then tears +came to the little girl's eyes, when suddenly she heard a voice from the +river 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 with +joy; and the next moment a canoe swung round the curve, paddled by a +tall 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 his +paddle he sent his canoe to shore. + +Anna told him quickly of the capture of Trit, the leaking boat, and her +jump to safety, while Paul listened with astonished eyes, and, in his +turn, told of the discovery of the honey-tree, and then of the search +for Anna. + +"Your father and Rebby are sadly frightened," he concluded; "they are +well on the way home now, thinking possibly you might have followed the +path. Now, get in the canoe, and I'll try my best to get you home by the +time they reach the settlement." + +Anna sat in the bottom of the canoe, and Paul skilfully wielded the +paddle, sending the little craft swiftly down the river. + +"That bucket is full of honey," he said, nodding toward the bow of the +canoe. But Anna was not greatly interested in the honey; she had even +forgotten that she was hungry and thirsty. She could think only of her +father and Rebby searching along the path for some trace of her. + +It was late in the afternoon when the canoe swept across the river to +the same landing where Paul had fastened the liberty tree earlier in the +month. 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, and +held close in her mother's arms she sobbed out the story of the capture +of Trit, and all that had followed. And then Paul told the story of the +honey-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, and +how closely Rebby held her little sister, as Anna again told the story +of her journey down the river. + +When Paul started for home Mrs. Weston insisted that a generous portion +of the bucket of honey should go with him; and Trit, safely fastened in +a small basket, was sent to Luretta as a gift from Anna. He promised to +be ready the next morning to return to the falls with Mr. Weston in the +canoe to bring home the store of honey. + +As the Westons gathered about the table for their evening meal they +looked at each other with happy faces. + +"I couldn't feel happier if the _Polly_ were in port, and America +triumphant over her enemies," declared Mr. Weston, as he helped Anna to +a liberal portion of honey. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + AN UNINVITED GUEST + + +Paul and Mr. Weston started off at an early hour the next morning in +Paul's canoe to bring home the honey. Beside a tub they took with them a +number of buckets, for the old stump had a rich store of honey. + +It was a time of leisure for the lumbering settlement. The drives of +logs had all come down the river and were safely in the booms. The mills +could not run as usual, for the conflict with England made it difficult +to send lumber to Boston. The crops were now planted, so Mr. Weston, +like other men of the settlement, had time for hunting and fishing or +for improving their simple homes. Some of the men passed a good part of +each day lounging around the shores and wharves, looking anxiously down +the harbor hoping to see Captain Jones' sloops returning with the +greatly needed provisions. + +Rebecca was up in season to see her father start, but Anna, tired from +the adventure of the previous day, had not awakened. + +"Is the liberty tree safe?" Rebby asked a little anxiously, as she +helped 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 strange +thing that, search though they may, no trace can be found of the +rascals." + +Rebecca's hands trembled, and she dared not look up. It seemed to the +little girl that if her mother should look into her eyes she would at +once 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 that +Lucia Horton had said; but the promise bound her. She could never tell +anyone. Rebecca knew that she could never be happy again. "Not unless I +could do some fine thing to help America," she thought, a little +hopelessly; for what could a little girl, in a settlement far away from +all the strife, do to help the great cause for which unselfish men were +sacrificing everything? + +Mrs. Weston was troubled about Rebecca. "The child has not really been +well since her birthday," she thought, "although I cannot think what the +trouble can be." + +"Your father says that the honey is really yours, Rebby dear," continued +Mrs. 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," said +Mrs. Weston. Before Rebecca could speak Anna came running into the room, +her brown eyes shining, and her curls, now long enough to dance about +her face, falling over her brown cheeks. + +As she ate her porridge her mother questioned her about the adventure of +the previous day, and for a time Rebby forgot her own worries in +listening to Anna's account of her journey in the leaking boat, and of +her leap to safety. + +"It was not mischief, was it, Mother, to try and capture Trit?" she +concluded. + +"No, indeed, dear child. Who could foresee such an adventure?" replied +Mrs. Weston. "And we are all proud that you did so well; that you did +not wander into the forest, where you would surely have been lost. I was +just asking Rebby what use we would make of the honey. Of course we want +to share it with our neighbors. 'Tis rare good fortune to have such a +store 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 up +the whole settlement to be asked to a party. To be sure I can offer them +only honey; but perhaps 'twill take their minds from the _Polly_, and +from England's injustice toward us. Rebecca, you and Anna shall start +out at once and ask the neighbors as far as Mr. Lyon's house. That will +bring as many as twenty people. And tell each one to bring a cup and +spoon, as I have no extra dishes." + +As soon as Anna had finished her breakfast the two girls put on their +sunbonnets and started on their pleasant errand. The neighbors were to +be 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 spoon +that each guest was to bring. + +"I wish I could offer them a dish of tea," thought Mrs. Weston, and then +reproached herself for the thought, for was not the tea tax one of +England's sins against the colonies, and had not loyal women refused to +brew 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-forks +were always in demand, and he made many stout locks and keys, as well as +door-latches and hooks. + +"Shall we ask him first?" questioned Anna. + +"Yes," replied Rebecca. "He is our best neighbor, so 'tis right to ask +him first." + +Rebecca and Anna stood in the open doorway for a moment watching the +glow of the forge and the bright sparks that sprang from the red bar of +iron which Mr. Foster was shaping into a spearhead. + +He nodded toward his little visitors smilingly, and listened with +evident pleasure to Rebecca's invitation. + +"But you tell me Paul is to have a good portion of the honey; 'tis +hardly fair we Fosters should come," he replied, and then added +quickly, "But why not let us have the neighbors, and divide the honey +that is left after the party?" + +"Why, yes, sir; I think that will be a good plan," responded Rebby +soberly, "and perhaps Luretta will go with us to ask the neighbors." + +Mr. Foster nodded again, whistling softly to himself, and as the little +girls bade him a polite "Good-morning" and went on toward his house they +could 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! You +are the bravest girl in the settlement. Paul says you are. And to think +you caught the rabbit for me." Luretta, quite out of breath, with her +arm across Anna's shoulders, looked admiringly at her friend. + +"It's only fair," Anna replied, "because I lost yours." And then Anna +had to tell again the story of her capture of Trit. Luretta listened +eagerly. "I do wish I could have been with you, Danna," she said. But +Anna shook her head. "The boat would have sunk," she responded soberly. + +Mrs. Foster thought the plan for a honey party an excellent idea, and +promised to come in good season; and Luretta was greatly pleased to go +with 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," she +announced. + +"Not ask Lucia! Why not?" questioned Anna, while Luretta looked at Rebby +with wondering eyes. + +"No," Rebecca declared firmly. "The Hortons have a cupboard filled with +jellies, and candied fruits, and jars of syrups, and fine things from +the West Indies and from far places, and 'tis not fair. We have only the +wild bees' honey, a taste for each neighbor." Rebecca stopped with a +little sigh. She had not thought about not asking Lucia until Anna +spoke, but now she realized that, if she could help it, she would never +again go to the Hortons' house. Rebecca was old enough to realize the +difference between loyalty and selfish indecision, and she was sure that +the Hortons were thinking more of their own comfort than of the good of +America. + +"But Lucia is your best friend," said Anna; "she gave you those +beautiful silk mitts on your birthday." + +Rebecca's face colored. She made no answer. The silk mitts, she +resolved, must be given back. Probably she would never have another +pair; but never mind, if she gave up Lucia's friendship she must give up +the mitts. + +For a few minutes the little girls walked on in silence, but Luretta was +eager to talk about Trit, and very soon she and Anna were talking +happily of plans to teach the captured rabbit, and were no longer +troubled by Rebecca's decision not to ask the Hortons to the honey +party. If they thought of it at all it was to agree with Rebby: that +people with a cupboard full of dainties, when their neighbors had only +the coarsest fare, ought not to be asked to share the wild honey. + +Mrs. Lyon welcomed the little girls in a most friendly manner, and Anna +was made happy when the minister's wife said that she really believed +that Anna's stitches were as tiny and as neatly set as those of Melvina +herself. + +"Melvina is out-of-doors," she continued; "I have decided that she is +much stronger to be in the open air a portion of each day, and London +has made her a playhouse under the pines behind the house." + +Both Anna and Luretta hoped that Mrs. Lyon would ask them to go and see +Melvina'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 was +eager to get home, urging Anna to stop and see Trit, who was safe in the +same box that had been made for the other rabbits. + +"You may both run ahead if you wish," said Rebby with quite a grown-up +manner, 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 take +the path along the bluff and see for herself that the liberty tree stood +safe, defiant of all enemies. Rebby's thoughts were filled with a +certain fear that Lucia Horton might contrive some new plan to make away +with this emblem of freedom; and she gave an exclamation of +satisfaction as she saw the handsome young pine, well braced with rocks +and 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 comforted +by this thought she started on toward home. + +Mr. Weston and Paul were just landing their load of honey, and Rebecca +went down to the shore to tell them of the plan for the honey party, of +which they both approved. The tubs and buckets were all carried to the +Westons' and safely stored away in the big pantry. + +Mrs. Foster and Mrs. Weston were talking over arrangements for the next +day. Mrs. Foster had suggested that they should each bake a quantity of +"spider-cakes." "They are thin and crispy, and will relish well with the +honey," she said, and Mrs. Weston agreed, although both the women +realized that by making these cakes they would diminish their household +stores of Indian meal almost to the danger point. But the _Polly_, with +her cargo of wheat flour, sugar, and other necessities, was long +overdue; 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 the +guests could enjoy the spring air. Paul was quite ready to help him; +they brought planks from the lumber yard, and long before the first +visitor arrived the low comfortable seats were ready. + +Anna and Rebby were busy all the morning making small plates of +birch-bark, which they stripped from the big logs. These little plates +would each hold a square of "spider-cake" and a helping of honey; and as +the guests would bring their own cups, to be filled with clear spring +water, and their own spoons, the Westons felt that all was ready. + +Rebby and Anna both wore their Sunday best, but their dresses were +carefully covered by their long pinafores. For they would serve each +guest, and it would not do that any careless movement should send a +stream of honey over their best gowns. Luretta and Melvina would also +help, and had been warned to bring pinafores to wear. + +There was a pleasant air of excitement all through the little settlement +as the people, dressed in their simple best, walked along the path +leading to the Westons'. The minister and his wife, each holding Melvina +by the hand, were among the first comers. + +"It was a friendly thought to ask your neighbors to share your good +fortune," 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 surprised +to hear it, as she considered Anna a very thoughtful and generous child. + +Rebecca had forgotten for the time her own sense of unworthiness, and +was smiling happily as friend after friend arrived, when suddenly her +smile vanished. For coming up the path in a fine dress of pale yellow +muslin and wearing a flower-trimmed hat was Lucia Horton. No one but +Rebecca, of course, was surprised to see Lucia. It was to be expected +that she would be a guest at Rebecca's house. Anna and Luretta did not +see Lucia's arrival, but Rebby stood quite still, pale and angry, and +watched Lucia smiling and speaking to the neighbors. Then Lucia came +straight 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 any +response to this rude salutation; and, with another scornful glance, +Lucia went on her way to where Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Weston were talking +together, and took a seat beside them, and was cordially welcomed by +Rebecca's mother, who, of course, knew nothing of the trouble between +the two girls. + +"Lucia has forgotten her cup and spoon, Rebby; bring her your lustre +mug," called Mrs. Weston. + +For a moment Rebby pretended not to hear. She was filling the cups with +cool spring water, and not until her mother called the second time did +she start toward the house for her cherished lustre mug. She was ready +to cry at the thought of Lucia's insulting words, and now she must carry +the pretty mug to her, and serve her as though she were a welcome +guest. + +"I won't let her know that I care; and I must be polite because she is a +guest, even if she wasn't invited," thought Rebby, as carrying the +lustre mug and a birch-bark plate with a square of honeycomb and a +brownish crisp "spider-cake" she went toward Lucia. + +Neither of the little girls spoke, and Rebby did not look at her former +friend who had led her into such sad mischief. Then suddenly there was a +crash, a loud cry from Lucia and from Rebby as the lustre mug fell to +the ground, and the contents of the frail plate streamed over the +delicate 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 cherished +mug 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 of +her mug. Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Weston were both endeavoring to comfort +Lucia, and to repair the harm done to the yellow muslin. But the honey +and 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 friendly +women, 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 Horton +and his wife are not trustworthy," Mrs. Lyon said. "The child is so +ill-bred she can be but indulged and spoiled at home," and Mrs. Weston +agreed. But neither of them imagined that Lucia's mother and father were +disloyal to the American cause, and only waiting a profitable +opportunity to betray the little settlement to its enemies. + +Lucia's angry words cast but a brief shadow over the gathering, and no +one noticed that Rebecca had disappeared. At the moment Lucia started +for home Rebby had run toward the house. She hurried up the stairs to +the little room under the roof where she and Anna slept, and from the +closet she drew out the square wooden box that her father had made for +her. Her initials R. F. W. were carved inside a small square on the +cover, and it had a lock and key. Rebby was very proud of this box, and +in it she kept her most treasured possessions: a handkerchief of fine +lawn with a lace edge, a pin made from a silver sixpence, and the +prayer-book her Grandmother Weston had given her. When Lucia gave her +the silk mitts for a birthday present Rebby had put them carefully away +with these other treasures. Now she pulled them out hurriedly, and, +without waiting to close the box, she ran down the stairs through the +kitchen, keeping carefully out of sight of the group under the elm +trees, until she could not be seen from the house. Then she caught a +glimpse of Lucia's yellow dress, and ran faster than before. But she did +not call Lucia's name. She said to herself that she would never speak to +Lucia again. + +Hearing the hurrying steps behind her Lucia looked over her shoulder, +and seeing Rebby she became frightened and ran faster than ever. Lucia +did not know why she was afraid, but she remembered that she had not +been asked to the party, that she had spoken insultingly to Rebby, +and--she had dropped the mug purposely. So it was small wonder that her +guilty conscience accused her, and that she was eager to reach home +before Rebby could overtake her. + +On raced the two girls along the narrow path. A few men at the wharves +watched 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 the +street stood open to admit the pleasant spring air. In a moment Lucia +was 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. But +in a moment an upper window opened, and Mrs. Horton looked down at +Rebby. + +"Why, Rebecca Flora!" she exclaimed in her pleasant voice. "Lucia has +gone to your party." + +"If you please, Mrs. Horton, I have brought back the mitts Lucia gave me +for 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 heard +Lucia's account of Rebby's turning honey and water over the pretty +yellow muslin, she decided that Rebecca was ashamed to keep a gift after +treating Lucia so badly. + +Rebby went slowly toward home tired and unhappy. All the pleasure of +the party, she said to herself, was spoiled. She was not sorry to give +up the mitts, for everything that reminded her of Lucia made her think +of 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 moment +they 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 all +smiling and cheerful, and we are all the better for meeting in this +neighborly fashion," and Mr. Foster ended his sentence with a whistle +like a bird's note. "You must come with the others to the liberty pole +on 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 began +to seem to her that she would never escape from the liberty pole. And +now she met Mr. and Mrs. Lyon, with Melvina dancing along in front of +them. "More like Danna than Danna is like herself," thought Rebby, +smiling, as she remembered how sedately and quietly Melvina had walked +before Danna and Luretta had played their mischievous pranks on the day +of the tempest. + +The neighbors had all gone when Rebecca reached home, and Mrs. Weston +and Anna were in the house, while Mr. Weston and Paul were taking up the +seats under the elm trees. The pieces of the broken lustre mug lay on +the kitchen table, and Rebby's face clouded as she stood looking at +them. + +"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 of +her 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 the +simple fare of their neighbors, Rebby had decided not to ask Lucia to +her party. + +But when the little girl had finished her story, Mrs. Weston shook her +head disapprovingly. + +"I am not pleased with you, Rebecca," she said. "'Twas not a kind +thought to sit in judgment and decide to punish a friend for something +that is no fault of hers. Lucia did right to come. Of course she thought +you would welcome her." + +"She didn't! She didn't!" exclaimed Rebby. "She made up faces at me, and +said--" + +"Never mind, Rebecca. You see what comes from quarreling. Your mug is +broken, Lucia's dress is spoiled, and you had no pleasure from the +afternoon. Now, there is something for you to do to put this straight. +You must take off your pinafore, put on your sunbonnet, and go straight +to 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 that +she had been unfair to Lucia; she did not ask if Rebby had purposely +spilled the honey on Lucia's muslin dress, but she felt it was not the +time to allow any ill feeling among the families of the settlement, and +that Rebecca's failure to ask the Hortons to come with the other +neighbors to taste the wild honey could easily offend them. + +Anna stood looking first at Rebby and then at her mother. It was so +seldom that Rebby cried, that it seemed a very dreadful thing to her +younger sister. + +"I'll go, Mother, let me go!" she asked eagerly. + +"Do not be so foolish, Anna," responded Mrs. Weston. "This is your +sister'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 mother +really meant that she should go and ask Lucia Horton's forgiveness. + +"If you knew----" she began, tempted to tell her mother all that Lucia +had said about the liberty pole, and even what they had done to prevent +its erection. But the memory of her promise held her. She knew that her +mother expected obedience, and she took off her pinafore, took her +sunbonnet, and, still sobbing, went slowly from the room. Anna started +to follow her, but Mrs. Weston called her back sharply. + +"Anna, you are not to go with your sister," she said, and the little +girl came slowly back. + +"Oh, dear," she sighed, "I wish Lucia Horton would go sailing off to far +lands. To--to Egypt," she concluded. For Anna had never heard much that +was pleasant about Egypt, and was sure that all this trouble was +Lucia's fault. + +Rebecca had never been so unhappy in her life as when she realized that +her mother expected her to go to the Hortons' and ask Lucia's pardon for +not inviting Mrs. Horton and Lucia to the honey party. There were robins +singing in the trees, bluebirds flitting about with gay little notes, +and the spring day was full of beauty, but Rebby was not conscious of it +as she went slowly along the path. + +Very soon she was again standing in front of the Hortons' door, and +summoning all her courage she rapped loudly. There was no response, and +after a few moments she rapped again; but the house seemed silent and +deserted, and no one came to open the door. + +And now Rebecca did not know what to do. If she went home she knew that +her mother would say that she must return at a later hour to fulfil her +errand. So the little girl decided to sit down on the steps and wait for +a time. + +Twilight was near at hand. The sun was low in the western sky, and a +cool little breeze crept up from the river and stirred the tree-tops. +Shadows gathered about the house, and still there was no sign or sound +of the Hortons, and Rebby was about to start for home when a man came +around the corner of the house and spoke to her. + +He was evidently a sailor, and in a great hurry. He asked no questions +but began speaking as if he had no time to lose. + +"Tell your mother that the _Polly_ and _Unity_ will come into harbor +to-morrow, and that Captain Jones is on board the _Unity_. There's a +British gunboat along with them, and your father says there may be +trouble, and for you and your mother to keep close indoors until he +comes." + +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 the +sloop. Be sure you tell your mother," responded the man, speaking in +such low tones that Rebby had to listen sharply to understand. + +"Yes, I'll tell my mother," she replied, and without a moment's +hesitation she started for home as fast as her feet could carry her. She +had entirely forgotten her anger toward Lucia, or her mother's reproof. +All she could think of was the news this sailor, evidently a member of +the _Polly's_ crew, had told her, believing that he was speaking to +Lucia Horton. + +And now Rebecca recalled all that Lucia had told her of what might +befall the little village if a British gunboat sailed into harbor and +saw a liberty tree flaunting its courageous defiance to injustice. But +now she could tell her father, not Lucia's secret, but what the sailor +had told her. + +"And Father will know what to do. Father and Mr. Lyon," she thought +breathlessly, 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 had +confided in her weeks before. "The sailor thought I was Captain Horton's +little 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 say +nothing 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," said +Mrs. 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 possible +dangers to the settlement from the British gunboat to think much of the +postponed 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 her +head. + +"No, Danna, I haven't. But perhaps I can sometime, and you too," she +replied. For some reason, that Rebby could not explain even to herself, +her thoughts centered around what her father had said on their trip to +the Falls of the store of powder and shot at Chandler's River +settlement. She had heard her father say that Machias was but ill +provided with munitions; and with a British gunboat coming into harbor +the next day who could tell how quickly powder and shot might be +needed? + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + REBBY DECIDES + + +The next morning dawned bright and tranquil. The fragrance of pine woods +and broad meadows filled the air, and practically all the inhabitants of +Machias 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 when +Mr. Weston had told the men of the settlement that the sloops were being +convoyed by a British war vessel their alarm and consternation can be +imagined. Mrs. Horton and Lucia were about the only ones absent from the +wharf 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, and +explaining that the presence of the gunboat was only to protect him from +attacks by British cruisers. But his explanation was received in +silence. The memory of the recent battle in Lexington was fresh in the +people's hearts, and much as they needed the provisions on the sloops +they were ready to do without them unless Captains Horton and Jones +could assure their fellow-townsmen of their loyalty and send the British +gunboat from the harbor. + +Finally he received consent to land his goods, and commenced trading +with 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 there +were two dolls for Melvina, the ones of which Luretta had spoken on the +day when she and Anna had led Melvina to the shore to show her a "clam's +nest." + +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 a +reward for carrying back those Lucia had given her. + +Mrs. Horton now kept Lucia closely at home. Anna and Luretta were +invited to spend an afternoon with Melvina, and become acquainted with +the new dolls, and Melvina urged Luretta to bring Trit, resolving to +dress up the rabbit as she and Anna had done before. + +Rebecca was more aware of the troubled condition of the settlement than +were 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 that +the Machias men ought to capture the British gunboat, and take the +sloops, making their captains and crews prisoners. Rebby listened +eagerly. + +"But we couldn't capture them, Paul; I heard Father say there was but +little powder and shot in the settlement," she said. + +"We'd get 'em," declared Paul. "If Jones and Horton think they are going +to load up their sloops with lumber for British barracks in Boston +they'll see trouble." + +"And Parson Lyon is not to preach at the liberty pole," said Rebby a +little thoughtfully. + +Paul made no response to this. He had come up to the Westons' on an +errand for his mother, and was now eager to get back to the wharves +where the sloops were being unloaded. + +"If the Britisher fires on our liberty pole they'll hear a sermon all +right," he called back as he ran down the path. + +It was difficult for Rebby to attend to the simple duties that her +mother required of her. Whenever her father entered the house she +watched his face anxiously, half-expecting him to say that the Machias +men 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 tell +of dressing up Trit, and that London Atus, coming into the room where +the little girls were playing and seeing the rabbit wearing a white +skirt 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 suppose +you and I could find the way to Chandler's River?" + +"Of course we could," Anna declared. "Don't you remember that Father +showed us where the trail began, marked by 'spotted' trees?" + +"Yes, I remember. Listen, Anna; there is hardly any powder or shot in +Machias; if there were the men could protect the liberty pole." + +"Yes, yes," Anna responded quickly. "I heard Parson Lyon telling +Captain O'Brien that all the men ought to be ready to defend the +settlement." + +"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 be +helping, 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 we +bring it back the men can drive off or capture the gunboat," Rebecca +explained. + +"I think Father ought to know," persisted Anna, so that at last Rebby +said no more, after Anna had promised not to repeat Rebby's plan to +anyone. + +But Rebby slept but little that night. If the gunboat fired on the town +she felt it would be her fault for having kept Lucia's secret to +herself; and yet she dared not break a promise. In some way Rebby felt +that she must do something to make right her foolish act in helping +Lucia set the liberty tree adrift. + +The next day Captain Jones began his preparations to load the sloops +with lumber for Boston, and the Machias men, doubtful of the Captain's +loyalty, determined that the sloops should not return to Boston. Rebby +and Anna were in the lumber yard filling a basket with chips, when a +number of men talking of this decision passed them. + +"If we only had more powder and shot," said one; "but we cannot spare a +single man to go to Chandler's River after supplies." + +"There, Anna!" exclaimed Rebby. "Did you hear what those men said? Do +you not see that we can help as much as a real soldier? We can go to +Chandler's River. We must." + +"Perhaps Father would give us permission if we asked him," Anna +persisted. But Rebecca shook her head at this suggestion; she dared not +risk 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 any +day. Do say you will go, Anna." + +Rebby knew that Anna's knowledge of the forest, her strength and +courage, would be all that could enable her to undertake the task. +Without Anna she feared that she might fail in finding her way, and +never reach Chandler's River. + +"Think, Danna! The gunboat will shoot down our liberty pole! Perhaps +burn the church and our houses, and they may carry off our father a +prisoner! 'Tis what they try to do whenever Americans resist; and if the +Machias 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 her +father being taken a prisoner and that she and Rebby could prevent so +great a misfortune made her no longer hesitate. + +"We will start to-morrow morning, early," she said. "We must make sure +that our moccasins are in good shape, Rebby; and we must take some +corn-bread, for 'twill be a good journey. How early can we start, +Rebby?" + +"Before sunrise, surely," responded Rebby, "and I will write on a strip +of birch-bark what we are going to do, and pin it to Father's hat. Then +they will not worry about us." + +"Worry! Why, Father will think it a brave deed," declared Anna. "I wish +we had started this morning." + +That day seemed very long to the sisters. They made their preparations +carefully 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 wide +awake, and at her whispered "Rebby," her sister's eyes opened quickly, +and they slipped quietly out of bed. In a few moments they were fully +dressed for their tramp through the forest. Very cautiously they made +their 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 the +previous day, with a bit of charcoal from the fireplace she wrote: + +"Dear Mother and dear Father: Anna and I are going to Chandler's River +to bring home powder and shot for Machias men to use to save the +settlement. 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 noiselessly +along in the shadow of the house, then ran swiftly up the path, and in a +short time were out of sight of the houses of the settlement. + +"Now we must walk slowly for a time," cautioned Anna, remembering her +father's warnings against hurrying at the beginning of a tramp. "We must +go on steadily for a time, and rest before we begin to feel tired. That +is the way Indians do, and Father says it is why they can travel day +after day and not be exhausted." + +Rebby looked at her little sister admiringly. In woodland lore she +realized that Danna was much wiser than herself, and she was quite ready +to be guided by her. + +When Mrs. Weston called the girls the next morning and received no +response she was not greatly surprised, as they often slept a little +later than their parents. "The extra sleep will do them no harm," she +said smilingly, as she and Mr. Weston sat down to the breakfast table; +therefore Rebby and Danna were well on their way before their father +took his hat from its accustomed place and discovered the strip of +birch-bark with its surprising message. + +Mr. Weston read the note, and stood for a moment silent, thinking what +could be done. His first impulse was to hasten after his girls and +bring them safely home. Then came the thought of the peril of the +settlement. At any moment he might be called upon to help in its +defense. Every man would be needed. He recalled Danna's strength and +fearlessness, and her knowledge of the forest, and Rebby's quiet good +judgment. If there were dangers he believed his girls could meet them +fearlessly. Then, too, what a blessing it would be to have them bring +home a store of powder and shot. It would mean the salvation of the +settlement. Mr. Weston began to feel very proud of his little daughters +and to feel sure they would return safely. + +"What is the trouble with your hat, Father?" questioned his wife. "You +stand looking at it as if it had some message for you." + +"Indeed it has," Mr. Weston replied smilingly. "It tells me that we have +two of the bravest girls in America. Listen," and he read Rebby's note +aloud. + +"'Tis a deed to make us proud," he said, "and 'twill give new courage to +every man in the settlement to know that a supply of powder will be here +to-morrow." + +But it was a long and anxious day for Mrs. Weston. She knew the perils +of the forest, and her thoughts centered about lurking bears that might +spring out upon Rebby and Danna as they went through the wilderness. She +endeavored to find comfort by remembering that their errand was for the +cause of justice and freedom, and that a love stronger than her own was +about them. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + A PERILOUS JOURNEY + + +Not until the girls reached the beginning of the forest trail, where +their father had pointed out the dim path leading toward Chandler's +River, did they feel really sure that their father would not follow +them. But as they stopped for a brief rest under the shadow of a +wide-spreading beach tree Rebby said: + +"Father could have overtaken us by this time, Danna, if he did not think +it was right for us to go." + +Danna agreed cheerfully, and now both the girls felt a new courage for +this perilous undertaking that was sure to tax their strength to the +utmost. The fact that their father had not hastened after them made them +both realize how important it was that powder and shot should reach the +Machias settlement as soon as possible. + +The faint path soon disappeared entirely, and had Rebby been alone she +would not have known which way to turn. But Anna went on confidently, +keeping a sharp outlook for the "blazed" trees of which her father had +told her as marking the way toward Chandler's River. + +They forced their way through dense masses of tangled underbrush, over +fallen trees, and through the shadowy stretches of thickly growing pine. +Now and then they came to some marshy stretch, which Anna would +carefully avoid, for she remembered how often her father had warned her +of the dangers of such places, with their unmarked quicksands that would +quickly swallow the heedless person who ventured upon them. + +Notwithstanding Anna's caution in regard to resting frequently they +pushed on steadily, with but one stop until the sound of water as it +dashed over a rocky bed warned them that they were near Whitneyville +Falls, and half-way to their destination. + +The sun was now directly overhead, and as they came out from the shade +of the forest to the open space along the river's bank Rebby sank down +on 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 am +sure the remainder of the way will not be so hard, because we can follow +the river up to the settlement." + +Rebby was too tired to reply. She stretched herself out on the warm +grass and closed her eyes. + +"Poor Rebby," thought Danna, looking down at her elder sister and +remembering that Rebecca had never enjoyed woodland tramps, and +realizing that this undertaking was much harder for her sister than for +herself. + +"She's asleep," Anna whispered to herself, with a little smile of +satisfaction. "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 many +crimson berries still clinging to the vines, and Anna picked these +carefully, using her cap for a basket, and gathering a quantity of the +young checkerberry leaves. "Rebby is sure to like these," she thought +happily. + +Anna's sharp glance moved about quickly and finally rested near an old +stump. + +"Partridge eggs!" she exclaimed joyfully, and in a moment she was +beside the stump peering down at a circle of small brownish eggs. She +counted them, and before she had whispered "twenty!" a whirring, +scrambling noise close at hand told her that the partridge to whom the +eggs 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 then +going softly away, that she might not unnecessarily frighten the +woodland bird. + +She now carried the cap with great care, as she looked about hoping to +discover some sign of a woodland spring. She kept along at the edge of +the woods, and very soon she heard the sound of a noisy little brook +hurrying along to the river. It was not far up the river from the place +where Rebby was so comfortably asleep, and Anna decided that it would be +just the place for their noonday luncheon. + +She set the cap, with all its treasures, carefully under the shade of a +tiny fir tree near the side of the brook and then ran back to awaken +Rebby. + +"Dinner is ready!" she called gaily as she ran; and the sound of her +voice made Rebecca sit up quickly, and exclaim: + +"The British will shoot down our liberty pole!" For her dreams had been +of soldiers in red coats firing at the liberty pole, while Mr. Worden +Foster, with a big pitchfork, tried to drive them away. + +"It is a truly dinner, with eggs," declared Anna happily, as she led the +way back to the noisy little brook. + +The raw eggs tasted good to the hungry girls, and the good corn-bread +and spicy berries and tender checkerberry leaves, with cool water to +drink, made them both feel refreshed and rested, and ready for the +remaining distance to Chandler's River settlement. + +They crossed the little brook and went sturdily on. Now and then a +partridge flew in front of them. Squirrels scolded and chattered among +the tree tops, and once or twice a rabbit leaped out from behind some +stump and ran ahead of them as if daring them to capture him. + +Both the girls well knew that there were larger and more dangerous +animals in the forests. There were bears prowling somewhere in those dim +shadowy woods, eating the young buds and leaves, and capturing such +defenseless birds and rabbits as they could. Once or twice they heard +some heavy creature crashing through the underbrush, and looked at each +other with startled eyes; but no harm came near them, and by the middle +of the afternoon they reached the first house of the settlement, and had +told 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 amazed +admiration; and, when they told of the scarcity of powder and shot in +Machias, had said that the men of Chandler's River settlement had +believed Machias well supplied with powder, and had taken but a small +quantity with them. + +"One of our fishermen brought news of the British gunboat, and our men +started at once. They went by the lower trail," explained the woman, as +she 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 as +much as you can carry, and I will go with you a part of the way +to-morrow," she added, and Rebecca and Danna thanked her gratefully. +After they had eaten their porridge they were quite ready to bathe +their tired feet in the hot water their hostess had ready, and go to +bed, although the sun was yet an hour above the horizon. + +While the girls slept Mrs. Getchell hurried to the other houses of the +settlement, telling the story of the two courageous girls who had come +through the forest on their patriotic errand. + +"'Tis hardly to be believed," she declared. "These little maids are +brave as soldiers, and they will carry the powder and shot back in good +time to be of use. General Washington shall hear of them, and the +Province of Maine will not forget their names." + +The women and children listened eagerly, and all were anxious for a +sight of the little maids who had shown such courage and hardihood. But +Mrs. Getchell declared that they must not be disturbed, or they would +not 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, safely +packed, she returned home. + +It was broad daylight when Rebecca and Anna awoke. Mrs. Getchell had +breakfast ready for them, and they enjoyed the hot batter cakes and +maple syrup and the rich milk. They had not finished eating when a +murmur of voices outside the door made them look up in surprise. + +"'Tis the women and children," explained Mrs. Getchell smilingly. "They +have come to wish you good fortune." + +Rebecca and Anna hardly knew what to say as the women of the settlement +entered the big kitchen, and with friendly smiles praised the two girls +for their courage and loyalty. Boys and girls of their own age gathered +about the doorway and looked at them admiringly; and when Mrs. Getchell +said it was time to start, and with Rebby and Anna led the way toward +the river, young and old followed them. One of the older women slipped a +slender gold chain around Anna's neck, saying: "Wear it, dear little +maid, to remind you that there is no sacrifice too great to make for +America's freedom." And a little girl of about Rebecca's age shyly +pressed a little purse into her hand. "'Tis a golden sovereign that my +mother bade me give you," she said, "and my mother says that always the +children 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 liberty +tree afloat they would not praise me," she thought unhappily. + +A short distance beyond the settlement the women and children bade the +girls 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 loud +cheer went up, the boys waving their caps and the girls calling: "Good +luck to the brave little maids from Machias." + +Mrs. Getchell went on with them for several miles, carrying the powder +and shot, and a flat package containing food for their journey. She told +them to follow the river down, as that trail was more traveled and over +smoother ground, although farther to travel than the forest trail; and +kissing the girls good-bye, after they had promised to visit her "as +soon as the English had been sent home," she turned back toward the +settlement. + +Rebby and Danna watched Mrs. Getchell's stout figure until it was hidden +by the forest, and then, more serious and anxious than at any time +during their perilous undertaking, they picked up the heavy packages +that Mrs. Getchell had placed on the trunk of a fallen tree, and +prepared to continue their journey. + +The shot was in two strong bags, while the powder, in order that it +might be kept perfectly dry and safe, was in two tin canisters, each one +carefully sewn up in stout sailcloth. Mrs. Getchell had fastened a stout +strap to each bag of powder and a bag of shot. These straps went over +the girls' shoulders, and made them easier to carry than in any other +way. It was of course a tough job for each girl to carry ten pounds for +the 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 distance +out of their way. Before noonday Rebby declared that she could not go +another step, and sat down at the foot of a high mass of rocks over +which they must climb. + +"You will have to go on and leave me, Danna," she said. "My feet won't +go, they are so tired: and my shoulders ache." + +The day had grown very warm; there was not a breath of air, and Anna +owned that she had never seen so difficult a trail. Mrs. Getchell had +warned them to be sure and keep in sight of the river and it would lead +them straight to Machias. As Anna looked at her sister she began to fear +that they might not be able to reach home before night, and she knew all +the 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, and +they 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!" and +Anna held up the small cup-shaped dish. "I'll fetch you a drink from the +river," she added, and putting her burden of powder and shot on the +ground 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 a +small spruce tree. Anna wondered how she would ever manage to bring a +cup filled with water up that bank; but she kept on, and was soon at the +river's edge. The rushing water was clear and cool, and Anna drank +thirstily. Then she bathed her face and hands, slipped off her moccasins +and stockings and dipped her feet in the cool stream. She felt rested +and refreshed, as with the tin cup filled with water, and covered with a +broad leaf of a water-lily, she made her careful way back to where she +had left her sister. + +Rebby had taken off her hat and moccasins. She drank the water eagerly +before saying a word. + +"I feel better already," she said, "and by the time we have eaten our +lunch I know we can start. We _must_," she added soberly, "for if we do +not get home before dark Father will surely start after us." + +Danna was opening the package of food and made no response, but she was +wondering if Rebby could really hold out until they reached the +settlement. "I couldn't leave her alone," the little girl thought a +little fearfully, wondering if their long journey was, after all, to end +in failure. For she knew that if they did not reach Machias by the early +evening their attempt to aid the settlement would have been in vain. + +"Look, Rebby! White bread, spread with butter," she said, as she +unfastened the package, "and here are slices of chicken, and big squares +of molasses cake," and Rebby smiled at her little sister's evident +delight. The two girls thoroughly enjoyed the excellent food, and when +the last crumb had been eaten Rebecca declared herself rested, and ready +to start on. + +As she picked up her moccasins she exclaimed: "Oh, Danna!" in so tragic +a 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 a +long narrow slit on the sole. "These awful rocks! I can never walk +without 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 her +sharp clasp-knife; very carefully she cut a broad strip from the top of +Rebby's moccasin, and skilfully fitted it inside over the sole. + +"I saw Father do this very thing once," she said. "It will surely last +until we reach home." + +"I knew I could never make this trip without you, Danna," Rebby said +gratefully. "You are as wise as a real little Indian girl." + +They went on now at a slower pace, for both girls realized that if Rebby +was again overcome by heat and fatigue that it might be impossible for +her to continue. Even Danna owned to herself that she had never been so +tired. The strap across her shoulders, supporting the heavy load, +pressed heavily and at times became almost unbearable; but not for a +moment did it occur to Danna to relinquish the burden. + +They had left the rocky stretch behind them and come out to a +comparatively smooth pasture. The deep forest lay on their right; to the +left was the sloping bank leading to the river. Suddenly Anna stopped +short and grasped Rebby's arm; a second later a deer leaped directly +across 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 tired +feet and lame shoulders, sped silently over the open pasture land. + +Danna was the first to speak, but it was in a whisper: "We need not +fear, Rebby. He was after the deer." + +Rebby made no response. More fully than ever the elder girl realized the +peril into which she had led her younger sister. But nevertheless she +whispered to herself that it was the only way: the powder and shot were +all that could save the settlement from the hands of the enemy. + +The girls did not stop again to rest, nor did they speak until they +reached the top of a rise of ground from which they could see the first +houses of the settlement. The sun was dropping behind the tall pines on +the 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 smiled +at each other happily. + +"Can't we leave the powder and shot here?" pleaded Danna, twisting the +uncomfortable strap into an easier position. "Father would come and get +it, and it's so heavy." + +But Rebby shook her head. "It would not be safe. We must carry it +straight home," she said; so, with a sigh of endurance, Danna started +on. + +They were now in the broad trail that led straight to the little +settlement, and before they reached the first house they saw a tall +figure striding toward them. It was Mr. Weston, and in a moment their +load of powder and shot was swung over his shoulders, Rebby was clasping +one hand and Anna the other, and they were both talking at once, trying +to tell him the story of their journey. + +Their mother came running down the path to meet them, and clasped them +in her thankful embrace. The Westons had not told their neighbors of the +girls' undertaking, thinking it wiser to await their return; but as soon +as Rebby and Anna were safely indoors their father hastened away to tell +the men of the settlement that a supply of powder and shot had been +brought to Machias by his courageous daughters. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + TRIUMPH + + +The day following the return of Rebecca and Anna Weston from their +perilous and difficult undertaking to bring the much needed powder and +shot to Machias was Sunday, the eleventh of June, 1775. + +Very early that morning there was an air of unusual excitement about the +little settlement. It was known that the English officers from the +gunboat would attend service in the meeting-house that morning; and the +Machias men had decided, with the approval of Parson Lyon, to surround +the church and capture them before they had time to carry out their +plans against the settlement. + +Rebby and Danna were eating their breakfast when Captain Benjamin Foster +appeared at the kitchen door, saying that he had come to thank them for +their courageous effort to aid the men in defending their rights. As he +entered the room the girls jumped up from their seats at the table and +curtseyed; and as he went on to praise their loyalty and valor, the two +little girls, hand in hand, stood before him with downcast eyes, flushed +and happy at his approving words. + +In spite of anxious thoughts as to the result of the conflict between +the men of Machias and the English soldiers, Mrs. Weston was very proud +and happy that morning as she walked to church with Rebecca and Anna +beside her. Many neighbors stopped them to praise the little girls, and +all declared that the people of the settlement would always remember +what they had done. + +Even Parson Lyon and his wife were waiting at the church door to speak +to the two little heroines; and Melvina and Luretta felt as if they +shared in their friends' honors as they walked up the aisle of the +church beside them. + +Before the English officers had landed from their boat a number of the +Machias men had quietly hidden their guns in the building; while Captain +Benjamin Foster, with men armed and ready for action, were concealed +among the tall pines close at hand, ready to surround the church and +seize the English officers; and had they taken London Atus into their +confidence this well-prepared scheme might have succeeded. + +But London was entirely innocent of any trouble near at hand. From his +place in a side pew he kept a watchful eye upon Melvina, and perhaps +wondered a little at all the attention lavished on the little Weston +girls. + +Rebby saw Captain and Mrs. Horton and Lucia, with Captain Jones, enter +the church. Lucia did not look toward the group of girls seated in the +Westons' pew. The Hortons were no longer trusted by their neighbors, and +after that morning in church they vanished from the community and never +returned. + +Rebby's glance now rested on London. How queerly he looked, she thought +wonderingly. He was leaning sideways peering out of an open window. As +Rebecca watched him he rose to his feet with a loud cry, and before any +restraining word could reach him he had leaped through the open window. + +In a moment all was confusion. There were loud cries of "Stop him!" Men +rushed from the church, but the English officers, followed by Captain +Jones and the Hortons, had scrambled through the open windows and were +well on their flight toward their boats, which they reached in safety, +although numerous shots were fired after them. The gunboat at once +turned her guns on the town. Shot after shot echoed across the quiet +waters 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 Parson +Lyon, musket in hand, came up from the shore to tell them that all was +quiet and to return to their homes. + +Melvina and Anna left the church together, and Luretta and Rebby +followed with Mrs. Weston. Melvina said good-bye to her friends very +soberly, and clasped her father's hand very closely as they walked +toward home. + +"Will the English soldiers shoot down our liberty pole, Father?" she +asked. + +"The English captain has sent us word that we are to take it down before +sunset, so that he may be saved that trouble," replied Parson Lyon, his +tone indicating that he considered the English captain's remark as an +amusing 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 peace +instead of mistaking Captain Foster's men for an armed enemy marching +upon us, the English would be our prisoners at this moment," declared +her father. "But that is but postponed," he added quietly, "and +to-morrow morning Machias men will give the English captain a lesson." + +There were many anxious hearts in the settlement that night, for it had +been determined that in the early dawn of the following morning the men +should seize the sloop _Unity_, and make the attempt to capture the +English gunboat. Neither Rebecca nor Anna knew of this plan; and, still +tired from their journey, as well as by the excitement that morning at +the church, they were glad to go early to bed and were soon sound +asleep. Mrs. Weston, unable to sleep, waited in the kitchen for her +husband's return. For Mr. Weston and his neighbors were busy with their +preparations for the coming battle. It was decided that Captain O'Brien +should take command of the sloop, and before the sun rose the next +morning forty Machias men were on board the _Unity_. Half this number +were armed with broad-axes and pitchforks; the remainder had muskets. + +It was just at sunrise when a warning shot from the gunboat reverberated +along the harbor, and Rebecca awakened suddenly. She realized at once +that the conflict had begun. In an instant she was out of bed, slipped +quickly into her clothing, and leaving Danna sound asleep, she sped down +the path and along the trail to the high bluff that commanded a view of +the harbor. + +There was a favoring wind and the _Unity_, with her crew of untrained +men, was now in full chase of a vessel well-armed and equipped. On swept +the sloop, and a sudden volley of musketry from her deck astonished and +confused the enemy. The gunboat swerved, and the bowsprit of the _Unity_ +plunged into her mainsail, holding the two vessels together for a brief +moment. + +Rebecca, standing on the bluff, shouted aloud. She was sure that the +moment of triumph for the Machias men was close at hand. But victory was +not so easily achieved; the vessels suddenly parted, and now a storm of +bullets rained upon the _Unity_. + +Captain O'Brien swung the sloop alongside the _Margaretta_ and twenty of +his men armed with pitchforks sprang to the enemy's deck. A hand-to-hand +conflict ensued. Surprised by the dauntless valor of the Machias men +the English were forced to yield. The English flag was pulled down amid +triumphant shouts of the Americans; the wounded were cared for, and +English officers and crew made prisoners of war. + +When Rebecca saw the English flag vanish from the gunboat's mast and +heard the resounding cheers, she knew that the Americans had conquered +their enemy, and that the liberty tree would stand unchallenged. But she +did not realize that she had been a witness to the first naval exploit +in America after the battle of Lexington. + +All the women and children and such men as had been left behind, were +now hurrying toward the wharves. Cheer after cheer rang out across the +harbor as the _Unity_ and the captured gunboat came slowly to their +anchorage. + +Mrs. Weston and Anna came hurrying down the path and Rebby ran to meet +them. + +"I saw the battle, Mother!" she exclaimed eagerly. "I was on the bluff +and saw it all." But before Mrs. Weston could respond to this +astonishing statement a boat-load of men from the _Unity_ had landed. + +"Your father is safe," whispered Mrs. Weston, "and now let me see of +what use I can be to the wounded men. Rebby, take Anna back to the house +and stay there until I come." + +The two little girls walked silently back to the house. The battle that +had been so feared was over; the enemy was conquered, and Rebecca and +Anna knew that by their bringing the powder from Chandler's River they +had helped to win the conflict. But just then they did not think of +that. They could think only of the wounded men, who had been so +carefully brought on shore by their companions. + +On the following day the inhabitants, such as were not caring for the +wounded English and American soldiers, gathered at the liberty pole. It +was a quiet and reverent gathering. Several men of the settlement had +been wounded, and two had given their lives for America's cause. Parson +Lyon gave loving tribute to these heroes, as he offered thanks for the +triumph of loyalty. + +And then, before all the people, he praised Rebecca and Anna Weston for +their courage in undertaking the difficult and dangerous journey through +the wilderness to bring aid to the settlement. + +"Step forward, Rebecca and Anna Weston," he said smilingly; and, a +little fearfully, the sisters, hand in hand, left their mother's side +and approached the liberty pole. Taking each by the hand Parson Lyon +smiled down upon them. + +There was a little murmur of approval among the people, and one by one +the older members of the congregation came forward and praised the +little girls. + +"It is Rebby who should be praised, not me," Anna insisted. "It is not +fair for me to be praised." While Rebecca, in her turn, declared eagerly +that 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 was +speedily recognized by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, who, on +June 26, 1775, passed a resolution extending to them the thanks of the +Congress for their courageous conduct. The news of the brilliant victory +was heralded throughout the land, stimulating the colonists everywhere +to emulate the example of the courageous settlers of Machias. + +Rebecca often thought of her former friend, Lucia Horton; but she never +told the story of the night when, misled by Lucia's plausible story, +she had tried to defeat the loyalty of the settlers by setting their +liberty tree adrift. As she looked up at the tall sapling, the emblem of +the loyalty of the settlement, she was proud indeed that she had been of +use in its protection. + +Anna's gold chain was her greatest treasure. It was shown to every +little girl in the settlement, and each one knew its story. The golden +sovereign given to Rebecca was no less highly prized. + +"That sovereign has a value beyond money. It is a medal for valor," her +father said; and on the year when peace was firmly established between +England and America Rebecca's golden sovereign was smoothed, and upon it +these 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. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Little Maid of Old Maine, by Alice Turner Curtis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE *** + +***** This file should be named 20340-8.txt or 20340-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/4/20340/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Little Maid of Old Maine + +Author: Alice Turner Curtis + +Release Date: January 11, 2007 [EBook #20340] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 282px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em;"> +<a name="illus-001" id="illus-001"></a> +<img src="images/illus-cvr-tn.jpg" alt="" title="" width="282" height="400" /> +</div> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 293px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="illus-002" id="illus-002"></a> +<img src="images/illus-fpc-tn.jpg" alt="SHE ADDED WOOD TO THE FIRE" title="" width="293" height="400" /><br /> +<span class="caption"><a class="illus" href="images/illus-fpc.jpg">SHE ADDED WOOD TO THE FIRE</a></span> +</div> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<table width="500" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" border="1"><tr><td> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 30px; font-size: 180%;">A LITTLE MAID</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 120%;">OF</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 180%; margin-bottom: 30px;">OLD MAINE</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 140%; margin-bottom: 20px;">BY</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 140%; margin-bottom: 40px;">Alice Turner Curtis</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 80%; margin-bottom: 10px;">AUTHOR OF</p> +<p class="titleblock"><span class="smcap">A Little Maid of Province Town</span></p> +<p class="titleblock"><span class="smcap">A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony</span></p> +<p class="titleblock"><span class="smcap">A Little Maid of Narragansett Bay</span></p> +<p class="titleblock"><span class="smcap">A Little Maid of Bunker Hill</span></p> +<p class="titleblock"><span class="smcap">A Little Maid of Ticonderoga</span></p> +<p class="titleblock"><span class="smcap">A Little Maid of Old Connecticut</span></p> +<p class="titleblock"><span class="smcap">A Little Maid of Old Philadelphia</span></p> +<p class="titleblock"><span class="smcap">A Little Maid of Old New York</span></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-bottom: 20px;"><span class="smcap">A Little Maid of Virginia</span></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-bottom: 30px;"><span class="smcap">Illustrated by Elizabeth Pilsbry</span></p> +<p class="titleblock"><img src="images/illus-emb.png" alt="emblem" width="110" height="99" /></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 30px; font-size: 120%;">THE PENN PUBLISHING</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 120%;">COMPANY PHILADELPHIA</p> +<p class="titleblock" style="font-size: 120%; margin-bottom: 30px;">1928</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<table width="400" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="" border="0"><tr><td> +<p class="titleblock">COPYRIGHT</p> +<p class="titleblock">1920 BY</p> +<p class="titleblock">THE PENN</p> +<p class="titleblock">PUBLISHING</p> +<p class="titleblock">COMPANY</p> +<p class="titleblock"><img src="images/illus-emb2.png" alt="emblem" width="100" height="91" /></p> +<p class="titleblock" style="margin-top: 30px;">A Little Maid of Old Maine</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<h3>Introduction</h3> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">A Little Maid of Old Maine</span>” is a true story of the brave effort of two +girls to bring help to a little settlement on the Maine coast at the +time of the War of the Revolution. Parson Lyon, the father of Melvina, +was a friend and correspondent of Washington, and the capture of the +English gunboat by the Machias men is often referred to in history as +“The Lexington of the Seas,” being the first naval battle after the +Lexington encounter.</p> + +<p>The story is based on facts, and its readers cannot fail to be +interested and touched by the courage and patriotism of Rebecca and Anna +Weston as they journeyed through the forest after the powder that was to +make possible the conquest of America’s foe.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<h2><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2> +<div class="smcap"> +<table border="0" width="500" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<col style="width:20%;" /> +<col style="width:70%;" /> +<col style="width:10%;" /> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">I</td> + <td align="left">A LIBERTY POLE</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">9</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">II</td> + <td align="left">REBECCA’S SECRET</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">19</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">III</td> + <td align="left">MELVINA MAKES DISCOVERIES</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">33</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">IV</td> + <td align="left">AT MR. LYON’S</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">45</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">V</td> + <td align="left">A BIRTHDAY</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VI</td> + <td align="left">LUCIA HAS A PLAN</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">68</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VII</td> + <td align="left">“A TRAITOR’S DEED”</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">79</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">VIII</td> + <td align="left">“WHITE WITCHES”</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">90</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">IX</td> + <td align="left">REBECCA’S VISIT</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">102</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">X</td> + <td align="left">AN AFTERNOON WALK</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">112</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XI</td> + <td align="left">AN EXCHANGE OF VISITS</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">121</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XII</td> + <td align="left">WILD HONEY</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">133</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIII</td> + <td align="left">DOWN THE RIVER</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">143</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XIV</td> + <td align="left">AN UNINVITED GUEST</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">152</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XV</td> + <td align="left">REBBY AND LUCIA</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">165</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVI</td> + <td align="left">REBBY DECIDES</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">178</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVII</td> + <td align="left">A PERILOUS JOURNEY</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">189</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="pr" align="right">XVIII</td> + <td align="left">TRIUMPH</td> + <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">205</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<h2><a name="Illustrations" id="Illustrations"></a>Illustrations</h2> +<div class="smcap"> +<table border="0" width="500" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<col style="width:80%;" /> +<col style="width:20%;" /> +<tr><td align="left">SHE ADDED WOOD TO THE FIRE</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-002">Frontispiece</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">“WE’LL WADE OUT TO FLAT ROCK”</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-003">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">“BUT WHICH ONE IS TO BE MINE?”</td><td align="right">77</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">HOW LONG THE AFTERNOON SEEMED!</td><td align="right"><a href="#illus-004">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">A MAN CAME AROUND THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE</td><td align="right">175</td></tr> +</table> +</div> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<h1>A Little Maid of Old Maine</h1> + +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">9</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2><h3>A LIBERTY POLE</h3> +</div> + +<p>Anna and Rebecca Weston, carrying a big basket between them, ran along +the path that led from their home to the Machias River. It was a +pleasant May morning in 1775, and the air was filled with the fragrance +of the freshly cut pine logs that had been poled down the river in big +rafts to be cut into planks and boards at the big sawmills. The river, +unusually full with the spring rains, dashed against its banks as if +inviting the little girls to play a game with it. Usually Anna and +Rebecca were quite ready to linger at the small coves which crept in so +near to the footpath, and sail boats made of pieces of birch-bark, with +alder twigs for masts and broad oak leaves for sails. They named these +boats <i>Polly</i> and <i>Unity</i>, after the two fine sloops which carried +lumber from Machias to Boston and returned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">10</a></span> with cargoes of provisions +for the little settlement.</p> + +<p>But this morning the girls hurried along without a thought for such +pleasant games. They were both anxious to get to the lumber yard as soon +as possible, not only to fill their basket with chips, as their mother +had bidden them, but to hear if there were not some news of the <i>Polly</i>, +the return of which was anxiously awaited; for provisions were getting +scarce in this remote village, and not until the <i>Polly</i> should come +sailing into harbor could there be any sugar cakes, or even bread made +of wheat flour.</p> + +<p>As they hurried along they heard the cheerful whistle of Mr. Worden +Foster, the blacksmith, who was just then taking a moment of well-earned +leisure in the door of his shop, and stood looking out across the quiet +waters of the river and harbor. As the girls came near he nodded +pleasantly, but did not stop whistling. People in Machias declared that +the blacksmith woke up in the morning whistling, and never stopped +except to eat. And, indeed, his little daughter Luretta said that when +her father wanted a second helping of anything at the table he would +whistle and point toward it with his knife; so it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">11</a></span> might be said that +Mr. Foster whistled even at his meals.</p> + +<p>“There’s Father! There’s Father!” Anna called out as they passed a big +pile of pine logs and came to where stacks of smooth boards just from +the sawmill shut the river from sight.</p> + +<p>“Well, Danna, do you and Rebby want your basket filled with golden +oranges from sunny Italy and dates from Egypt? Or shall it be with +Brazilian nuts and ripe pineapples from South America?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Father! Say some more!” exclaimed Anna, laughing with delight; for +she never tired of hearing her father tell of the wonderful fruits of +far-off lands that he had seen in his sailor days, before he came to +live in the little settlement of Machias, in the Province of Maine, and +manage the big sawmill.</p> + +<p>“Father, tell us, is the <i>Polly</i> coming up the bay?” Rebecca asked +eagerly. She had a particular reason for wanting the sloop to reach +harbor as soon as possible, for her birthday was close at hand, and her +father had told her that the <i>Polly</i> was bringing her a fine gift; but +what it was Rebecca could not imagine. She had guessed everything from a +gold ring to a prayer-book;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">12</a></span> but at every guess her father had only +smilingly shook his head.</p> + +<p>“No sign of the <i>Polly</i> yet, Rebby,” Mr. Weston replied.</p> + +<p>Rebecca sighed as her father called her “Rebby,” and a little frown +showed itself on her forehead. She was nearly fourteen, and she had +decided that neither “Rebecca” nor “Rebby” were names that suited her. +Her middle name was “Flora,” and only that morning Anna had promised not +to call her by any other name save Flora in future.</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston smiled down at Rebecca’s serious face.</p> + +<p>“So ’tis not spices from far Arabia, or strings of pink coral, this +morning,” he continued, taking the basket, “but pine chips. Well, come +over here and we will soon fill the basket,” and he led the way to where +two men were at work with sharp adzes smoothing down a big stick of +timber.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the basket was filled, and the little girls were on +their way home.</p> + +<p>“Would it not be a fine thing, Rebby, if we could really fill our basket +with pineapples and sweet-smelling spices?” said Anna, her brown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span> eyes +looking off into space, as if she fancied she could see the wonderful +things of which her father spoke; “and do you not wish that we were both +boys, and could go sailing off to see far lands?”</p> + +<p>“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 see +them. Have you not heard Father say that there were no more beautiful +places in all the world than the shores of this Province?” responded +Rebecca reprovingly. She sometimes thought that it would have been far +better if Anna had really been a boy instead of a girl; for the younger +girl delighted to be called “Dan,” and had persuaded her mother to keep +her brown curls cut short “like a boy’s”; beside this, Anna cared little +for dolls, and was completely happy when her father would take her with +him for a day’s deep-sea fishing, an excursion which Rebecca could never +be persuaded to attempt. Anna was also often her father’s companion on +long tramps in the woods, where he went to mark trees to be cut for +timber. She wore moccasins on these trips, made by the friendly Indians +who often visited the little settlement, and her mother had made her a +short skirt of tanned deerskin,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> such as little Indian girls sometimes +wear, and with her blue blouse of homespun flannel, and round cap with a +partridge wing on one side, Anna looked like a real little daughter of +the woods as she trotted sturdily along beside her tall father.</p> + +<p>As the sisters passed the blacksmith shop they could hear the ringing +stroke on the anvil, for Mr. Foster had returned to his work of +hammering out forks for pitching hay and grain; these same forks which +were fated to be used before many months passed as weapons against the +enemies of American liberty.</p> + +<p>“To-morrow I am to go with Father to the woods,” announced Anna as they +came in sight of the comfortable log cabin which stood high above the +river, and where they could see their mother standing in the doorway +looking for their return. The girls waved and called to their mother as +they hurried up the path.</p> + +<p>“We have fine chips, Mother,” called Rebecca, while Anna in a sing-song +tone called out: “Pineapples and sweet-smelling spices! Strings of pink +coral and shells from far lands.”</p> + +<p>Rebecca sighed to herself as she heard Anna’s laughing recital of their +father’s words. She<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> resolved to ask her mother to forbid Anna talking +in future in such a silly way.</p> + +<p>“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 bellows +to liven up the coals, and I have a fine venison steak to broil for +dinner,” and as she spoke Mrs. Weston took the basket and hurried into +the house, followed by the girls.</p> + +<p>“Mother, what is a ‘liberty pole’?” questioned Anna, kneeling on the +hearth to help her mother start the fire with the pine chips.</p> + +<p>“What dost thou mean, child? Surely the men are not talking of such +matters as liberty poles?” responded her mother anxiously.</p> + +<p>Anna nodded her head. “Yes, Mother. There is to be a ‘liberty pole’ set +up so it can be well seen from the harbor, for so I heard Mr. O’Brien +say; and Father is to go to the woods to-morrow to find it. It is to be +the straightest and handsomest sapling pine to be found in a day’s +journey; that much I know,” declared Anna eagerly; “but tell me why is +it to be called a ‘liberty pole’? And why is it to be set up so it can +be well seen from the harbor?”</p> + +<p>“Thou knowest, Anna, that King George of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> England is no longer the true +friend of American liberty,” said Mrs. Weston, “and the liberty pole is +set up to show all Tories on land or sea that we mean to defend our +homes. And if the men are talking of putting up the tree of liberty in +Machias I fear that trouble is near at hand. But be that as it may, our +talking of such matters will not make ready thy father’s dinner. Blaze +up the fire with these chips, Anna; and thou, Rebby, spread the table.”</p> + +<p>Both the girls hastened to obey; but Anna’s thoughts were pleasantly +occupied with the morrow’s excursion when she would set forth with her +father to discover the “handsome sapling pine tree,” which was to be +erected as the emblem of the loyalty of the Machias settlement to +Freedom’s call. Anna knew they would follow one of the Indian trails +through the forest, where she would see many a wild bird, and that the +day would be filled with delight.</p> + +<p>But Rebecca’s thoughts were not so pleasant. Here it was the fifth of +May, and no sign of the <i>Polly</i>, 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 and +unhappy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> Only yesterday she had spent the afternoon with her most +particular friend, Lucia Horton, whose father was captain of the +<i>Polly</i>; and Lucia had told Rebecca something of such importance, after +vowing her to secrecy, that this talk of a liberty pole really +frightened her. And the thought that her own father was to select it +brought the danger very near. She wished that Lucia had kept the secret +to herself, and became worried and unhappy.</p> + +<p>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 she +quite forgot her errand until her mother called:</p> + +<p>“Rebby! Rebby! What are you about in the cupboard?” Then, bringing only +one plate instead of four, she came slowly back to the kitchen.</p> + +<p>“What ails the child?” questioned Mrs. Weston sharply. “I declare, I +believe both of my children are losing their wits. Here is Anna making +rhymes and sing-songing her words in strange fashion; and thou, Rebecca, +a girl of nearly fourteen, careless of thy work, and standing before me +on one foot like a heron, staring at naught,” and Mrs. Weston hurried to +the pantry for the forgotten dishes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span></p> + +<p>Anna smiled at her mother’s sharp words, for she did not mind being +called 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 she +added more chips to the fire, and thought no more of it.</p> + +<p>But Rebecca, who was used to being praised for her good sense and who +was seldom found fault with, had looked at her mother in surprise, and +the 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.</p> + +<p>“Father! Father!” exclaimed Rebecca, running toward him, “you won’t put +up a liberty pole, will you? You won’t! Promise you won’t, Father!” and +she clasped his arm with both hands.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2><h3>REBECCA’S SECRET</h3> +</div> + +<p>Mr. Weston looked down smilingly at his little daughter. He was +evidently amused at her excitement.</p> + +<p>“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 came +to this far-off place to make their home. Eastern Maine was then a +wilderness, and this little village was not connected with the outside +world except by the Indian trails or by the sailing craft which plied up +and down the coast. But its citizens were soon to write a page of +heroism and valor in their country’s history.</p> + +<p>“Of course Machias is to have a liberty pole,” continued Mr. Weston. “It +has been so decided by a vote in a town meeting; and Dan and I will +start off in good season to-morrow morning to look for the finest pine +sapling in the forest. It will be a great day for the village when ’tis +set up, with its waving green plume to show that we are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> pledged to +resist England’s injustice to her long-suffering colonies.”</p> + +<p>It was the custom to leave a tuft of verdure at the top of the liberty +tree as an emblem, the best they had at command, of the flag they meant +to fight for.</p> + +<p>Before her father had finished speaking Rebecca had relinquished her +grasp on his arm and ran toward the cupboard, and neither her father nor +mother gave much thought to her anxious question. The venison was just +ready to serve, and Mrs. Weston hurried from the fireplace to the table, +on which Rebecca had now placed the dishes, while Mr. Weston and Anna +talked happily together over the proposed excursion on the following +day.</p> + +<p>“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, and +you know:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“‘When sea-birds fly to land</span><br /> +<span class="i0">A storm is at hand.’”</span><br /> +</div></div> + +<p>“But look at Malty,” responded Anna quickly, pointing to the fat Maltese +cat who was industriously washing her face:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“‘If the cat washes her face over the ear</span><br /> +<span class="i0">’Tis a sign the weather’ll be fine and clear,’”</span><br /> +</div></div> + +<p>quoted the little girl; “and you told me ’twas a sure sign, Father; and +’tis what Matty is doing this minute.”</p> + +<p>“To be sure,” laughed Mr. Weston, “both are sure signs, and so we will +hope for fair weather.”</p> + +<p>Rebecca was very silent at dinner, and as the sisters began to clear +away the dishes Anna watched her with troubled eyes.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it’s because I called her ‘Rebby,’” thought the little girl +regretfully. “I’ll tell her I am sorry,” and when their mother left the +kitchen Anna whispered:</p> + +<p>“Flora, I forgot when I called you ‘Rebby.’ But I will now surely +remember. You are not vexed at me, are you?” and Anna leaned her head +against her sister’s arm and looked up at her pleadingly.</p> + +<p>Rebecca sniffed a little, as if trying to keep back the tears. She +wished she could talk over her worries with Anna; but of course that +would never do.</p> + +<p>“I believe I’d rather be called ‘Rebby,’” she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> managed to say, to the +surprise of her younger sister. “Do you suppose they really mean to put +up a liberty pole?”</p> + +<p>“Of course,” responded Anna. “I heard the minister say that it must be +done.”</p> + +<p>Rebby sighed dolefully. She was old enough to understand the talk she +heard constantly of His Majesty’s ships of war capturing the American +fishing sloops, and of the many troubles caused to peaceable Americans +all along the coast; and she, like all the American children, knew that +their rights must be defended; but Lucia Horton’s talk had frightened +and confused Rebecca’s thoughts. To set up a liberty pole now seemed to +her a most dangerous thing to do, and something that would bring only +trouble.</p> + +<p>She wished with all her heart that she could tell her father all that +Lucia 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.</p> + +<p>“Rebby, will you not go to the bluff with me? ’Twill be pleasant there +this afternoon, and we could see the <i>Polly</i> if she chances to come into +harbor to-day,” said Anna.</p> + +<p>“You had best ask Luretta Foster, Danna,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> she answered quickly. “I am +sure Mother will want my help with her quilting this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>Rebby so often played at being “grown up” that this reply did not +surprise Anna, and she ran off to find her mother and ask permission to +go 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 was +running along the river path toward the blacksmith shop where a short +path led to Luretta’s home.</p> + +<p>Anna often thought that there could not be another little girl in all +the world as pretty as Luretta. Luretta was not as tall or as strongly +made as Anna; her eyes were as blue as the smooth waters of the harbor +on a summer’s day; her hair was as yellow as the floss on an ear of +corn, and her skin was not tanned brown like Anna’s, but was fair and +delicate. Beside her Anna looked more like a boy than ever. But Luretta +admired Anna’s brown eyes and short curly hair, and was quite sure that +there was no other little girl who could do or say such clever things as +Anna Weston. So the two little girls were always well pleased with each +other’s company, and to-day Luretta was quite ready to go down to the +shore and watch for the <i>Polly</i>. Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> Foster tied on the big sunbonnet +which Luretta always wore out-of-doors, and the two friends started off.</p> + +<p>“Will it not be fine if the <i>Polly</i> reaches harbor to-day?” said Anna. +“My father says she will bring sugar and molasses and spices, and it may +be the <i>Unity</i> will come sailing in beside her loaded with things from +far lands. Do you not wish our fathers were captains of fine sloops, +Luretta, so that perhaps we could go sailing off to Boston?”</p> + +<p>But Luretta shook her head. “I’d much rather journey by land,” she +answered; “but ’tis said the <i>Polly</i> is to bring a fine silk gown for +Mistress Lyon; ’tis a present from her sister in Boston, and two dolls +for Melvina Lyon. Why is it that ministers’ daughters have so many +gifts?” and Luretta sighed. Her only doll was made of wood, and, though +it was very dear to her, Luretta longed for a doll with a china head and +hands, such as the fortunate little daughter of the minister already +possessed.</p> + +<p>“I care not for Melvina Lyon, if she be a minister’s daughter,” Anna +responded bravely. “She can do nothing but sew and knit and make fine +cakes, and read from grown-up books. She<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> is never allowed to go +fishing, or wade in the cove on warm days, or go off in the woods as I +do. I doubt if Melvina Lyon could tell the difference ’twixt a partridge +and heron, or if she could tell a spruce tree from a fir. And as for +presents, hers are of no account. They are but dolls, and silver +thimbles and silk aprons. Why! did not my father bring me home a fine +beaver skin for a hood, and a pair of duck’s wings, and a pair of +moccasins the very last time he went north!” And Anna, out of breath, +looked at her friend triumphantly.</p> + +<p>“But Melvina’s things are all bought in stores in big towns, and your +presents are all from the woods, just as if you were a little Indian +girl,” objected Luretta, who greatly admired the ruffled gowns of +Melvina’s dolls, such as no other little girl in the settlement +possessed.</p> + +<p>Anna made no response to this; but she was surprised that Luretta should +not think as she did about the value of her gifts, and rather vexed that +Melvina Lyon should be praised by her own particular friend.</p> + +<p>The girls had passed the sawmill and lumber yard, and now turned from +the well-traveled path to climb a hill where they could catch the first<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> +glimpse of any sail entering the harbor. Farther along this bluff stood +the church, not yet quite finished, and beyond it the house of the +minister, the Reverend James Lyon, whose little daughter, Melvina, was +said to be the best behaved and the smartest girl in the settlement. +Although only ten years old Melvina had already “pieced” four patchwork +quilts and quilted them; and her neat stitches were the admiration of +all the women of the town. But most of the little girls were a little in +awe of Melvina, who never cared to play games, and always brought her +knitting or sewing when she came for an afternoon visit.</p> + +<p>Anna and Luretta sat down on the short grass, and for a few moments +talked of the <i>Polly</i>, and looked in vain for the glimmer of a sail.</p> + +<p>“Look, Danna! Here comes Melvina now,” whispered Luretta, whose quick +ears had caught the sound of steps.</p> + +<p>Anna looked quickly around. “She’s all dressed up,” she responded. “See, +her skirts set out all around her like a wheel.”</p> + +<p>Melvina walked with great care, avoiding the rough places, and so intent +on her steps that, if Anna had not called her name, she would have +passed without seeing them. She was thin and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> dark, and looked more like +a little old lady than a ten-year-old girl.</p> + +<p>“How do you do?” she said, bowing as ceremoniously as if Luretta and +Anna were grown up people of importance.</p> + +<p>“Come and sit down, Melly, and watch for the <i>Polly</i>,” said Anna.</p> + +<p>“And tell us about the fine dolls that are on board for you,” added +Luretta quickly.</p> + +<p>A little smile crept over Melvina’s face and she took a step toward +them, but stopped suddenly.</p> + +<p>“I fear ’twould not be wise for me to stop,” she said a little +fearfully; but before she could say anything more Anna and Luretta had +jumped up and ran toward her.</p> + +<p>“Look!” exclaimed Anna, pointing to a flock of white gulls that had just +settled on the smooth water near the shore.</p> + +<p>“Look, Melly, at the fine partridges!”</p> + +<p>Melvina’s dark eyes looked in the direction Anna pointed. “Thank you, +Anna. How white they are, and what a queer noise they make,” she +responded seriously.</p> + +<p>Anna’s eyes danced with delight as she heard Luretta’s half-repressed +giggle at Melvina’s reply. She resolved that Luretta should realize of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> +how little importance Melvina Lyon, with all her dolls, and her starched +skirts like wheels, really was.</p> + +<p>“And are those not big alder trees, Melly?” she continued, pointing to a +group of fine pine trees near by.</p> + +<p>Again Melvina’s eyes followed the direction of Anna’s pointing finger, +and again the minister’s little daughter replied politely that the trees +were indeed very fine alders.</p> + +<p>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 it +necessary to try to be polite; and Luretta was now ready to join in the +game of finding out how little Melvina Lyon, “the smartest and +best-behaved child in the settlement,” really knew.</p> + +<p>“And, Danna, perhaps Melvina has never seen the birds we call clams?” +she suggested.</p> + +<p>Melvina looked from Anna to Luretta questioningly. These little girls +could not be laughing at her, she thought, recalling with satisfaction +that it was well known that she could spell the names of every city in +Europe, and repeat the list<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span> of all England’s kings and queens. She +remembered, also, that Anna Weston was called a tomboy, and that her +mother said it was a scandal for a little girl to have short hair. So +she again replied pleasantly that she had never known that clams were +birds. “We have them stewed very often,” she declared.</p> + +<p>Anna fairly danced about the neat little figure in the well-starched +blue linen skirt.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Melly! You must come down to the shore, and we will show you a +clam’s nest,” she said, remembering that only yesterday she had +discovered the nest of a kingfisher in an oak tree whose branches nearly +touched the shore, and could point this out to the ignorant Melvina.</p> + +<p>“But I am to visit Lucia Horton this afternoon, and I must not linger,” +objected Melvina.</p> + +<p>“It will not take long,” urged Anna, clasping Melvina’s arm, while +Luretta promptly grasped the other, and half led, half pushed the +surprised and uncertain Melvina along the rough slope. Anna talked +rapidly as they hurried along. “You ought really to see a clam’s nest,” +she urged, between her bursts of laughter; “why, Melly, even Luretta and +I know about clams.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span></p> + +<p>Anna had not intended to be rude or cruel when she first began her game +of letting Luretta see that Melly and her possessions were of no +importance, but Melvina’s ignorance of the common things about her, as +well as her neatly braided hair, her white stockings and kid shoes, such +as no other child in the village possessed, made Anna feel as if Melvina +was not a real little girl, but a dressed-up figure. She chuckled at the +thought of Luretta’s calling clams “birds,” with a new admiration for +her friend.</p> + +<p>“I guess after this Luretta won’t always be talking about Melvina Lyon +and her dolls,” she thought triumphantly; and at that moment Melvina’s +foot slipped and all three of the little girls went sliding down the +sandy bluff.</p> + +<p>The slide did not matter to either Anna or Luretta, in their stout shoes +and every-day dresses of coarse flannel, but to the carefully dressed +Melvina it was a serious mishap. Her starched skirts were crushed and +stained, her white stockings soiled, and her slippers scratched. The hat +of fine-braided straw with its ribbon band, another “present” from the +Boston relatives, now hung about her neck, and her knitting-bag was +lost.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span></p> + +<p>As the little girls gathered themselves up Melvina began to cry. Her +delicate hands were scratched, and never before in her short life had +she been so frightened and surprised.</p> + +<p>She pulled herself away from Anna’s effort to straighten her hat. “You +are a rough child,” she sobbed, “and I wish I had not stopped to speak +with you. And my knitting-bag with my half-finished stocking is lost!”</p> + +<p>At the sight of Melvina’s tears both Anna and Luretta forgot all about +showing her a “clam’s nest,” and became seriously frightened. After all, +Melly was the minister’s daughter, and the Reverend Mr. Lyon was a +person of importance; why, he even had a colored body-servant, London +Atus by name, who usually walked behind the clergyman carrying his cloak +and Bible, and who opened the door for visitors. Often Melvina was +attended in her walks by London, who thought his little mistress far +superior to the other children.</p> + +<p>“Don’t cry, Melvina,” pleaded Luretta. “We will find your bag, and we +will wash the stains from your stockings and dress, and help you back up +the slope. Don’t cry,” and Luretta put a protecting arm about the +frightened Melvina.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span> “Your hat has only slipped from your head; it is +not hurt at all,” she added consolingly.</p> + +<p>Melvina was finally comforted, and Anna climbed up the slope to search +for the missing bag, while Luretta persuaded Melvina to take off her +stockings in order that they might be washed.</p> + +<p>“They’ll dry in no time,” Luretta assured her. “I can wash them out +right 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-work +stockings, and curling her feet under her, sat down on a big rock to +watch Luretta dip the stockings in the little pool of sea water near by, +and to send anxious glances toward the sandy bluff where Anna was +searching for the missing bag.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2><h3>MELVINA MAKES DISCOVERIES</h3> +</div> + +<p>The sun shone warmly down on the brown ledges, the little waves crept up +the shore with a pleasant murmur, and Melvina, watching Luretta dipping +her white stockings in the pool, began to feel less troubled and +unhappy; and when Anna came running toward her waving the knitting-bag +she even smiled, and was ready to believe that her troubles were nearly +over.</p> + +<p>In spite of the sunshine dark clouds were gathering along the western +horizon; but the girls did not notice this. Anna and Luretta had +forgotten all about the sloop <i>Polly</i>, and were both now a little +ashamed of their plan to make sport of Melvina.</p> + +<p>“Here is your bag all safe, Melly,” called Anna, “and while Luretta is +washing 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 to +Melvina, who put it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> carefully beside her hat and agreed promptly to +Anna’s suggestion, stepping carefully along the rough shore to the edge +of the water. The rocks hurt her tender feet, but she said nothing; and +when she was near the water she could not resist dipping first one foot +and then the other in the rippling tide.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I have always wanted to wade in the ocean,” she exclaimed, “and the +water is not cold.”</p> + +<p>As Anna listened to Melvina’s exclamation a new and wonderful plan came +into her thoughts; something she decided that would make up to Melvina +for her mischievous fun. She resolved quickly that Melvina Lyon should +have the happiest afternoon of her life.</p> + +<p>“Melly, come back a little way and slip off your fine skirts. I’ll take +off 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 Luretta +nodded.</p> + +<p>The stains did not seem to come out of the stockings; they looked gray +and streaked, so Luretta dipped them again, paying little attention to +her companions.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 284px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="illus-003" id="illus-003"></a> +<img src="images/illus-034-tn.jpg" alt=""WE'LL WADE OUT TO FLAT ROCK"" title="" width="284" height="400" /><br /> +<span class="caption"><a class="illus" href="images/illus-034.jpg">“WE’LL WADE OUT TO FLAT ROCK”</a></span> +</div> + +<p>Melvina followed Anna’s suggestion, and her starched skirts and hat were +left well up the beach with Anna’s stout shoes and stockings, and the +two girls hurried back hand in hand to the water’s edge.</p> + +<p>Flat Rock was not far out from the shore, and Anna knew that the pebbly +beach ended in soft mud that would not hurt Melvina’s feet, so she led +her boldly out.</p> + +<p>“It’s fun,” declared Melvina, her dark eyes dancing as she smiled at +Anna, quite forgetting all her fears.</p> + +<p>“It would be more fun if we had on real old clothes and could splash,” +responded Anna; and almost before she finished speaking Melvina leaned +away from her and with her free hand swept the water toward her, +spraying Anna and herself. In a moment both the girls had forgotten all +about their clothes, and were chasing each other along the water’s edge +splashing in good earnest, and laughing and calling each other’s names +in wild delight. Farther up the shore Luretta, a draggled stocking in +each hand, looked at them a little enviously, and wondered a little at +the sudden change in Melvina’s behavior.</p> + +<p>“Now show me the clam’s nest!” Melvina demanded, as out of breath and +thoroughly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> drenched the two girls stood laughing at each other.</p> + +<p>“All right,” Anna responded promptly. “Come on down to the point,” and +followed by Melvina, now apparently careless of the rough beach, she ran +along the shore toward a clam bed in the dark mud.</p> + +<p>“Look!” she exclaimed, pointing to the black flats-mud. “There is the +clam’s nest—in that mud. Truly. They are not birds; they are shellfish. +I was only fooling.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care,” answered Melvina. “I shall know now what clams really +are.”</p> + +<p>“And those birds are gulls, not partridges,” continued Anna, pointing to +the flock of gulls near shore, “and come here and I will show you a real +alder,” and the two girls climbed over a ledge to where a little thicket +of alder bushes crept down close to the rocks.</p> + +<p>“And those splendid tall trees are pines,” went on Anna, pointing to the +group of tall trees on the bluff.</p> + +<p>Melvina laughed delightedly. “Why, you know all about everything,” she +exclaimed, “even if your hair is short like a boy’s.”</p> + +<p>“I know all the trees in the forest,” declared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span> Anna, “and I know where +squirrels hide their nuts for winter, and where beavers make their +houses in the river.”</p> + +<p>The two girls were now beyond the ledge and out of sight of Luretta, and +Anna was so eager to tell Melvina of the wonderful creatures of the +forest, and Melvina, feeling as if she had discovered a new world, +listened with such pleasure, that for the moment they both forgot all +about Luretta.</p> + +<p>At first Luretta had been well pleased to see that Melvina was no longer +vexed and unhappy; but when both her companions disappeared, and she +found herself alone with Melvina’s soiled and discarded skirts and the +wet stockings, she began to feel that she was not fairly treated, and +resolved to go home.</p> + +<p>“Dan can play with Melvina Lyon if she likes her so much,” thought +Luretta resentfully, and started off up the slope. Luretta was nearly as +tidy as when she left home, so she would have no explanations to make on +her return. As she went up the slope she turned now and then and looked +back, but there was no sign of Anna or Melvina. “I don’t care,” thought +the little girl unhappily. “Perhaps they will think I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span> drowned when +they come back and don’t find me.” She had just reached the top of the +slope and turned toward home when she saw London Atus hurrying along the +path that led to the church.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps he has been sent after Melvina, and can’t find her,” thought +Luretta; and she was right; the colored man had been to Captain Horton’s +house to walk home with his little mistress, and had been told that +Melvina had not been there that afternoon; and he was now hurrying home +with this alarming news.</p> + +<p>Anna and Melvina were now comfortably seated on a grassy knoll near the +alder bushes, Melvina asking questions about woodland birds, and the +wild creatures of the forest, which Anna answered with delight.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you can go with Father and me to the forest to-morrow,” said +Anna. “We are going to find a liberty pole, and ’twill be a fine walk.”</p> + +<p>“I know about liberty poles,” declared Melvina eagerly, “and my father +is well pleased that the town is to set one up. But, oh, Anna! surely it +is time that I went on to my visit with Lucia Horton!” and Melvina’s +face grew troubled.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> “Do you think Luretta Foster will have my clothes +in good order?”</p> + +<p>At Melvina’s words Anna sprang to her feet. “I think she will do her +best, and ’tis well for us to hurry,” she responded; “but you have had a +good time, have you not, Melvina?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes! I would like well to play about on the shore often; but I fear +I may never again,” said Melvina; her smile had vanished, and she looked +tired and anxious.</p> + +<p>“Let us hasten; the tide is coming in now, and Luretta will have taken +our things up from the beach,” said Anna, taking Melvina’s hand and +hurrying her along over the ledges. “I am glad indeed, Melvina, that we +are better acquainted, and we will often wade together.”</p> + +<p>But Melvina shook her head dolefully. “My mother does not like me to +play out-of-doors,” she said. “Do you think, Anna, that Luretta is quite +sure to have my things clean and nice?”</p> + +<p>The two little girls had now come in sight of the place where they had +left Luretta. They both stopped and looked at each other in dismay, for +the tide had swept up the beach covering the pool where Luretta had +endeavored to wash the stockings, and the rocks where Anna and Melvina<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> +had left their things, and there was no trace either of Luretta or of +their belongings.</p> + +<p>“Luretta has taken our things up the slope,” declared Anna. “She saw the +tide would sweep them away, so she did not wait for us.”</p> + +<p>“But how can we find her?” wailed Melvina. “I cannot go up the slope +barefooted and in my petticoat. What would my father say if he met me in +such a plight? He tells me often to remember to set a good example to +other children. And I would be ashamed indeed to be seen like this.”</p> + +<p>“You do look funny,” Anna acknowledged soberly. Her own flannel dress +had dried, and, except for her bare feet, she looked about as usual; but +Melvina’s white petticoat was still wet and draggled, her hair untidy, +and it was doubtful if her own father would have recognized her at the +first glance.</p> + +<p>“I will go and get your things,” said Anna. “Come up the slope a little +way, and sit down behind those juniper bushes until I come back. Luretta +must be near the pine trees. I’ll hurry right back, and you can dress in +a minute.”</p> + +<p>Melvina agreed to this plan, and followed Anna slowly up to the juniper +bushes, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span> crouched down well under their branches so that she was +completely hidden from view; while Anna scrambled hurriedly up the slope +and looked anxiously about for some sign of Luretta and the missing +garments. But there was no sign of either; so she ran along the bluff to +where the pines offered shelter, thinking Luretta must surely be there.</p> + +<p>And now Anna began to be seriously alarmed. Perhaps Luretta had been +swept out by the tide before she could save herself. And at this thought +Anna forgot all about shoes and stockings, all Melvina’s fine garments, +and even Melvina herself, and ran as fast as her feet could carry her +toward Luretta’s home. At the blacksmith shop she stopped to take +breath, 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; but +Anna did not realize that the hour was so late, and ran swiftly on.</p> + +<p>As she neared the house she stopped suddenly, for Luretta was standing +in the doorway, and Rebecca was beside her, and they were both looking +at Anna. There was no time to turn and run back.</p> + +<p>“Why, Dan! Where are your shoes and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> stockings?” said Rebecca, coming +down the path to meet her sister. “You were so late in coming home that +Mother sent me to meet you.”</p> + +<p>“What did Luretta say?” gasped Anna, thinking to herself that if Luretta +had told of Melvina, and their making sport of her, that there was +trouble in store for them all.</p> + +<p>“Luretta hadn’t time to say anything,” responded Rebecca, “for I had +just reached the door when we saw you coming. Now we’ll get your shoes +and stockings and start home, for Mother is waiting supper for us.”</p> + +<p>“Luretta has my shoes,” said Anna, and ran on to the door, where Luretta +was still waiting.</p> + +<p>“Give me my shoes and stockings; quick, Lu! And then take all Melvina’s +things and run, as fast as you can, to the——”</p> + +<p>“Luretta! Luretta!” called Mrs. Foster; and Luretta with a hurried +whisper: “Oh, Anna! I haven’t her things. Don’t say a word about +Melvina,” vanished into the house.</p> + +<p>“Come, Anna,” called Rebecca reprovingly. “Father will come to look for +us if you do not hasten. Why did not Luretta give you back your shoes +and stockings?” she asked as Anna came slowly down the path. “It’s a +stupid game<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> for her to keep them, I will say;” and she put a protecting +arm across her sister’s shoulder. “But do not feel bad, Dan, dear; she +will bring them over before bedtime, if the storm holds off; and Mother +has made a fine molasses cake for supper.” But Anna made no response.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Here comes the minister. Keep a little behind me, Dan, and he may +not notice your bare feet,” exclaimed Rebecca.</p> + +<p>Usually the Reverend Mr. Lyon was very ceremonious in his greeting to +the children of the parish; but to-night he wasted no time in +salutations.</p> + +<p>“Have you seen Melvina?” he asked anxiously. “She left home early this +afternoon to visit at Captain Horton’s and did not appear there at all; +nor can we find trace of her.”</p> + +<p>“No, sir,” responded Rebecca. “I have but come to fetch my sister home +from Mr. Foster’s, and have seen naught of Melvina.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Lyon turned and hurried back toward the main path, where London Atus +was inquiring at every house if anyone had seen his little mistress; but +no one had news of her.</p> + +<p>“What can have befallen Melvina Lyon? And there’s a storm coming up. I +do hope no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span> harm has come to her,” said Rebecca, as she hurried Anna +along the path.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Rebby! It mustn’t storm!” exclaimed Anna.</p> + +<p>“’Twill only postpone Father’s trip to the forest, Dan,” said Rebby; +“but look at those black clouds. ’Twill surely be a tempest. I hope +we’ll reach home before it breaks,” and she started to run, pulling Anna +along with her.</p> + +<p>“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.</p> + +<p>Rebecca had not heard Anna’s last words, and thought her sister wished +only to outrun her in the race home. So she ran quickly after her, and +when at the turn by the blacksmith shop she lost sight of Anna she only +thought that the younger girl was hidden by the turn of the path, and +not until she pushed open the kitchen door did Rebecca realize that Anna +had run away from her, that she had not meant to come home.</p> + +<p>“Just in time,” said Mr. Weston, drawing Rebecca in and closing the door +against 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 night +at Mr. Foster’s.”</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2><h3>AT MR. LYON’S</h3> +</div> + +<p>Anna raced back along the path to the bluff as fast as she could go; but +the 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 the +approaching storm, she could no longer see her way clearly, and stubbed +her toes against roots and stones until her feet were hurt and bleeding.</p> + +<p>But she could not stop to think of this: she could think only of +Melvina, cowering, wet and afraid, under the juniper bushes.</p> + +<p>“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 to +make myself out as cleverer than she. Oh! If she is only safe I’ll never +try to be clever again,” she vowed, as she fought her way on against +wind and rain.</p> + +<p>As she reached the top of the bluff there was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> a moment’s lull in the +storm, and Anna could clearly see the wide branched juniper bushes where +she had left Melvina.</p> + +<p>“Melly! Melly!” she called, scrambling down the slope. But there was no +answer; and in a moment Anna realized that Melvina was not under the +trees.</p> + +<p>The storm began again with even greater violence, and Anna was obliged +to cling closely to the rough branches to keep from being swept down the +slope. She could hear the dash of the waves on the shore, and she +trembled at the thought that Melvina might have been swept down into the +angry waters.</p> + +<p>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 stand +upright until she had reached the top.</p> + +<p>She knew what she must do now, and she did not hesitate. She must go +straight to Mr. Lyon’s house and tell him the story from the moment that +she had told Melvina that pine trees were alders. For a moment she +wondered what would become of her afterward; but only for a moment did +she think of herself.</p> + +<p>It seemed to the little girl that she would never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> reach the minister’s +house. For a moment she rested in the shelter of the church, and then +dragged herself on. Her feet hurt so badly now that it was all she could +do to walk.</p> + +<p>There were lights to be seen, up-stairs and down, at the parsonage; but +Anna did not wonder at this. She managed to reach the front door and to +lift the knocker.</p> + +<p>In a moment London opened the door, holding a candle above his head.</p> + +<p>“Well, boy, who be ye?” he questioned sharply, seeing only Anna’s curly +brown head.</p> + +<p>“If you please, I am Anna Weston,” faltered the little girl. “I—I—must +see the minister. It’s about Melvina.”</p> + +<p>A smile showed on the black face, and London nodded his head.</p> + +<p>“Missy Melvina am safe in bed,” he whispered, then in a louder tone, +“Step in, if ye please, Missy Anna.”</p> + +<p>Anna dragged herself up the high step, and Mr. Lyon just then opened a +door leading into his study.</p> + +<p>“What is it, London?” he questioned, and seeing Anna, lifted his hands +in amazement.</p> + +<p>Anna stumbled toward him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span></p> + +<p>“I am to blame about Melvina!” she exclaimed, and, speaking as quickly +as she could, she told the whole story. She told it exactly as it had +happened, excepting Luretta’s part of the mischief, and Melvina’s +willingness to wade in the creeping tide.</p> + +<p>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 a +little mist of steam rose from her wet clothes.</p> + +<p>The minister listened, keeping Anna’s cold little hand fast in his +friendly clasp. His face was very grave, and when she finished with: “Is +Melvina safe? London said she was. But, oh, Mr. Lyon, all her fine +clothes are swept away, and it is my fault,” he smiled down at her +troubled face.</p> + +<p>“Be in no further alarm, my child. But come with me, for your feet are +cut and bruised, and Mrs. Lyon will give you dry clothing. Melvina does +not blame you in her story of this mischievous prank. But I doubt not +you are both blameworthy. But ’twill be your parents’ duty to see to thy +punishment.” As the minister spoke he drew her toward a door at the far +end of the room and opened it, calling for Mrs. Lyon, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> rose from her +seat near a low table in front of the big kitchen fireplace.</p> + +<p>All Anna’s courage had vanished. She hung her head, not daring to look +at Mrs. Lyon, saying:</p> + +<p>“I must go home. I must not stay.”</p> + +<p>“London is at your father’s house ere this, and will tell him that you +are to spend the night here. They will not be anxious about you,” said +Mrs. Lyon; “and now slip out of those wet garments. I have warm water to +bathe your feet,” and almost before Anna realized what was happening she +found herself in a warm flannel wrapper, her bruised feet bathed and +wrapped in comforting bandages, and a bowl of hot milk and corn bread on +the little table beside her. When this was finished Mrs. Lyon led the +little girl to a tiny chamber at the head of the stairs. A big bedstead +seemed nearly to fill the room.</p> + +<p>“Say your prayers, Anna,” said Mrs. Lyon, and without another word she +left the little girl alone. Anna was so thoroughly tired out that even +the strange dark room did not prevent her from going to sleep, and when +she awoke the tiny room was full of sunshine; she could hear robins +singing in the maples near the house, and people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> moving about +down-stairs. Then she sat up in bed with a little shiver of +apprehension.</p> + +<p>What would the minister and Mrs. Lyon and Melvina say to her? Perhaps +none of them would even speak to her. She had never been so unhappy in +her life as she was at that moment. She slipped out of bed; but the +moment her feet touched the floor she cried out with pain. For they were +bruised and sore.</p> + +<p>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 these +are your shoes and stockings!” and she set down the stout shoes and the +knit stockings that Anna had supposed had been swept out to sea.</p> + +<p>“When you are dressed come to the kitchen and your breakfast will be +ready,” said Mrs. Lyon, and left the room before Anna had courage to +speak. Anna dressed quickly; but in spite of her endeavors she could not +get 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 went +slowly down the steep stairs.</p> + +<p>When she was nearly down she heard Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> Lyon’s voice: “She is a +mischievous child, and her parents encourage her. She looks like a boy, +and I do not want Melvina to have aught to do with her.”</p> + +<p>Anna drew a quick breath. She would not go into the kitchen and face +people 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. The +front door was wide open. There was no trace of the storm of the +previous night, and Anna made her way softly across the entry and down +the steps. Every step hurt, but she hurried along and had reached the +church when she gave a little cry of delight, for her father was coming +up the path.</p> + +<p>“Well, here’s my Danna safe and sound,” he exclaimed, picking her up in +his arms. “And what has happened to her little feet?” he asked, as he +carried her on toward home.</p> + +<p>And then Anna told all her sad story again, even to the words she had +overheard Mrs. Lyon say.</p> + +<p>“Don’t worry, Danna! I’d rather have my Dan than a dozen of their +Melvinas,” said Mr. Weston quickly.</p> + +<p>When London had come the previous night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> with the brief message from the +minister that Anna was safe at his house and would stay the night there, +the Westons had been vexed and troubled, and Mrs. Weston had declared +that Anna should be punished for running off in such a tempest to the +minister’s house. But as Mr. Weston listened to his little daughter’s +story, and looked at her troubled and tear-stained face, he decided that +Anna had had a lesson that she would remember, and needed comforting +more than punishment; and a few whispered words to Mrs. Weston, as he +set Anna down in the big wooden rocker, made Anna’s mother put her arms +tenderly about her little daughter and say kindly:</p> + +<p>“Mother’s glad enough to have her Danna home again. And now let’s look +at those feet.”</p> + +<p>Rebby came running with a bowl of hot porridge, and the little girl was +made as comfortable as possible. But all that morning she sat in the big +chair with her feet on a cushion in a smaller chair, and she told her +mother and Rebby all the story of her adventures; and when Rebby laughed +at Melvina’s not knowing an alder from a pine Danna smiled a little. But +Mrs. Weston was very sober, although she said no word of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span> blame. If +Melvina Lyon’s things had been lost it would be but right that Anna’s +parents should replace them to the best of their ability, and this would +be a serious expense for the little household.</p> + +<p>After dinner Rebby went to the Fosters’, and came home with the story of +Melvina’s return home. It seemed that the moment Anna left her she +became 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, told +her story, and had been put to bed. Luretta had carried Melvina’s things +and Anna’s shoes and stockings well up the shore, and had put them under +the curving roots of the oak tree; so, although they were well soaked, +they were not blown away, and early that morning Luretta had hastened to +carry the things to the parsonage.</p> + +<p>“You were brave, Dan, to go through all that storm last night to tell +the minister,” said Rebby, as she drew a footstool near her sister’s +chair and sat down. Rebby was not so troubled to-day; for her father had +postponed his trip to the forest after the liberty tree, and Rebby hoped +that perhaps it would not be necessary that one should be set up in +Machias. So she was ready to keep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> her little sister company, and try to +make her forget the troubles of her adventures.</p> + +<p>“Of course I had to go, Rebby,” Anna responded seriously, “but none of +it, not even my feet, hurt so bad as what Mrs. Lyon said about me. For I +do not think I am what she said,” and Anna began to cry.</p> + +<p>“Father says you are the bravest child in the settlement; and Mother is +proud that you went straight there and took all the blame. And I am sure +that no other girl is so dear as my Danna,” declared Rebby loyally. +“After all, what harm did you do?”</p> + +<p>But Anna was not so easily comforted. “I tried to make fun of Melly for +not knowing anything. I tried to show off,” she said, “and now probably +she will never want to see me again; and oh, Rebby! the worst of it all +is that Melvina is just as brave as she can be, and I like her!” And +Anna’s brown eyes brightened at the remembrance of Melvina’s enjoyment +of their sport together.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you worry, Danna; Father will make it all right,” Rebecca assured +her; for Rebecca thought that her father could smooth out all the +difficult places.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span></p> + +<p>Anna did not speak of the excursion to the forest; she did not even +think of it until that evening, when her father came home with a roll of +fine birch-bark, soft and smooth as paper, on whose smooth surface she +and Rebecca with bits of charcoal could trace crude pictures of trees +and Indians, of birds and mice, and sometimes write letters to Lucia +Horton or Luretta Foster.</p> + +<p>“You must take good care of your feet, Dan, for I must start after the +liberty tree in a few days,” said Mr. Weston, “and I want your company.”</p> + +<p>Anna’s face brightened, but Rebecca looked troubled.</p> + +<p>“Why must we have a liberty pole, Father?” she asked fretfully.</p> + +<p>“We have good reasons, daughter. And to-day tidings have come that the +brave men of Lexington and Concord, in Massachusetts, drove the British +back to Boston on the nineteenth of April. ’Tis great news for all the +colonies. I wish some British craft would give Machias men a chance to +show their mettle,” said Mr. Weston, his face flushing at the thought of +the patriotic action of the men of Massachusetts.</p> + +<p>Rebecca sighed. She, too, wished that her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> home town might do its part +to win a victory for America; but, remembering what Lucia Horton had +told her, the very mention of a liberty pole made her tremble.</p> + +<p>When Anna hobbled up-stairs that night she was in a much happier frame +of mind.</p> + +<p>“My father is the best father in all the world, and my mother is the +best mother, and my sister is the best sister,” she announced to the +little group as she said good-night. But the shadow of Mrs. Lyon’s +disapproval was not forgotten; Anna wondered to herself if there was not +some way by which she could win the approval of Mr. and Mrs. Lyon, and +so be allowed to become Melvina’s friend.</p> + +<p>“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,” and +with this discouraging thought her eyes closed, and she forgot her +troubles in sleep.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2><h3>A BIRTHDAY</h3> +</div> + +<p>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 were +quick 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 she +wanted her hair to grow long, and she even asked Rebecca to teach her +how to sew more evenly and with tinier stitches.</p> + +<p>For Anna had made a firm resolve; she would try in every possible way to +be like Melvina Lyon. She gave up so many of her out-of-door games that +Mrs. Weston looked at her a little anxiously, fearing that the child +might not be well. Every day Anna walked up the path to the church, and +lingered about hoping for a glimpse of Melvina; but a week passed and +the little girls did not meet.</p> + +<p>At last the day came when Mr. Weston was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> ready to start for the forest +to select the liberty tree; but, greatly to his surprise, Anna said that +she did not wish to go, and he started off without her.</p> + +<p>This was the first real sacrifice Anna had made toward becoming like +Melvina. She was quite sure that Melvina would not go for a tramp in the +forest. “It would spoil her clothes,” reflected Anna, and looked +regretfully at her own stout gingham dress, wishing it could be changed +and become like one of Melvina’s dresses of flounced linen.</p> + +<p>“I would look more like her if I wore better dresses,” she decided.</p> + +<p>“Mother, may I not wear my Sunday dress?” she asked eagerly. “I will not +play any games, or hurt it. I will only walk as far as the church and +back.”</p> + +<p>For a moment Mrs. Weston hesitated. It seemed a foolish thing to let +Anna wear her best dress on a week day; but the little girl had been so +quiet and unhappy since the night of her adventure that her mother +decided to allow her this privilege; and Anna ran up-stairs, and in a +few minutes had put on her Sunday dress. It was a blue muslin with tiny +white dots, and the neck<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span> and sleeves were edged with tiny white +ruffles. It had been Rebecca’s best dress for several summers, until she +outgrew it, and it was made over for the younger girl, but Anna was very +proud of it, and stood on tiptoe to see herself reflected in the narrow +mirror between the windows of the sitting-room. Her mother had made a +sunbonnet of the same material as the dress, and Anna put this on with +satisfaction. Always before this she had despised a sunbonnet, and never +had she put it on of her own accord. But to-day she looked at it +approvingly. “No one would know but that my hair is long, and braided, +just like Melvina’s,” she thought as she walked slowly toward the +kitchen.</p> + +<p>“I will only walk to the church and straight back, Mother dear,” she +said, “and then I will put on my gingham dress, and sew on my +patchwork.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a good girl. You look fine enough for a party,” responded her +mother, and stood at the door watching Anna as she walked soberly down +the path.</p> + +<p>“I know not what has come over the child,” she thought, with a little +sigh. “To be sure, she is more like other little girls, and perhaps it +is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> well;” but Mrs. Weston sighed again, as if regretting her noisy, +singing “Dan,” who seemed to have vanished forever.</p> + +<p>When Anna reached the church she stood for a moment looking wistfully +toward the parsonage. “If Mrs. Lyon could see me now she would not think +me 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?</p> + +<p>“I will go and call,” decided Anna, her old courage returning; “and I +will behave so well that Mrs. Lyon will ask me to come often and play +with Melvina,” and, quite forgetting to walk quietly, she raced along +the path in her old-time fashion until she was at the minister’s door. +Then she rapped, and stood waiting, a little breathless, but smiling +happily, quite sure that a little girl in so pretty a dress and so neat +a sunbonnet would receive a warm welcome. Perhaps Mrs. Lyon would come +to the door, she thought hopefully.</p> + +<p>But it was Melvina herself who opened the door. Melvina, wearing a white +dress and a long apron.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span></p> + +<p>For a moment the two little girls stood looking at each other in +surprise. Then Melvina smiled radiantly. “Oh! It really is you, Anna! +Come in. I am keeping house this afternoon, and nobody will know that +you are here.”</p> + +<p>“But I came to call on your mother. I wanted her to see me,” explained +Anna.</p> + +<p>But Melvina did not seem to notice this explanation. She took Anna’s +hand and drew her into the house.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Dan! wasn’t it fun to wade and run on the shore?” said Melvina +eagerly, as the two girls entered the big pleasant kitchen. “I didn’t +mind being wet or frightened or punished. Did you?”</p> + +<p>“I wasn’t punished,” Anna responded meekly.</p> + +<p>“I was. I was sent to bed without my supper for three nights; and I had +to learn two tables of figures,” declared Melvina triumphantly. “But I +didn’t care. For I have a splendid plan——” But before Melvina could +say another word the kitchen door opened and Mrs. Lyon entered.</p> + +<p>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 this +little maid?” she asked.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span></p> + +<p>“I am Anna Western,” Anna replied quickly, making a clumsy curtsy.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lyon’s smile vanished. She thought to herself that Anna had taken +advantage of her absence to steal into the house, perhaps to entice +Melvina for some rough game out-of-doors.</p> + +<p>“I came to call,” Anna continued bravely, her voice faltering a little. +“I wanted to say I was sorry for being mischievous.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lyon’s face softened, and she noticed approvingly that Anna’s short +curly locks were covered by the sunbonnet, and that she was dressed in +her best; but she was still a little doubtful.</p> + +<p>“Well, Anna, I am glad indeed that you are so right-minded. It is most +proper that you should be sorry. I doubt not that your good parents +punished you severely for your fault,” said Mrs. Lyon. But she did not +ask Anna to sit down, or to remove her sunbonnet. Melvina looked from +Anna to her mother, not knowing what to say.</p> + +<p>“I think I must go now,” said Anna, almost ready to cry. “Good-bye, +Melvina; good-afternoon, Mrs. Lyon,” and making another awkward curtsy +Anna turned toward the door.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span></p> + +<p>“Oh, Danna! Don’t go,” called Melvina, running toward her; but Mrs. +Lyon’s firm hand held her back.</p> + +<p>“Good-afternoon, Anna! I hope you will grow into a good and obedient +girl,” she said kindly.</p> + +<p>Anna’s tears now came thick and fast. She could hardly see the path as +she stumbled along. But if she could have heard Melvina’s words as her +mother held her back from the kitchen door, she would have felt that her +visit 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 be +exactly like Danna, and do all the things she does.”</p> + +<p>Luretta Foster, coming down the path, stopped short and stared at Anna +in amazement. It was surprising enough to see Anna dressed as if ready +for church, but to see her in tears was almost unbelievable.</p> + +<p>“What is the matter, Danna?” she asked, coming close to her little +friend’s side, and endeavoring to peer under the sunbonnet. “Would not +your father let you go with him to the forest?”</p> + +<p>Anna made no answer, and when Luretta put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> a friendly arm about her +shoulders, she drew a little away.</p> + +<p>“Do not cry, Dan. My brother Paul has gone to the forest with your +father, and he promised to bring me home a rabbit to tame for a pet. I +will give it to you, Dan,” said Luretta.</p> + +<p>For a moment Anna forgot her troubles. “Will you, truly, Luretta?” and +she pushed back her sunbonnet that she might see her friend more +clearly.</p> + +<p>“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 to +live in,” Luretta promised generously. “I do not suppose Melvina Lyon +would know a rabbit from a wolf,” she continued laughingly, quite sure +that Anna would suggest asking Melvina to come and see their tame wolf. +But Anna did nothing of the sort.</p> + +<p>“Melvina knows more than any girl in this settlement,” Anna replied +quickly. “She can do sums in fractions, and she can embroider, and make +cakes. And she is brave, too.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Dan Weston! And only last week you made fun of her, and said that +all those things were of no account,” exclaimed Luretta.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span></p> + +<p>For a moment the two little friends walked on in silence, and then Anna +spoke.</p> + +<p>“Luretta, I’ll tell you something. I am going to try to be exactly like +Melvina Lyon. Everybody praises her, and your mother and mine are always +saying that she is well-behaved. And I am going to let my hair grow long +and be well-behaved. But don’t tell anyone,” Anna added quickly, “for I +want Mrs. Lyon to find it out first of all.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Dan! And won’t you make funny rhymes any more? Or play on the +timber-rafts—or—or—anything?” asked Luretta.</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe there is any harm in making rhymes. It’s something you +can’t help,” responded Anna thoughtfully. “And Parson Lyon has written a +book,” she added quickly, as if that in some way justified her jingles.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want you to be different, Dan!” declared Luretta.</p> + +<p>Anna stopped and looked at her friend reproachfully. “Well, Luretta +Foster, I am surprised!” she said, and then clasping Luretta’s hand she +started to run down the path, saying: “Let’s hurry, so I can take off +this dress; then we will walk a little way toward the forest to see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> if +Father and Paul are coming. Will you truly; give me the rabbit if Paul +captures one?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I will,” promised Luretta; but she began to wish that she had not +suggested such a thing. If Danna was going to be exactly like Melvina +Lyon, thought Luretta, a rabbit would not receive much attention.</p> + +<p>Rebecca was sitting on the front step busy with her knitting as the two +little girls came up the path. It was her birthday, but so far no one +had seemed to remember it. The <i>Polly</i> had not reached port, so the fine +present she had been promised could not be expected. But Rebecca was +surprised and disappointed that everyone had seemed to forget that she +was fourteen on the tenth of May. But as she looked up and saw Anna +dressed in her best, and Luretta beside her, coming up the path, Rebby’s +face brightened. “I do believe Mother has planned a surprise for me,” +she thought happily. “Oh, there comes Lucia! Now I am sure that Mother +has asked her to come, and perhaps some of the other girls,” and Rebecca +put down her knitting and stood up, smiling at the girls expectantly, +for she was quite sure that their first words would be a birthday +greeting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span></p> + +<p>At that moment Mrs. Weston, busy in her kitchen, remembered suddenly +that it was September tenth. “My Rebby’s birthday! And, with my mind +full of all the worry about being shut off from the world by British +cruisers, and provisions growing so scarce, I had forgotten,” and Mrs. +Weston left her work and reached the front door just as Rebecca rose to +her feet to greet her friends.</p> + +<p>“Fourteen to-day, Rebby dear,” said Mrs. Weston, putting her arm about +her tall daughter and kissing Rebecca.</p> + +<p>At the same moment, hearing her mother’s words, Anna ran forward calling +out: “Rebby is fourteen to-day.”</p> + +<p>Luretta and Lucia were close behind her, and Rebecca found herself the +centre of a smiling happy group, and for the moment quite forgot that +she must do without the present from Boston that her father had promised +her.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2><h3>LUCIA HAS A PLAN</h3> +</div> + +<p>“I have brought you a birthday gift, Rebby,” said Lucia, who had been +looking forward all day to the moment when she could give her friend the +small package that she now handed her.</p> + +<p>Rebecca received it smilingly, and quickly unwound the white tissue +paper in which it was wrapped, showing a flat white box. Inside this box +lay a pair of white silk mitts.</p> + +<p>Rebecca looked at them admiringly, and even Mrs. Weston declared that +very few girls could hope for a daintier gift; while Anna and Luretta +urged 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 herself +that her gift was so praised and appreciated.</p> + +<p>“They came from France,” she said. “Look on the box, Rebby, and you will +see ‘Paris, France.’ My father bought them of a Boston merchant, and I +have a pair for myself.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span></p> + +<p>“Are any more girls coming, Mother?” Rebecca asked as Mrs. Weston led +the way to the living-room.</p> + +<p>“No, my dear. And I only——” Mrs. Weston hesitated. She had started to +say that she had only remembered Rebecca’s birthday a few moments +earlier; but she stopped in time, knowing it would cloud the afternoon’s +pleasure; and Rebecca, smiling and delighted with Lucia’s gift, and sure +that her mother had some treat ready for them, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“I do not mind now so much that the <i>Polly</i> has not arrived; for I could +have no gift finer than a pair of silk mitts.”</p> + +<p>Anna had taken off her sunbonnet and was sitting on one of the low +rush-bottomed chairs near a window. She was very quiet, reproaching +herself in her thoughts that she had no gift for her sister. What could +she give her? For little girls in revolutionary times, especially those +in remote villages, had very few possessions of their own, and Anna had +no valued treasure that might make a present. If she had remembered in +time, she thought, she would have asked her mother to help her make a +needle-book.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she jumped up and ran across the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> room and kissed her sister, +first on one cheek and then on the other, saying:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“If I had golden beads in strings,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">I’d give you these, and other things.</span><br /> +<span class="i0">But Rebby, dear, I’ve only this</span><br /> +<span class="i0">To give to-day: a birthday kiss.”</span><br /> +</div></div> + +<p>Lucia and Luretta were sure that Anna must have had her verse all ready +to repeat; and even Rebecca, who knew that Anna rhymed words easily, +thought that Anna had prepared this birthday greeting, and was very +proud of her little sister. But at the words, “golden beads,” a great +hope came into Rebecca’s heart. Perhaps that was what the <i>Polly</i> was +bringing for her.</p> + +<p>“I am to have a rabbit,” said Anna happily. “What shall I name it?”</p> + +<p>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 deciding +this question Lucia whispered to Rebecca: “When I go home be sure and +walk a little way; I want to tell you something important.”</p> + +<p>Rebby nodded smilingly. For the moment she had entirely forgotten the +uncomfortable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> secret that Lucia had confided in her, and was thinking +only that it was really a wonderful thing to have a fourteenth birthday.</p> + +<p>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 for +them. There was no white sugar in the house, or, for that matter, in the +entire settlement. But the Westons had a small store of maple sugar, +made from the sap of the maple trees, and Mrs. Weston quickly decided +that this should be used for Rebecca’s birthday celebration. She hurried +to the pantry, and when an hour later she opened the door and called the +girls to the kitchen they all exclaimed with delight.</p> + +<p>The round table was covered with a shining white cloth, and Mrs. Weston +had set it with her fine blue plates, that she had brought from Boston +when she came to Machias, and that were seldom used.</p> + +<p>By each plate stood a lustre mug filled with milk, and in the centre of +the table was a heart-shaped cake frosted with maple sugar.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mother! This is my very best birthday!” Rebecca declared happily, +and as the other girls seated themselves at the table she stood with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> +bowed head to say the “grace” of thanks before cutting her birthday +cake.</p> + +<p>Anna wished to herself that Melvina Lyon might have been one of the +guests, and shared the delicious cake. She wondered just how Melvina +would 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 Rebecca +began to laugh, thinking Anna was making believe for their amusement.</p> + +<p>Before the little girls left the table Mr. Weston appeared at the +kitchen door, and was quite ready to taste the cake, and again remind +Rebecca of the gift the <i>Polly</i> was bringing.</p> + +<p>“Let me whisper, Father,” she responded, drawing his head down near her +own. “It’s <i>beads</i>!” she whispered, and when her father laughed she was +sure she was right, and almost as happy as if the longed-for gift was +around her neck.</p> + +<p>“Well, Paul and I found the liberty tree,” said Mr. Weston, “and I cut +it down and trimmed it save for its green plume. Paul is towing it +downstream now; and when we set it up ’twill be a credit to the town.”</p> + +<p>Lucia rose quickly. “I must be going home,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> she said, a little flush +coming into her cheeks. “I have enjoyed the afternoon very much,” she +added politely; for if Melvina Lyon was the smartest girl in the village +no one could say that any of the other little girls ever forgot to be +well-mannered.</p> + +<p>Rebecca followed her friend to the door, and they walked down the path +together, while Anna and Luretta questioned Mr. Weston eagerly as to +Paul’s success in capturing a rabbit, and were made happy with the news +that he had secured two young rabbits, and that they were safe in the +canoe which Paul was now paddling down the river, towing the liberty +tree behind him.</p> + +<p>Rebecca and Lucia had gone but a few steps when Lucia whispered: “We +mustn’t let them put up the liberty tree. Oh, Rebby, why didn’t you try +to stop your father going after it?”</p> + +<p>“How could I?” responded Rebecca. “And when I said: ‘Why must Machias +have a liberty pole?’ he was ill pleased with me, and said I must be +loyal to America’s rights. Oh, Lucia! are you sure that——”</p> + +<p>But Lucia’s hand was held firmly over Rebby’s mouth. “Ssh. Don’t speak +it aloud, Rebby. For ’twould make great trouble for my father, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> any +case, if people even guessed that he knew the plans of the British. But +I 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.”</p> + +<p>“Can’t we tell my father?” suggested Rebecca hopefully.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Rebecca Weston! If your father knew what I told you he would do his +best to have the liberty pole put up at once,” declared Lucia.</p> + +<p>“But I have a plan, and you must help me,” she continued. “Paul Foster +will bring the sapling close in shore near his father’s shop, and it +will rest there to-night; and when it is dark we must go down and cut it +loose and push it out so that the current will take it downstream, and +the tide will carry it out to sea. Then, before they can get another +one, the <i>Polly</i> will come sailing in and all will be well.”</p> + +<p>“Won’t the British ship come if we do not put up the liberty pole?” +asked Rebecca.</p> + +<p>“There! You have said it aloud, Rebby!” whispered Lucia reprovingly.</p> + +<p>“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’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> +plan was the easiest way to save the village. For Lucia had told her +friend that the <i>Polly</i>, of which Lucia’s father was captain, and the +sloop <i>Unity</i>, owned and sailed by a Captain Jones of Boston, would be +escorted to Machias by an armed British ship; and if a liberty pole was +set up the British would fire upon the town. So it was no wonder that +Rebecca was frightened and ready to listen to Lucia’s plan to avert the +danger.</p> + +<p>She did not know that her father and other men of the settlement were +already beginning to doubt the loyalty of the two captains to America’s +cause.</p> + +<p>“It will be easy enough to slip out when everybody is asleep,” Lucia +replied to Rebecca’s question. “We can meet at Mr. Foster’s shop. If I +get there first I will wait, and if you get there before me you must +wait. As near ten o’clock as we can. And then it won’t take us but a few +minutes to push the sapling out into the current. Just think, Rebby, we +will save the town, and nobody will ever know it but just us two.”</p> + +<p>Rebby sighed. She wished that Lucia’s father had kept the secret to +himself. Besides, she was not sure that it was right to prevent the +liberty pole from being set up. But that the town<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> should be fired upon +by a British man-of-war, and everyone killed, as Lucia assured her, when +it could be prevented by her pushing a pine sapling into the current of +the river, made the little girl decide that she would do as Lucia had +planned.</p> + +<p>“All right. I will be there, at the blacksmith shop, when it strikes ten +to-night,” she agreed, and the friends parted.</p> + +<p>Rebecca walked slowly toward home, forgetting all the joy of the +afternoon; forgetting even that it was her fourteenth birthday, and that +a string of gold beads for her was probably on board the <i>Polly</i>.</p> + +<p>Paul Foster towed the fine sapling to the very place that Lucia had +mentioned, and his father came to the shore and looked at it admiringly +as he helped Paul make it secure. “It is safely fastened and no harm can +come to it,” Mr. Foster said after they had drawn the tree partly from +the water. Paul drew his canoe up on the beach, and taking the rabbits +in the stout canvas bag, started for home.</p> + +<p>Anna and Luretta were both on the watch for him, and came running to +meet him. Anna now wore her every-day dress of gingham, and in her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> +eagerness to see the rabbits she had quite forgotten to try and behave +like Melvina Lyon.</p> + +<p>“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 close +they keep together. And this box is big enough for them both. And they +are so young they must be fed very carefully for a time.”</p> + +<p>“I know what we can do,” declared Anna; “my rabbit can live here until +he is a little larger, and then my father will make a box for him and I +can take him home.”</p> + +<p>Paul said that would do very well, and that Anna could come each day and +learn how to feed the little creatures, and what they liked best to eat.</p> + +<p>“But which one is to be mine? They are exactly alike,” said Anna, a +little anxiously. And indeed there was no way of telling the rabbits +apart, so Anna and Luretta agreed that when the time came to separate +them it would not matter which one Anna chose for her own.</p> + +<p>At supper time Anna could talk of nothing but the rabbits, and had so +much to say that her father and mother did not notice how silent Rebecca +was.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span></p> + +<p>The little household retired early, and by eight o’clock Rebecca was in +bed, but alert to every sound, and resolved not to go to sleep. The +sisters slept together, and in a few minutes Anna was sound asleep. +Rebecca heard the clock strike nine, then very quietly she got out of +bed and dressed. Her moccasins made no noise as she stepped cautiously +along the narrow passage, and down the steep stairway. She lifted the +big bar that fastened the door and stood it against the wall, then she +opened the door, closing it carefully behind her, and stepped out into +the warm darkness of the spring night.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2><h3>“A TRAITOR’S DEED”</h3> +</div> + +<p>It was one of those May evenings that promise that summer is close at +hand. The air was soft and warm; there was no wind, and in the clear +starlight Rebecca could see the shadows of the tall elm tree near the +blacksmith shop, and the silvery line of the softly flowing river. As +she stood waiting for Lucia she looked up into the clear skies and +traced the stars forming the Big Dipper, nearly over her head. Low down +in the west Jupiter shone brightly, and the broad band of shimmering +stars that formed the Milky Way stretched like a jeweled necklace across +the 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 of +frogs from the marshes sounded shrilly through the quiet. In years to +come, when Rebecca heard the first frogs sounding their call to spring, +she was to recall that beautiful night when she stole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> out to try and +save the town, as she believed, from being fired on by a British +gunboat.</p> + +<p>She had made so early a start that she had to wait what seemed a very +long time for Lucia, who approached so quietly that not until she +touched Rebby’s arm did Rebby know of her coming.</p> + +<p>“I am late, and I nearly had to give up coming because Mother did not +get to sleep,” Lucia explained, as the two girls hurried down to the +river. “She is so worried about Father,” continued Lucia; “she says that +since the Americans defeated the English at Lexington they may drive +them out of Boston as well.”</p> + +<p>“Of course they will,” declared Rebecca, surprised that anyone could +imagine the righteous cause of America defeated. “And if the English +gunboat comes in here the Machias men will capture it,” she added.</p> + +<p>“Well, I don’t know,” responded Lucia despondently. “But if it destroyed +the town there wouldn’t be anyone left to capture it; and that is why we +must push that liberty tree offshore.”</p> + +<p>The girls were both strong, and Lucia had brought a sharp knife with +which to cut the rope holding the tree to a stake on the bank, so it +did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span> not take them long to push the tree clear of the shore. They found +a long pole near by, and with this they were able to swing the liberty +tree out until the current of the river came to their aid and carried it +slowly along.</p> + +<p>“How slowly it moves,” said Rebecca impatiently, as they stood watching +it move steadily downstream.</p> + +<p>“But it will be well down the bay before morning,” said Lucia, “and we +must get home as quickly as we can. I wish my father could know that +there will not be a liberty pole set up in Machias.”</p> + +<p>Rebecca stopped short. “No liberty pole, Lucia Horton? Indeed there will +be. Why, my father says that all the loyal settlements along the Maine +coast are setting up one; and as soon as the old British gunboat is out +of sight Machias will put up a liberty tree. Perhaps ’twill even be set +up while the gunboat lies in this harbor.”</p> + +<p>“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 liberty +tree was so fine a thing why should her father not wish Machias to have +one, she wondered.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> Lucia did not know that her father was even then +bargaining with the British in Boston to bring them a cargo of lumber on +his next trip from Machias, in return for permission to load the <i>Polly</i> +with provisions to sell to the people of the settlement, and that, +exactly as Lucia had heard him predict, an armed British gunboat would +accompany the sloops <i>Polly</i> and <i>Unity</i> when they should appear in +Machias harbor.</p> + +<p>The two friends whispered a hasty “good-night,” and each ran in the +direction of home. Rebby pushed the big door open noiselessly, but she +did not try to replace the bar. As she crept up the stairs she could +hear the even breathing of her father and mother, and she slid into bed +without waking Anna, and was too sleepy herself to lie long awake.</p> + +<p>The unfastened door puzzled Mr. Weston when he came down-stairs at +daybreak 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 he +stood for a moment in the doorway, he saw Paul Foster running toward the +house.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Weston, sir, the liberty pole is gone,” gasped the boy, out of +breath. “The rope that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> held it to the stake was cut,” he continued. +“Father says ’tis some Tory’s work.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston did not stop for breakfast. He told Mrs. Weston that he would +come up later on, as soon as he had found out more about the missing +liberty tree; and with Paul beside him, now talking eagerly of how his +father had gone with him to take a look at the pine sapling and found no +trace of it, Mr. Weston hurried toward the shore where a number of men +were now gathered.</p> + +<p>Anna had hard work to awaken Rebby that morning, and when she came +slowly down-stairs she felt cross and tired; but her mother’s first +words made her forget everything else.</p> + +<p>“We will eat our porridge without your father,” Mrs. Weston said +gravely. “A terrible thing has happened. Some traitor has made way with +the liberty tree that your father and Paul selected yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“Traitor?” gasped Rebby, who knew well that such a word meant the lowest +and most to be despised person on earth, and could hardly believe that +what she had supposed to be a fine and brave action could be a traitor’s +deed.</p> + +<p>“Who else but a traitor would make way with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> our liberty pole?” +responded Mrs. Weston. “But do not look so frightened, Rebby. Sit up to +the table; when your father comes home he will tell us who did the base +act. And we may be sure Machias men will deal with him as he deserves.”</p> + +<p>But Rebecca could not eat the excellent porridge; and when her mother +questioned her anxiously she owned that her head ached, and that she did +not feel well.</p> + +<p>“I’ll steep up some thoroughwort; a good cup of herb tea will soon send +off your headache,” said Mrs. Weston, “and you had best go back to bed. +Maybe ’tis because of the birthday cake.”</p> + +<p>Rebecca made no response; she was glad to go back to her room, where she +buried her face in the pillow, hardly daring to think what would become +of her. Supposing Lucia should tell, she thought despairingly, saying +over and over to herself, “Traitor! Traitor!” So that when Anna came +softly into the room a little later she found her sister with flushed +face and tear-stained eyes, and ran back to the kitchen to tell her +mother that Rebby was very ill.</p> + +<p>It was an anxious and unhappy morning for Rebby and for her mother, for +Mrs. Weston became<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span> worried at the sight of her daughter’s flushed +cheeks and frightened eyes. She decided that it was best for Rebecca to +remain in bed; and, had it not been for the frequent doses of bitter +herb tea which her mother insisted on her drinking, Rebby would have +been well satisfied to hide herself away from everyone.</p> + +<p>Anna helped her mother about the household work, thinking to herself +that probably Melvina Lyon was doing the same. After the dishes had been +washed and set away Mrs. Weston suggested that Anna should run down to +Luretta Foster’s.</p> + +<p>“’Twill be best to keep the house quiet this morning, and you can see +the rabbits,” she added.</p> + +<p>“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 she +was sure her mother must notice that she was no longer the noisy girl +who ran in and out of the house singing and laughing.</p> + +<p>“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 a +girl,” responded her mother. “But run along, and be sure and inquire if +there be any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> news of the rascal who made way with the liberty tree.”</p> + +<p>Anna started off very sedately, measuring her steps and holding her head +a little on one side as she had noticed that Melvina sometimes did. She +was thinking of Rebby, and what a pity it was to have to stay indoors +when the sun was so warm, and when there were so many pleasant things to +do. “I will go over on the hill and get her some young checkerberry +leaves,” 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, beginning +to sing in her old-time manner.</p> + +<p>Luretta was watching for her, and smiled happily when she heard Anna’s +voice. “Oh! She’s going to stay ‘Danna,’ and not be like that stuck-up +Melvina Lyon,” she thought with delight; for Luretta did not think Anna +would make a satisfactory playmate if she were going to change into a +quiet, well-behaved girl like the minister’s little daughter.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the girls were beside the box that held the captive +rabbits, who looked up at them with startled eyes. Paul had brought a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> +basket of fresh grass, and some bits of tender bark and roots on which +the little creatures were nibbling.</p> + +<p>“I do wish they were not exactly alike,” said Anna.</p> + +<p>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 want +me to have the prettiest one, and how could we ever choose?” she +explained; and Anna acknowledged that perhaps it was better that the +rabbits should be alike in every way. After much discussion of names +they decided that the rabbits must be called as nearly alike as +possible; and so the new pets were named “Trit” and “Trot.”</p> + +<p>Every little child in the neighborhood enjoyed a visit at Luretta’s +home. In the first place because of Mrs. Foster’s pleasant smile and +kind welcome, and also because of the wonderful treasures it contained. +There was a great round ostrich egg, which Mr. Foster’s brother had +brought from far-off Africa. This egg was carefully kept in a wooden box +on the high mantel shelf; but Mrs. Foster was never too busy to take it +down and let the little visitor gaze at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span> it with admiring eyes. Then +there was a model of a water-mill, with its tiny wheels, as complete as +if it could begin work at once. This stood on a table in the corner of +the sitting-room, where anyone might stand and admire it, and hear +Luretta 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 bit +of paper, could make the most beautiful paper dolls that any little girl +could wish to possess; and whenever Luretta’s friends came for a visit +they 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 go +indoors. But this morning Mrs. Foster did not seem her usual cheerful +self.</p> + +<p>“This is sad news about our liberty tree; but the men have set out in +boats to search for it, and ’twill be a good omen indeed if they find +and bring it back,” she said.</p> + +<p>“My father says ’twill be a great day for the settlement when ’tis put +up,” said Anna, looking longingly toward the box on the high mantel, and +hoping she might have a look at the wonderful egg.</p> + +<p>“And so it will be. With Boston in the hands<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span> of the British, and no +safety 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 to +the wharves, and perhaps hear some news of the traitor who made way with +it. I said at first maybe ’twas the mischief of some boy who did not +realize what the tree stood for; but Paul flared up at once and said +there 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.”</p> + +<p>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, was +coming rapidly toward the shore and behind it trailed the fine pine +sapling.</p> + +<p>“And there comes Parson Lyon with his little daughter,” said Mrs. +Foster. “He is as good a patriot as General Washington himself,” she +added admiringly.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Lyon came near the little group he stopped for a moment.</p> + +<p>“May I leave my daughter with you?” he asked. “I wish to be one of those +who lift that sacred tree to safety.” And he hurried on to the wharf, +leaving Melvina, who stood smiling delightedly at this unexpected +meeting with Anna.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2><h3>“WHITE WITCHES”</h3> +</div> + +<p>For a moment both Anna and Luretta looked at Melvina a little +doubtfully, for they could but remember and be ashamed of their part in +the foolish game they had tried to play with her so short a time ago. +But Melvina was smiling and friendly, and evidently had cherished no +ill-feeling toward them. By the time she had replied to Mrs. Foster’s +friendly inquiries in regard to her mother, Anna and Luretta were quite +at their ease; and Luretta said to herself that she did not wonder Anna +wanted to be like Melvina. Luretta even began to wonder if it would not +be well for her to learn to speak as softly as did Melvina Lyon; it +certainly had a pleasant sound, she thought admiringly.</p> + +<p>“I must return home,” said Mrs. Foster, “but Melvina’s father will +expect her to wait here for him; so, Luretta, you and Anna may stay with +her until he comes. Here is a clean log where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> you can sit comfortably, +and do not go far from this spot.”</p> + +<p>The little girls promised, and Mrs. Foster started for home. Hardly had +she turned her back when Melvina clasped Anna by the hand, and +exclaimed: “Now you can tell me more about the woods, and the little +animals who live in hollow logs or burrow under rocks, and about the +different birds and their nests! Oh, begin quickly, for my father may +soon return,” and she drew Anna toward the big log that lay near the +path.</p> + +<p>“Tell her about our rabbits, Danna,” suggested Luretta. “My brother Paul +brought me two little gray rabbits from the forest,” she explained; and +Melvina listened eagerly to the description of Trit and Trot, and of +their cunning ways and bright eyes, and was told that they had already +lost their fear of Luretta and Anna.</p> + +<p>“I wish I could see them. I have never seen any little animals except +kittens,” said Melvina. It seemed to Melvina that Anna and Luretta were +very fortunate children. They could run about in old clothes, play on +the shore and among the piles of lumber, and they knew many strange and +interesting things about the creatures of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span> forest which she had +never 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 the +ceremonious visits now and then, when she always had to take her +knitting, and was cautioned by her anxious mother to “remember that she +was a minister’s daughter, and behave properly, and set a good +example”—all these things flitted through Melvina’s thoughts as +tiresome tasks that she would like to escape, and be free as Anna seemed +to be.</p> + +<p>“Mayn’t I bring the rabbits down here for Melvina to see?” asked Anna. +“The box would not be very heavy.”</p> + +<p>But Luretta had objections to this plan. Her brother had told her not to +move the box from the sunny corner near the shed; and, beside this, she +was sure it was too heavy for Anna to lift. “If you should let it fall +they might get out and run away,” she concluded. Then, noticing Anna’s +look of disappointment, she added: “I know what you may do, Danna. You +and Melvina may go up and see the rabbits, and I will wait here for +Parson Lyon and tell him where Melvina is, and that we will see her +safely home; and then I will hurry after you.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span></p> + +<p>“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 kind +to think of it?”</p> + +<p>Anna agreed rather soberly. Mrs. Foster had told them to remain near the +log, she remembered, but if Melvina saw no harm in Luretta’s plan she +was sure it must be right; so taking Melvina’s hand they started off.</p> + +<p>“Let’s run, Anna,” urged Melvina; for Anna was walking sedately, in the +manner in which she had so often seen Melvina come down the path, and +she was a little surprised that her companion had not at once noticed +it. But Anna was always ready to run, and replied quickly: “Let’s race, +and see who can get to the blacksmith shop first.”</p> + +<p>Away went the two little girls, Melvina’s long braids dancing about, and +her starched skirts blown back as she raced along; and, greatly to +Anna’s surprise, Melvina passed her and was first at the shop.</p> + +<p>“I beat! I beat!” exclaimed Melvina, her dark eyes shining and her face +flushed with the unwonted exercise.</p> + +<p>“You do everything best,” Anna declared<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> generously, “but I did not know +that you could run so fast.”</p> + +<p>“Neither did I,” Melvina acknowledged laughingly. Anna felt a little +puzzled by this sudden change in Melvina, which was far more noticeable +than 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 the +shore, on the day of the tempest, Melvina had endeavored to be as much +like Anna as possible. She ran, instead of walking slowly, whenever she +was out of her mother’s sight. She had even neglected her lessons to go +out-of-doors and watch a family of young robins one morning, and had +been immediately called in by her surprised mother. In fact, Melvina had +tried in every way to do things that she imagined Anna liked to do. She +had even besought her mother to cut off her hair; but, as she dared not +give 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 have +smoothly braided hair, or long curls. So while Anna endeavored to cover +her pretty curly hair, to behave sedately, and give up many of her +outdoor games, in order to be like Melvina, Melvina was wishing that +she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> could be exactly like Anna; and as they stood looking at each other +at the end of their race each little girl noticed a change in the other +which she could not understand, and they started off toward Luretta’s +home at a more sober pace.</p> + +<p>“Here they are,” said Anna, as they came to the corner of the shed and +saw the rabbits looking out at them between the slats of the box.</p> + +<p>Melvina kneeled down close to the box and exclaimed admiringly as Trit +and Trot scurried away to the farthest corner.</p> + +<p>“I do wish I could touch one! Would it not be fun to dress them up like +dolls!” she said. “If they were mine I would dress them up in bonnets +and skirts, and teach them to bow. Oh, Anna! Can’t we take one out? One +of them is yours, Luretta said so; let us take out your rabbit, Anna.”</p> + +<p>“But we haven’t anything to dress it up in,” said Anna, beginning to +think that Melvina was a good deal like other little girls after all.</p> + +<p>“Could we not take your rabbit over to my house, Anna? My mother has +gone to Mrs. Burnham’s to spend the day, and we could take Trot up to my +room and dress her up and play games. Do, Anna!” urged Melvina.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span></p> + +<p>“It would be great sport indeed,” agreed Anna eagerly; “we could call +Trot by some fine name, like Queen Elizabeth, and have your dolls for +visitors.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, we could! Or play Trot was a lion that we had captured in +Africa. Where is the door to the box, Anna?” and Melvina’s dark eyes +shone more brightly than ever as Anna slid back the little door that +Paul had so carefully made, and, after several vain efforts, finally +secured one of the rabbits and quickly wrapped it in the skirt of her +dress.</p> + +<p>“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 catch +the second rabbit in her hands; an instant later and it would have +scampered away free.</p> + +<p>“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 fields +toward Mr. Lyon’s house. Not until they reached the back door of the +parsonage did either of them remember Luretta, and then it was Anna who +exclaimed:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span></p> + +<p>“But what will Luretta think when she comes home and does not find us, +and sees the empty box?”</p> + +<p>“She won’t go home for a long time; we will be back and the rabbits safe +in their box by that time,” declared Melvina. “We will go up the back +stairs, Anna; and we need not be quiet, for London has gone fishing. We +will have a fine time! Oh, Anna, I am so glad you stopped me that day +when we went wading, for now we are friends,” she continued, leading the +way up-stairs.</p> + +<p>“But I was horrid, Melvina,” Anna said, recalling her efforts to make +Melvina appear silly and ignorant so that Luretta would scorn her.</p> + +<p>“No, indeed, you were not,” responded Melvina. “When we played on the +shore you made me laugh and run. I never played like that before.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I think you are real good,” said Anna humbly, as she followed +Melvina into a pleasant sunny chamber. “Most girls would have been angry +when their fine clothes were spoiled; and you were punished too, and I +was not;” and Anna looked at Melvina admiringly, thinking to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span> herself +that she would do anything that Melvina could ask to make up to her for +that undeserved punishment.</p> + +<p>“You will have to hold both the rabbits while I get my dolls,” said +Melvina; and Anna’s attention was fully occupied in keeping the two +little creatures safe and quiet in the folds of her skirt, which she +held together bag fashion, while Melvina drew a large box from the +closet and took out three fine dolls.</p> + +<p>Anna gazed at the dolls admiringly. Each one wore a gown of blue silk, +and little shirred bonnets to match. Melvina explained that they, the +dolls, all wanted to dress just alike.</p> + +<p>“We will put these on Trit and Trot,” she said, drawing out two white +skirts from her collection of doll clothes. “And see these little white +bonnets!” and she held up two tiny round bonnets of white muslin; “these +will be just the thing.”</p> + +<p>The rabbits submitted to being dressed. Both the girls were very gentle +with 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<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> dolls +came to bow low before them. The time passed very rapidly, and not until +London was seen coming toward the house to prepare the noonday meal did +the little girls give another thought to Luretta. Melvina, glancing from +the window, saw London coming up the path with his basket of fish. She +was 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, let +go Queen Elizabeth, who followed Lady Washington through the window so +closely that it was small wonder that London dropped his basket of fish +and ran back a few steps with a loud cry. After a few scrambling leaps +the rabbits disappeared, and London, trembling with fright, for he +believed that the strange leaping creatures dressed in white must be +some sort of evil witches, picked up his basket, and shaking his head +and muttering to himself, came slowly toward the house.</p> + +<p>“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 her +about the rabbits? Come, we must be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span> at the front door when they get +here, or my father will fear I am lost.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Lyon smiled as he saw his little girl standing in the doorway, and +his troubled look vanished. But Luretta looked flushed and angry. All +the morning she had been sitting on the log waiting for Mr. Lyon, and +when he came at last she had hurried home only to find that her mother +had not seen either of the girls, and Luretta had run after Mr. Lyon to +tell him this, and accompanied him to the door.</p> + +<p>“I will walk home with Luretta,” Anna said with unusual meekness. +Melvina watched them go, a little frightened at the end of the morning’s +fun. She did not know what they could say to Luretta to explain their +mischief. At that moment London came into the front entry.</p> + +<p>“I’se seen strange sights this mornin’, massa!” he said, rolling his +eyes. “I’se seen white witches flyin’ out ob dis house.”</p> + +<p>“London! Do not talk of such wickedness,” said Mr. Lyon sharply. “Even +your little mistress is amused at such absurd talk,” for Melvina, +knowing what London had seen, was laughing heartily. But London, shaking +his head solemnly, went back to the kitchen, sure that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> had seen a +strange and awful sight, and resolved to speak to Mr. Lyon again of the +matter.</p> + +<p>“Well, Danna Weston! You can’t have one of my rabbits now, after +treating me this way,” said Luretta. “And I am not going to walk home +with you, either,” and she ran swiftly ahead.</p> + +<p>Anna did not hurry after her, as Luretta hoped and expected. She began +to feel very unhappy. Trit and Trot were gone, and who could tell but +the skirts and bonnets might not strangle them? Then, suddenly, she +remembered that Rebecca was at home ill, and that she had entirely +forgotten her, and the young checkerberry leaves she had intended +picking for her sister. She put the thought that it was all Melvina’s +fault out of her mind. Even if it were, had not she, Anna, led Melvina +into a more serious trouble on the day of the tempest? She resolved that +she would take all the blame of the lost rabbits, that Melvina should +not even be questioned about them if she could help it. But it was a +very sober little girl who went up the path toward home.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2><h3>REBECCA’S VISIT</h3> +</div> + +<p>Before Anna reached home Rebecca had decided that she must see Lucia +Horton as soon as possible; for she began to fear that Lucia in some way +might betray their secret; but Rebecca knew that her mother would not +consent to her going out until she appeared more like her usual self +than she had at breakfast time. So she brushed her hair neatly, bathed +her face, and just before Anna’s return home, came into the kitchen.</p> + +<p>“My head does not ache at all, Mother,” she announced, “and I feel as +well as ever.”</p> + +<p>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 as +quickly before. Well, I must take time and go to the swamp for a good +supply of it before this month goes. ’Tis best when gathered in May.”</p> + +<p>“May I not walk over and see Lucia?” Rebby<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span> asked a little fearfully, +wondering what she could do if her mother refused.</p> + +<p>“Why, yes; it will very likely do you good. But walk slowly, dear +child,” responded Mrs. Weston, taking Rebecca’s sunbonnet from its peg +behind the door and tying the strings under Rebby’s round chin.</p> + +<p>“When the <i>Polly</i> comes into harbor you will have the gold beads from +your Grandmother Weston, in Boston; but how Danna guessed it is more +than 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 more +disturbed by Rebecca’s sudden illness than she wished to acknowledge.</p> + +<p>“I wish indeed that the <i>Polly</i> and <i>Unity</i> would come; perchance it is +the lack of proper food that ails the children: too much Indian meal, +and no sweets or rice or dried fruits,” she thought anxiously. “And to +think ’tis England, our own kinsfolk, who can so forget that we learned +what justice and loyalty mean from England herself,” she said aloud, as +she returned to her household duties. For Mrs. Weston, like so many of +the American colonists, had been born in an English village, and knew +that the trouble between England<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> and her American colonies was caused +by the injustice of England’s king, and his refusal to listen to wise +advisers.</p> + +<p>Lucia Horton’s home lay in an opposite direction from the blacksmith +shop. It stood very near the shore, and from its upper windows there was +a good view of the harbor. It had no yard or garden in front, as did so +many of the simple houses of the settlement, and the front door opened +directly on the rough road which led along the shore.</p> + +<p>Rebecca rapped on the door a little timidly, and when Mrs. Horton opened +it and said smilingly: “Why, here is the very girl I have been wanting +to see. Come right in, Rebecca Flora,” she was rather startled.</p> + +<p>“Lucia is not very well,” Mrs. Horton continued, “and she has been +saying that she must, <i>must</i> see Rebecca Flora; so it is most fortunate +that you have arrived. Some great secret, I suppose,” and Mrs. Horton +smiled pleasantly, little imagining how important the girls’ secret was. +Her two elder sons, boys of fifteen and seventeen, were on the <i>Polly</i> +with their father, and she and Lucia were often alone.</p> + +<p>Rebecca had but stepped into the house when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> she heard her name called +from the stairway. “Oh, Rebecca, come right up-stairs,” called Lucia, +and Mrs. Horton nodded her approval. “Yes, run along. ’Twill do Lucia +good to see you. I cannot imagine what ails her to-day. I saw one of the +O’Brien boys passing just now, and he tells me their liberty tree has +been found and brought to shore!”</p> + +<p>“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 drift +out to sea,” she added in a lower tone.</p> + +<p>Rebecca went up-stairs so slowly that Lucia called twice before her +friend entered the chamber where Lucia, bolstered up in bed, and with +flushed cheeks and looking very much as Rebby herself had looked an hour +earlier, was waiting for her.</p> + +<p>“Shut the door tightly,” whispered Lucia, and Rebecca carefully obeyed, +and then tiptoed toward the bed.</p> + +<p>For a moment the two girls looked at each other, and then Lucia +whispered: “What will become of us, Rebecca? Mr. O’Brien told Mother +that the men were determined to find out who pushed the liberty tree +afloat, and that no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> mercy would be shown the guilty. That’s just what +he said, Rebby, for I heard him,” and Lucia began to cry.</p> + +<p>“But the tree is found and brought back,” said Rebecca, “and how can +anyone ever find out that we did it? No one will know unless we tell; +and you wouldn’t tell, would you, Lucia?”</p> + +<p>Lucia listened eagerly, and gradually Rebecca grew more courageous, and +declared that she was not at all afraid; that is, if Lucia would +solemnly promise never to tell of their creeping down to the shore and +cutting the rope that held the tree to the stake.</p> + +<p>“Of course I never would tell,” said Lucia, who was now out of bed and +dressing as rapidly as possible. “I wasn’t ill; but I stayed up-stairs +because I was afraid you might tell,” she confessed; and then Rebecca +owned that she had felt much the same. “But I had to take a big bowlful +of bitter thoroughwort tea,” she added, making a little face at the +remembrance.</p> + +<p>“Well, you are a better medicine than thoroughwort tea,” said Lucia; and +Mrs. Horton opened the door just in time to hear this.</p> + +<p>“Why, it is indeed so,” she said, looking in surprise at her little +daughter, who seemed quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> as well as usual. “Your father has just +passed, Rebecca, and I asked his permission for you to stay to dinner +with us, and he kindly agreed. I think now I must have a little +celebration that Lucia has recovered so quickly,” and with a smiling nod +she left the two girls.</p> + +<p>“I know what that means,” declared Lucia, for the moment forgetting the +danger of discovery. “It means that we shall have rice cooked with +raisins, and perhaps guava jelly or sugared nuts.”</p> + +<p>Rebecca looked at her friend as if she could hardly believe her own +ears; for the dainties that Lucia named so carelessly were seldom +enjoyed in the remote settlement; and although Captain Horton took care +that his own pantry was well supplied it was not generally known among +his neighbors how many luxuries his family enjoyed.</p> + +<p>“Surely you are but making believe,” said Rebecca.</p> + +<p>“No, truly, Rebby; we will likely have all those things to-day, since +Mother said ’twould be a celebration; and I am glad indeed that you are +here. You do not have things like that at your house, do you?” said +Lucia.</p> + +<p>Rebecca could feel her cheeks flush, but she did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> not know why she felt +angry at what Lucia had said. It was true that the Westons, like most of +their neighbors, had only the plainest food, but she wished herself at +home to share the corn bread and baked fish that would be her mother’s +noonday meal. She was silent so long that Lucia looked at her +questioningly; and when Mrs. Horton called them to dinner they went +down-stairs very quietly.</p> + +<p>The table was set with plates of shining pewter. There was a loaf of +white 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.</p> + +<p>Rebecca was hungry, and here was a treat spread before her such, as +Lucia had truly said, she never had at home; but to Mrs. Horton’s +surprise and Lucia’s dismay, Rebecca declared that she must go home; and +taking her sunbonnet, with some stammering words of excuse she hastened +away.</p> + +<p>“A very ill-bred child,” declared Mrs. Horton, “and I shall be well +pleased if your father can take us away from this forsaken spot on his +next trip.”</p> + +<p>Lucia sat puzzled and half frightened at Rebecca’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> sudden departure. +Lucia did not for a moment imagine that anything she had said could have +sent Rebecca flying from the house.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Weston and Anna were nearly through dinner when Rebecca +appeared, and Mrs. Weston declared herself well pleased that Rebby had +come home; there were no questions asked, and it seemed to Rebby that +nothing had ever tasted better than the corn bread and the boiled fish; +she had not a regretful thought for the Hortons’ dainties.</p> + +<p>Anna told the story of all that had occurred to her that morning; of +taking the rabbits to the parsonage, and of London’s exclamation and +terror at the “white witches,” and last of all of Luretta’s anger. “And +I didn’t even tell Luretta that the rabbits were lost,” concluded the +little girl, and then, with a deep sigh, she added: “I suppose I will +have to go right over and tell her.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied her mother gravely, “you must go at once. And you must +tell Luretta how sorry you are for taking the rabbits from the box. And +fail not to say to Mrs. Foster that you are ashamed at not keeping your +promise.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston did not speak, but Rebecca noticed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> that he seemed pleased +rather than vexed with his little daughter. “That’s because Anna always +tells everything,” thought Rebecca. “But if I should tell what I did +last night he would think me too wicked to forgive,” and at the thought +she put her head on the table and began to cry.</p> + +<p>“Why, Rebby, dear! ’Tis my fault in letting you go out this morning,” +exclaimed Mrs. Weston, now quite sure that Rebecca was really ill. But +in a few moments her tears ceased, and she was ready to help with +washing the dishes and setting the room in order.</p> + +<p>“I will walk along with you, Danna,” said her father, when Anna was +ready 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.</p> + +<p>“I wish I need not go, Father,” Anna said as they walked along.</p> + +<p>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 his +own spirit is braver than he who taketh a city’?” he questioned gently.</p> + +<p>Anna looked up at him wonderingly, and Mr.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> Weston continued: “It is +your courage in owning your fault that makes you a conqueror, and as +brave as a brave soldier.”</p> + +<p>“As brave as Washington?” asked Anna, and when her father smiled down at +her she smiled back happily. Probably a little girl could not be as +brave as a great soldier, she thought, but if her father was pleased it +would not be so hard, after all, to tell Luretta about Trit and Trot. +But Anna again firmly resolved that she would take all the blame +herself; Melvina should not be blamed in any way for the loss of the +rabbits.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2><h3>AN AFTERNOON WALK</h3> +</div> + +<p>At the turn by the blacksmith shop Mr. Weston said good-bye, and Anna +went on alone to Luretta’s home. The front door was open, and before she +reached the house she heard someone crying, and when she stood on the +doorstep she realized that it was Luretta, and that Mrs. Foster was +endeavoring to comfort her.</p> + +<p>“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 all +their adventures to their brothers and sisters,” she heard Mrs. Foster +say.</p> + +<p>“But Danna and Melvina may have taken them,” sobbed Luretta; and then +Anna rapped at the door.</p> + +<p>“Come in,” called Mrs. Foster, and Anna, a little timidly, entered the +sitting-room.</p> + +<p>Luretta looked up, but did not speak.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span></p> + +<p>“Come right in, Anna,” said Mrs. Foster pleasantly. “Luretta has bad +news for you; the rabbits are gone.”</p> + +<p>Anna did not look up, and there was an uncomfortable silence for a +moment. Then she began her story:</p> + +<p>“If you please, Mistress Foster, I am sorry I broke my promise to you +this morning. You bade me to wait with Melvina by the big log, and I did +not.”</p> + +<p>“You came and took my rabbits,” wailed Luretta, “and I s’pose you gave +one to that stuck-up Melvina.”</p> + +<p>Anna nodded. “Yes, I did take them; but I meant to bring them back, +Luretta, truly I did. But they got away.”</p> + +<p>A fresh wail from Luretta made Anna look pleadingly up at Mrs. Foster, +whose eyes rested kindly upon her.</p> + +<p>“Luretta, stop thy foolish crying,” said Mrs. Foster, “and let Anna tell +you all the story of the rabbits.” Then she rested her hand on Anna’s +shoulder and said kindly:</p> + +<p>“I am glad, Anna, that you and Luretta are friends, for thou art a brave +and honest child. Now, I must attend to my work, and I will leave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> you,” +and the two little girls found themselves alone in the room.</p> + +<p>Luretta was sitting in the big cushioned wooden rocker, with her face +hidden against the back. Anna was standing in front of her, trying to +think of something to say that would make Luretta forgive her. Then she +heard Luretta’s half-smothered voice say: “Do you s’pose our rabbits did +find their mother?”</p> + +<p>“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 we +dressed them up in doll’s clothes——”</p> + +<p>“Yes? Yes? And what else?” asked Luretta eagerly, now facing about and +forgetting all her anger in hearing what Anna had to tell. So Anna went +on and described all that had happened, imitating London’s cry of terror +at the sight of the “white witches.” At this Luretta began to laugh, and +Anna came nearer to the big chair, and even ventured to rest against its +arm.</p> + +<p>“Luretta, let’s you and I go up the trail toward the forest. Perhaps we +might find Trit and Trot,” she suggested.</p> + +<p>Luretta was out of the chair in a moment; and, quite forgetting all her +anger toward Anna, she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> agreed promptly and the two little girls, hand +in hand, came into the kitchen and told Mrs. Foster their plan.</p> + +<p>She listened smilingly, but cautioned them not to go beyond the edge of +the forest.</p> + +<p>“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 of +the young trees; so go not into the wood. Beside that a party of Indians +were seen near the upper falls yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“But the Indians come often to the village, and do no harm,” said Anna.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Foster shook her head. She remembered that the Indians could +not always be trusted. The little girls promised to follow the trail +only to the edge of the wood, and started soberly off.</p> + +<p>“We might see Trit and Trot behind any bush, might we not?” suggested +Luretta hopefully.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps we might see a little baby bear! Would it not be fine if we +could catch two little bears instead of rabbits?” responded Anna, as +they climbed the hill, stopping now and then to pick the tender young +checkerberry leaves, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> listen to the song of some woodland bird. A +group of young spruce trees stood beside the trail, and here the two +little girls stopped to rest. The sun was warm, and they both were glad +to sit down in the pleasant shade.</p> + +<p>They talked about the <i>Polly</i>, wondering when she would come to port, +and then their thoughts went back to their lost pets.</p> + +<p>“I do think you ought not to have taken them from the box. I am sure +Paul will not like it when I tell him they are gone,” said Luretta.</p> + +<p>Anna’s face grew grave. “Must you tell him?” she asked.</p> + +<p>“Of course I must. He will bring home young leaves and roots for them +to-night, and what will he say!” and Luretta’s voice sounded as if tears +were very near.</p> + +<p>While Luretta spoke Anna’s eyes had been fixed on a little clump of +bushes on the other side of the trail. The bushes moved queerly. There +was no wind, and Anna was sure that some little animal was hiding behind +the shrubs. Greatly excited, Anna leaned forward, grasping Luretta’s +arm.</p> + +<p>“Look! those bushes!” she whispered.</p> + +<p>At that moment a queer ball of dingy white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span> appeared on the opposite +side of the trail, and instantly Anna sprang toward it. Her hands +grasped the torn and twisted piece of floating cloth, and closed upon +the poor frightened little creature, one of the lost rabbits, nearly +frightened to death by the strange garment that had prevented his +escape.</p> + +<p>If he could have spoken he would have begged for the freedom that his +brother had achieved; but he could only tremble and shrink from the +tender hands that held him so firmly.</p> + +<p>In a moment Anna had unfastened the doll’s skirt, and Trit, or Trot, was +once more clear of the detested garment.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Danna! Do you suppose we can take it safely home?” exclaimed the +delighted Luretta.</p> + +<p>“Just see how frightened he is,” Anna responded. Somehow she no longer +wished to take the little creature back and shut it up.</p> + +<p>“Do you suppose its mother is trying to find it?” she continued +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“And would it tell its brothers and sisters all its adventures, just as +Mother said?” questioned Luretta.</p> + +<p>“Why not?” Anna’s brown eyes sparkled. “Of course it would. Probably +Trot is safe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> home by this time, and all the rabbit family are looking +out for Trit.”</p> + +<p>Anna looked hopefully toward Luretta. If Trit went free it must be +Luretta’s gift. Anna felt that she had no right to decide.</p> + +<p>“Let him go, Danna,” said Luretta softly; and very gently Anna released +her clasp on the soft little rabbit. It looked quickly up, and with a +bound it was across the trail and out of sight.</p> + +<p>Both the girls drew a long breath.</p> + +<p>“I will tell Paul about Trit’s mother and brothers and sisters,” said +Luretta, as they started toward home. “Probably he will laugh; but I +guess he will say they ought to be free.”</p> + +<p>Both Anna and Luretta were very quiet on the walk home. Anna began to +feel tired. It seemed to her that a great deal had happened since +morning. She remembered the liberty pole, with a little guilty sense of +having been more interested in the rabbits, and in Melvina and Luretta, +than in the safety of the emblem of freedom. But she was glad that +Luretta was no longer angry at her.</p> + +<p>“You don’t care much about the rabbits, do you, Danna?” Luretta asked, +as they stopped near Luretta’s house to say good-bye.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span></p> + +<p>“I am glad they are free,” replied Anna. “It would be dreadful to have +giants catch us, wouldn’t it?”</p> + +<p>Luretta agreed soberly, thinking that to the rabbits she must have +seemed a giant.</p> + +<p>“Father will say ’twas best to let them go, whatever Paul says,” she +added, and promising to meet the next day the friends parted.</p> + +<p>Anna danced along the path in her old fashion, quite forgetting +Melvina’s measured steps. Everything was all right now. She and Luretta +were friends; Mrs. Foster had pardoned her; and the liberty pole was +found. So she was smiling and happy as she pushed open the door and +entered the pleasant kitchen, expecting to see her mother and Rebby; but +no one was there. The room looked deserted. She opened the door leading +into the front room and her happy smile vanished.</p> + +<p>Her mother sat there, looking very grave and anxious; and facing the +kitchen door and looking straight at Anna was Mrs. Lyon, while on a +stool beside her sat Melvina, her flounced linen skirt and embroidered +white sunbonnet as white as a gull’s breast.</p> + +<p>Anna looked from one to the other wonderingly.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> Of course, she thought, +Mrs. Lyon had come to call her a mischievous girl on account of the +rabbits. All her happiness vanished; and when her mother said: “Come in, +Anna. Mrs. Lyon has come on purpose to speak with you,” she quite forgot +to curtsy to the minister’s wife, and stood silent and afraid.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2><h3>AN EXCHANGE OF VISITS</h3> +</div> + +<p>“IT is Mr. Lyon’s suggestion,” concluded Mrs. Lyon, “and Melvina is +eager to come and live with you, Mrs. Weston, if Anna is ready to come +to me.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lyon, it seemed to Anna, had been talking a long time. She had said +that Melvina was not very strong, and that possibly she was kept too +much indoors; and then had come the astounding suggestion that, on the +very next day, Anna should go and live with the minister and his wife, +and Melvina should come and take her place.</p> + +<p>“Oh, do, Anna! Say you will,” Melvina whispered, as the two little girls +found 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 would +become exactly like Anna; as brave and as independent, and who could +tell but what she might grow to look like her as well!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span></p> + +<p>The same thought came to Anna. Of course, if she lived with Mrs. Lyon +she would learn to behave exactly like Melvina. But to go away from her +father and mother and from Rebby; this seemed hardly to be possible.</p> + +<p>“Do you want me to go, Mother?” she asked, half hoping that her mother +might say at once that it was not to be thought of.</p> + +<p>“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 the +Reverend Mr. Lyon written a book, and, it was rumored, composed music +for hymns; for any little girl to live in his family would be a high +privilege. And this was what Mr. Weston thought when he heard of the +plan.</p> + +<p>“Why, it is a wise scheme indeed,” he said gravely; “my little Danna is +being too much favored at home, and to be with the minister and his wife +will teach her as much as a term in school.”</p> + +<p>“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 little +girl.”</p> + +<p>“Mr. Lyon wishes Melvina to run about as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> freely as we have allowed +Anna,” Mrs. Weston explained, “and to have no lessons or tasks of any +kind, and to spend an hour each afternoon at home while Anna does the +same.”</p> + +<p>“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 to +the minister’s to remain a fortnight.</p> + +<p>Rebecca was the only one who did not think well of the plan. “I do not +want Danna to go,” she said over and over; and added that she should not +know how to treat Melvina, or what to say to her. It was Rebecca who +went with Anna to Mr. Lyon, carrying the small package containing Anna’s +clothing, and she brought back Melvina’s carefully packed basket. Mrs. +Lyon looked worried and anxious as she saw Melvina start off for the +Westons’; but she gave her no cautions or directions, beyond telling her +to be obedient to Mrs. Weston. Then she took Anna’s hand and led her +up-stairs to the pleasant room where she and Melvina had played so +happily with the rabbits.</p> + +<p>“You can leave your sunbonnet here, Anna, and then come down to the +library. This is the hour for your lesson in English history.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span></p> + +<p>“‘English history,’” Anna repeated to herself excitedly. She wondered +what it could mean. But if it was something that Melvina did she was +eager to begin.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lyon smiled down at his little visitor as she curtsied in the +doorway. He hoped his own little daughter might return with eyes as +bright and cheeks as glowing.</p> + +<p>“This is where Melvina sits for her study hour,” he said, pointing to a +small chair near a side window. There was a table in front of the chair, +and on the table was spread a brightly colored map.</p> + +<p>“To-day we are to discover something of the English opinion of +Americans,” began Mr. Lyon, taking up a small book. “It is always wise +to know the important affairs of the time in which we live, is it not, +Anna?” he said thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” responded Anna seriously, sitting very straight indeed and +feeling of greater consequence than ever before.</p> + +<p>“America’s great trouble now, remember, is taxation without +representation,” continued the minister; “and now listen carefully to +what an Englishman has to say of it: ‘While England<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span> contends for the +right of taxing America we are giving up substance for the shadow; we +are exchanging happiness for pride. If we have no regard for America, +let us at least respect the mother country. In a dispute with America +who would we conquer? Ourselves. Everything that injures America is +injurious to Great Britain, and we commit a kind of political suicide +when we endeavor to crush them into obedience.’</p> + +<p>“Ah! There is still wisdom in the English council; but I fear it is too +late,” said Mr. Lyon, as if speaking his thoughts aloud. “And now, my +child, what is the subject of our lesson?” he questioned, looking kindly +at Anna.</p> + +<p>“England and America,” she replied promptly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lyon nodded. “And why does America firmly resolve not to be unjustly +taxed?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Because it wouldn’t be right,” said Anna confidently.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lyon was evidently pleased by her direct answers.</p> + +<p>“If an Englishman sees the injustice of his government it is small +wonder that every American, even to a little girl, can see that it is +not to be borne,” said Mr. Lyon, rising and pacing up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> and down the +narrow room, his thoughts full of the great conflict that had already +begun between England and her American colonies.</p> + +<p>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 circles +with “The West Indies” printed across them. Far over on the end of the +map was a queerly shaped green object marked “Asia” and below it a +beautiful blue place called “Europe.” Anna was so delighted and +interested in discovering France, and Africa, the Ægean Sea, and the +British Isles, that she quite forgot where she was. But as she looked at +the very small enclosure marked “England,” and then at the long line of +America she suddenly exclaimed: “America need not be afraid.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Lyon had seated himself at his desk, and at the sound of Anna’s +voice he looked up in surprise.</p> + +<p>“Why, child! You have been so quiet I had forgotten you. Run out to the +sitting-room to Mrs. Lyon,” and Anna obeyed, not forgetting to curtsy as +she left the room.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 283px; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="illus-004" id="illus-004"></a> +<img src="images/illus-127-tn.jpg" alt="HOW LONG THE AFTERNOON SEEMED!" title="" width="283" height="400" /><br /> +<span class="caption"><a class="illus" href="images/illus-127.jpg">HOW LONG THE AFTERNOON SEEMED!</a></span> +</div> + +<p>Mrs. Lyon had a basket piled high with work. There were stockings to be +darned, pillow-cases to be neatly repaired, and an apron of stout +drilling to be hemmed. Anna’s task was to darn stockings. She was given +Melvina’s thimble to use, a smooth wooden ball to slip into the +stocking, and a needle and skein of cotton.</p> + +<p>How long the afternoon seemed! Never before had Anna stayed indoors for +the whole of a May afternoon. She felt tired and sleepy, and did not +want to walk about the garden after supper—as Mrs. Lyon kindly +suggested; and not until Mrs. Lyon said that Melvina, on every pleasant +day, walked about the garden after supper, did Anna go slowly down the +path. But she stood at the gate looking in the direction of her home +with wistful eyes.</p> + +<p>“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 daily +visit agreed upon.</p> + +<p>If the days passed slowly with Anna, to Melvina they seemed only too +short. She had quickly made friends with Rebecca, and the elder girl was +astonished at the daring spirit of the minister’s daughter. Melvina +would balance herself on the very edge of the bluff, when she and Rebby, +often followed by a surprised and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> unhappy Luretta, went for a morning +walk. Or on their trips to the lumber yard for chips Melvina would climb +to the top of some pile of timber and dance about as if trying to make +Rebby frightened lest she fall. She went wading along the shore, and +brought home queerly shaped rocks and tiny mussel-shells; and, as her +father had hoped, her cheeks grew rosy and her eyes bright.</p> + +<p>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 that +Mrs. Lyon must think her very much like Melvina, for she had learned her +daily lessons obediently, and moved about the house as quietly as a +mouse.</p> + +<p>But when she awoke on the morning of the day upon which she was to +return home she was sure it was the happiest day of her life. Mrs. Lyon +had even called her a “quiet and careful child,” and the minister smiled +upon her, and said that she “was a loyal little maid.” So she had great +reason for being pleased; and the thought of being home again made her +ready to dance with delight.</p> + +<p>The day that the tree of liberty was planted was declared a holiday, and +the inhabitants of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> town gathered on the bluff where it was to be +set. Melvina and Anna and Luretta were together, and the other children +of the neighborhood were scattered about.</p> + +<p>“Where is Rebby, Mother?” Anna asked, looking about for her sister.</p> + +<p>“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 little +Danna would no longer be absent from home.</p> + +<p>There was great rejoicing among the people as the tree was raised, and +citizen after citizen stepped forward and made solemn pledges to resist +England’s injustice to the American colonies. Then, amid the shouts of +the assembled inhabitants, the discharge of musketry, and the sound of +fife and drum, Machias took its rightful place among the defenders of +American liberty.</p> + +<p>But Rebecca Weston and Lucia Horton, sitting in an upper window of the +Horton house, looked out at the inspiring scene without wishing to be +any nearer. Rebecca was ashamed when she remembered her own part in +trying to prevent the erection of a liberty pole, for now she realized +all it stood for; and she was no longer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span> afraid of an attack upon the +town by an English gunboat. To Rebecca it seemed that such an attack +would bring its own punishment. Her thoughts were now filled by a great +desire to do something, something difficult and even dangerous to her +own safety, in order to make up for that evening when she had crept out +in the darkness and helped Lucia send the tree adrift.</p> + +<p>But Lucia’s mind was filled with entirely different thoughts. She was +ready to cry with disappointment and fear in seeing the liberty pole set +up. She could not forget that her father had said that such a thing +would mean trouble.</p> + +<p>“If we had not set it adrift, Lucia, we could be on the bluff now with +the others,” Rebby whispered, as they heard the gay notes of the fife.</p> + +<p>“Bosh! Who wants to be any nearer? My mother says ’tis a silly and +foolish performance,” replied Lucia. “But perhaps ’twill be cut down +before the <i>Polly</i> comes into harbor.”</p> + +<p>Rebecca jumped up from the window-seat, her face flushed and her eyes +shining.</p> + +<p>“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 just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> +what you told me and what we did,” she exclaimed, starting toward the +door.</p> + +<p>“You can’t tell, ever, Rebecca Weston! You promised not to,” Lucia +called after her, and Rebecca stopped suddenly. Lucia was right. No +matter what happened she could never reveal what Lucia had told her, +because of her promise; and a promise was a sacred thing.</p> + +<p>Without a word of good-bye Rebecca went slowly down the stairs. This was +the second time she had left the Horton house in anger. “I won’t come +here again,” she thought, a little sadly, for she and Lucia had been +“best friends” ever since Captain Horton had brought his family to the +remote settlement.</p> + +<p>“There’s Rebby,” Anna called joyfully, as holding her father’s hand, and +with her mother walking close behind, she came along the path toward +home. Rebby was walking slowly along a short distance in front of the +little party, and Anna soon overtook her.</p> + +<p>“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 and +cheering?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” responded Rebby briefly; and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> looking at Anna she said: “Oh, +Danna! I wish, more than anything, that I could do something to protect +the liberty tree.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps you can, Rebby, sometime, you and I together,” replied Anna +hopefully; “anyway, isn’t it lovely that I am home to stay?”</p> + +<p>And to this Rebby could agree smilingly, but she kept in her heart the +wish she had just uttered.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2><h3>WILD HONEY</h3> +</div> + +<p>Anna went singing about the house quite satisfied now to be herself; and +Rebby and her mother smiled at each other at the happiness of the little +girl.</p> + +<p>“I doubt not you have learned many things, Danna,” said Rebby, a little +wistfully, as the sisters sat on the broad doorstep after supper +looking down at the broad flowing river.</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed!” replied Anna confidently. “Why, Rebby, I know all about +history. The minister told me that a hundred and fifty years ago there +were English traders living right here, and they were driven away by the +French. And then, some forty years ago, Governor Belcher of +Massachusetts came cruising along this coast, and there was no one at +all here. And, Rebby, Mr. Lyon says there are no such pine forests in +all the colonies as stretch along behind this settlement.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> But, Rebby, +you are not listening!” and Anna looked reproachfully at her sister.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, indeed, Danna, I heard every word. And I heard Father say that +very soon there would be a regular school here, with a master, as soon +as America conquers her enemies. But, Danna, do you suppose anyone will +dare touch the liberty pole?” For Rebby’s thoughts could not long stray +from Lucia Horton’s prediction that it might be cut down.</p> + +<p>“What’s that?” exclaimed Mr. Weston from the doorway behind them. “Cut +down the liberty pole? Why, there is not a man in Machias who would do +such a traitorous deed.”</p> + +<p>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 with +me to-morrow? I must go up to the mill at Kwapskitchwock Falls, and we +will start early.”</p> + +<p>“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 over +a fire for our dinner.”</p> + +<p>“That is what we will hope to do,” replied Mr. Weston. “And, Rebby, why +do you not come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> with us? ’Tis but a few miles, and a day in the woods +will do you good.”</p> + +<p>“Why, perhaps I shall, if Mother does not need me,” Rebby answered. She +so seldom cared for woodland tramps that Anna gave a little exclamation +of surprised delight.</p> + +<p>“I’ll make a corn-cake to take with us,” Rebby added, “and since we +start early I had best bake it to-night,” and she went into the kitchen +followed by Anna singing:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“We’ll go to the forest of liberty trees,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Where there are rabbits and birds and bees.”</span><br /> +</div></div> + +<p>Mrs. Weston smiled as she listened. “’Twould indeed be fine if you could +find a store of wild honey in the woods; ’twould be a great help,” she +said, 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 was +getting scarce in most of the loyal households. Rebby scalded the meal +and stirred it carefully, then added milk, and turned the batter into an +iron pan which she set over the fire. When it was cooked it would be a +thin crispy cake that would be appetizing and nourishing. Rebby’s +thoughts traveled away to the dainties of the Hortons’<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> cupboard, but +she said to herself that the “spider cake,” as the corn-cake was called, +especially when eaten in the woods with freshly broiled salmon, would +taste far better than the jellies and preserved fruits of the Hortons. +Rebby could not forget Mrs. Horton’s scorn of the liberty pole.</p> + +<p>The Westons were up at an early hour the next morning. The sun was just +showing itself above the tops of the tall pines when the family sat down +to their simple breakfast. Anna wore her skirt of tanned deerskin, +moccasins, and her blouse of home-made flannel, while Rebecca’s dress +was 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’s +had the white breast of a gull.</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston wore deerskin breeches and moccasins and a flannel blouse. A +stout leather belt about his waist carried a couple of serviceable +knives, and he carried his musket, for the forest was filled with many +wild animals, and the settlers were always ready to protect themselves.</p> + +<p>Rebby carried a basket that held the corn-cake, and a flint and steel +from which they would strike the spark for their noonday fire.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span></p> + +<p>Anna ran along close beside her father, until the path narrowed so that +only one could walk, followed by the others. The air was cool and full +of the forest odors. Now and then birds flitted past them, and once or +twice Anna had a glimpse of startled rabbits, which she was sure were +Trit and Trot.</p> + +<p>“If I could only catch one to give Luretta,” she thought, “then she +would forgive me for taking the other rabbits,” for Anna’s thoughts were +often troubled because of the loss of Luretta’s pets.</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston stopped at one point to show his daughters an arrow marked on +a tall pine and pointing east. “That is to show the beginning of the +path to Chandler’s River settlement,” he explained. “The trail is so dim +that the woodsmen have blazed the trees to show the way. There is a good +store of powder and shot at Chandler’s River,” he added, a little +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>Rebby looked at the arrow, and afterward she had reason to remember her +father’s words.</p> + +<p>The mill at Kwapskitchwock Falls was not in use at the time of their +visit, and the mill workers were in Machias. But great booms of logs, +waiting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> to be sawed into lumber, lay all along the river banks.</p> + +<p>The sun was high in the heavens when the little party came in sight of +the falls dashing over the rocks.</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston led the way to a big flat rock above the mill, and where two +large beech trees cast a pleasant shade.</p> + +<p>“You can rest here while I look over the mill,” he said, “and then I +will see if I can spear a salmon for our dinner.”</p> + +<p>The girls were quite ready to rest, and Rebby set the basket carefully +on the rock beside them.</p> + +<p>“Would it not be fine if we could catch a salmon and have it all cooked +when Father comes back?” Anna suggested, but Rebby shook her head.</p> + +<p>“We haven’t any salmon spear, and it is quick and skilful work,” she +responded. “Father will be better pleased if we obey him and rest here.”</p> + +<p>From where the girls were sitting they could look some distance up the +quiet stream, and it was Anna who first discovered a canoe being paddled +close to the opposite shore.</p> + +<p>“Look, Rebby,” she said, pointing in the direction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> of the slow-moving +craft. “Isn’t that an Indian?”</p> + +<p>Rebby looked, and after a moment answered: “Why, I suppose it is, and +after salmon. But he won’t come down so near the falls.” But the girls +watched the slow-moving canoe rather anxiously until it drew close in to +the opposite shore, and was hidden by the overhanging branches of the +trees.</p> + +<p>Rebby decided that she would gather some dry grass and sticks for the +fire, and asked Anna to go down near the mill and bring up some of the +bits of wood lying about there.</p> + +<p>“Then when Father does bring the salmon we can start a blaze right +away,” she said.</p> + +<p>Anna ran off toward the mill yard, and Rebby left the shade of the big +beeches to pull handfuls of the sun-dried grass.</p> + +<p>Rebby had gone but a few steps when she heard a queer singing murmur +that seemed to be just above her head. She looked up, but the sky was +clear; there was no bird flying low, as she had imagined; but as she +walked along the murmur became louder, and Rebby began to look about her +more carefully. A short distance from the flat rock was a huge stump of +a broken tree, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> Rebby soon realized that the noise came from the +stump, and she approached it cautiously.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” she exclaimed. “It’s a honey-tree! It is! It is!” for she had seen +the bees as they went steadily in a dark murmuring line, direct to the +old stump.</p> + +<p>“A honey-tree” was a fortunate discovery at any time, for it meant a +store of delicious wild honey. It was, as in this case, usually a +partially decayed tree where the wild bees had swarmed, and where stores +of honey were concealed. Sometimes the bees had filled the cavities of +the tree so full that they were forced to desert it and find new +quarters; but it was evident that here they were very busy indeed.</p> + +<p>“They will have to be smoked out,” decided Rebby, who had often heard +her father tell of the way in which such stores were captured. “I wish I +could do it, and get some honey for dinner,” she exclaimed aloud.</p> + +<p>“Well, why not?” she heard someone say from behind her, and she turned +quickly to find Paul Foster, looking so much like an Indian boy in his +fringed leggins and feathered cap that it made her jump quickly.</p> + +<p>Paul laughed at her surprise.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span></p> + +<p>“I came up-stream in my canoe after salmon,” he explained, “and I have +speared three beauties; I saw you from across the stream, so I paddled +over. You’ve made a great find,” and he nodded toward the old stump.</p> + +<p>“Could we smoke out the bees and get some honey, Paul?” Rebby asked +eagerly. She and Paul were nearly of an age, and Paul was a friendly +boy, always ready to make bows and arrows or toy boats for his little +sister and her girl playmates.</p> + +<p>“I don’t see why not,” he responded, as if smoking out a hive of wild +bees was a very usual undertaking; “but I haven’t a flint and steel,” he +added.</p> + +<p>“I have, in my basket,” declared Rebecca; and in a few minutes Paul and +Rebecca had gathered a mass of sticks and grass, heaping it a short +distance from the stump.</p> + +<p>“Mustn’t get a blaze, only a heavy smoke,” said Paul as he struck the +flint and steel together, and carefully sheltered the spark which the +dry grass instantly caught.</p> + +<p>At the sight of the smoke Mr. Weston came running from the mill, and +with his assistance the bees were speedily disposed of.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span></p> + +<p>The old stump proved well filled with honey.</p> + +<p>“I have a bucket in my canoe,” said Paul, and it was decided to fill the +bucket and take home all it would hold, and to return the next day in +Paul’s canoe with tubs for the rest of the honey.</p> + +<p>Paul insisted that Mr. Weston should accept one of his fine salmon to +broil for their midday meal, and then Rebby exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Where is Danna? She went to the mill after wood before we found the +honey-tree, and she isn’t back yet.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! She is probably playing that she is an explorer on a journey to the +South Seas,” laughed Mr. Weston. “I will go after her,” and he started +off toward the mill, while Rebecca added wood to the fire, and Paul +prepared the salmon to broil.</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston called “Danna!” repeatedly, but there was no answer. He +searched the yard and the shore, but there was no trace of his little +daughter. He went through the big open mill, and peered into shadowy +corners, but Anna was not to be found. And at last he hurried back to +tell Paul and Rebby, and to have them help him in his search for the +missing girl.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2><h3>DOWN THE RIVER</h3> +</div> + +<p>Anna had gathered an armful of dry wood and was just starting back when +a queer little frightened cry made her stop suddenly and look quickly +around. In a moment the noise was repeated, and she realized that it +came from a pile of logs near the river bank. Anna put down the wood, +and tiptoed carefully in the direction of the sound.</p> + +<p>As she came near the logs she could see a little gray creature +struggling to get loose from a coil of string in which its hind legs +were entangled.</p> + +<p>“Oh! It’s a rabbit!” Anna exclaimed. “Perhaps it is Trit,” and she ran +quickly forward. But the little creature was evidently more alarmed at +her approach than at the trap that held him, and with a frantic leap he +was off, the string trailing behind him; but his hind feet were still +hampered by the twisting string, and he came to a sudden halt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span></p> + +<p>“Poor Trit! Poor Trit!” called the little girl pityingly, as she ran +after him. Just as she was near enough to touch him another bound +carried him beyond her reach. On leaped the rabbit, and on followed Anna +until they were some distance below the mill and near the river’s +sloping bank, over which the rabbit plunged and Anna after him. A small +boat lay close to the shore, and Bunny’s plunge carried him directly +into the boat, where, twisted in the string, he lay struggling and +helpless.</p> + +<p>Anna climbed into the boat and picked up “Trit,” as she called the +rabbit, and patiently and tenderly untied the string from the +frightened, panting little captive, talking gently as she did so, until +he lay quiet in her hands.</p> + +<p>The little girl was so wholly absorbed in her task that she did not +notice that the boat was not fastened, or that her spring into it had +sent it clear from the shore. Not until Trit was free from the string +did she look up, and then the little boat was several feet from the +shore, and moving rapidly downstream.</p> + +<p>If Anna had stepped overboard then she could easily have waded ashore +and made her way back to the mill; but she was so surprised that such a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> +course did not come into her thoughts, and in a few moments the boat was +in deep water and moving with the current downstream.</p> + +<p>On each side of the river the woods grew down to the shore, and now and +then the wide branches of overhanging trees stretched for some distance +over the stream. A blue heron rose from the river, making its loud call +that drowned Anna’s voice as she cried: “Father! Father!” Even had Mr. +Weston been near at hand he could hardly have distinguished Anna’s +voice. But Anna was now too far downstream for any call to reach her +father or Rebby and Paul, who were all anxiously searching for her.</p> + +<p>At first the little girl was not at all frightened. The river ran to +Machias, and, had it not been that she was sure her father and sister +would be worried and sadly troubled by her disappearance, Anna would +have thought it a fine adventure to go sailing down the stream with her +captured rabbit. Even as it was, she had a gleeful thought of Luretta’s +surprise and of Melvina’s admiration when she should tell them the +story.</p> + +<p>She soon discovered that the boat leaked, and, holding the rabbit +tightly in one hand, she took off her round cap and began to bail out +the water,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span> which had now risen to her ankles. Very soon the little cap +was soggy and dripping; and now Anna began to wonder how long the leaky +little craft could keep afloat.</p> + +<p>Both Anna and Rebby could swim; their father had taught them when they +were very little girls, and Anna knew that if she would leave the rabbit +to drown that she could reach the shore safely; but this seemed hardly +to be thought of. She now resolved to clutch at the first branch within +reach, hoping in that way to scramble to safety with Trit. But the boat +was being carried steadily along by the current, although the water came +in constantly about her feet.</p> + +<p>“I mustn’t get frightened,” Anna said aloud, remembering how often her +father had told her that to be afraid was to lose the battle.</p> + +<p>The boat swayed a little, and then Anna found that the board seat was +wabbling.</p> + +<p>“I never thought of the seat,” she whispered, slipping down to her knees +and pulling the seat from the loose support on which it rested. It was +hard work to use the board as a paddle with only one hand, but Anna was +strong and resolute, and managed to swing the boat a little toward the +shore, so when a turn of the river came, bringing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> the boat close toward +a little point of land, she quickly realized that this was her +opportunity, and holding Trit close she sprang into the shallow water +and in a moment was safe on shore.</p> + +<p>The old boat, now half-filled with water, moved slowly on, and Anna knew +that it would not be long afloat. She looked about her landing-place +with wondering eyes. Behind the little grassy point where she stood the +forest stretched close and dark; the curve of the river shut away the +course by which she had come, but she could look down the smooth flowing +current, and toward the wooded shores opposite.</p> + +<p>The rabbit moved uneasily in her hands, and the little girl smoothed him +tenderly. “I don’t know who will ever find me here, unless it should be +Indians,” she said aloud, remembering the canoe that she and Rebby had +noticed as they sat on the big rock.</p> + +<p>Anna felt a little choking feeling in her throat at the remembrance. It +seemed so long ago since she had seen Rebby and her father. “And it’s +all your fault, Trit,” she told the rabbit; “but you could not help it,” +she added quickly, and remembered that the rabbit must be hungry and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> +thirsty, and for a little while busied herself in finding tender leaves +and buds for Trit to eat, and in holding him close to the water’s edge +so that he could drink. Then she wandered about the little clearing and +to the edge of the dark forest. She began to feel hungry, and knew by +the sun that it was well past noon.</p> + +<p>“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 would +be in danger from the wild beasts of the wilderness, but that almost any +of the Indians who fished and hunted in that region would take her +safely back to her home.</p> + +<p>An hour or two dragged slowly by; Anna was very tired. She held Trit +close, and sat down not far from the river’s edge. “Father will find me +some way,” she said to herself over and over, and tried not to let +thoughts of fear and loneliness find a place in her mind. The little +wild rabbit was no longer afraid of its captor, and Anna was sure that +it was sorry it had led her into such trouble. But now and then tears +came to the little girl’s eyes, when suddenly she heard a voice from the +river just above the curve singing a familiar air:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">“Success to fair America,—</span><br /> +<span class="i0">To courage to be free,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Success to fair America,</span><br /> +<span class="i0">Success to Liberty.”</span><br /> +</div></div> + +<p>“Oh! That is Paul! That is Paul!” cried Anna, jumping up and down with +joy; and the next moment a canoe swung round the curve, paddled by a +tall boy with a cap ornamented by tall feathers.</p> + +<p>Paul nearly dropped his paddle as he saw Anna at the river’s edge.</p> + +<p>“However did you get here?” he exclaimed, as with a swift stroke of his +paddle he sent his canoe to shore.</p> + +<p>Anna told him quickly of the capture of Trit, the leaking boat, and her +jump to safety, while Paul listened with astonished eyes, and, in his +turn, told of the discovery of the honey-tree, and then of the search +for Anna.</p> + +<p>“Your father and Rebby are sadly frightened,” he concluded; “they are +well on the way home now, thinking possibly you might have followed the +path. Now, get in the canoe, and I’ll try my best to get you home by the +time they reach the settlement.”</p> + +<p>Anna sat in the bottom of the canoe, and Paul<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> skilfully wielded the +paddle, sending the little craft swiftly down the river.</p> + +<p>“That bucket is full of honey,” he said, nodding toward the bow of the +canoe. But Anna was not greatly interested in the honey; she had even +forgotten that she was hungry and thirsty. She could think only of her +father and Rebby searching along the path for some trace of her.</p> + +<p>It was late in the afternoon when the canoe swept across the river to +the same landing where Paul had fastened the liberty tree earlier in the +month. And in a few moments Anna was running up the path toward home, +followed by Paul with the bucket of honey.</p> + +<p>“Why, child! Where are Father and Rebby? and where is your cap?” +questioned Mrs. Weston.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mother!” began Anna, but now the tears could not be kept back, and +held close in her mother’s arms she sobbed out the story of the capture +of Trit, and all that had followed. And then Paul told the story of the +honey-tree, and his story was not finished when Anna exclaimed: “Father! +Rebby!” and ran toward the door.</p> + +<p>How Mr. Weston’s face brightened when he saw Danna safe and sound, and +how closely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span> Rebby held her little sister, as Anna again told the story +of her journey down the river.</p> + +<p>When Paul started for home Mrs. Weston insisted that a generous portion +of the bucket of honey should go with him; and Trit, safely fastened in +a small basket, was sent to Luretta as a gift from Anna. He promised to +be ready the next morning to return to the falls with Mr. Weston in the +canoe to bring home the store of honey.</p> + +<p>As the Westons gathered about the table for their evening meal they +looked at each other with happy faces.</p> + +<p>“I couldn’t feel happier if the <i>Polly</i> were in port, and America +triumphant over her enemies,” declared Mr. Weston, as he helped Anna to +a liberal portion of honey.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2><h3>AN UNINVITED GUEST</h3> +</div> + +<p>Paul and Mr. Weston started off at an early hour the next morning in +Paul’s canoe to bring home the honey. Beside a tub they took with them a +number of buckets, for the old stump had a rich store of honey.</p> + +<p>It was a time of leisure for the lumbering settlement. The drives of +logs had all come down the river and were safely in the booms. The mills +could not run as usual, for the conflict with England made it difficult +to send lumber to Boston. The crops were now planted, so Mr. Weston, +like other men of the settlement, had time for hunting and fishing or +for improving their simple homes. Some of the men passed a good part of +each day lounging around the shores and wharves, looking anxiously down +the harbor hoping to see Captain Jones’ sloops returning with the +greatly needed provisions.</p> + +<p>Rebecca was up in season to see her father<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> start, but Anna, tired from +the adventure of the previous day, had not awakened.</p> + +<p>“Is the liberty tree safe?” Rebby asked a little anxiously, as she +helped her mother about the household work that morning.</p> + +<p>“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 strange +thing that, search though they may, no trace can be found of the +rascals.”</p> + +<p>Rebecca’s hands trembled, and she dared not look up. It seemed to the +little girl that if her mother should look into her eyes she would at +once 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 that +Lucia Horton had said; but the promise bound her. She could never tell +anyone. Rebecca knew that she could never be happy again. “Not unless I +could do some fine thing to help America,” she thought, a little +hopelessly; for what could a little girl, in a settlement far away from +all the strife, do to help the great cause for which unselfish men were +sacrificing everything?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Weston was troubled about Rebecca. “The child has not really been +well since her birthday,” she thought, “although I cannot think what the +trouble can be.”</p> + +<p>“Your father says that the honey is really yours, Rebby dear,” continued +Mrs. Weston, “and that you may decide how it shall be disposed of.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care,” Rebby responded, a little faintly. “Only, of course, +Paul ought to have half, because he helped.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course; but even then your share will be a good quantity,” said +Mrs. Weston. Before Rebecca could speak Anna came running into the room, +her brown eyes shining, and her curls, now long enough to dance about +her face, falling over her brown cheeks.</p> + +<p>As she ate her porridge her mother questioned her about the adventure of +the previous day, and for a time Rebby forgot her own worries in +listening to Anna’s account of her journey in the leaking boat, and of +her leap to safety.</p> + +<p>“It was not mischief, was it, Mother, to try and capture Trit?” she +concluded.</p> + +<p>“No, indeed, dear child. Who could foresee such an adventure?” replied +Mrs. Weston.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> “And we are all proud that you did so well; that you did +not wander into the forest, where you would surely have been lost. I was +just asking Rebby what use we would make of the honey. Of course we want +to share it with our neighbors. ’Tis rare good fortune to have such a +store of sweets.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s have a honey party,” suggested Anna. “Could we not, Mother?”</p> + +<p>“Why, that is a splendid idea!” declared Mrs. Weston. “’Twill cheer up +the whole settlement to be asked to a party. To be sure I can offer them +only honey; but perhaps ’twill take their minds from the <i>Polly</i>, and +from England’s injustice toward us. Rebecca, you and Anna shall start +out at once and ask the neighbors as far as Mr. Lyon’s house. That will +bring as many as twenty people. And tell each one to bring a cup and +spoon, as I have no extra dishes.”</p> + +<p>As soon as Anna had finished her breakfast the two girls put on their +sunbonnets and started on their pleasant errand. The neighbors were to +be 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 spoon +that each guest was to bring.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span></p> + +<p>“I wish I could offer them a dish of tea,” thought Mrs. Weston, and then +reproached herself for the thought, for was not the tea tax one of +England’s sins against the colonies, and had not loyal women refused to +brew a single cup until America gained her rights?</p> + +<p>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-forks +were always in demand, and he made many stout locks and keys, as well as +door-latches and hooks.</p> + +<p>“Shall we ask him first?” questioned Anna.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Rebecca. “He is our best neighbor, so ’tis right to ask +him first.”</p> + +<p>Rebecca and Anna stood in the open doorway for a moment watching the +glow of the forge and the bright sparks that sprang from the red bar of +iron which Mr. Foster was shaping into a spearhead.</p> + +<p>He nodded toward his little visitors smilingly, and listened with +evident pleasure to Rebecca’s invitation.</p> + +<p>“But you tell me Paul is to have a good portion of the honey; ’tis +hardly fair we Fosters should come,” he replied, and then added<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span> +quickly, “But why not let us have the neighbors, and divide the honey +that is left after the party?”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes, sir; I think that will be a good plan,” responded Rebby +soberly, “and perhaps Luretta will go with us to ask the neighbors.”</p> + +<p>Mr. Foster nodded again, whistling softly to himself, and as the little +girls bade him a polite “Good-morning” and went on toward his house they +could hear his whistle ring above the sound of his hammer.</p> + +<p>Luretta came running to meet them.</p> + +<p>“I was just coming to your house to thank you for Trit. Oh, Anna! You +are the bravest girl in the settlement. Paul says you are. And to think +you caught the rabbit for me.” Luretta, quite out of breath, with her +arm across Anna’s shoulders, looked admiringly at her friend.</p> + +<p>“It’s only fair,” Anna replied, “because I lost yours.” And then Anna +had to tell again the story of her capture of Trit. Luretta listened +eagerly. “I do wish I could have been with you, Danna,” she said. But +Anna shook her head. “The boat would have sunk,” she responded soberly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Foster thought the plan for a honey party an excellent idea, and +promised to come in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> good season; and Luretta was greatly pleased to go +with her friends to invite the neighbors.</p> + +<p>“Will not Lucia Horton be pleased when we tell her about the honey?” +said Anna.</p> + +<p>Rebecca stopped suddenly. “We are not to ask the Hortons,” she +announced.</p> + +<p>“Not ask Lucia! Why not?” questioned Anna, while Luretta looked at Rebby +with wondering eyes.</p> + +<p>“No,” Rebecca declared firmly. “The Hortons have a cupboard filled with +jellies, and candied fruits, and jars of syrups, and fine things from +the West Indies and from far places, and ’tis not fair. We have only the +wild bees’ honey, a taste for each neighbor.” Rebecca stopped with a +little sigh. She had not thought about not asking Lucia until Anna +spoke, but now she realized that, if she could help it, she would never +again go to the Hortons’ house. Rebecca was old enough to realize the +difference between loyalty and selfish indecision, and she was sure that +the Hortons were thinking more of their own comfort than of the good of +America.</p> + +<p>“But Lucia is your best friend,” said Anna; “she gave you those +beautiful silk mitts on your birthday.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span></p> + +<p>Rebecca’s face colored. She made no answer. The silk mitts, she +resolved, must be given back. Probably she would never have another +pair; but never mind, if she gave up Lucia’s friendship she must give up +the mitts.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes the little girls walked on in silence, but Luretta was +eager to talk about Trit, and very soon she and Anna were talking +happily of plans to teach the captured rabbit, and were no longer +troubled by Rebecca’s decision not to ask the Hortons to the honey +party. If they thought of it at all it was to agree with Rebby: that +people with a cupboard full of dainties, when their neighbors had only +the coarsest fare, ought not to be asked to share the wild honey.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lyon welcomed the little girls in a most friendly manner, and Anna +was made happy when the minister’s wife said that she really believed +that Anna’s stitches were as tiny and as neatly set as those of Melvina +herself.</p> + +<p>“Melvina is out-of-doors,” she continued; “I have decided that she is +much stronger to be in the open air a portion of each day, and London +has made her a playhouse under the pines behind the house.”</p> + +<p>Both Anna and Luretta hoped that Mrs. Lyon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> would ask them to go and see +Melvina’s playhouse, but as she did not they said their polite +“Good-day, Mrs. Lyon,” curtsied, and followed Rebecca down the path.</p> + +<p>The invitations had now all been given and accepted, and Luretta was +eager to get home, urging Anna to stop and see Trit, who was safe in the +same box that had been made for the other rabbits.</p> + +<p>“You may both run ahead if you wish,” said Rebby with quite a grown-up +manner, 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.”</p> + +<p>“Everybody except the Hortons,” Luretta reminded her.</p> + +<p>“Yes; I meant everyone whom we had asked,” Rebby rejoined.</p> + +<p>Off ran the two younger girls, and Rebecca followed more slowly. +Although she had intended to go directly home she now decided to take +the path along the bluff and see for herself that the liberty tree stood +safe, defiant of all enemies. Rebby’s thoughts were filled with a +certain fear that Lucia Horton might contrive some new plan to make away +with this emblem<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> of freedom; and she gave an exclamation of +satisfaction as she saw the handsome young pine, well braced with rocks +and timber supports, standing on the bluff.</p> + +<p>“The <i>Polly</i> will see it first thing when she comes into harbor,” +thought Rebby, “and nobody will dare fire on it,” and vaguely comforted +by this thought she started on toward home.</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston and Paul were just landing their load of honey, and Rebecca +went down to the shore to tell them of the plan for the honey party, of +which they both approved. The tubs and buckets were all carried to the +Westons’ and safely stored away in the big pantry.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Foster and Mrs. Weston were talking over arrangements for the next +day. Mrs. Foster had suggested that they should each bake a quantity of +“spider-cakes.” “They are thin and crispy, and will relish well with the +honey,” she said, and Mrs. Weston agreed, although both the women +realized that by making these cakes they would diminish their household +stores of Indian meal almost to the danger point. But the <i>Polly</i>, with +her cargo of wheat flour, sugar, and other necessities, was long +overdue; she must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span> soon come to their relief, they thought hopefully; +and if she failed to arrive why then they must do their best.</p> + +<p>“The neighbors need something cheerful to think of,” declared Mrs. +Foster, “and I am sure a taste of honey will cheer us all.”</p> + +<p>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 the +guests could enjoy the spring air. Paul was quite ready to help him; +they brought planks from the lumber yard, and long before the first +visitor arrived the low comfortable seats were ready.</p> + +<p>Anna and Rebby were busy all the morning making small plates of +birch-bark, which they stripped from the big logs. These little plates +would each hold a square of “spider-cake” and a helping of honey; and as +the guests would bring their own cups, to be filled with clear spring +water, and their own spoons, the Westons felt that all was ready.</p> + +<p>Rebby and Anna both wore their Sunday best, but their dresses were +carefully covered by their long pinafores. For they would serve each +guest, and it would not do that any careless movement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> should send a +stream of honey over their best gowns. Luretta and Melvina would also +help, and had been warned to bring pinafores to wear.</p> + +<p>There was a pleasant air of excitement all through the little settlement +as the people, dressed in their simple best, walked along the path +leading to the Westons’. The minister and his wife, each holding Melvina +by the hand, were among the first comers.</p> + +<p>“It was a friendly thought to ask your neighbors to share your good +fortune,” said Mr. Lyon as he greeted Mrs. Weston.</p> + +<p>“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 surprised +to hear it, as she considered Anna a very thoughtful and generous child.</p> + +<p>Rebecca had forgotten for the time her own sense of unworthiness, and +was smiling happily as friend after friend arrived, when suddenly her +smile vanished. For coming up the path in a fine dress of pale yellow +muslin and wearing a flower-trimmed hat was Lucia Horton. No one but +Rebecca, of course, was surprised to see Lucia. It was to be expected +that she would be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span> a guest at Rebecca’s house. Anna and Luretta did not +see Lucia’s arrival, but Rebby stood quite still, pale and angry, and +watched Lucia smiling and speaking to the neighbors. Then Lucia came +straight toward Rebecca, and, making an ugly face at her, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Who is afraid of you, anyway, Rebecca Flora Weston?”</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2><h3>REBBY AND LUCIA</h3> +</div> + +<p>Rebby was too astonished at Lucia’s unexpected appearance to make any +response to this rude salutation; and, with another scornful glance, +Lucia went on her way to where Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Weston were talking +together, and took a seat beside them, and was cordially welcomed by +Rebecca’s mother, who, of course, knew nothing of the trouble between +the two girls.</p> + +<p>“Lucia has forgotten her cup and spoon, Rebby; bring her your lustre +mug,” called Mrs. Weston.</p> + +<p>For a moment Rebby pretended not to hear. She was filling the cups with +cool spring water, and not until her mother called the second time did +she start toward the house for her cherished lustre mug. She was ready +to cry at the thought of Lucia’s insulting words, and now she must carry +the pretty mug to her, and serve her as though she were a welcome +guest.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span></p> + +<p>“I won’t let her know that I care; and I must be polite because she is a +guest, even if she wasn’t invited,” thought Rebby, as carrying the +lustre mug and a birch-bark plate with a square of honeycomb and a +brownish crisp “spider-cake” she went toward Lucia.</p> + +<p>Neither of the little girls spoke, and Rebby did not look at her former +friend who had led her into such sad mischief. Then suddenly there was a +crash, a loud cry from Lucia and from Rebby as the lustre mug fell to +the ground, and the contents of the frail plate streamed over the +delicate yellow muslin of Lucia’s fine dress.</p> + +<p>“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 cherished +mug that had been brought from Boston when the Westons moved to Machias.</p> + +<p>“She dropped it on purpose,” Rebby said, but no one seemed to think of +her mug. Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Weston were both endeavoring to comfort +Lucia, and to repair the harm done to the yellow muslin. But the honey +and water were not easily removed from the delicate fabric.</p> + +<p>“I am going home. It’s a cheap, foolish party anyway. Honey and water, +and corn-bread!”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> sobbed Lucia angrily, pulling away from the friendly +women, and running down the path.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Weston looked after her in amazed disapproval.</p> + +<p>“I begin to think there is something in the rumors that Captain Horton +and his wife are not trustworthy,” Mrs. Lyon said. “The child is so +ill-bred she can be but indulged and spoiled at home,” and Mrs. Weston +agreed. But neither of them imagined that Lucia’s mother and father were +disloyal to the American cause, and only waiting a profitable +opportunity to betray the little settlement to its enemies.</p> + +<p>Lucia’s angry words cast but a brief shadow over the gathering, and no +one noticed that Rebecca had disappeared. At the moment Lucia started +for home Rebby had run toward the house. She hurried up the stairs to +the little room under the roof where she and Anna slept, and from the +closet she drew out the square wooden box that her father had made for +her. Her initials R. F. W. were carved inside a small square on the +cover, and it had a lock and key. Rebby was very proud of this box, and +in it she kept her most treasured possessions: a handkerchief of fine +lawn with a lace edge, a pin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span> made from a silver sixpence, and the +prayer-book her Grandmother Weston had given her. When Lucia gave her +the silk mitts for a birthday present Rebby had put them carefully away +with these other treasures. Now she pulled them out hurriedly, and, +without waiting to close the box, she ran down the stairs through the +kitchen, keeping carefully out of sight of the group under the elm +trees, until she could not be seen from the house. Then she caught a +glimpse of Lucia’s yellow dress, and ran faster than before. But she did +not call Lucia’s name. She said to herself that she would never speak to +Lucia again.</p> + +<p>Hearing the hurrying steps behind her Lucia looked over her shoulder, +and seeing Rebby she became frightened and ran faster than ever. Lucia +did not know why she was afraid, but she remembered that she had not +been asked to the party, that she had spoken insultingly to Rebby, +and—she had dropped the mug purposely. So it was small wonder that her +guilty conscience accused her, and that she was eager to reach home +before Rebby could overtake her.</p> + +<p>On raced the two girls along the narrow path. A few men at the wharves +watched the flying figures, but no one imagined it more than a game.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> +Very soon the Horton house was in sight. Its front door opening on the +street stood open to admit the pleasant spring air. In a moment Lucia +was in the house and had slammed and fastened the door behind her.</p> + +<p>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. But +in a moment an upper window opened, and Mrs. Horton looked down at +Rebby.</p> + +<p>“Why, Rebecca Flora!” she exclaimed in her pleasant voice. “Lucia has +gone to your party.”</p> + +<p>“If you please, Mrs. Horton, I have brought back the mitts Lucia gave me +for a birthday present,” responded Rebby, her voice faltering a little.</p> + +<p>“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 heard +Lucia’s account of Rebby’s turning honey and water over the pretty +yellow muslin, she decided that Rebecca was ashamed to keep a gift after +treating Lucia so badly.</p> + +<p>Rebby went slowly toward home tired and unhappy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span> All the pleasure of +the party, she said to herself, was spoiled. She was not sorry to give +up the mitts, for everything that reminded her of Lucia made her think +of the night when they had pushed the liberty tree from its moorings.</p> + +<p>When she was nearly home she heard Mr. Foster’s whistle and in a moment +they were face to face.</p> + +<p>“Well, Rebecca Flora, ’twas a fine party,” he said smilingly, for Mr. +Foster had not seen the accident to the mug. “The neighbors are all +smiling and cheerful, and we are all the better for meeting in this +neighborly fashion,” and Mr. Foster ended his sentence with a whistle +like a bird’s note. “You must come with the others to the liberty pole +on Sabbath morning,” he added. “Parson Lyon is to preach to us there, +and ’twill be a great occasion.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir,” Rebby responded, and went slowly on up the slope. It began +to seem to her that she would never escape from the liberty pole. And +now she met Mr. and Mrs. Lyon, with Melvina dancing along in front of +them. “More like Danna than Danna is like herself,” thought Rebby, +smiling, as she remembered how sedately and quietly Melvina had walked +before Danna<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> and Luretta had played their mischievous pranks on the day +of the tempest.</p> + +<p>The neighbors had all gone when Rebecca reached home, and Mrs. Weston +and Anna were in the house, while Mr. Weston and Paul were taking up the +seats under the elm trees. The pieces of the broken lustre mug lay on +the kitchen table, and Rebby’s face clouded as she stood looking at +them.</p> + +<p>“Lucia Horton dropped it on purpose!” she said. “I know she did.”</p> + +<p>“And nobody asked her to come to our party,” added Anna; “’twas rude of +her to come.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Weston looked in astonishment at her two little daughters.</p> + +<p>“Not ask Lucia?” she questioned, and listened to Rebby’s explanation: +that, because of the Hortons’ store of dainties, and their scorn of the +simple fare of their neighbors, Rebby had decided not to ask Lucia to +her party.</p> + +<p>But when the little girl had finished her story, Mrs. Weston shook her +head disapprovingly.</p> + +<p>“I am not pleased with you, Rebecca,” she said. “’Twas not a kind +thought to sit in judgment and decide to punish a friend for something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span> +that is no fault of hers. Lucia did right to come. Of course she thought +you would welcome her.”</p> + +<p>“She didn’t! She didn’t!” exclaimed Rebby. “She made up faces at me, and +said—”</p> + +<p>“Never mind, Rebecca. You see what comes from quarreling. Your mug is +broken, Lucia’s dress is spoiled, and you had no pleasure from the +afternoon. Now, there is something for you to do to put this straight. +You must take off your pinafore, put on your sunbonnet, and go straight +to Mrs. Horton’s and ask Lucia’s pardon.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Mother!” wailed Rebby. “It isn’t fair. It isn’t my fault.”</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Weston was firm. From Rebby’s own story her mother decided that +she had been unfair to Lucia; she did not ask if Rebby had purposely +spilled the honey on Lucia’s muslin dress, but she felt it was not the +time to allow any ill feeling among the families of the settlement, and +that Rebecca’s failure to ask the Hortons to come with the other +neighbors to taste the wild honey could easily offend them.</p> + +<p>Anna stood looking first at Rebby and then at her mother. It was so +seldom that Rebby<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> cried, that it seemed a very dreadful thing to her +younger sister.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go, Mother, let me go!” she asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>“Do not be so foolish, Anna,” responded Mrs. Weston. “This is your +sister’s duty. It has nothing to do with you. Take off your pinafore, +Rebecca, and do as I bid you.”</p> + +<p>Rebecca was sobbing bitterly. She could not believe that her mother +really meant that she should go and ask Lucia Horton’s forgiveness.</p> + +<p>“If you knew——” she began, tempted to tell her mother all that Lucia +had said about the liberty pole, and even what they had done to prevent +its erection. But the memory of her promise held her. She knew that her +mother expected obedience, and she took off her pinafore, took her +sunbonnet, and, still sobbing, went slowly from the room. Anna started +to follow her, but Mrs. Weston called her back sharply.</p> + +<p>“Anna, you are not to go with your sister,” she said, and the little +girl came slowly back.</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear,” she sighed, “I wish Lucia Horton would go sailing off to far +lands. To—to Egypt,” she concluded. For Anna had never heard much that +was pleasant about Egypt,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> and was sure that all this trouble was +Lucia’s fault.</p> + +<p>Rebecca had never been so unhappy in her life as when she realized that +her mother expected her to go to the Hortons’ and ask Lucia’s pardon for +not inviting Mrs. Horton and Lucia to the honey party. There were robins +singing in the trees, bluebirds flitting about with gay little notes, +and the spring day was full of beauty, but Rebby was not conscious of it +as she went slowly along the path.</p> + +<p>Very soon she was again standing in front of the Hortons’ door, and +summoning all her courage she rapped loudly. There was no response, and +after a few moments she rapped again; but the house seemed silent and +deserted, and no one came to open the door.</p> + +<p>And now Rebecca did not know what to do. If she went home she knew that +her mother would say that she must return at a later hour to fulfil her +errand. So the little girl decided to sit down on the steps and wait for +a time.</p> + +<p>Twilight was near at hand. The sun was low in the western sky, and a +cool little breeze crept up from the river and stirred the tree-tops. +Shadows gathered about the house, and still there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> was no sign or sound +of the Hortons, and Rebby was about to start for home when a man came +around the corner of the house and spoke to her.</p> + +<p>He was evidently a sailor, and in a great hurry. He asked no questions +but began speaking as if he had no time to lose.</p> + +<p>“Tell your mother that the <i>Polly</i> and <i>Unity</i> will come into harbor +to-morrow, and that Captain Jones is on board the <i>Unity</i>. There’s a +British gunboat along with them, and your father says there may be +trouble, and for you and your mother to keep close indoors until he +comes.”</p> + +<p>The sailor started to move off, but Rebby found courage to ask:</p> + +<p>“Where—where are the sloops now?”</p> + +<p>“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 the +sloop. Be sure you tell your mother,” responded the man, speaking in +such low tones that Rebby had to listen sharply to understand.</p> + +<p>“Yes, I’ll tell my mother,” she replied, and without a moment’s +hesitation she started for home as fast as her feet could carry her. She +had entirely forgotten her anger toward Lucia, or her mother’s reproof. +All she could think of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> was the news this sailor, evidently a member of +the <i>Polly’s</i> crew, had told her, believing that he was speaking to +Lucia Horton.</p> + +<p>And now Rebecca recalled all that Lucia had told her of what might +befall the little village if a British gunboat sailed into harbor and +saw a liberty tree flaunting its courageous defiance to injustice. But +now she could tell her father, not Lucia’s secret, but what the sailor +had told her.</p> + +<p>“And Father will know what to do. Father and Mr. Lyon,” she thought +breathlessly, as she ran swiftly up the path and burst into the kitchen, +where her father and mother and Anna were waiting her return.</p> + +<p>She told her story quickly, and without any mention of what Lucia had +confided in her weeks before. “The sailor thought I was Captain Horton’s +little girl,” she concluded.</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston questioned Rebby carefully, and then said:</p> + +<p>“I’ll take this news to Captain O’Brien and to Parson Lyon; but say +nothing about it to anyone until we see what news the <i>Polly</i> brings.” +And he hurried away to prepare his neighbors for possible danger.</p> + +<p>“You see, Rebby, your obedience may have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span> saved the settlement,” said +Mrs. Weston, putting her arm about Rebecca.</p> + +<p>“But I had not seen Lucia, Mother. I was waiting for her,” said Rebecca.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Weston made no answer; her thoughts were too full of the possible +dangers to the settlement from the British gunboat to think much of the +postponed apology; nor was the matter ever again mentioned.</p> + +<p>“Now, Rebby, you really have done something for America,” declared Anna, +as the sisters went up to their room that night. But Rebby shook her +head.</p> + +<p>“No, Danna, I haven’t. But perhaps I can sometime, and you too,” she +replied. For some reason, that Rebby could not explain even to herself, +her thoughts centered around what her father had said on their trip to +the Falls of the store of powder and shot at Chandler’s River +settlement. She had heard her father say that Machias was but ill +provided with munitions; and with a British gunboat coming into harbor +the next day who could tell how quickly powder and shot might be +needed?</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2><h3>REBBY DECIDES</h3> +</div> + +<p>The next morning dawned bright and tranquil. The fragrance of pine woods +and broad meadows filled the air, and practically all the inhabitants of +Machias gathered about the wharves to watch for the <i>Polly</i> and <i>Unity</i> +to come sailing into harbor.</p> + +<p>The provisions the sloops were bringing were greatly needed; but when +Mr. Weston had told the men of the settlement that the sloops were being +convoyed by a British war vessel their alarm and consternation can be +imagined. Mrs. Horton and Lucia were about the only ones absent from the +wharf when, silently and without a cheer of welcome, the <i>Polly</i> and +<i>Unity</i>, and the boat flying the hated English flag came to anchor.</p> + +<p>Captain Jones came ashore, greeting his old-time friends cordially, and +explaining that the presence of the gunboat was only to protect him from +attacks by British cruisers. But his explanation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span> was received in +silence. The memory of the recent battle in Lexington was fresh in the +people’s hearts, and much as they needed the provisions on the sloops +they were ready to do without them unless Captains Horton and Jones +could assure their fellow-townsmen of their loyalty and send the British +gunboat from the harbor.</p> + +<p>Finally he received consent to land his goods, and commenced trading +with the people as usual, while the <i>Margaretta</i>, the British gunboat, +lay at anchor off White’s Point, some distance below the town.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lyon received many packages from her Boston relatives, and there +were two dolls for Melvina, the ones of which Luretta had spoken on the +day when she and Anna had led Melvina to the shore to show her a “clam’s +nest.”</p> + +<p>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 a +reward for carrying back those Lucia had given her.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horton now kept Lucia closely at home. Anna and Luretta were +invited to spend an afternoon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> with Melvina, and become acquainted with +the new dolls, and Melvina urged Luretta to bring Trit, resolving to +dress up the rabbit as she and Anna had done before.</p> + +<p>Rebecca was more aware of the troubled condition of the settlement than +were 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 that +the Machias men ought to capture the British gunboat, and take the +sloops, making their captains and crews prisoners. Rebby listened +eagerly.</p> + +<p>“But we couldn’t capture them, Paul; I heard Father say there was but +little powder and shot in the settlement,” she said.</p> + +<p>“We’d get ’em,” declared Paul. “If Jones and Horton think they are going +to load up their sloops with lumber for British barracks in Boston +they’ll see trouble.”</p> + +<p>“And Parson Lyon is not to preach at the liberty pole,” said Rebby a +little thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>Paul made no response to this. He had come up to the Westons’ on an +errand for his mother, and was now eager to get back to the wharves +where the sloops were being unloaded.</p> + +<p>“If the Britisher fires on our liberty pole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> they’ll hear a sermon all +right,” he called back as he ran down the path.</p> + +<p>It was difficult for Rebby to attend to the simple duties that her +mother required of her. Whenever her father entered the house she +watched his face anxiously, half-expecting him to say that the Machias +men 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 tell +of dressing up Trit, and that London Atus, coming into the room where +the little girls were playing and seeing the rabbit wearing a white +skirt and bonnet, had turned and run out muttering something about +“witches,” Rebby listened, but with little interest.</p> + +<p>“Danna,” she said, as soon as the sisters were alone, “do you suppose +you and I could find the way to Chandler’s River?”</p> + +<p>“Of course we could,” Anna declared. “Don’t you remember that Father +showed us where the trail began, marked by ‘spotted’ trees?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I remember. Listen, Anna; there is hardly any powder or shot in +Machias; if there were the men could protect the liberty pole.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes,” Anna responded quickly. “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> heard Parson Lyon telling +Captain O’Brien that all the men ought to be ready to defend the +settlement.”</p> + +<p>“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 be +helping, and perhaps ’twould save the liberty pole.”</p> + +<p>“Would Father let us?” Anna asked doubtfully.</p> + +<p>“Don’t you see? We must go after it without telling anyone; then when we +bring it back the men can drive off or capture the gunboat,” Rebecca +explained.</p> + +<p>“I think Father ought to know,” persisted Anna, so that at last Rebby +said no more, after Anna had promised not to repeat Rebby’s plan to +anyone.</p> + +<p>But Rebby slept but little that night. If the gunboat fired on the town +she felt it would be her fault for having kept Lucia’s secret to +herself; and yet she dared not break a promise. In some way Rebby felt +that she must do something to make right her foolish act in helping +Lucia set the liberty tree adrift.</p> + +<p>The next day Captain Jones began his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> preparations to load the sloops +with lumber for Boston, and the Machias men, doubtful of the Captain’s +loyalty, determined that the sloops should not return to Boston. Rebby +and Anna were in the lumber yard filling a basket with chips, when a +number of men talking of this decision passed them.</p> + +<p>“If we only had more powder and shot,” said one; “but we cannot spare a +single man to go to Chandler’s River after supplies.”</p> + +<p>“There, Anna!” exclaimed Rebby. “Did you hear what those men said? Do +you not see that we can help as much as a real soldier? We can go to +Chandler’s River. We must.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps Father would give us permission if we asked him,” Anna +persisted. But Rebecca shook her head at this suggestion; she dared not +risk the chance of a refusal.</p> + +<p>“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 any +day. Do say you will go, Anna.”</p> + +<p>Rebby knew that Anna’s knowledge of the forest, her strength and +courage, would be all that could enable her to undertake the task. +Without Anna she feared that she might fail in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span> finding her way, and +never reach Chandler’s River.</p> + +<p>“Think, Danna! The gunboat will shoot down our liberty pole! Perhaps +burn the church and our houses, and they may carry off our father a +prisoner! ’Tis what they try to do whenever Americans resist; and if the +Machias 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——”</p> + +<p>Rebby’s petition ended in a wail.</p> + +<p>And now Anna was as eager to start as Rebby herself. The thought of her +father being taken a prisoner and that she and Rebby could prevent so +great a misfortune made her no longer hesitate.</p> + +<p>“We will start to-morrow morning, early,” she said. “We must make sure +that our moccasins are in good shape, Rebby; and we must take some +corn-bread, for ’twill be a good journey. How early can we start, +Rebby?”</p> + +<p>“Before sunrise, surely,” responded Rebby, “and I will write on a strip +of birch-bark what we are going to do, and pin it to Father’s hat. Then +they will not worry about us.”</p> + +<p>“Worry! Why, Father will think it a brave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> deed,” declared Anna. “I wish +we had started this morning.”</p> + +<p>That day seemed very long to the sisters. They made their preparations +carefully for the next day’s journey, and at an early hour went to bed, +so that they might awaken in good season.</p> + +<p>The next morning dawned clear. Before the sun was up Anna was wide +awake, and at her whispered “Rebby,” her sister’s eyes opened quickly, +and they slipped quietly out of bed. In a few moments they were fully +dressed for their tramp through the forest. Very cautiously they made +their way down the stairs. The house was silent. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. +Weston heard the faintest sound to disturb their slumbers.</p> + +<p>On the piece of smooth birch-bark that Rebby had made ready on the +previous day, with a bit of charcoal from the fireplace she wrote:</p> + +<p>“Dear Mother and dear Father: Anna and I are going to Chandler’s River +to bring home powder and shot for Machias men to use to save the +settlement. We will be home to-morrow. Your loving Rebby and Danna.”</p> + +<p>They slipped this under the deerskin thong that was twisted about Mr. +Weston’s hat, opened the kitchen door gently, and moved noiselessly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span> +along in the shadow of the house, then ran swiftly up the path, and in a +short time were out of sight of the houses of the settlement.</p> + +<p>“Now we must walk slowly for a time,” cautioned Anna, remembering her +father’s warnings against hurrying at the beginning of a tramp. “We must +go on steadily for a time, and rest before we begin to feel tired. That +is the way Indians do, and Father says it is why they can travel day +after day and not be exhausted.”</p> + +<p>Rebby looked at her little sister admiringly. In woodland lore she +realized that Danna was much wiser than herself, and she was quite ready +to be guided by her.</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Weston called the girls the next morning and received no +response she was not greatly surprised, as they often slept a little +later than their parents. “The extra sleep will do them no harm,” she +said smilingly, as she and Mr. Weston sat down to the breakfast table; +therefore Rebby and Danna were well on their way before their father +took his hat from its accustomed place and discovered the strip of +birch-bark with its surprising message.</p> + +<p>Mr. Weston read the note, and stood for a moment silent, thinking what +could be done.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span> His first impulse was to hasten after his girls and +bring them safely home. Then came the thought of the peril of the +settlement. At any moment he might be called upon to help in its +defense. Every man would be needed. He recalled Danna’s strength and +fearlessness, and her knowledge of the forest, and Rebby’s quiet good +judgment. If there were dangers he believed his girls could meet them +fearlessly. Then, too, what a blessing it would be to have them bring +home a store of powder and shot. It would mean the salvation of the +settlement. Mr. Weston began to feel very proud of his little daughters +and to feel sure they would return safely.</p> + +<p>“What is the trouble with your hat, Father?” questioned his wife. “You +stand looking at it as if it had some message for you.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed it has,” Mr. Weston replied smilingly. “It tells me that we have +two of the bravest girls in America. Listen,” and he read Rebby’s note +aloud.</p> + +<p>“’Tis a deed to make us proud,” he said, “and ’twill give new courage to +every man in the settlement to know that a supply of powder will be here +to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>But it was a long and anxious day for Mrs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> Weston. She knew the perils +of the forest, and her thoughts centered about lurking bears that might +spring out upon Rebby and Danna as they went through the wilderness. She +endeavored to find comfort by remembering that their errand was for the +cause of justice and freedom, and that a love stronger than her own was +about them.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2><h3>A PERILOUS JOURNEY</h3> +</div> + +<p>Not until the girls reached the beginning of the forest trail, where +their father had pointed out the dim path leading toward Chandler’s +River, did they feel really sure that their father would not follow +them. But as they stopped for a brief rest under the shadow of a +wide-spreading beach tree Rebby said:</p> + +<p>“Father could have overtaken us by this time, Danna, if he did not think +it was right for us to go.”</p> + +<p>Danna agreed cheerfully, and now both the girls felt a new courage for +this perilous undertaking that was sure to tax their strength to the +utmost. The fact that their father had not hastened after them made them +both realize how important it was that powder and shot should reach the +Machias settlement as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>The faint path soon disappeared entirely, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span> had Rebby been alone she +would not have known which way to turn. But Anna went on confidently, +keeping a sharp outlook for the “blazed” trees of which her father had +told her as marking the way toward Chandler’s River.</p> + +<p>They forced their way through dense masses of tangled underbrush, over +fallen trees, and through the shadowy stretches of thickly growing pine. +Now and then they came to some marshy stretch, which Anna would +carefully avoid, for she remembered how often her father had warned her +of the dangers of such places, with their unmarked quicksands that would +quickly swallow the heedless person who ventured upon them.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding Anna’s caution in regard to resting frequently they +pushed on steadily, with but one stop until the sound of water as it +dashed over a rocky bed warned them that they were near Whitneyville +Falls, and half-way to their destination.</p> + +<p>The sun was now directly overhead, and as they came out from the shade +of the forest to the open space along the river’s bank Rebby sank down +on the grass with a long breath of relief.</p> + +<p>“I never was so tired in all my life,” she declared.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span></p> + +<p>“We will take a good rest and eat our corn-bread,” responded Anna. “I am +sure the remainder of the way will not be so hard, because we can follow +the river up to the settlement.”</p> + +<p>Rebby was too tired to reply. She stretched herself out on the warm +grass and closed her eyes.</p> + +<p>“Poor Rebby,” thought Danna, looking down at her elder sister and +remembering that Rebecca had never enjoyed woodland tramps, and +realizing that this undertaking was much harder for her sister than for +herself.</p> + +<p>“She’s asleep,” Anna whispered to herself, with a little smile of +satisfaction. “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 many +crimson berries still clinging to the vines, and Anna picked these +carefully, using her cap for a basket, and gathering a quantity of the +young checkerberry leaves. “Rebby is sure to like these,” she thought +happily.</p> + +<p>Anna’s sharp glance moved about quickly and finally rested near an old +stump.</p> + +<p>“Partridge eggs!” she exclaimed joyfully,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span> and in a moment she was +beside the stump peering down at a circle of small brownish eggs. She +counted them, and before she had whispered “twenty!” a whirring, +scrambling noise close at hand told her that the partridge to whom the +eggs belonged was close at hand.</p> + +<p>“You won’t miss a few eggs, Mistress Partridge,” said Anna soberly, +carefully selecting four from the outer edge of the circle, and then +going softly away, that she might not unnecessarily frighten the +woodland bird.</p> + +<p>She now carried the cap with great care, as she looked about hoping to +discover some sign of a woodland spring. She kept along at the edge of +the woods, and very soon she heard the sound of a noisy little brook +hurrying along to the river. It was not far up the river from the place +where Rebby was so comfortably asleep, and Anna decided that it would be +just the place for their noonday luncheon.</p> + +<p>She set the cap, with all its treasures, carefully under the shade of a +tiny fir tree near the side of the brook and then ran back to awaken +Rebby.</p> + +<p>“Dinner is ready!” she called gaily as she ran; and the sound of her +voice made Rebecca sit up quickly, and exclaim:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span></p> + +<p>“The British will shoot down our liberty pole!” For her dreams had been +of soldiers in red coats firing at the liberty pole, while Mr. Worden +Foster, with a big pitchfork, tried to drive them away.</p> + +<p>“It is a truly dinner, with eggs,” declared Anna happily, as she led the +way back to the noisy little brook.</p> + +<p>The raw eggs tasted good to the hungry girls, and the good corn-bread +and spicy berries and tender checkerberry leaves, with cool water to +drink, made them both feel refreshed and rested, and ready for the +remaining distance to Chandler’s River settlement.</p> + +<p>They crossed the little brook and went sturdily on. Now and then a +partridge flew in front of them. Squirrels scolded and chattered among +the tree tops, and once or twice a rabbit leaped out from behind some +stump and ran ahead of them as if daring them to capture him.</p> + +<p>Both the girls well knew that there were larger and more dangerous +animals in the forests. There were bears prowling somewhere in those dim +shadowy woods, eating the young buds and leaves, and capturing such +defenseless birds and rabbits as they could. Once or twice they heard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span> +some heavy creature crashing through the underbrush, and looked at each +other with startled eyes; but no harm came near them, and by the middle +of the afternoon they reached the first house of the settlement, and had +told their errand.</p> + +<p>“Every man in the settlement is on his way to Machias this very hour,” +declared the friendly woman who had welcomed the girls with amazed +admiration; and, when they told of the scarcity of powder and shot in +Machias, had said that the men of Chandler’s River settlement had +believed Machias well supplied with powder, and had taken but a small +quantity with them.</p> + +<p>“One of our fishermen brought news of the British gunboat, and our men +started at once. They went by the lower trail,” explained the woman, as +she stirred the hot porridge she was cooking for the girls’ supper.</p> + +<p>“’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 as +much as you can carry, and I will go with you a part of the way +to-morrow,” she added, and Rebecca and Danna thanked her gratefully. +After they had eaten their porridge they were quite<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span> ready to bathe +their tired feet in the hot water their hostess had ready, and go to +bed, although the sun was yet an hour above the horizon.</p> + +<p>While the girls slept Mrs. Getchell hurried to the other houses of the +settlement, telling the story of the two courageous girls who had come +through the forest on their patriotic errand.</p> + +<p>“’Tis hardly to be believed,” she declared. “These little maids are +brave as soldiers, and they will carry the powder and shot back in good +time to be of use. General Washington shall hear of them, and the +Province of Maine will not forget their names.”</p> + +<p>The women and children listened eagerly, and all were anxious for a +sight of the little maids who had shown such courage and hardihood. But +Mrs. Getchell declared that they must not be disturbed, or they would +not be equal to the return journey on the next day.</p> + +<p>“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, safely +packed, she returned home.</p> + +<p>It was broad daylight when Rebecca and Anna awoke. Mrs. Getchell had +breakfast ready for them, and they enjoyed the hot batter cakes and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span> +maple syrup and the rich milk. They had not finished eating when a +murmur of voices outside the door made them look up in surprise.</p> + +<p>“’Tis the women and children,” explained Mrs. Getchell smilingly. “They +have come to wish you good fortune.”</p> + +<p>Rebecca and Anna hardly knew what to say as the women of the settlement +entered the big kitchen, and with friendly smiles praised the two girls +for their courage and loyalty. Boys and girls of their own age gathered +about the doorway and looked at them admiringly; and when Mrs. Getchell +said it was time to start, and with Rebby and Anna led the way toward +the river, young and old followed them. One of the older women slipped a +slender gold chain around Anna’s neck, saying: “Wear it, dear little +maid, to remind you that there is no sacrifice too great to make for +America’s freedom.” And a little girl of about Rebecca’s age shyly +pressed a little purse into her hand. “’Tis a golden sovereign that my +mother bade me give you,” she said, “and my mother says that always the +children of Maine will remember what you have done for America’s cause.”</p> + +<p>Rebby hardly knew what to reply. “If they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span> knew that I set the liberty +tree afloat they would not praise me,” she thought unhappily.</p> + +<p>A short distance beyond the settlement the women and children bade the +girls 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.</p> + +<p>As Rebby and Anna turned to wave their hands to these new friends a loud +cheer went up, the boys waving their caps and the girls calling: “Good +luck to the brave little maids from Machias.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Getchell went on with them for several miles, carrying the powder +and shot, and a flat package containing food for their journey. She told +them to follow the river down, as that trail was more traveled and over +smoother ground, although farther to travel than the forest trail; and +kissing the girls good-bye, after they had promised to visit her “as +soon as the English had been sent home,” she turned back toward the +settlement.</p> + +<p>Rebby and Danna watched Mrs. Getchell’s stout figure until it was hidden +by the forest, and then, more serious and anxious than at any time +during their perilous undertaking, they picked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span> up the heavy packages +that Mrs. Getchell had placed on the trunk of a fallen tree, and +prepared to continue their journey.</p> + +<p>The shot was in two strong bags, while the powder, in order that it +might be kept perfectly dry and safe, was in two tin canisters, each one +carefully sewn up in stout sailcloth. Mrs. Getchell had fastened a stout +strap to each bag of powder and a bag of shot. These straps went over +the girls’ shoulders, and made them easier to carry than in any other +way. It was of course a tough job for each girl to carry ten pounds for +the long distance that lay before them, but they pushed on valiantly.</p> + +<p>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 distance +out of their way. Before noonday Rebby declared that she could not go +another step, and sat down at the foot of a high mass of rocks over +which they must climb.</p> + +<p>“You will have to go on and leave me, Danna,” she said. “My feet won’t +go, they are so tired: and my shoulders ache.”</p> + +<p>The day had grown very warm; there was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span> a breath of air, and Anna +owned that she had never seen so difficult a trail. Mrs. Getchell had +warned them to be sure and keep in sight of the river and it would lead +them straight to Machias. As Anna looked at her sister she began to fear +that they might not be able to reach home before night, and she knew all +the danger and peril that a night spent in that lonely spot would mean.</p> + +<p>They had not found a spring or brook since leaving Mrs. Getchell, and +they were both very thirsty as well as tired and hungry.</p> + +<p>“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!” and +Anna held up the small cup-shaped dish. “I’ll fetch you a drink from the +river,” she added, and putting her burden of powder and shot on the +ground beside Rebby, she made her way down the steep bank of the river.</p> + +<p>The bank was covered by a thick growth of alders, with here and there a +small spruce tree. Anna wondered how she would ever manage to bring a +cup filled with water up that bank; but she kept on, and was soon at the +river’s edge.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> The rushing water was clear and cool, and Anna drank +thirstily. Then she bathed her face and hands, slipped off her moccasins +and stockings and dipped her feet in the cool stream. She felt rested +and refreshed, as with the tin cup filled with water, and covered with a +broad leaf of a water-lily, she made her careful way back to where she +had left her sister.</p> + +<p>Rebby had taken off her hat and moccasins. She drank the water eagerly +before saying a word.</p> + +<p>“I feel better already,” she said, “and by the time we have eaten our +lunch I know we can start. We <i>must</i>,” she added soberly, “for if we do +not get home before dark Father will surely start after us.”</p> + +<p>Danna was opening the package of food and made no response, but she was +wondering if Rebby could really hold out until they reached the +settlement. “I couldn’t leave her alone,” the little girl thought a +little fearfully, wondering if their long journey was, after all, to end +in failure. For she knew that if they did not reach Machias by the early +evening their attempt to aid the settlement would have been in vain.</p> + +<p>“Look, Rebby! White bread, spread with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span> butter,” she said, as she +unfastened the package, “and here are slices of chicken, and big squares +of molasses cake,” and Rebby smiled at her little sister’s evident +delight. The two girls thoroughly enjoyed the excellent food, and when +the last crumb had been eaten Rebecca declared herself rested, and ready +to start on.</p> + +<p>As she picked up her moccasins she exclaimed: “Oh, Danna!” in so tragic +a tone that her sister looked at her with frightened eyes.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Rebby?” she whispered.</p> + +<p>“A hole in my moccasin. Look!” and Rebby held up the moccasin, showing a +long narrow slit on the sole. “These awful rocks! I can never walk +without cutting my foot, and then I can’t walk at all.”</p> + +<p>“I can fix it,” Danna declared instantly. “Give it to me, Rebby; quick!” +and the elder sister obeyed.</p> + +<p>Danna reached into the pocket of her doeskin skirt and drew out her +sharp clasp-knife; very carefully she cut a broad strip from the top of +Rebby’s moccasin, and skilfully fitted it inside over the sole.</p> + +<p>“I saw Father do this very thing once,” she said. “It will surely last +until we reach home.”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span></p> + +<p>“I knew I could never make this trip without you, Danna,” Rebby said +gratefully. “You are as wise as a real little Indian girl.”</p> + +<p>They went on now at a slower pace, for both girls realized that if Rebby +was again overcome by heat and fatigue that it might be impossible for +her to continue. Even Danna owned to herself that she had never been so +tired. The strap across her shoulders, supporting the heavy load, +pressed heavily and at times became almost unbearable; but not for a +moment did it occur to Danna to relinquish the burden.</p> + +<p>They had left the rocky stretch behind them and come out to a +comparatively smooth pasture. The deep forest lay on their right; to the +left was the sloping bank leading to the river. Suddenly Anna stopped +short and grasped Rebby’s arm; a second later a deer leaped directly +across their path and plunged down the bank, followed by a leaping, +panting creature that hardly seemed to touch the ground.</p> + +<p>“A bear!” whispered Rebby with frightened eyes.</p> + +<p>“Hurry, Rebby,” responded Danna, and the girls, forgetting their tired +feet and lame shoulders, sped silently over the open pasture land.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span></p> + +<p>Danna was the first to speak, but it was in a whisper: “We need not +fear, Rebby. He was after the deer.”</p> + +<p>Rebby made no response. More fully than ever the elder girl realized the +peril into which she had led her younger sister. But nevertheless she +whispered to herself that it was the only way: the powder and shot were +all that could save the settlement from the hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p>The girls did not stop again to rest, nor did they speak until they +reached the top of a rise of ground from which they could see the first +houses of the settlement. The sun was dropping behind the tall pines on +the western side of the river, and they could see the <i>Polly</i> and +<i>Unity</i> as they lay at anchor in the harbor.</p> + +<p>“We are safe now, Danna,” said Rebby thankfully, and the sisters smiled +at each other happily.</p> + +<p>“Can’t we leave the powder and shot here?” pleaded Danna, twisting the +uncomfortable strap into an easier position. “Father would come and get +it, and it’s so heavy.”</p> + +<p>But Rebby shook her head. “It would not be safe. We must carry it +straight home,” she said; so, with a sigh of endurance, Danna started +on.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span></p> + +<p>They were now in the broad trail that led straight to the little +settlement, and before they reached the first house they saw a tall +figure striding toward them. It was Mr. Weston, and in a moment their +load of powder and shot was swung over his shoulders, Rebby was clasping +one hand and Anna the other, and they were both talking at once, trying +to tell him the story of their journey.</p> + +<p>Their mother came running down the path to meet them, and clasped them +in her thankful embrace. The Westons had not told their neighbors of the +girls’ undertaking, thinking it wiser to await their return; but as soon +as Rebby and Anna were safely indoors their father hastened away to tell +the men of the settlement that a supply of powder and shot had been +brought to Machias by his courageous daughters.</p> + +<hr class="major" /> +<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em"> +<a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2><h3>TRIUMPH</h3> +</div> + +<p>The day following the return of Rebecca and Anna Weston from their +perilous and difficult undertaking to bring the much needed powder and +shot to Machias was Sunday, the eleventh of June, 1775.</p> + +<p>Very early that morning there was an air of unusual excitement about the +little settlement. It was known that the English officers from the +gunboat would attend service in the meeting-house that morning; and the +Machias men had decided, with the approval of Parson Lyon, to surround +the church and capture them before they had time to carry out their +plans against the settlement.</p> + +<p>Rebby and Danna were eating their breakfast when Captain Benjamin Foster +appeared at the kitchen door, saying that he had come to thank them for +their courageous effort to aid the men in defending their rights. As he +entered the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> room the girls jumped up from their seats at the table and +curtseyed; and as he went on to praise their loyalty and valor, the two +little girls, hand in hand, stood before him with downcast eyes, flushed +and happy at his approving words.</p> + +<p>In spite of anxious thoughts as to the result of the conflict between +the men of Machias and the English soldiers, Mrs. Weston was very proud +and happy that morning as she walked to church with Rebecca and Anna +beside her. Many neighbors stopped them to praise the little girls, and +all declared that the people of the settlement would always remember +what they had done.</p> + +<p>Even Parson Lyon and his wife were waiting at the church door to speak +to the two little heroines; and Melvina and Luretta felt as if they +shared in their friends’ honors as they walked up the aisle of the +church beside them.</p> + +<p>Before the English officers had landed from their boat a number of the +Machias men had quietly hidden their guns in the building; while Captain +Benjamin Foster, with men armed and ready for action, were concealed +among the tall pines close at hand, ready to surround the church and +seize the English officers; and had they taken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> London Atus into their +confidence this well-prepared scheme might have succeeded.</p> + +<p>But London was entirely innocent of any trouble near at hand. From his +place in a side pew he kept a watchful eye upon Melvina, and perhaps +wondered a little at all the attention lavished on the little Weston +girls.</p> + +<p>Rebby saw Captain and Mrs. Horton and Lucia, with Captain Jones, enter +the church. Lucia did not look toward the group of girls seated in the +Westons’ pew. The Hortons were no longer trusted by their neighbors, and +after that morning in church they vanished from the community and never +returned.</p> + +<p>Rebby’s glance now rested on London. How queerly he looked, she thought +wonderingly. He was leaning sideways peering out of an open window. As +Rebecca watched him he rose to his feet with a loud cry, and before any +restraining word could reach him he had leaped through the open window.</p> + +<p>In a moment all was confusion. There were loud cries of “Stop him!” Men +rushed from the church, but the English officers, followed by Captain +Jones and the Hortons, had scrambled through the open windows and were +well on their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> flight toward their boats, which they reached in safety, +although numerous shots were fired after them. The gunboat at once +turned her guns on the town. Shot after shot echoed across the quiet +waters of the harbor, but the range was too long, and no harm was done.</p> + +<p>The women and children huddled in the pews of the church, until Parson +Lyon, musket in hand, came up from the shore to tell them that all was +quiet and to return to their homes.</p> + +<p>Melvina and Anna left the church together, and Luretta and Rebby +followed with Mrs. Weston. Melvina said good-bye to her friends very +soberly, and clasped her father’s hand very closely as they walked +toward home.</p> + +<p>“Will the English soldiers shoot down our liberty pole, Father?” she +asked.</p> + +<p>“The English captain has sent us word that we are to take it down before +sunset, so that he may be saved that trouble,” replied Parson Lyon, his +tone indicating that he considered the English captain’s remark as an +amusing utterance, not to be seriously considered.</p> + +<p>“But it will not be taken down,” said Melvina confidently.</p> + +<p>“Indeed it will not. And had that scamp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span> London but held his peace +instead of mistaking Captain Foster’s men for an armed enemy marching +upon us, the English would be our prisoners at this moment,” declared +her father. “But that is but postponed,” he added quietly, “and +to-morrow morning Machias men will give the English captain a lesson.”</p> + +<p>There were many anxious hearts in the settlement that night, for it had +been determined that in the early dawn of the following morning the men +should seize the sloop <i>Unity</i>, and make the attempt to capture the +English gunboat. Neither Rebecca nor Anna knew of this plan; and, still +tired from their journey, as well as by the excitement that morning at +the church, they were glad to go early to bed and were soon sound +asleep. Mrs. Weston, unable to sleep, waited in the kitchen for her +husband’s return. For Mr. Weston and his neighbors were busy with their +preparations for the coming battle. It was decided that Captain O’Brien +should take command of the sloop, and before the sun rose the next +morning forty Machias men were on board the <i>Unity</i>. Half this number +were armed with broad-axes and pitchforks; the remainder had muskets.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span></p> + +<p>It was just at sunrise when a warning shot from the gunboat reverberated +along the harbor, and Rebecca awakened suddenly. She realized at once +that the conflict had begun. In an instant she was out of bed, slipped +quickly into her clothing, and leaving Danna sound asleep, she sped down +the path and along the trail to the high bluff that commanded a view of +the harbor.</p> + +<p>There was a favoring wind and the <i>Unity</i>, with her crew of untrained +men, was now in full chase of a vessel well-armed and equipped. On swept +the sloop, and a sudden volley of musketry from her deck astonished and +confused the enemy. The gunboat swerved, and the bowsprit of the <i>Unity</i> +plunged into her mainsail, holding the two vessels together for a brief +moment.</p> + +<p>Rebecca, standing on the bluff, shouted aloud. She was sure that the +moment of triumph for the Machias men was close at hand. But victory was +not so easily achieved; the vessels suddenly parted, and now a storm of +bullets rained upon the <i>Unity</i>.</p> + +<p>Captain O’Brien swung the sloop alongside the <i>Margaretta</i> and twenty of +his men armed with pitchforks sprang to the enemy’s deck. A hand-to-hand +conflict ensued. Surprised by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> dauntless valor of the Machias men +the English were forced to yield. The English flag was pulled down amid +triumphant shouts of the Americans; the wounded were cared for, and +English officers and crew made prisoners of war.</p> + +<p>When Rebecca saw the English flag vanish from the gunboat’s mast and +heard the resounding cheers, she knew that the Americans had conquered +their enemy, and that the liberty tree would stand unchallenged. But she +did not realize that she had been a witness to the first naval exploit +in America after the battle of Lexington.</p> + +<p>All the women and children and such men as had been left behind, were +now hurrying toward the wharves. Cheer after cheer rang out across the +harbor as the <i>Unity</i> and the captured gunboat came slowly to their +anchorage.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Weston and Anna came hurrying down the path and Rebby ran to meet +them.</p> + +<p>“I saw the battle, Mother!” she exclaimed eagerly. “I was on the bluff +and saw it all.” But before Mrs. Weston could respond to this +astonishing statement a boat-load of men from the <i>Unity</i> had landed.</p> + +<p>“Your father is safe,” whispered Mrs. Weston,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> “and now let me see of +what use I can be to the wounded men. Rebby, take Anna back to the house +and stay there until I come.”</p> + +<p>The two little girls walked silently back to the house. The battle that +had been so feared was over; the enemy was conquered, and Rebecca and +Anna knew that by their bringing the powder from Chandler’s River they +had helped to win the conflict. But just then they did not think of +that. They could think only of the wounded men, who had been so +carefully brought on shore by their companions.</p> + +<p>On the following day the inhabitants, such as were not caring for the +wounded English and American soldiers, gathered at the liberty pole. It +was a quiet and reverent gathering. Several men of the settlement had +been wounded, and two had given their lives for America’s cause. Parson +Lyon gave loving tribute to these heroes, as he offered thanks for the +triumph of loyalty.</p> + +<p>And then, before all the people, he praised Rebecca and Anna Weston for +their courage in undertaking the difficult and dangerous journey through +the wilderness to bring aid to the settlement.</p> + +<p>“Step forward, Rebecca and Anna Weston,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span> he said smilingly; and, a +little fearfully, the sisters, hand in hand, left their mother’s side +and approached the liberty pole. Taking each by the hand Parson Lyon +smiled down upon them.</p> + +<p>There was a little murmur of approval among the people, and one by one +the older members of the congregation came forward and praised the +little girls.</p> + +<p>“It is Rebby who should be praised, not me,” Anna insisted. “It is not +fair for me to be praised.” While Rebecca, in her turn, declared eagerly +that she could never have brought home the powder without Anna’s help.</p> + +<p>There were many hard and troublous days ahead for the little settlement, +but their courage did not falter. The valor of the Machias men was +speedily recognized by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, who, on +June 26, 1775, passed a resolution extending to them the thanks of the +Congress for their courageous conduct. The news of the brilliant victory +was heralded throughout the land, stimulating the colonists everywhere +to emulate the example of the courageous settlers of Machias.</p> + +<p>Rebecca often thought of her former friend, Lucia Horton; but she never +told the story of the night when, misled by Lucia’s plausible story,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span> +she had tried to defeat the loyalty of the settlers by setting their +liberty tree adrift. As she looked up at the tall sapling, the emblem of +the loyalty of the settlement, she was proud indeed that she had been of +use in its protection.</p> + +<p>Anna’s gold chain was her greatest treasure. It was shown to every +little girl in the settlement, and each one knew its story. The golden +sovereign given to Rebecca was no less highly prized.</p> + +<p>“That sovereign has a value beyond money. It is a medal for valor,” her +father said; and on the year when peace was firmly established between +England and America Rebecca’s golden sovereign was smoothed, and upon it +these words were engraved:</p> + +<p class="center" style="font-style: italic"> +“Presented<br /> +to<br /> +A Brave Little<br /> +Maid of Maine,<br /> +For Loyalty,<br /> +June, 1775.”<br /> +</p> + +<hr class="major" /> + +<table summary="book listing"> +<tr><td style="text-align: center">The Stories In this Series are:</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap" style="font-size: 80%;">A LITTLE MAID OF PROVINCE TOWN.<br /> +A LITTLE MAID OF MASSACHUSETTS COLONY.<br /> +A LITTLE MAID OF NARRAGANSETT BAY.<br /> +A LITTLE MAID OF BUNKER HILL.<br /> +A LITTLE MAID OF TICONDEROGA.<br /> +A LITTLE MAID OF OLD CONNECTICUT.<br /> +A LITTLE MAID OF OLD PHILADELPHIA.<br /> +A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE.<br /> +A LITTLE MAID OF OLD NEW YORK.<br /> +A LITTLE MAID OF VIRGINIA.</span></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<div class="tnote"> +<h3>Transcriber’s Notes</h3> +<ol> +<li>Punctuation has been normalized to contemporary standards.</li> +<li>Illustrations on pages 77 and 175 were not tipped in as verified in multiple copies of this book.</li> +<li>On page 66, Rebecca's birthday is inconsistently reported as the 10th of May and the 10th of September.</li> +</ol> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Little Maid of Old Maine, by Alice Turner Curtis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE *** + +***** This file should be named 20340-h.htm or 20340-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/4/20340/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Little Maid of Old Maine + +Author: Alice Turner Curtis + +Release Date: January 11, 2007 [EBook #20340] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[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 two +girls to bring help to a little settlement on the Maine coast at the +time of the War of the Revolution. Parson Lyon, the father of Melvina, +was a friend and correspondent of Washington, and the capture of the +English gunboat by the Machias men is often referred to in history as +"The Lexington of the Seas," being the first naval battle after the +Lexington encounter. + +The story is based on facts, and its readers cannot fail to be +interested and touched by the courage and patriotism of Rebecca and Anna +Weston as they journeyed through the forest after the powder that was to +make 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 along +the path that led from their home to the Machias River. It was a +pleasant May morning in 1775, and the air was filled with the fragrance +of the freshly cut pine logs that had been poled down the river in big +rafts to be cut into planks and boards at the big sawmills. The river, +unusually full with the spring rains, dashed against its banks as if +inviting the little girls to play a game with it. Usually Anna and +Rebecca were quite ready to linger at the small coves which crept in so +near to the footpath, and sail boats made of pieces of birch-bark, with +alder twigs for masts and broad oak leaves for sails. They named these +boats _Polly_ and _Unity_, after the two fine sloops which carried +lumber from Machias to Boston and returned with cargoes of provisions +for the little settlement. + +But this morning the girls hurried along without a thought for such +pleasant games. They were both anxious to get to the lumber yard as soon +as possible, not only to fill their basket with chips, as their mother +had bidden them, but to hear if there were not some news of the _Polly_, +the return of which was anxiously awaited; for provisions were getting +scarce in this remote village, and not until the _Polly_ should come +sailing into harbor could there be any sugar cakes, or even bread made +of wheat flour. + +As they hurried along they heard the cheerful whistle of Mr. Worden +Foster, the blacksmith, who was just then taking a moment of well-earned +leisure in the door of his shop, and stood looking out across the quiet +waters of the river and harbor. As the girls came near he nodded +pleasantly, but did not stop whistling. People in Machias declared that +the blacksmith woke up in the morning whistling, and never stopped +except to eat. And, indeed, his little daughter Luretta said that when +her father wanted a second helping of anything at the table he would +whistle and point toward it with his knife; so it might be said that +Mr. Foster whistled even at his meals. + +"There's Father! There's Father!" Anna called out as they passed a big +pile of pine logs and came to where stacks of smooth boards just from +the sawmill shut the river from sight. + +"Well, Danna, do you and Rebby want your basket filled with golden +oranges from sunny Italy and dates from Egypt? Or shall it be with +Brazilian nuts and ripe pineapples from South America?" + +"Oh, Father! Say some more!" exclaimed Anna, laughing with delight; for +she never tired of hearing her father tell of the wonderful fruits of +far-off lands that he had seen in his sailor days, before he came to +live in the little settlement of Machias, in the Province of Maine, and +manage the big sawmill. + +"Father, tell us, is the _Polly_ coming up the bay?" Rebecca asked +eagerly. She had a particular reason for wanting the sloop to reach +harbor as soon as possible, for her birthday was close at hand, and her +father had told her that the _Polly_ was bringing her a fine gift; but +what it was Rebecca could not imagine. She had guessed everything from a +gold ring to a prayer-book; but at every guess her father had only +smilingly shook his head. + +"No sign of the _Polly_ yet, Rebby," Mr. Weston replied. + +Rebecca sighed as her father called her "Rebby," and a little frown +showed itself on her forehead. She was nearly fourteen, and she had +decided that neither "Rebecca" nor "Rebby" were names that suited her. +Her middle name was "Flora," and only that morning Anna had promised not +to 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, this +morning," he continued, taking the basket, "but pine chips. Well, come +over here and we will soon fill the basket," and he led the way to where +two men were at work with sharp adzes smoothing down a big stick of +timber. + +In a few minutes the basket was filled, and the little girls were on +their way home. + +"Would it not be a fine thing, Rebby, if we could really fill our basket +with pineapples and sweet-smelling spices?" said Anna, her brown eyes +looking off into space, as if she fancied she could see the wonderful +things of which her father spoke; "and do you not wish that we were both +boys, 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 see +them. Have you not heard Father say that there were no more beautiful +places in all the world than the shores of this Province?" responded +Rebecca reprovingly. She sometimes thought that it would have been far +better if Anna had really been a boy instead of a girl; for the younger +girl delighted to be called "Dan," and had persuaded her mother to keep +her brown curls cut short "like a boy's"; beside this, Anna cared little +for dolls, and was completely happy when her father would take her with +him for a day's deep-sea fishing, an excursion which Rebecca could never +be persuaded to attempt. Anna was also often her father's companion on +long tramps in the woods, where he went to mark trees to be cut for +timber. She wore moccasins on these trips, made by the friendly Indians +who often visited the little settlement, and her mother had made her a +short skirt of tanned deerskin, such as little Indian girls sometimes +wear, and with her blue blouse of homespun flannel, and round cap with a +partridge wing on one side, Anna looked like a real little daughter of +the woods as she trotted sturdily along beside her tall father. + +As the sisters passed the blacksmith shop they could hear the ringing +stroke on the anvil, for Mr. Foster had returned to his work of +hammering out forks for pitching hay and grain; these same forks which +were fated to be used before many months passed as weapons against the +enemies of American liberty. + +"To-morrow I am to go with Father to the woods," announced Anna as they +came in sight of the comfortable log cabin which stood high above the +river, and where they could see their mother standing in the doorway +looking for their return. The girls waved and called to their mother as +they hurried up the path. + +"We have fine chips, Mother," called Rebecca, while Anna in a sing-song +tone called out: "Pineapples and sweet-smelling spices! Strings of pink +coral and shells from far lands." + +Rebecca sighed to herself as she heard Anna's laughing recital of their +father's words. She resolved to ask her mother to forbid Anna talking +in 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 bellows +to liven up the coals, and I have a fine venison steak to broil for +dinner," and as she spoke Mrs. Weston took the basket and hurried into +the house, followed by the girls. + +"Mother, what is a 'liberty pole'?" questioned Anna, kneeling on the +hearth to help her mother start the fire with the pine chips. + +"What dost thou mean, child? Surely the men are not talking of such +matters as liberty poles?" responded her mother anxiously. + +Anna nodded her head. "Yes, Mother. There is to be a 'liberty pole' set +up so it can be well seen from the harbor, for so I heard Mr. O'Brien +say; and Father is to go to the woods to-morrow to find it. It is to be +the straightest and handsomest sapling pine to be found in a day's +journey; that much I know," declared Anna eagerly; "but tell me why is +it to be called a 'liberty pole'? And why is it to be set up so it can +be well seen from the harbor?" + +"Thou knowest, Anna, that King George of England is no longer the true +friend of American liberty," said Mrs. Weston, "and the liberty pole is +set up to show all Tories on land or sea that we mean to defend our +homes. And if the men are talking of putting up the tree of liberty in +Machias I fear that trouble is near at hand. But be that as it may, our +talking of such matters will not make ready thy father's dinner. Blaze +up the fire with these chips, Anna; and thou, Rebby, spread the table." + +Both the girls hastened to obey; but Anna's thoughts were pleasantly +occupied with the morrow's excursion when she would set forth with her +father to discover the "handsome sapling pine tree," which was to be +erected as the emblem of the loyalty of the Machias settlement to +Freedom's call. Anna knew they would follow one of the Indian trails +through the forest, where she would see many a wild bird, and that the +day would be filled with delight. + +But Rebecca's thoughts were not so pleasant. Here it was the fifth of +May, 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 and +unhappy. Only yesterday she had spent the afternoon with her most +particular friend, Lucia Horton, whose father was captain of the +_Polly_; and Lucia had told Rebecca something of such importance, after +vowing her to secrecy, that this talk of a liberty pole really +frightened her. And the thought that her own father was to select it +brought the danger very near. She wished that Lucia had kept the secret +to 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 she +quite forgot her errand until her mother called: + +"Rebby! Rebby! What are you about in the cupboard?" Then, bringing only +one plate instead of four, she came slowly back to the kitchen. + +"What ails the child?" questioned Mrs. Weston sharply. "I declare, I +believe both of my children are losing their wits. Here is Anna making +rhymes and sing-songing her words in strange fashion; and thou, Rebecca, +a girl of nearly fourteen, careless of thy work, and standing before me +on one foot like a heron, staring at naught," and Mrs. Weston hurried to +the pantry for the forgotten dishes. + +Anna smiled at her mother's sharp words, for she did not mind being +called 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 she +added more chips to the fire, and thought no more of it. + +But Rebecca, who was used to being praised for her good sense and who +was seldom found fault with, had looked at her mother in surprise, and +the 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 put +up a liberty pole, will you? You won't! Promise you won't, Father!" and +she clasped his arm with both hands. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + REBECCA'S SECRET + + +Mr. Weston looked down smilingly at his little daughter. He was +evidently 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 came +to this far-off place to make their home. Eastern Maine was then a +wilderness, and this little village was not connected with the outside +world except by the Indian trails or by the sailing craft which plied up +and down the coast. But its citizens were soon to write a page of +heroism and valor in their country's history. + +"Of course Machias is to have a liberty pole," continued Mr. Weston. "It +has been so decided by a vote in a town meeting; and Dan and I will +start off in good season to-morrow morning to look for the finest pine +sapling in the forest. It will be a great day for the village when 'tis +set up, with its waving green plume to show that we are pledged to +resist England's injustice to her long-suffering colonies." + +It was the custom to leave a tuft of verdure at the top of the liberty +tree as an emblem, the best they had at command, of the flag they meant +to fight for. + +Before her father had finished speaking Rebecca had relinquished her +grasp on his arm and ran toward the cupboard, and neither her father nor +mother gave much thought to her anxious question. The venison was just +ready to serve, and Mrs. Weston hurried from the fireplace to the table, +on which Rebecca had now placed the dishes, while Mr. Weston and Anna +talked happily together over the proposed excursion on the following +day. + +"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, and +you know: + + "'When sea-birds fly to land + A storm is at hand.'" + +"But look at Malty," responded Anna quickly, pointing to the fat Maltese +cat 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 will +hope for fair weather." + +Rebecca was very silent at dinner, and as the sisters began to clear +away the dishes Anna watched her with troubled eyes. + +"Perhaps it's because I called her 'Rebby,'" thought the little girl +regretfully. "I'll tell her I am sorry," and when their mother left the +kitchen Anna whispered: + +"Flora, I forgot when I called you 'Rebby.' But I will now surely +remember. You are not vexed at me, are you?" and Anna leaned her head +against her sister's arm and looked up at her pleadingly. + +Rebecca sniffed a little, as if trying to keep back the tears. She +wished she could talk over her worries with Anna; but of course that +would never do. + +"I believe I'd rather be called 'Rebby,'" she managed to say, to the +surprise of her younger sister. "Do you suppose they really mean to put +up a liberty pole?" + +"Of course," responded Anna. "I heard the minister say that it must be +done." + +Rebby sighed dolefully. She was old enough to understand the talk she +heard constantly of His Majesty's ships of war capturing the American +fishing sloops, and of the many troubles caused to peaceable Americans +all along the coast; and she, like all the American children, knew that +their rights must be defended; but Lucia Horton's talk had frightened +and confused Rebecca's thoughts. To set up a liberty pole now seemed to +her a most dangerous thing to do, and something that would bring only +trouble. + +She wished with all her heart that she could tell her father all that +Lucia 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 there +this afternoon, and we could see the _Polly_ if she chances to come into +harbor to-day," said Anna. + +"You had best ask Luretta Foster, Danna," she answered quickly. "I am +sure Mother will want my help with her quilting this afternoon." + +Rebby so often played at being "grown up" that this reply did not +surprise Anna, and she ran off to find her mother and ask permission to +go 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 was +running along the river path toward the blacksmith shop where a short +path led to Luretta's home. + +Anna often thought that there could not be another little girl in all +the world as pretty as Luretta. Luretta was not as tall or as strongly +made as Anna; her eyes were as blue as the smooth waters of the harbor +on a summer's day; her hair was as yellow as the floss on an ear of +corn, and her skin was not tanned brown like Anna's, but was fair and +delicate. Beside her Anna looked more like a boy than ever. But Luretta +admired Anna's brown eyes and short curly hair, and was quite sure that +there was no other little girl who could do or say such clever things as +Anna Weston. So the two little girls were always well pleased with each +other's company, and to-day Luretta was quite ready to go down to the +shore and watch for the _Polly_. Mrs. Foster tied on the big sunbonnet +which 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 may +be the _Unity_ will come sailing in beside her loaded with things from +far 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," she +answered; "but 'tis said the _Polly_ is to bring a fine silk gown for +Mistress Lyon; 'tis a present from her sister in Boston, and two dolls +for Melvina Lyon. Why is it that ministers' daughters have so many +gifts?" and Luretta sighed. Her only doll was made of wood, and, though +it was very dear to her, Luretta longed for a doll with a china head and +hands, such as the fortunate little daughter of the minister already +possessed. + +"I care not for Melvina Lyon, if she be a minister's daughter," Anna +responded bravely. "She can do nothing but sew and knit and make fine +cakes, and read from grown-up books. She is never allowed to go +fishing, or wade in the cove on warm days, or go off in the woods as I +do. I doubt if Melvina Lyon could tell the difference 'twixt a partridge +and heron, or if she could tell a spruce tree from a fir. And as for +presents, hers are of no account. They are but dolls, and silver +thimbles and silk aprons. Why! did not my father bring me home a fine +beaver skin for a hood, and a pair of duck's wings, and a pair of +moccasins 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 your +presents are all from the woods, just as if you were a little Indian +girl," objected Luretta, who greatly admired the ruffled gowns of +Melvina's dolls, such as no other little girl in the settlement +possessed. + +Anna made no response to this; but she was surprised that Luretta should +not think as she did about the value of her gifts, and rather vexed that +Melvina Lyon should be praised by her own particular friend. + +The girls had passed the sawmill and lumber yard, and now turned from +the well-traveled path to climb a hill where they could catch the first +glimpse of any sail entering the harbor. Farther along this bluff stood +the church, not yet quite finished, and beyond it the house of the +minister, the Reverend James Lyon, whose little daughter, Melvina, was +said to be the best behaved and the smartest girl in the settlement. +Although only ten years old Melvina had already "pieced" four patchwork +quilts and quilted them; and her neat stitches were the admiration of +all the women of the town. But most of the little girls were a little in +awe of Melvina, who never cared to play games, and always brought her +knitting or sewing when she came for an afternoon visit. + +Anna and Luretta sat down on the short grass, and for a few moments +talked of the _Polly_, and looked in vain for the glimmer of a sail. + +"Look, Danna! Here comes Melvina now," whispered Luretta, whose quick +ears 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 intent +on her steps that, if Anna had not called her name, she would have +passed without seeing them. She was thin and dark, and looked more like +a little old lady than a ten-year-old girl. + +"How do you do?" she said, bowing as ceremoniously as if Luretta and +Anna 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," added +Luretta quickly. + +A little smile crept over Melvina's face and she took a step toward +them, but stopped suddenly. + +"I fear 'twould not be wise for me to stop," she said a little +fearfully; but before she could say anything more Anna and Luretta had +jumped up and ran toward her. + +"Look!" exclaimed Anna, pointing to a flock of white gulls that had just +settled 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," she +responded seriously. + +Anna's eyes danced with delight as she heard Luretta's half-repressed +giggle at Melvina's reply. She resolved that Luretta should realize of +how little importance Melvina Lyon, with all her dolls, and her starched +skirts like wheels, really was. + +"And are those not big alder trees, Melly?" she continued, pointing to a +group 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 trees +were 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 it +necessary to try to be polite; and Luretta was now ready to join in the +game of finding out how little Melvina Lyon, "the smartest and +best-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 girls +could not be laughing at her, she thought, recalling with satisfaction +that it was well known that she could spell the names of every city in +Europe, and repeat the list of all England's kings and queens. She +remembered, also, that Anna Weston was called a tomboy, and that her +mother said it was a scandal for a little girl to have short hair. So +she again replied pleasantly that she had never known that clams were +birds. "We have them stewed very often," she declared. + +Anna fairly danced about the neat little figure in the well-starched +blue linen skirt. + +"Oh, Melly! You must come down to the shore, and we will show you a +clam's nest," she said, remembering that only yesterday she had +discovered the nest of a kingfisher in an oak tree whose branches nearly +touched 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, while +Luretta promptly grasped the other, and half led, half pushed the +surprised and uncertain Melvina along the rough slope. Anna talked +rapidly as they hurried along. "You ought really to see a clam's nest," +she urged, between her bursts of laughter; "why, Melly, even Luretta and +I know about clams." + +Anna had not intended to be rude or cruel when she first began her game +of letting Luretta see that Melly and her possessions were of no +importance, but Melvina's ignorance of the common things about her, as +well as her neatly braided hair, her white stockings and kid shoes, such +as no other child in the village possessed, made Anna feel as if Melvina +was not a real little girl, but a dressed-up figure. She chuckled at the +thought of Luretta's calling clams "birds," with a new admiration for +her friend. + +"I guess after this Luretta won't always be talking about Melvina Lyon +and her dolls," she thought triumphantly; and at that moment Melvina's +foot slipped and all three of the little girls went sliding down the +sandy bluff. + +The slide did not matter to either Anna or Luretta, in their stout shoes +and every-day dresses of coarse flannel, but to the carefully dressed +Melvina it was a serious mishap. Her starched skirts were crushed and +stained, her white stockings soiled, and her slippers scratched. The hat +of fine-braided straw with its ribbon band, another "present" from the +Boston relatives, now hung about her neck, and her knitting-bag was +lost. + +As the little girls gathered themselves up Melvina began to cry. Her +delicate hands were scratched, and never before in her short life had +she been so frightened and surprised. + +She pulled herself away from Anna's effort to straighten her hat. "You +are a rough child," she sobbed, "and I wish I had not stopped to speak +with 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 about +showing her a "clam's nest," and became seriously frightened. After all, +Melly was the minister's daughter, and the Reverend Mr. Lyon was a +person of importance; why, he even had a colored body-servant, London +Atus by name, who usually walked behind the clergyman carrying his cloak +and Bible, and who opened the door for visitors. Often Melvina was +attended in her walks by London, who thought his little mistress far +superior to the other children. + +"Don't cry, Melvina," pleaded Luretta. "We will find your bag, and we +will wash the stains from your stockings and dress, and help you back up +the slope. Don't cry," and Luretta put a protecting arm about the +frightened Melvina. "Your hat has only slipped from your head; it is +not hurt at all," she added consolingly. + +Melvina was finally comforted, and Anna climbed up the slope to search +for the missing bag, while Luretta persuaded Melvina to take off her +stockings in order that they might be washed. + +"They'll dry in no time," Luretta assured her. "I can wash them out +right 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-work +stockings, and curling her feet under her, sat down on a big rock to +watch Luretta dip the stockings in the little pool of sea water near by, +and to send anxious glances toward the sandy bluff where Anna was +searching for the missing bag. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + MELVINA MAKES DISCOVERIES + + +The sun shone warmly down on the brown ledges, the little waves crept up +the shore with a pleasant murmur, and Melvina, watching Luretta dipping +her white stockings in the pool, began to feel less troubled and +unhappy; and when Anna came running toward her waving the knitting-bag +she even smiled, and was ready to believe that her troubles were nearly +over. + +In spite of the sunshine dark clouds were gathering along the western +horizon; but the girls did not notice this. Anna and Luretta had +forgotten all about the sloop _Polly_, and were both now a little +ashamed of their plan to make sport of Melvina. + +"Here is your bag all safe, Melly," called Anna, "and while Luretta is +washing 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 to +Melvina, who put it carefully beside her hat and agreed promptly to +Anna's suggestion, stepping carefully along the rough shore to the edge +of the water. The rocks hurt her tender feet, but she said nothing; and +when she was near the water she could not resist dipping first one foot +and then the other in the rippling tide. + +"Oh, I have always wanted to wade in the ocean," she exclaimed, "and the +water is not cold." + +As Anna listened to Melvina's exclamation a new and wonderful plan came +into her thoughts; something she decided that would make up to Melvina +for her mischievous fun. She resolved quickly that Melvina Lyon should +have the happiest afternoon of her life. + +"Melly, come back a little way and slip off your fine skirts. I'll take +off 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 Luretta +nodded. + +The stains did not seem to come out of the stockings; they looked gray +and streaked, so Luretta dipped them again, paying little attention to +her companions. + +[Illustration: "WE'LL WADE OUT TO FLAT ROCK"] + +Melvina followed Anna's suggestion, and her starched skirts and hat were +left well up the beach with Anna's stout shoes and stockings, and the +two 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 pebbly +beach ended in soft mud that would not hurt Melvina's feet, so she led +her boldly out. + +"It's fun," declared Melvina, her dark eyes dancing as she smiled at +Anna, 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 leaned +away from her and with her free hand swept the water toward her, +spraying Anna and herself. In a moment both the girls had forgotten all +about their clothes, and were chasing each other along the water's edge +splashing in good earnest, and laughing and calling each other's names +in wild delight. Farther up the shore Luretta, a draggled stocking in +each hand, looked at them a little enviously, and wondered a little at +the sudden change in Melvina's behavior. + +"Now show me the clam's nest!" Melvina demanded, as out of breath and +thoroughly drenched the two girls stood laughing at each other. + +"All right," Anna responded promptly. "Come on down to the point," and +followed by Melvina, now apparently careless of the rough beach, she ran +along the shore toward a clam bed in the dark mud. + +"Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to the black flats-mud. "There is the +clam'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 really +are." + +"And those birds are gulls, not partridges," continued Anna, pointing to +the flock of gulls near shore, "and come here and I will show you a real +alder," and the two girls climbed over a ledge to where a little thicket +of alder bushes crept down close to the rocks. + +"And those splendid tall trees are pines," went on Anna, pointing to the +group of tall trees on the bluff. + +Melvina laughed delightedly. "Why, you know all about everything," she +exclaimed, "even if your hair is short like a boy's." + +"I know all the trees in the forest," declared Anna, "and I know where +squirrels hide their nuts for winter, and where beavers make their +houses in the river." + +The two girls were now beyond the ledge and out of sight of Luretta, and +Anna was so eager to tell Melvina of the wonderful creatures of the +forest, and Melvina, feeling as if she had discovered a new world, +listened with such pleasure, that for the moment they both forgot all +about Luretta. + +At first Luretta had been well pleased to see that Melvina was no longer +vexed and unhappy; but when both her companions disappeared, and she +found herself alone with Melvina's soiled and discarded skirts and the +wet stockings, she began to feel that she was not fairly treated, and +resolved to go home. + +"Dan can play with Melvina Lyon if she likes her so much," thought +Luretta resentfully, and started off up the slope. Luretta was nearly as +tidy as when she left home, so she would have no explanations to make on +her return. As she went up the slope she turned now and then and looked +back, but there was no sign of Anna or Melvina. "I don't care," thought +the little girl unhappily. "Perhaps they will think I am drowned when +they come back and don't find me." She had just reached the top of the +slope and turned toward home when she saw London Atus hurrying along the +path that led to the church. + +"Perhaps he has been sent after Melvina, and can't find her," thought +Luretta; and she was right; the colored man had been to Captain Horton's +house to walk home with his little mistress, and had been told that +Melvina had not been there that afternoon; and he was now hurrying home +with this alarming news. + +Anna and Melvina were now comfortably seated on a grassy knoll near the +alder bushes, Melvina asking questions about woodland birds, and the +wild creatures of the forest, which Anna answered with delight. + +"Perhaps you can go with Father and me to the forest to-morrow," said +Anna. "We are going to find a liberty pole, and 'twill be a fine walk." + +"I know about liberty poles," declared Melvina eagerly, "and my father +is well pleased that the town is to set one up. But, oh, Anna! surely it +is time that I went on to my visit with Lucia Horton!" and Melvina's +face grew troubled. "Do you think Luretta Foster will have my clothes +in good order?" + +At Melvina's words Anna sprang to her feet. "I think she will do her +best, and 'tis well for us to hurry," she responded; "but you have had a +good time, have you not, Melvina?" + +"Oh, yes! I would like well to play about on the shore often; but I fear +I may never again," said Melvina; her smile had vanished, and she looked +tired and anxious. + +"Let us hasten; the tide is coming in now, and Luretta will have taken +our things up from the beach," said Anna, taking Melvina's hand and +hurrying her along over the ledges. "I am glad indeed, Melvina, that we +are better acquainted, and we will often wade together." + +But Melvina shook her head dolefully. "My mother does not like me to +play out-of-doors," she said. "Do you think, Anna, that Luretta is quite +sure to have my things clean and nice?" + +The two little girls had now come in sight of the place where they had +left Luretta. They both stopped and looked at each other in dismay, for +the tide had swept up the beach covering the pool where Luretta had +endeavored to wash the stockings, and the rocks where Anna and Melvina +had left their things, and there was no trace either of Luretta or of +their belongings. + +"Luretta has taken our things up the slope," declared Anna. "She saw the +tide would sweep them away, so she did not wait for us." + +"But how can we find her?" wailed Melvina. "I cannot go up the slope +barefooted and in my petticoat. What would my father say if he met me in +such a plight? He tells me often to remember to set a good example to +other children. And I would be ashamed indeed to be seen like this." + +"You do look funny," Anna acknowledged soberly. Her own flannel dress +had dried, and, except for her bare feet, she looked about as usual; but +Melvina's white petticoat was still wet and draggled, her hair untidy, +and it was doubtful if her own father would have recognized her at the +first glance. + +"I will go and get your things," said Anna. "Come up the slope a little +way, and sit down behind those juniper bushes until I come back. Luretta +must be near the pine trees. I'll hurry right back, and you can dress in +a minute." + +Melvina agreed to this plan, and followed Anna slowly up to the juniper +bushes, and crouched down well under their branches so that she was +completely hidden from view; while Anna scrambled hurriedly up the slope +and looked anxiously about for some sign of Luretta and the missing +garments. But there was no sign of either; so she ran along the bluff to +where the pines offered shelter, thinking Luretta must surely be there. + +And now Anna began to be seriously alarmed. Perhaps Luretta had been +swept out by the tide before she could save herself. And at this thought +Anna forgot all about shoes and stockings, all Melvina's fine garments, +and even Melvina herself, and ran as fast as her feet could carry her +toward Luretta's home. At the blacksmith shop she stopped to take +breath, 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; but +Anna did not realize that the hour was so late, and ran swiftly on. + +As she neared the house she stopped suddenly, for Luretta was standing +in the doorway, and Rebecca was beside her, and they were both looking +at Anna. There was no time to turn and run back. + +"Why, Dan! Where are your shoes and stockings?" said Rebecca, coming +down the path to meet her sister. "You were so late in coming home that +Mother sent me to meet you." + +"What did Luretta say?" gasped Anna, thinking to herself that if Luretta +had told of Melvina, and their making sport of her, that there was +trouble in store for them all. + +"Luretta hadn't time to say anything," responded Rebecca, "for I had +just reached the door when we saw you coming. Now we'll get your shoes +and stockings and start home, for Mother is waiting supper for us." + +"Luretta has my shoes," said Anna, and ran on to the door, where Luretta +was still waiting. + +"Give me my shoes and stockings; quick, Lu! And then take all Melvina's +things and run, as fast as you can, to the----" + +"Luretta! Luretta!" called Mrs. Foster; and Luretta with a hurried +whisper: "Oh, Anna! I haven't her things. Don't say a word about +Melvina," vanished into the house. + +"Come, Anna," called Rebecca reprovingly. "Father will come to look for +us if you do not hasten. Why did not Luretta give you back your shoes +and stockings?" she asked as Anna came slowly down the path. "It's a +stupid game for her to keep them, I will say;" and she put a protecting +arm across her sister's shoulder. "But do not feel bad, Dan, dear; she +will bring them over before bedtime, if the storm holds off; and Mother +has 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 may +not notice your bare feet," exclaimed Rebecca. + +Usually the Reverend Mr. Lyon was very ceremonious in his greeting to +the children of the parish; but to-night he wasted no time in +salutations. + +"Have you seen Melvina?" he asked anxiously. "She left home early this +afternoon 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 home +from Mr. Foster's, and have seen naught of Melvina." + +Mr. Lyon turned and hurried back toward the main path, where London Atus +was inquiring at every house if anyone had seen his little mistress; but +no one had news of her. + +"What can have befallen Melvina Lyon? And there's a storm coming up. I +do hope no harm has come to her," said Rebecca, as she hurried Anna +along 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 hope +we'll reach home before it breaks," and she started to run, pulling Anna +along 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 wished +only to outrun her in the race home. So she ran quickly after her, and +when at the turn by the blacksmith shop she lost sight of Anna she only +thought that the younger girl was hidden by the turn of the path, and +not until she pushed open the kitchen door did Rebecca realize that Anna +had run away from her, that she had not meant to come home. + +"Just in time," said Mr. Weston, drawing Rebecca in and closing the door +against 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 night +at Mr. Foster's." + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + AT MR. LYON'S + + +Anna raced back along the path to the bluff as fast as she could go; but +the 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 the +approaching storm, she could no longer see her way clearly, and stubbed +her 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 of +Melvina, 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 to +make myself out as cleverer than she. Oh! If she is only safe I'll never +try to be clever again," she vowed, as she fought her way on against +wind and rain. + +As she reached the top of the bluff there was a moment's lull in the +storm, and Anna could clearly see the wide branched juniper bushes where +she had left Melvina. + +"Melly! Melly!" she called, scrambling down the slope. But there was no +answer; and in a moment Anna realized that Melvina was not under the +trees. + +The storm began again with even greater violence, and Anna was obliged +to cling closely to the rough branches to keep from being swept down the +slope. She could hear the dash of the waves on the shore, and she +trembled at the thought that Melvina might have been swept down into the +angry 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 stand +upright until she had reached the top. + +She knew what she must do now, and she did not hesitate. She must go +straight to Mr. Lyon's house and tell him the story from the moment that +she had told Melvina that pine trees were alders. For a moment she +wondered what would become of her afterward; but only for a moment did +she think of herself. + +It seemed to the little girl that she would never reach the minister's +house. For a moment she rested in the shelter of the church, and then +dragged herself on. Her feet hurt so badly now that it was all she could +do to walk. + +There were lights to be seen, up-stairs and down, at the parsonage; but +Anna did not wonder at this. She managed to reach the front door and to +lift 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 curly +brown head. + +"If you please, I am Anna Weston," faltered the little girl. "I--I--must +see 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 a +door leading into his study. + +"What is it, London?" he questioned, and seeing Anna, lifted his hands +in amazement. + +Anna stumbled toward him. + +"I am to blame about Melvina!" she exclaimed, and, speaking as quickly +as she could, she told the whole story. She told it exactly as it had +happened, excepting Luretta's part of the mischief, and Melvina's +willingness 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 a +little mist of steam rose from her wet clothes. + +The minister listened, keeping Anna's cold little hand fast in his +friendly clasp. His face was very grave, and when she finished with: "Is +Melvina safe? London said she was. But, oh, Mr. Lyon, all her fine +clothes are swept away, and it is my fault," he smiled down at her +troubled face. + +"Be in no further alarm, my child. But come with me, for your feet are +cut and bruised, and Mrs. Lyon will give you dry clothing. Melvina does +not blame you in her story of this mischievous prank. But I doubt not +you are both blameworthy. But 'twill be your parents' duty to see to thy +punishment." As the minister spoke he drew her toward a door at the far +end of the room and opened it, calling for Mrs. Lyon, who rose from her +seat near a low table in front of the big kitchen fireplace. + +All Anna's courage had vanished. She hung her head, not daring to look +at 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 you +are to spend the night here. They will not be anxious about you," said +Mrs. Lyon; "and now slip out of those wet garments. I have warm water to +bathe your feet," and almost before Anna realized what was happening she +found herself in a warm flannel wrapper, her bruised feet bathed and +wrapped in comforting bandages, and a bowl of hot milk and corn bread on +the little table beside her. When this was finished Mrs. Lyon led the +little girl to a tiny chamber at the head of the stairs. A big bedstead +seemed nearly to fill the room. + +"Say your prayers, Anna," said Mrs. Lyon, and without another word she +left the little girl alone. Anna was so thoroughly tired out that even +the strange dark room did not prevent her from going to sleep, and when +she awoke the tiny room was full of sunshine; she could hear robins +singing in the maples near the house, and people moving about +down-stairs. Then she sat up in bed with a little shiver of +apprehension. + +What would the minister and Mrs. Lyon and Melvina say to her? Perhaps +none of them would even speak to her. She had never been so unhappy in +her life as she was at that moment. She slipped out of bed; but the +moment her feet touched the floor she cried out with pain. For they were +bruised 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 these +are your shoes and stockings!" and she set down the stout shoes and the +knit stockings that Anna had supposed had been swept out to sea. + +"When you are dressed come to the kitchen and your breakfast will be +ready," said Mrs. Lyon, and left the room before Anna had courage to +speak. Anna dressed quickly; but in spite of her endeavors she could not +get 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 went +slowly down the steep stairs. + +When she was nearly down she heard Mrs. Lyon's voice: "She is a +mischievous 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 face +people 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. The +front door was wide open. There was no trace of the storm of the +previous night, and Anna made her way softly across the entry and down +the steps. Every step hurt, but she hurried along and had reached the +church when she gave a little cry of delight, for her father was coming +up the path. + +"Well, here's my Danna safe and sound," he exclaimed, picking her up in +his arms. "And what has happened to her little feet?" he asked, as he +carried her on toward home. + +And then Anna told all her sad story again, even to the words she had +overheard Mrs. Lyon say. + +"Don't worry, Danna! I'd rather have my Dan than a dozen of their +Melvinas," said Mr. Weston quickly. + +When London had come the previous night with the brief message from the +minister that Anna was safe at his house and would stay the night there, +the Westons had been vexed and troubled, and Mrs. Weston had declared +that Anna should be punished for running off in such a tempest to the +minister's house. But as Mr. Weston listened to his little daughter's +story, and looked at her troubled and tear-stained face, he decided that +Anna had had a lesson that she would remember, and needed comforting +more than punishment; and a few whispered words to Mrs. Weston, as he +set Anna down in the big wooden rocker, made Anna's mother put her arms +tenderly about her little daughter and say kindly: + +"Mother's glad enough to have her Danna home again. And now let's look +at those feet." + +Rebby came running with a bowl of hot porridge, and the little girl was +made as comfortable as possible. But all that morning she sat in the big +chair with her feet on a cushion in a smaller chair, and she told her +mother and Rebby all the story of her adventures; and when Rebby laughed +at Melvina's not knowing an alder from a pine Danna smiled a little. But +Mrs. Weston was very sober, although she said no word of blame. If +Melvina Lyon's things had been lost it would be but right that Anna's +parents should replace them to the best of their ability, and this would +be a serious expense for the little household. + +After dinner Rebby went to the Fosters', and came home with the story of +Melvina's return home. It seemed that the moment Anna left her she +became 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, told +her story, and had been put to bed. Luretta had carried Melvina's things +and Anna's shoes and stockings well up the shore, and had put them under +the curving roots of the oak tree; so, although they were well soaked, +they were not blown away, and early that morning Luretta had hastened to +carry the things to the parsonage. + +"You were brave, Dan, to go through all that storm last night to tell +the minister," said Rebby, as she drew a footstool near her sister's +chair and sat down. Rebby was not so troubled to-day; for her father had +postponed his trip to the forest after the liberty tree, and Rebby hoped +that perhaps it would not be necessary that one should be set up in +Machias. So she was ready to keep her little sister company, and try to +make her forget the troubles of her adventures. + +"Of course I had to go, Rebby," Anna responded seriously, "but none of +it, not even my feet, hurt so bad as what Mrs. Lyon said about me. For I +do not think I am what she said," and Anna began to cry. + +"Father says you are the bravest child in the settlement; and Mother is +proud that you went straight there and took all the blame. And I am sure +that 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 for +not knowing anything. I tried to show off," she said, "and now probably +she will never want to see me again; and oh, Rebby! the worst of it all +is that Melvina is just as brave as she can be, and I like her!" And +Anna's brown eyes brightened at the remembrance of Melvina's enjoyment +of their sport together. + +"Don't you worry, Danna; Father will make it all right," Rebecca assured +her; for Rebecca thought that her father could smooth out all the +difficult places. + +Anna did not speak of the excursion to the forest; she did not even +think of it until that evening, when her father came home with a roll of +fine birch-bark, soft and smooth as paper, on whose smooth surface she +and Rebecca with bits of charcoal could trace crude pictures of trees +and Indians, of birds and mice, and sometimes write letters to Lucia +Horton or Luretta Foster. + +"You must take good care of your feet, Dan, for I must start after the +liberty 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 the +brave men of Lexington and Concord, in Massachusetts, drove the British +back to Boston on the nineteenth of April. 'Tis great news for all the +colonies. I wish some British craft would give Machias men a chance to +show their mettle," said Mr. Weston, his face flushing at the thought of +the patriotic action of the men of Massachusetts. + +Rebecca sighed. She, too, wished that her home town might do its part +to win a victory for America; but, remembering what Lucia Horton had +told her, the very mention of a liberty pole made her tremble. + +When Anna hobbled up-stairs that night she was in a much happier frame +of mind. + +"My father is the best father in all the world, and my mother is the +best mother, and my sister is the best sister," she announced to the +little group as she said good-night. But the shadow of Mrs. Lyon's +disapproval was not forgotten; Anna wondered to herself if there was not +some way by which she could win the approval of Mr. and Mrs. Lyon, and +so 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," and +with this discouraging thought her eyes closed, and she forgot her +troubles 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 were +quick 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 she +wanted her hair to grow long, and she even asked Rebecca to teach her +how to sew more evenly and with tinier stitches. + +For Anna had made a firm resolve; she would try in every possible way to +be like Melvina Lyon. She gave up so many of her out-of-door games that +Mrs. Weston looked at her a little anxiously, fearing that the child +might not be well. Every day Anna walked up the path to the church, and +lingered about hoping for a glimpse of Melvina; but a week passed and +the little girls did not meet. + +At last the day came when Mr. Weston was ready to start for the forest +to select the liberty tree; but, greatly to his surprise, Anna said that +she did not wish to go, and he started off without her. + +This was the first real sacrifice Anna had made toward becoming like +Melvina. She was quite sure that Melvina would not go for a tramp in the +forest. "It would spoil her clothes," reflected Anna, and looked +regretfully at her own stout gingham dress, wishing it could be changed +and 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 not +play any games, or hurt it. I will only walk as far as the church and +back." + +For a moment Mrs. Weston hesitated. It seemed a foolish thing to let +Anna wear her best dress on a week day; but the little girl had been so +quiet and unhappy since the night of her adventure that her mother +decided to allow her this privilege; and Anna ran up-stairs, and in a +few minutes had put on her Sunday dress. It was a blue muslin with tiny +white dots, and the neck and sleeves were edged with tiny white +ruffles. It had been Rebecca's best dress for several summers, until she +outgrew it, and it was made over for the younger girl, but Anna was very +proud of it, and stood on tiptoe to see herself reflected in the narrow +mirror between the windows of the sitting-room. Her mother had made a +sunbonnet of the same material as the dress, and Anna put this on with +satisfaction. Always before this she had despised a sunbonnet, and never +had she put it on of her own accord. But to-day she looked at it +approvingly. "No one would know but that my hair is long, and braided, +just like Melvina's," she thought as she walked slowly toward the +kitchen. + +"I will only walk to the church and straight back, Mother dear," she +said, "and then I will put on my gingham dress, and sew on my +patchwork." + +"That's a good girl. You look fine enough for a party," responded her +mother, and stood at the door watching Anna as she walked soberly down +the path. + +"I know not what has come over the child," she thought, with a little +sigh. "To be sure, she is more like other little girls, and perhaps it +is 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 wistfully +toward the parsonage. "If Mrs. Lyon could see me now she would not think +me 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 I +will behave so well that Mrs. Lyon will ask me to come often and play +with Melvina," and, quite forgetting to walk quietly, she raced along +the path in her old-time fashion until she was at the minister's door. +Then she rapped, and stood waiting, a little breathless, but smiling +happily, quite sure that a little girl in so pretty a dress and so neat +a sunbonnet would receive a warm welcome. Perhaps Mrs. Lyon would come +to the door, she thought hopefully. + +But it was Melvina herself who opened the door. Melvina, wearing a white +dress and a long apron. + +For a moment the two little girls stood looking at each other in +surprise. Then Melvina smiled radiantly. "Oh! It really is you, Anna! +Come in. I am keeping house this afternoon, and nobody will know that +you are here." + +"But I came to call on your mother. I wanted her to see me," explained +Anna. + +But Melvina did not seem to notice this explanation. She took Anna's +hand and drew her into the house. + +"Oh, Dan! wasn't it fun to wade and run on the shore?" said Melvina +eagerly, as the two girls entered the big pleasant kitchen. "I didn't +mind 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 had +to learn two tables of figures," declared Melvina triumphantly. "But I +didn't care. For I have a splendid plan----" But before Melvina could +say 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 this +little 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 taken +advantage of her absence to steal into the house, perhaps to entice +Melvina 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 short +curly locks were covered by the sunbonnet, and that she was dressed in +her best; but she was still a little doubtful. + +"Well, Anna, I am glad indeed that you are so right-minded. It is most +proper that you should be sorry. I doubt not that your good parents +punished you severely for your fault," said Mrs. Lyon. But she did not +ask Anna to sit down, or to remove her sunbonnet. Melvina looked from +Anna 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 curtsy +Anna 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 obedient +girl," she said kindly. + +Anna's tears now came thick and fast. She could hardly see the path as +she stumbled along. But if she could have heard Melvina's words as her +mother held her back from the kitchen door, she would have felt that her +visit 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 be +exactly like Danna, and do all the things she does." + +Luretta Foster, coming down the path, stopped short and stared at Anna +in amazement. It was surprising enough to see Anna dressed as if ready +for church, but to see her in tears was almost unbelievable. + +"What is the matter, Danna?" she asked, coming close to her little +friend's side, and endeavoring to peer under the sunbonnet. "Would not +your father let you go with him to the forest?" + +Anna made no answer, and when Luretta put a friendly arm about her +shoulders, she drew a little away. + +"Do not cry, Dan. My brother Paul has gone to the forest with your +father, and he promised to bring me home a rabbit to tame for a pet. I +will give it to you, Dan," said Luretta. + +For a moment Anna forgot her troubles. "Will you, truly, Luretta?" and +she pushed back her sunbonnet that she might see her friend more +clearly. + +"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 to +live in," Luretta promised generously. "I do not suppose Melvina Lyon +would know a rabbit from a wolf," she continued laughingly, quite sure +that 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 replied +quickly. "She can do sums in fractions, and she can embroider, and make +cakes. And she is brave, too." + +"Why, Dan Weston! And only last week you made fun of her, and said that +all those things were of no account," exclaimed Luretta. + +For a moment the two little friends walked on in silence, and then Anna +spoke. + +"Luretta, I'll tell you something. I am going to try to be exactly like +Melvina Lyon. Everybody praises her, and your mother and mine are always +saying that she is well-behaved. And I am going to let my hair grow long +and be well-behaved. But don't tell anyone," Anna added quickly, "for I +want Mrs. Lyon to find it out first of all." + +"Oh, Dan! And won't you make funny rhymes any more? Or play on the +timber-rafts--or--or--anything?" asked Luretta. + +"I don't believe there is any harm in making rhymes. It's something you +can't help," responded Anna thoughtfully. "And Parson Lyon has written a +book," 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, Luretta +Foster, I am surprised!" she said, and then clasping Luretta's hand she +started to run down the path, saying: "Let's hurry, so I can take off +this dress; then we will walk a little way toward the forest to see if +Father and Paul are coming. Will you truly; give me the rabbit if Paul +captures one?" + +"Yes, I will," promised Luretta; but she began to wish that she had not +suggested such a thing. If Danna was going to be exactly like Melvina +Lyon, thought Luretta, a rabbit would not receive much attention. + +Rebecca was sitting on the front step busy with her knitting as the two +little girls came up the path. It was her birthday, but so far no one +had seemed to remember it. The _Polly_ had not reached port, so the fine +present she had been promised could not be expected. But Rebecca was +surprised and disappointed that everyone had seemed to forget that she +was fourteen on the tenth of May. But as she looked up and saw Anna +dressed in her best, and Luretta beside her, coming up the path, Rebby's +face brightened. "I do believe Mother has planned a surprise for me," +she thought happily. "Oh, there comes Lucia! Now I am sure that Mother +has asked her to come, and perhaps some of the other girls," and Rebecca +put down her knitting and stood up, smiling at the girls expectantly, +for she was quite sure that their first words would be a birthday +greeting. + +At that moment Mrs. Weston, busy in her kitchen, remembered suddenly +that it was September tenth. "My Rebby's birthday! And, with my mind +full of all the worry about being shut off from the world by British +cruisers, and provisions growing so scarce, I had forgotten," and Mrs. +Weston left her work and reached the front door just as Rebecca rose to +her feet to greet her friends. + +"Fourteen to-day, Rebby dear," said Mrs. Weston, putting her arm about +her tall daughter and kissing Rebecca. + +At the same moment, hearing her mother's words, Anna ran forward calling +out: "Rebby is fourteen to-day." + +Luretta and Lucia were close behind her, and Rebecca found herself the +centre of a smiling happy group, and for the moment quite forgot that +she must do without the present from Boston that her father had promised +her. + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + LUCIA HAS A PLAN + + +"I have brought you a birthday gift, Rebby," said Lucia, who had been +looking forward all day to the moment when she could give her friend the +small package that she now handed her. + +Rebecca received it smilingly, and quickly unwound the white tissue +paper in which it was wrapped, showing a flat white box. Inside this box +lay a pair of white silk mitts. + +Rebecca looked at them admiringly, and even Mrs. Weston declared that +very few girls could hope for a daintier gift; while Anna and Luretta +urged 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 herself +that her gift was so praised and appreciated. + +"They came from France," she said. "Look on the box, Rebby, and you will +see 'Paris, France.' My father bought them of a Boston merchant, and I +have a pair for myself." + +"Are any more girls coming, Mother?" Rebecca asked as Mrs. Weston led +the way to the living-room. + +"No, my dear. And I only----" Mrs. Weston hesitated. She had started to +say that she had only remembered Rebecca's birthday a few moments +earlier; but she stopped in time, knowing it would cloud the afternoon's +pleasure; and Rebecca, smiling and delighted with Lucia's gift, and sure +that her mother had some treat ready for them, exclaimed: + +"I do not mind now so much that the _Polly_ has not arrived; for I could +have no gift finer than a pair of silk mitts." + +Anna had taken off her sunbonnet and was sitting on one of the low +rush-bottomed chairs near a window. She was very quiet, reproaching +herself in her thoughts that she had no gift for her sister. What could +she give her? For little girls in revolutionary times, especially those +in remote villages, had very few possessions of their own, and Anna had +no valued treasure that might make a present. If she had remembered in +time, she thought, she would have asked her mother to help her make a +needle-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 ready +to repeat; and even Rebecca, who knew that Anna rhymed words easily, +thought that Anna had prepared this birthday greeting, and was very +proud of her little sister. But at the words, "golden beads," a great +hope came into Rebecca's heart. Perhaps that was what the _Polly_ was +bringing 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 deciding +this question Lucia whispered to Rebecca: "When I go home be sure and +walk a little way; I want to tell you something important." + +Rebby nodded smilingly. For the moment she had entirely forgotten the +uncomfortable secret that Lucia had confided in her, and was thinking +only 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 for +them. There was no white sugar in the house, or, for that matter, in the +entire settlement. But the Westons had a small store of maple sugar, +made from the sap of the maple trees, and Mrs. Weston quickly decided +that this should be used for Rebecca's birthday celebration. She hurried +to the pantry, and when an hour later she opened the door and called the +girls to the kitchen they all exclaimed with delight. + +The round table was covered with a shining white cloth, and Mrs. Weston +had set it with her fine blue plates, that she had brought from Boston +when she came to Machias, and that were seldom used. + +By each plate stood a lustre mug filled with milk, and in the centre of +the 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 with +bowed head to say the "grace" of thanks before cutting her birthday +cake. + +Anna wished to herself that Melvina Lyon might have been one of the +guests, and shared the delicious cake. She wondered just how Melvina +would 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 Rebecca +began to laugh, thinking Anna was making believe for their amusement. + +Before the little girls left the table Mr. Weston appeared at the +kitchen door, and was quite ready to taste the cake, and again remind +Rebecca of the gift the _Polly_ was bringing. + +"Let me whisper, Father," she responded, drawing his head down near her +own. "It's _beads_!" she whispered, and when her father laughed she was +sure she was right, and almost as happy as if the longed-for gift was +around her neck. + +"Well, Paul and I found the liberty tree," said Mr. Weston, "and I cut +it down and trimmed it save for its green plume. Paul is towing it +downstream 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 flush +coming into her cheeks. "I have enjoyed the afternoon very much," she +added politely; for if Melvina Lyon was the smartest girl in the village +no one could say that any of the other little girls ever forgot to be +well-mannered. + +Rebecca followed her friend to the door, and they walked down the path +together, while Anna and Luretta questioned Mr. Weston eagerly as to +Paul's success in capturing a rabbit, and were made happy with the news +that he had secured two young rabbits, and that they were safe in the +canoe which Paul was now paddling down the river, towing the liberty +tree behind him. + +Rebecca and Lucia had gone but a few steps when Lucia whispered: "We +mustn't let them put up the liberty tree. Oh, Rebby, why didn't you try +to stop your father going after it?" + +"How could I?" responded Rebecca. "And when I said: 'Why must Machias +have a liberty pole?' he was ill pleased with me, and said I must be +loyal to America's rights. Oh, Lucia! are you sure that----" + +But Lucia's hand was held firmly over Rebby's mouth. "Ssh. Don't speak +it aloud, Rebby. For 'twould make great trouble for my father, in any +case, if people even guessed that he knew the plans of the British. But +I 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 his +best to have the liberty pole put up at once," declared Lucia. + +"But I have a plan, and you must help me," she continued. "Paul Foster +will bring the sapling close in shore near his father's shop, and it +will rest there to-night; and when it is dark we must go down and cut it +loose and push it out so that the current will take it downstream, and +the tide will carry it out to sea. Then, before they can get another +one, 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's +plan was the easiest way to save the village. For Lucia had told her +friend that the _Polly_, of which Lucia's father was captain, and the +sloop _Unity_, owned and sailed by a Captain Jones of Boston, would be +escorted to Machias by an armed British ship; and if a liberty pole was +set up the British would fire upon the town. So it was no wonder that +Rebecca was frightened and ready to listen to Lucia's plan to avert the +danger. + +She did not know that her father and other men of the settlement were +already beginning to doubt the loyalty of the two captains to America's +cause. + +"It will be easy enough to slip out when everybody is asleep," Lucia +replied to Rebecca's question. "We can meet at Mr. Foster's shop. If I +get there first I will wait, and if you get there before me you must +wait. As near ten o'clock as we can. And then it won't take us but a few +minutes to push the sapling out into the current. Just think, Rebby, we +will 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 to +himself. Besides, she was not sure that it was right to prevent the +liberty pole from being set up. But that the town should be fired upon +by a British man-of-war, and everyone killed, as Lucia assured her, when +it could be prevented by her pushing a pine sapling into the current of +the river, made the little girl decide that she would do as Lucia had +planned. + +"All right. I will be there, at the blacksmith shop, when it strikes ten +to-night," she agreed, and the friends parted. + +Rebecca walked slowly toward home, forgetting all the joy of the +afternoon; forgetting even that it was her fourteenth birthday, and that +a string of gold beads for her was probably on board the _Polly_. + +Paul Foster towed the fine sapling to the very place that Lucia had +mentioned, and his father came to the shore and looked at it admiringly +as he helped Paul make it secure. "It is safely fastened and no harm can +come to it," Mr. Foster said after they had drawn the tree partly from +the water. Paul drew his canoe up on the beach, and taking the rabbits +in the stout canvas bag, started for home. + +Anna and Luretta were both on the watch for him, and came running to +meet him. Anna now wore her every-day dress of gingham, and in her +eagerness to see the rabbits she had quite forgotten to try and behave +like 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 close +they keep together. And this box is big enough for them both. And they +are so young they must be fed very carefully for a time." + +"I know what we can do," declared Anna; "my rabbit can live here until +he is a little larger, and then my father will make a box for him and I +can take him home." + +Paul said that would do very well, and that Anna could come each day and +learn 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, a +little anxiously. And indeed there was no way of telling the rabbits +apart, so Anna and Luretta agreed that when the time came to separate +them it would not matter which one Anna chose for her own. + +At supper time Anna could talk of nothing but the rabbits, and had so +much to say that her father and mother did not notice how silent Rebecca +was. + +The little household retired early, and by eight o'clock Rebecca was in +bed, but alert to every sound, and resolved not to go to sleep. The +sisters slept together, and in a few minutes Anna was sound asleep. +Rebecca heard the clock strike nine, then very quietly she got out of +bed and dressed. Her moccasins made no noise as she stepped cautiously +along the narrow passage, and down the steep stairway. She lifted the +big bar that fastened the door and stood it against the wall, then she +opened the door, closing it carefully behind her, and stepped out into +the 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 at +hand. The air was soft and warm; there was no wind, and in the clear +starlight Rebecca could see the shadows of the tall elm tree near the +blacksmith shop, and the silvery line of the softly flowing river. As +she stood waiting for Lucia she looked up into the clear skies and +traced the stars forming the Big Dipper, nearly over her head. Low down +in the west Jupiter shone brightly, and the broad band of shimmering +stars that formed the Milky Way stretched like a jeweled necklace across +the 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 of +frogs from the marshes sounded shrilly through the quiet. In years to +come, when Rebecca heard the first frogs sounding their call to spring, +she was to recall that beautiful night when she stole out to try and +save the town, as she believed, from being fired on by a British +gunboat. + +She had made so early a start that she had to wait what seemed a very +long time for Lucia, who approached so quietly that not until she +touched Rebby's arm did Rebby know of her coming. + +"I am late, and I nearly had to give up coming because Mother did not +get to sleep," Lucia explained, as the two girls hurried down to the +river. "She is so worried about Father," continued Lucia; "she says that +since the Americans defeated the English at Lexington they may drive +them out of Boston as well." + +"Of course they will," declared Rebecca, surprised that anyone could +imagine the righteous cause of America defeated. "And if the English +gunboat comes in here the Machias men will capture it," she added. + +"Well, I don't know," responded Lucia despondently. "But if it destroyed +the town there wouldn't be anyone left to capture it; and that is why we +must push that liberty tree offshore." + +The girls were both strong, and Lucia had brought a sharp knife with +which to cut the rope holding the tree to a stake on the bank, so it +did not take them long to push the tree clear of the shore. They found +a long pole near by, and with this they were able to swing the liberty +tree out until the current of the river came to their aid and carried it +slowly along. + +"How slowly it moves," said Rebecca impatiently, as they stood watching +it move steadily downstream. + +"But it will be well down the bay before morning," said Lucia, "and we +must get home as quickly as we can. I wish my father could know that +there will not be a liberty pole set up in Machias." + +Rebecca stopped short. "No liberty pole, Lucia Horton? Indeed there will +be. Why, my father says that all the loyal settlements along the Maine +coast are setting up one; and as soon as the old British gunboat is out +of sight Machias will put up a liberty tree. Perhaps 'twill even be set +up 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 liberty +tree was so fine a thing why should her father not wish Machias to have +one, she wondered. Lucia did not know that her father was even then +bargaining with the British in Boston to bring them a cargo of lumber on +his 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 would +accompany the sloops _Polly_ and _Unity_ when they should appear in +Machias harbor. + +The two friends whispered a hasty "good-night," and each ran in the +direction of home. Rebby pushed the big door open noiselessly, but she +did not try to replace the bar. As she crept up the stairs she could +hear the even breathing of her father and mother, and she slid into bed +without waking Anna, and was too sleepy herself to lie long awake. + +The unfastened door puzzled Mr. Weston when he came down-stairs at +daybreak 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 he +stood for a moment in the doorway, he saw Paul Foster running toward the +house. + +"Mr. Weston, sir, the liberty pole is gone," gasped the boy, out of +breath. "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 would +come up later on, as soon as he had found out more about the missing +liberty tree; and with Paul beside him, now talking eagerly of how his +father had gone with him to take a look at the pine sapling and found no +trace of it, Mr. Weston hurried toward the shore where a number of men +were now gathered. + +Anna had hard work to awaken Rebby that morning, and when she came +slowly down-stairs she felt cross and tired; but her mother's first +words made her forget everything else. + +"We will eat our porridge without your father," Mrs. Weston said +gravely. "A terrible thing has happened. Some traitor has made way with +the liberty tree that your father and Paul selected yesterday." + +"Traitor?" gasped Rebby, who knew well that such a word meant the lowest +and most to be despised person on earth, and could hardly believe that +what she had supposed to be a fine and brave action could be a traitor's +deed. + +"Who else but a traitor would make way with our liberty pole?" +responded Mrs. Weston. "But do not look so frightened, Rebby. Sit up to +the table; when your father comes home he will tell us who did the base +act. 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 mother +questioned her anxiously she owned that her head ached, and that she did +not feel well. + +"I'll steep up some thoroughwort; a good cup of herb tea will soon send +off 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 she +buried her face in the pillow, hardly daring to think what would become +of her. Supposing Lucia should tell, she thought despairingly, saying +over and over to herself, "Traitor! Traitor!" So that when Anna came +softly into the room a little later she found her sister with flushed +face and tear-stained eyes, and ran back to the kitchen to tell her +mother that Rebby was very ill. + +It was an anxious and unhappy morning for Rebby and for her mother, for +Mrs. Weston became worried at the sight of her daughter's flushed +cheeks and frightened eyes. She decided that it was best for Rebecca to +remain in bed; and, had it not been for the frequent doses of bitter +herb tea which her mother insisted on her drinking, Rebby would have +been well satisfied to hide herself away from everyone. + +Anna helped her mother about the household work, thinking to herself +that probably Melvina Lyon was doing the same. After the dishes had been +washed and set away Mrs. Weston suggested that Anna should run down to +Luretta Foster's. + +"'Twill be best to keep the house quiet this morning, and you can see +the 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 she +was sure her mother must notice that she was no longer the noisy girl +who 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 a +girl," responded her mother. "But run along, and be sure and inquire if +there be any news of the rascal who made way with the liberty tree." + +Anna started off very sedately, measuring her steps and holding her head +a little on one side as she had noticed that Melvina sometimes did. She +was thinking of Rebby, and what a pity it was to have to stay indoors +when the sun was so warm, and when there were so many pleasant things to +do. "I will go over on the hill and get her some young checkerberry +leaves," 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, beginning +to sing in her old-time manner. + +Luretta was watching for her, and smiled happily when she heard Anna's +voice. "Oh! She's going to stay 'Danna,' and not be like that stuck-up +Melvina Lyon," she thought with delight; for Luretta did not think Anna +would make a satisfactory playmate if she were going to change into a +quiet, well-behaved girl like the minister's little daughter. + +In a few minutes the girls were beside the box that held the captive +rabbits, who looked up at them with startled eyes. Paul had brought a +basket of fresh grass, and some bits of tender bark and roots on which +the 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 want +me to have the prettiest one, and how could we ever choose?" she +explained; and Anna acknowledged that perhaps it was better that the +rabbits should be alike in every way. After much discussion of names +they decided that the rabbits must be called as nearly alike as +possible; and so the new pets were named "Trit" and "Trot." + +Every little child in the neighborhood enjoyed a visit at Luretta's +home. In the first place because of Mrs. Foster's pleasant smile and +kind welcome, and also because of the wonderful treasures it contained. +There was a great round ostrich egg, which Mr. Foster's brother had +brought from far-off Africa. This egg was carefully kept in a wooden box +on the high mantel shelf; but Mrs. Foster was never too busy to take it +down and let the little visitor gaze at it with admiring eyes. Then +there was a model of a water-mill, with its tiny wheels, as complete as +if it could begin work at once. This stood on a table in the corner of +the sitting-room, where anyone might stand and admire it, and hear +Luretta 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 bit +of paper, could make the most beautiful paper dolls that any little girl +could wish to possess; and whenever Luretta's friends came for a visit +they 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 go +indoors. But this morning Mrs. Foster did not seem her usual cheerful +self. + +"This is sad news about our liberty tree; but the men have set out in +boats to search for it, and 'twill be a good omen indeed if they find +and bring it back," she said. + +"My father says 'twill be a great day for the settlement when 'tis put +up," said Anna, looking longingly toward the box on the high mantel, and +hoping she might have a look at the wonderful egg. + +"And so it will be. With Boston in the hands of the British, and no +safety 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 to +the wharves, and perhaps hear some news of the traitor who made way with +it. I said at first maybe 'twas the mischief of some boy who did not +realize what the tree stood for; but Paul flared up at once and said +there 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, was +coming rapidly toward the shore and behind it trailed the fine pine +sapling. + +"And there comes Parson Lyon with his little daughter," said Mrs. +Foster. "He is as good a patriot as General Washington himself," she +added 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 those +who lift that sacred tree to safety." And he hurried on to the wharf, +leaving Melvina, who stood smiling delightedly at this unexpected +meeting with Anna. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + "WHITE WITCHES" + +For a moment both Anna and Luretta looked at Melvina a little +doubtfully, for they could but remember and be ashamed of their part in +the foolish game they had tried to play with her so short a time ago. +But Melvina was smiling and friendly, and evidently had cherished no +ill-feeling toward them. By the time she had replied to Mrs. Foster's +friendly inquiries in regard to her mother, Anna and Luretta were quite +at their ease; and Luretta said to herself that she did not wonder Anna +wanted to be like Melvina. Luretta even began to wonder if it would not +be well for her to learn to speak as softly as did Melvina Lyon; it +certainly had a pleasant sound, she thought admiringly. + +"I must return home," said Mrs. Foster, "but Melvina's father will +expect her to wait here for him; so, Luretta, you and Anna may stay with +her 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 had +she turned her back when Melvina clasped Anna by the hand, and +exclaimed: "Now you can tell me more about the woods, and the little +animals who live in hollow logs or burrow under rocks, and about the +different birds and their nests! Oh, begin quickly, for my father may +soon return," and she drew Anna toward the big log that lay near the +path. + +"Tell her about our rabbits, Danna," suggested Luretta. "My brother Paul +brought me two little gray rabbits from the forest," she explained; and +Melvina listened eagerly to the description of Trit and Trot, and of +their cunning ways and bright eyes, and was told that they had already +lost their fear of Luretta and Anna. + +"I wish I could see them. I have never seen any little animals except +kittens," said Melvina. It seemed to Melvina that Anna and Luretta were +very fortunate children. They could run about in old clothes, play on +the shore and among the piles of lumber, and they knew many strange and +interesting things about the creatures of the forest which she had +never 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 the +ceremonious visits now and then, when she always had to take her +knitting, and was cautioned by her anxious mother to "remember that she +was a minister's daughter, and behave properly, and set a good +example"--all these things flitted through Melvina's thoughts as +tiresome tasks that she would like to escape, and be free as Anna seemed +to 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 to +move the box from the sunny corner near the shed; and, beside this, she +was sure it was too heavy for Anna to lift. "If you should let it fall +they might get out and run away," she concluded. Then, noticing Anna's +look of disappointment, she added: "I know what you may do, Danna. You +and Melvina may go up and see the rabbits, and I will wait here for +Parson Lyon and tell him where Melvina is, and that we will see her +safely 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 kind +to think of it?" + +Anna agreed rather soberly. Mrs. Foster had told them to remain near the +log, she remembered, but if Melvina saw no harm in Luretta's plan she +was 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 the +manner in which she had so often seen Melvina come down the path, and +she was a little surprised that her companion had not at once noticed +it. 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, and +her starched skirts blown back as she raced along; and, greatly to +Anna's surprise, Melvina passed her and was first at the shop. + +"I beat! I beat!" exclaimed Melvina, her dark eyes shining and her face +flushed with the unwonted exercise. + +"You do everything best," Anna declared generously, "but I did not know +that you could run so fast." + +"Neither did I," Melvina acknowledged laughingly. Anna felt a little +puzzled by this sudden change in Melvina, which was far more noticeable +than 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 the +shore, on the day of the tempest, Melvina had endeavored to be as much +like Anna as possible. She ran, instead of walking slowly, whenever she +was out of her mother's sight. She had even neglected her lessons to go +out-of-doors and watch a family of young robins one morning, and had +been immediately called in by her surprised mother. In fact, Melvina had +tried in every way to do things that she imagined Anna liked to do. She +had even besought her mother to cut off her hair; but, as she dared not +give 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 have +smoothly braided hair, or long curls. So while Anna endeavored to cover +her pretty curly hair, to behave sedately, and give up many of her +outdoor games, in order to be like Melvina, Melvina was wishing that +she could be exactly like Anna; and as they stood looking at each other +at the end of their race each little girl noticed a change in the other +which she could not understand, and they started off toward Luretta's +home at a more sober pace. + +"Here they are," said Anna, as they came to the corner of the shed and +saw the rabbits looking out at them between the slats of the box. + +Melvina kneeled down close to the box and exclaimed admiringly as Trit +and Trot scurried away to the farthest corner. + +"I do wish I could touch one! Would it not be fun to dress them up like +dolls!" she said. "If they were mine I would dress them up in bonnets +and skirts, and teach them to bow. Oh, Anna! Can't we take one out? One +of 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 to +think 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 has +gone to Mrs. Burnham's to spend the day, and we could take Trot up to my +room and dress her up and play games. Do, Anna!" urged Melvina. + +"It would be great sport indeed," agreed Anna eagerly; "we could call +Trot by some fine name, like Queen Elizabeth, and have your dolls for +visitors." + +"Yes, yes, we could! Or play Trot was a lion that we had captured in +Africa. Where is the door to the box, Anna?" and Melvina's dark eyes +shone more brightly than ever as Anna slid back the little door that +Paul had so carefully made, and, after several vain efforts, finally +secured one of the rabbits and quickly wrapped it in the skirt of her +dress. + +"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 catch +the second rabbit in her hands; an instant later and it would have +scampered 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 fields +toward Mr. Lyon's house. Not until they reached the back door of the +parsonage did either of them remember Luretta, and then it was Anna who +exclaimed: + +"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 safe +in their box by that time," declared Melvina. "We will go up the back +stairs, Anna; and we need not be quiet, for London has gone fishing. We +will have a fine time! Oh, Anna, I am so glad you stopped me that day +when we went wading, for now we are friends," she continued, leading the +way up-stairs. + +"But I was horrid, Melvina," Anna said, recalling her efforts to make +Melvina appear silly and ignorant so that Luretta would scorn her. + +"No, indeed, you were not," responded Melvina. "When we played on the +shore you made me laugh and run. I never played like that before." + +"Well, I think you are real good," said Anna humbly, as she followed +Melvina into a pleasant sunny chamber. "Most girls would have been angry +when their fine clothes were spoiled; and you were punished too, and I +was not;" and Anna looked at Melvina admiringly, thinking to herself +that she would do anything that Melvina could ask to make up to her for +that undeserved punishment. + +"You will have to hold both the rabbits while I get my dolls," said +Melvina; and Anna's attention was fully occupied in keeping the two +little creatures safe and quiet in the folds of her skirt, which she +held together bag fashion, while Melvina drew a large box from the +closet 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, the +dolls, all wanted to dress just alike. + +"We will put these on Trit and Trot," she said, drawing out two white +skirts from her collection of doll clothes. "And see these little white +bonnets!" and she held up two tiny round bonnets of white muslin; "these +will be just the thing." + +The rabbits submitted to being dressed. Both the girls were very gentle +with 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 dolls +came to bow low before them. The time passed very rapidly, and not until +London was seen coming toward the house to prepare the noonday meal did +the little girls give another thought to Luretta. Melvina, glancing from +the window, saw London coming up the path with his basket of fish. She +was 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, let +go Queen Elizabeth, who followed Lady Washington through the window so +closely that it was small wonder that London dropped his basket of fish +and ran back a few steps with a loud cry. After a few scrambling leaps +the rabbits disappeared, and London, trembling with fright, for he +believed that the strange leaping creatures dressed in white must be +some sort of evil witches, picked up his basket, and shaking his head +and 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 her +about the rabbits? Come, we must be at the front door when they get +here, or my father will fear I am lost." + +Mr. Lyon smiled as he saw his little girl standing in the doorway, and +his troubled look vanished. But Luretta looked flushed and angry. All +the morning she had been sitting on the log waiting for Mr. Lyon, and +when he came at last she had hurried home only to find that her mother +had not seen either of the girls, and Luretta had run after Mr. Lyon to +tell 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's +fun. She did not know what they could say to Luretta to explain their +mischief. At that moment London came into the front entry. + +"I'se seen strange sights this mornin', massa!" he said, rolling his +eyes. "I'se seen white witches flyin' out ob dis house." + +"London! Do not talk of such wickedness," said Mr. Lyon sharply. "Even +your little mistress is amused at such absurd talk," for Melvina, +knowing what London had seen, was laughing heartily. But London, shaking +his head solemnly, went back to the kitchen, sure that he had seen a +strange and awful sight, and resolved to speak to Mr. Lyon again of the +matter. + +"Well, Danna Weston! You can't have one of my rabbits now, after +treating me this way," said Luretta. "And I am not going to walk home +with you, either," and she ran swiftly ahead. + +Anna did not hurry after her, as Luretta hoped and expected. She began +to feel very unhappy. Trit and Trot were gone, and who could tell but +the skirts and bonnets might not strangle them? Then, suddenly, she +remembered that Rebecca was at home ill, and that she had entirely +forgotten her, and the young checkerberry leaves she had intended +picking for her sister. She put the thought that it was all Melvina's +fault out of her mind. Even if it were, had not she, Anna, led Melvina +into a more serious trouble on the day of the tempest? She resolved that +she would take all the blame of the lost rabbits, that Melvina should +not even be questioned about them if she could help it. But it was a +very 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 Lucia +Horton as soon as possible; for she began to fear that Lucia in some way +might betray their secret; but Rebecca knew that her mother would not +consent to her going out until she appeared more like her usual self +than she had at breakfast time. So she brushed her hair neatly, bathed +her 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 as +well 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 as +quickly before. Well, I must take time and go to the swamp for a good +supply 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, dear +child," responded Mrs. Weston, taking Rebecca's sunbonnet from its peg +behind the door and tying the strings under Rebby's round chin. + +"When the _Polly_ comes into harbor you will have the gold beads from +your Grandmother Weston, in Boston; but how Danna guessed it is more +than 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 more +disturbed by Rebecca's sudden illness than she wished to acknowledge. + +"I wish indeed that the _Polly_ and _Unity_ would come; perchance it is +the lack of proper food that ails the children: too much Indian meal, +and no sweets or rice or dried fruits," she thought anxiously. "And to +think 'tis England, our own kinsfolk, who can so forget that we learned +what justice and loyalty mean from England herself," she said aloud, as +she returned to her household duties. For Mrs. Weston, like so many of +the American colonists, had been born in an English village, and knew +that the trouble between England and her American colonies was caused +by the injustice of England's king, and his refusal to listen to wise +advisers. + +Lucia Horton's home lay in an opposite direction from the blacksmith +shop. It stood very near the shore, and from its upper windows there was +a good view of the harbor. It had no yard or garden in front, as did so +many of the simple houses of the settlement, and the front door opened +directly on the rough road which led along the shore. + +Rebecca rapped on the door a little timidly, and when Mrs. Horton opened +it and said smilingly: "Why, here is the very girl I have been wanting +to see. Come right in, Rebecca Flora," she was rather startled. + +"Lucia is not very well," Mrs. Horton continued, "and she has been +saying that she must, _must_ see Rebecca Flora; so it is most fortunate +that you have arrived. Some great secret, I suppose," and Mrs. Horton +smiled 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 called +from the stairway. "Oh, Rebecca, come right up-stairs," called Lucia, +and Mrs. Horton nodded her approval. "Yes, run along. 'Twill do Lucia +good to see you. I cannot imagine what ails her to-day. I saw one of the +O'Brien boys passing just now, and he tells me their liberty tree has +been 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 drift +out to sea," she added in a lower tone. + +Rebecca went up-stairs so slowly that Lucia called twice before her +friend entered the chamber where Lucia, bolstered up in bed, and with +flushed cheeks and looking very much as Rebby herself had looked an hour +earlier, 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 Lucia +whispered: "What will become of us, Rebecca? Mr. O'Brien told Mother +that the men were determined to find out who pushed the liberty tree +afloat, and that no mercy would be shown the guilty. That's just what +he said, Rebby, for I heard him," and Lucia began to cry. + +"But the tree is found and brought back," said Rebecca, "and how can +anyone 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, and +declared that she was not at all afraid; that is, if Lucia would +solemnly promise never to tell of their creeping down to the shore and +cutting the rope that held the tree to the stake. + +"Of course I never would tell," said Lucia, who was now out of bed and +dressing as rapidly as possible. "I wasn't ill; but I stayed up-stairs +because I was afraid you might tell," she confessed; and then Rebecca +owned that she had felt much the same. "But I had to take a big bowlful +of bitter thoroughwort tea," she added, making a little face at the +remembrance. + +"Well, you are a better medicine than thoroughwort tea," said Lucia; and +Mrs. Horton opened the door just in time to hear this. + +"Why, it is indeed so," she said, looking in surprise at her little +daughter, who seemed quite as well as usual. "Your father has just +passed, Rebecca, and I asked his permission for you to stay to dinner +with us, and he kindly agreed. I think now I must have a little +celebration that Lucia has recovered so quickly," and with a smiling nod +she left the two girls. + +"I know what that means," declared Lucia, for the moment forgetting the +danger of discovery. "It means that we shall have rice cooked with +raisins, and perhaps guava jelly or sugared nuts." + +Rebecca looked at her friend as if she could hardly believe her own +ears; for the dainties that Lucia named so carelessly were seldom +enjoyed in the remote settlement; and although Captain Horton took care +that his own pantry was well supplied it was not generally known among +his 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, since +Mother said 'twould be a celebration; and I am glad indeed that you are +here. You do not have things like that at your house, do you?" said +Lucia. + +Rebecca could feel her cheeks flush, but she did not know why she felt +angry at what Lucia had said. It was true that the Westons, like most of +their neighbors, had only the plainest food, but she wished herself at +home to share the corn bread and baked fish that would be her mother's +noonday meal. She was silent so long that Lucia looked at her +questioningly; and when Mrs. Horton called them to dinner they went +down-stairs very quietly. + +The table was set with plates of shining pewter. There was a loaf of +white 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, as +Lucia had truly said, she never had at home; but to Mrs. Horton's +surprise and Lucia's dismay, Rebecca declared that she must go home; and +taking her sunbonnet, with some stammering words of excuse she hastened +away. + +"A very ill-bred child," declared Mrs. Horton, "and I shall be well +pleased if your father can take us away from this forsaken spot on his +next 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 have +sent Rebecca flying from the house. + +Mr. and Mrs. Weston and Anna were nearly through dinner when Rebecca +appeared, and Mrs. Weston declared herself well pleased that Rebby had +come home; there were no questions asked, and it seemed to Rebby that +nothing 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; of +taking the rabbits to the parsonage, and of London's exclamation and +terror at the "white witches," and last of all of Luretta's anger. "And +I didn't even tell Luretta that the rabbits were lost," concluded the +little girl, and then, with a deep sigh, she added: "I suppose I will +have to go right over and tell her." + +"Yes," replied her mother gravely, "you must go at once. And you must +tell Luretta how sorry you are for taking the rabbits from the box. And +fail not to say to Mrs. Foster that you are ashamed at not keeping your +promise." + +Mr. Weston did not speak, but Rebecca noticed that he seemed pleased +rather than vexed with his little daughter. "That's because Anna always +tells everything," thought Rebecca. "But if I should tell what I did +last night he would think me too wicked to forgive," and at the thought +she 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. But +in a few moments her tears ceased, and she was ready to help with +washing the dishes and setting the room in order. + +"I will walk along with you, Danna," said her father, when Anna was +ready 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 his +own spirit is braver than he who taketh a city'?" he questioned gently. + +Anna looked up at him wonderingly, and Mr. Weston continued: "It is +your courage in owning your fault that makes you a conqueror, and as +brave as a brave soldier." + +"As brave as Washington?" asked Anna, and when her father smiled down at +her she smiled back happily. Probably a little girl could not be as +brave as a great soldier, she thought, but if her father was pleased it +would not be so hard, after all, to tell Luretta about Trit and Trot. +But Anna again firmly resolved that she would take all the blame +herself; Melvina should not be blamed in any way for the loss of the +rabbits. + + + + + CHAPTER X + + AN AFTERNOON WALK + + +At the turn by the blacksmith shop Mr. Weston said good-bye, and Anna +went on alone to Luretta's home. The front door was open, and before she +reached the house she heard someone crying, and when she stood on the +doorstep she realized that it was Luretta, and that Mrs. Foster was +endeavoring 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 all +their adventures to their brothers and sisters," she heard Mrs. Foster +say. + +"But Danna and Melvina may have taken them," sobbed Luretta; and then +Anna rapped at the door. + +"Come in," called Mrs. Foster, and Anna, a little timidly, entered the +sitting-room. + +Luretta looked up, but did not speak. + +"Come right in, Anna," said Mrs. Foster pleasantly. "Luretta has bad +news for you; the rabbits are gone." + +Anna did not look up, and there was an uncomfortable silence for a +moment. Then she began her story: + +"If you please, Mistress Foster, I am sorry I broke my promise to you +this morning. You bade me to wait with Melvina by the big log, and I did +not." + +"You came and took my rabbits," wailed Luretta, "and I s'pose you gave +one 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 tell +you all the story of the rabbits." Then she rested her hand on Anna's +shoulder and said kindly: + +"I am glad, Anna, that you and Luretta are friends, for thou art a brave +and 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 face +hidden against the back. Anna was standing in front of her, trying to +think of something to say that would make Luretta forgive her. Then she +heard Luretta's half-smothered voice say: "Do you s'pose our rabbits did +find 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 we +dressed them up in doll's clothes----" + +"Yes? Yes? And what else?" asked Luretta eagerly, now facing about and +forgetting all her anger in hearing what Anna had to tell. So Anna went +on and described all that had happened, imitating London's cry of terror +at the sight of the "white witches." At this Luretta began to laugh, and +Anna came nearer to the big chair, and even ventured to rest against its +arm. + +"Luretta, let's you and I go up the trail toward the forest. Perhaps we +might find Trit and Trot," she suggested. + +Luretta was out of the chair in a moment; and, quite forgetting all her +anger toward Anna, she agreed promptly and the two little girls, hand +in hand, came into the kitchen and told Mrs. Foster their plan. + +She listened smilingly, but cautioned them not to go beyond the edge of +the 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 of +the young trees; so go not into the wood. Beside that a party of Indians +were 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 could +not always be trusted. The little girls promised to follow the trail +only to the edge of the wood, and started soberly off. + +"We might see Trit and Trot behind any bush, might we not?" suggested +Luretta hopefully. + +"Perhaps we might see a little baby bear! Would it not be fine if we +could catch two little bears instead of rabbits?" responded Anna, as +they climbed the hill, stopping now and then to pick the tender young +checkerberry leaves, or listen to the song of some woodland bird. A +group of young spruce trees stood beside the trail, and here the two +little girls stopped to rest. The sun was warm, and they both were glad +to 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 sure +Paul 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 them +to-night, and what will he say!" and Luretta's voice sounded as if tears +were very near. + +While Luretta spoke Anna's eyes had been fixed on a little clump of +bushes on the other side of the trail. The bushes moved queerly. There +was no wind, and Anna was sure that some little animal was hiding behind +the shrubs. Greatly excited, Anna leaned forward, grasping Luretta's +arm. + +"Look! those bushes!" she whispered. + +At that moment a queer ball of dingy white appeared on the opposite +side of the trail, and instantly Anna sprang toward it. Her hands +grasped the torn and twisted piece of floating cloth, and closed upon +the poor frightened little creature, one of the lost rabbits, nearly +frightened to death by the strange garment that had prevented his +escape. + +If he could have spoken he would have begged for the freedom that his +brother had achieved; but he could only tremble and shrink from the +tender hands that held him so firmly. + +In a moment Anna had unfastened the doll's skirt, and Trit, or Trot, was +once more clear of the detested garment. + +"Oh, Danna! Do you suppose we can take it safely home?" exclaimed the +delighted Luretta. + +"Just see how frightened he is," Anna responded. Somehow she no longer +wished to take the little creature back and shut it up. + +"Do you suppose its mother is trying to find it?" she continued +thoughtfully. + +"And would it tell its brothers and sisters all its adventures, just as +Mother said?" questioned Luretta. + +"Why not?" Anna's brown eyes sparkled. "Of course it would. Probably +Trot is safe home by this time, and all the rabbit family are looking +out for Trit." + +Anna looked hopefully toward Luretta. If Trit went free it must be +Luretta's gift. Anna felt that she had no right to decide. + +"Let him go, Danna," said Luretta softly; and very gently Anna released +her clasp on the soft little rabbit. It looked quickly up, and with a +bound 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," said +Luretta, as they started toward home. "Probably he will laugh; but I +guess he will say they ought to be free." + +Both Anna and Luretta were very quiet on the walk home. Anna began to +feel tired. It seemed to her that a great deal had happened since +morning. She remembered the liberty pole, with a little guilty sense of +having been more interested in the rabbits, and in Melvina and Luretta, +than in the safety of the emblem of freedom. But she was glad that +Luretta 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 have +giants catch us, wouldn't it?" + +Luretta agreed soberly, thinking that to the rabbits she must have +seemed a giant. + +"Father will say 'twas best to let them go, whatever Paul says," she +added, and promising to meet the next day the friends parted. + +Anna danced along the path in her old fashion, quite forgetting +Melvina's measured steps. Everything was all right now. She and Luretta +were friends; Mrs. Foster had pardoned her; and the liberty pole was +found. So she was smiling and happy as she pushed open the door and +entered the pleasant kitchen, expecting to see her mother and Rebby; but +no one was there. The room looked deserted. She opened the door leading +into the front room and her happy smile vanished. + +Her mother sat there, looking very grave and anxious; and facing the +kitchen door and looking straight at Anna was Mrs. Lyon, while on a +stool beside her sat Melvina, her flounced linen skirt and embroidered +white 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 the +rabbits. All her happiness vanished; and when her mother said: "Come in, +Anna. Mrs. Lyon has come on purpose to speak with you," she quite forgot +to 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 is +eager to come and live with you, Mrs. Weston, if Anna is ready to come +to me." + +Mrs. Lyon, it seemed to Anna, had been talking a long time. She had said +that Melvina was not very strong, and that possibly she was kept too +much indoors; and then had come the astounding suggestion that, on the +very 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 girls +found 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 would +become exactly like Anna; as brave and as independent, and who could +tell but what she might grow to look like her as well! + +The same thought came to Anna. Of course, if she lived with Mrs. Lyon +she would learn to behave exactly like Melvina. But to go away from her +father and mother and from Rebby; this seemed hardly to be possible. + +"Do you want me to go, Mother?" she asked, half hoping that her mother +might 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 the +Reverend Mr. Lyon written a book, and, it was rumored, composed music +for hymns; for any little girl to live in his family would be a high +privilege. And this was what Mr. Weston thought when he heard of the +plan. + +"Why, it is a wise scheme indeed," he said gravely; "my little Danna is +being too much favored at home, and to be with the minister and his wife +will 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 little +girl." + +"Mr. Lyon wishes Melvina to run about as freely as we have allowed +Anna," Mrs. Weston explained, "and to have no lessons or tasks of any +kind, and to spend an hour each afternoon at home while Anna does the +same." + +"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 to +the minister's to remain a fortnight. + +Rebecca was the only one who did not think well of the plan. "I do not +want Danna to go," she said over and over; and added that she should not +know how to treat Melvina, or what to say to her. It was Rebecca who +went with Anna to Mr. Lyon, carrying the small package containing Anna's +clothing, and she brought back Melvina's carefully packed basket. Mrs. +Lyon looked worried and anxious as she saw Melvina start off for the +Westons'; but she gave her no cautions or directions, beyond telling her +to be obedient to Mrs. Weston. Then she took Anna's hand and led her +up-stairs to the pleasant room where she and Melvina had played so +happily with the rabbits. + +"You can leave your sunbonnet here, Anna, and then come down to the +library. This is the hour for your lesson in English history." + +"'English history,'" Anna repeated to herself excitedly. She wondered +what it could mean. But if it was something that Melvina did she was +eager to begin. + +Mr. Lyon smiled down at his little visitor as she curtsied in the +doorway. He hoped his own little daughter might return with eyes as +bright and cheeks as glowing. + +"This is where Melvina sits for her study hour," he said, pointing to a +small 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 of +Americans," began Mr. Lyon, taking up a small book. "It is always wise +to 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 and +feeling of greater consequence than ever before. + +"America's great trouble now, remember, is taxation without +representation," continued the minister; "and now listen carefully to +what an Englishman has to say of it: 'While England contends for the +right of taxing America we are giving up substance for the shadow; we +are exchanging happiness for pride. If we have no regard for America, +let us at least respect the mother country. In a dispute with America +who would we conquer? Ourselves. Everything that injures America is +injurious to Great Britain, and we commit a kind of political suicide +when we endeavor to crush them into obedience.' + +"Ah! There is still wisdom in the English council; but I fear it is too +late," said Mr. Lyon, as if speaking his thoughts aloud. "And now, my +child, what is the subject of our lesson?" he questioned, looking kindly +at Anna. + +"England and America," she replied promptly. + +Mr. Lyon nodded. "And why does America firmly resolve not to be unjustly +taxed?" 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 small +wonder that every American, even to a little girl, can see that it is +not to be borne," said Mr. Lyon, rising and pacing up and down the +narrow room, his thoughts full of the great conflict that had already +begun 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 circles +with "The West Indies" printed across them. Far over on the end of the +map was a queerly shaped green object marked "Asia" and below it a +beautiful blue place called "Europe." Anna was so delighted and +interested in discovering France, and Africa, the AEgean Sea, and the +British Isles, that she quite forgot where she was. But as she looked at +the very small enclosure marked "England," and then at the long line of +America she suddenly exclaimed: "America need not be afraid." + +Mr. Lyon had seated himself at his desk, and at the sound of Anna's +voice he looked up in surprise. + +"Why, child! You have been so quiet I had forgotten you. Run out to the +sitting-room to Mrs. Lyon," and Anna obeyed, not forgetting to curtsy as +she left the room. + +[Illustration: HOW LONG THE AFTERNOON SEEMED!] + +Mrs. Lyon had a basket piled high with work. There were stockings to be +darned, pillow-cases to be neatly repaired, and an apron of stout +drilling to be hemmed. Anna's task was to darn stockings. She was given +Melvina's thimble to use, a smooth wooden ball to slip into the +stocking, and a needle and skein of cotton. + +How long the afternoon seemed! Never before had Anna stayed indoors for +the whole of a May afternoon. She felt tired and sleepy, and did not +want to walk about the garden after supper--as Mrs. Lyon kindly +suggested; and not until Mrs. Lyon said that Melvina, on every pleasant +day, walked about the garden after supper, did Anna go slowly down the +path. But she stood at the gate looking in the direction of her home +with 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 daily +visit agreed upon. + +If the days passed slowly with Anna, to Melvina they seemed only too +short. She had quickly made friends with Rebecca, and the elder girl was +astonished at the daring spirit of the minister's daughter. Melvina +would balance herself on the very edge of the bluff, when she and Rebby, +often followed by a surprised and unhappy Luretta, went for a morning +walk. Or on their trips to the lumber yard for chips Melvina would climb +to the top of some pile of timber and dance about as if trying to make +Rebby frightened lest she fall. She went wading along the shore, and +brought home queerly shaped rocks and tiny mussel-shells; and, as her +father 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 that +Mrs. Lyon must think her very much like Melvina, for she had learned her +daily lessons obediently, and moved about the house as quietly as a +mouse. + +But when she awoke on the morning of the day upon which she was to +return home she was sure it was the happiest day of her life. Mrs. Lyon +had even called her a "quiet and careful child," and the minister smiled +upon her, and said that she "was a loyal little maid." So she had great +reason for being pleased; and the thought of being home again made her +ready to dance with delight. + +The day that the tree of liberty was planted was declared a holiday, and +the inhabitants of the town gathered on the bluff where it was to be +set. Melvina and Anna and Luretta were together, and the other children +of 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 little +Danna would no longer be absent from home. + +There was great rejoicing among the people as the tree was raised, and +citizen after citizen stepped forward and made solemn pledges to resist +England's injustice to the American colonies. Then, amid the shouts of +the assembled inhabitants, the discharge of musketry, and the sound of +fife and drum, Machias took its rightful place among the defenders of +American liberty. + +But Rebecca Weston and Lucia Horton, sitting in an upper window of the +Horton house, looked out at the inspiring scene without wishing to be +any nearer. Rebecca was ashamed when she remembered her own part in +trying to prevent the erection of a liberty pole, for now she realized +all it stood for; and she was no longer afraid of an attack upon the +town by an English gunboat. To Rebecca it seemed that such an attack +would bring its own punishment. Her thoughts were now filled by a great +desire to do something, something difficult and even dangerous to her +own safety, in order to make up for that evening when she had crept out +in the darkness and helped Lucia send the tree adrift. + +But Lucia's mind was filled with entirely different thoughts. She was +ready to cry with disappointment and fear in seeing the liberty pole set +up. She could not forget that her father had said that such a thing +would mean trouble. + +"If we had not set it adrift, Lucia, we could be on the bluff now with +the 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 and +foolish performance," replied Lucia. "But perhaps 'twill be cut down +before the _Polly_ comes into harbor." + +Rebecca jumped up from the window-seat, her face flushed and her eyes +shining. + +"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 just +what you told me and what we did," she exclaimed, starting toward the +door. + +"You can't tell, ever, Rebecca Weston! You promised not to," Lucia +called after her, and Rebecca stopped suddenly. Lucia was right. No +matter 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 was +the second time she had left the Horton house in anger. "I won't come +here again," she thought, a little sadly, for she and Lucia had been +"best friends" ever since Captain Horton had brought his family to the +remote settlement. + +"There's Rebby," Anna called joyfully, as holding her father's hand, and +with her mother walking close behind, she came along the path toward +home. Rebby was walking slowly along a short distance in front of the +little 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 and +cheering?" + +"Yes," responded Rebby briefly; and then looking at Anna she said: "Oh, +Danna! I wish, more than anything, that I could do something to protect +the liberty tree." + +"Perhaps you can, Rebby, sometime, you and I together," replied Anna +hopefully; "anyway, isn't it lovely that I am home to stay?" + +And to this Rebby could agree smilingly, but she kept in her heart the +wish she had just uttered. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + WILD HONEY + + +Anna went singing about the house quite satisfied now to be herself; and +Rebby and her mother smiled at each other at the happiness of the little +girl. + +"I doubt not you have learned many things, Danna," said Rebby, a little +wistfully, as the sisters sat on the broad doorstep after supper +looking down at the broad flowing river. + +"Yes, indeed!" replied Anna confidently. "Why, Rebby, I know all about +history. The minister told me that a hundred and fifty years ago there +were English traders living right here, and they were driven away by the +French. And then, some forty years ago, Governor Belcher of +Massachusetts came cruising along this coast, and there was no one at +all here. And, Rebby, Mr. Lyon says there are no such pine forests in +all 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 that +very soon there would be a regular school here, with a master, as soon +as America conquers her enemies. But, Danna, do you suppose anyone will +dare touch the liberty pole?" For Rebby's thoughts could not long stray +from Lucia Horton's prediction that it might be cut down. + +"What's that?" exclaimed Mr. Weston from the doorway behind them. "Cut +down the liberty pole? Why, there is not a man in Machias who would do +such 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 with +me to-morrow? I must go up to the mill at Kwapskitchwock Falls, and we +will 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 over +a fire for our dinner." + +"That is what we will hope to do," replied Mr. Weston. "And, Rebby, why +do you not come with us? 'Tis but a few miles, and a day in the woods +will do you good." + +"Why, perhaps I shall, if Mother does not need me," Rebby answered. She +so seldom cared for woodland tramps that Anna gave a little exclamation +of surprised delight. + +"I'll make a corn-cake to take with us," Rebby added, "and since we +start early I had best bake it to-night," and she went into the kitchen +followed 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 could +find a store of wild honey in the woods; 'twould be a great help," she +said, 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 was +getting scarce in most of the loyal households. Rebby scalded the meal +and stirred it carefully, then added milk, and turned the batter into an +iron pan which she set over the fire. When it was cooked it would be a +thin crispy cake that would be appetizing and nourishing. Rebby's +thoughts traveled away to the dainties of the Hortons' cupboard, but +she said to herself that the "spider cake," as the corn-cake was called, +especially when eaten in the woods with freshly broiled salmon, would +taste 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 just +showing itself above the tops of the tall pines when the family sat down +to their simple breakfast. Anna wore her skirt of tanned deerskin, +moccasins, and her blouse of home-made flannel, while Rebecca's dress +was 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's +had the white breast of a gull. + +Mr. Weston wore deerskin breeches and moccasins and a flannel blouse. A +stout leather belt about his waist carried a couple of serviceable +knives, and he carried his musket, for the forest was filled with many +wild animals, and the settlers were always ready to protect themselves. + +Rebby carried a basket that held the corn-cake, and a flint and steel +from which they would strike the spark for their noonday fire. + +Anna ran along close beside her father, until the path narrowed so that +only one could walk, followed by the others. The air was cool and full +of the forest odors. Now and then birds flitted past them, and once or +twice Anna had a glimpse of startled rabbits, which she was sure were +Trit and Trot. + +"If I could only catch one to give Luretta," she thought, "then she +would forgive me for taking the other rabbits," for Anna's thoughts were +often troubled because of the loss of Luretta's pets. + +Mr. Weston stopped at one point to show his daughters an arrow marked on +a tall pine and pointing east. "That is to show the beginning of the +path to Chandler's River settlement," he explained. "The trail is so dim +that the woodsmen have blazed the trees to show the way. There is a good +store of powder and shot at Chandler's River," he added, a little +thoughtfully. + +Rebby looked at the arrow, and afterward she had reason to remember her +father's words. + +The mill at Kwapskitchwock Falls was not in use at the time of their +visit, 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 of +the falls dashing over the rocks. + +Mr. Weston led the way to a big flat rock above the mill, and where two +large beech trees cast a pleasant shade. + +"You can rest here while I look over the mill," he said, "and then I +will see if I can spear a salmon for our dinner." + +The girls were quite ready to rest, and Rebby set the basket carefully +on the rock beside them. + +"Would it not be fine if we could catch a salmon and have it all cooked +when Father comes back?" Anna suggested, but Rebby shook her head. + +"We haven't any salmon spear, and it is quick and skilful work," she +responded. "Father will be better pleased if we obey him and rest here." + +From where the girls were sitting they could look some distance up the +quiet stream, and it was Anna who first discovered a canoe being paddled +close to the opposite shore. + +"Look, Rebby," she said, pointing in the direction of the slow-moving +craft. "Isn't that an Indian?" + +Rebby looked, and after a moment answered: "Why, I suppose it is, and +after salmon. But he won't come down so near the falls." But the girls +watched the slow-moving canoe rather anxiously until it drew close in to +the opposite shore, and was hidden by the overhanging branches of the +trees. + +Rebby decided that she would gather some dry grass and sticks for the +fire, and asked Anna to go down near the mill and bring up some of the +bits of wood lying about there. + +"Then when Father does bring the salmon we can start a blaze right +away," she said. + +Anna ran off toward the mill yard, and Rebby left the shade of the big +beeches to pull handfuls of the sun-dried grass. + +Rebby had gone but a few steps when she heard a queer singing murmur +that seemed to be just above her head. She looked up, but the sky was +clear; there was no bird flying low, as she had imagined; but as she +walked along the murmur became louder, and Rebby began to look about her +more carefully. A short distance from the flat rock was a huge stump of +a broken tree, and Rebby soon realized that the noise came from the +stump, and she approached it cautiously. + +"Oh!" she exclaimed. "It's a honey-tree! It is! It is!" for she had seen +the bees as they went steadily in a dark murmuring line, direct to the +old stump. + +"A honey-tree" was a fortunate discovery at any time, for it meant a +store of delicious wild honey. It was, as in this case, usually a +partially decayed tree where the wild bees had swarmed, and where stores +of honey were concealed. Sometimes the bees had filled the cavities of +the tree so full that they were forced to desert it and find new +quarters; but it was evident that here they were very busy indeed. + +"They will have to be smoked out," decided Rebby, who had often heard +her father tell of the way in which such stores were captured. "I wish I +could do it, and get some honey for dinner," she exclaimed aloud. + +"Well, why not?" she heard someone say from behind her, and she turned +quickly to find Paul Foster, looking so much like an Indian boy in his +fringed 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 have +speared three beauties; I saw you from across the stream, so I paddled +over. 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 asked +eagerly. She and Paul were nearly of an age, and Paul was a friendly +boy, always ready to make bows and arrows or toy boats for his little +sister and her girl playmates. + +"I don't see why not," he responded, as if smoking out a hive of wild +bees was a very usual undertaking; "but I haven't a flint and steel," he +added. + +"I have, in my basket," declared Rebecca; and in a few minutes Paul and +Rebecca had gathered a mass of sticks and grass, heaping it a short +distance from the stump. + +"Mustn't get a blaze, only a heavy smoke," said Paul as he struck the +flint and steel together, and carefully sheltered the spark which the +dry grass instantly caught. + +At the sight of the smoke Mr. Weston came running from the mill, and +with 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 the +bucket and take home all it would hold, and to return the next day in +Paul's canoe with tubs for the rest of the honey. + +Paul insisted that Mr. Weston should accept one of his fine salmon to +broil for their midday meal, and then Rebby exclaimed: + +"Where is Danna? She went to the mill after wood before we found the +honey-tree, and she isn't back yet." + +"Oh! She is probably playing that she is an explorer on a journey to the +South Seas," laughed Mr. Weston. "I will go after her," and he started +off toward the mill, while Rebecca added wood to the fire, and Paul +prepared the salmon to broil. + +Mr. Weston called "Danna!" repeatedly, but there was no answer. He +searched the yard and the shore, but there was no trace of his little +daughter. He went through the big open mill, and peered into shadowy +corners, but Anna was not to be found. And at last he hurried back to +tell Paul and Rebby, and to have them help him in his search for the +missing girl. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + DOWN THE RIVER + + +Anna had gathered an armful of dry wood and was just starting back when +a queer little frightened cry made her stop suddenly and look quickly +around. In a moment the noise was repeated, and she realized that it +came 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 creature +struggling to get loose from a coil of string in which its hind legs +were entangled. + +"Oh! It's a rabbit!" Anna exclaimed. "Perhaps it is Trit," and she ran +quickly forward. But the little creature was evidently more alarmed at +her approach than at the trap that held him, and with a frantic leap he +was off, the string trailing behind him; but his hind feet were still +hampered by the twisting string, and he came to a sudden halt. + +"Poor Trit! Poor Trit!" called the little girl pityingly, as she ran +after him. Just as she was near enough to touch him another bound +carried him beyond her reach. On leaped the rabbit, and on followed Anna +until they were some distance below the mill and near the river's +sloping bank, over which the rabbit plunged and Anna after him. A small +boat lay close to the shore, and Bunny's plunge carried him directly +into the boat, where, twisted in the string, he lay struggling and +helpless. + +Anna climbed into the boat and picked up "Trit," as she called the +rabbit, and patiently and tenderly untied the string from the +frightened, panting little captive, talking gently as she did so, until +he lay quiet in her hands. + +The little girl was so wholly absorbed in her task that she did not +notice that the boat was not fastened, or that her spring into it had +sent it clear from the shore. Not until Trit was free from the string +did she look up, and then the little boat was several feet from the +shore, and moving rapidly downstream. + +If Anna had stepped overboard then she could easily have waded ashore +and made her way back to the mill; but she was so surprised that such a +course did not come into her thoughts, and in a few moments the boat was +in deep water and moving with the current downstream. + +On each side of the river the woods grew down to the shore, and now and +then the wide branches of overhanging trees stretched for some distance +over the stream. A blue heron rose from the river, making its loud call +that drowned Anna's voice as she cried: "Father! Father!" Even had Mr. +Weston been near at hand he could hardly have distinguished Anna's +voice. But Anna was now too far downstream for any call to reach her +father or Rebby and Paul, who were all anxiously searching for her. + +At first the little girl was not at all frightened. The river ran to +Machias, and, had it not been that she was sure her father and sister +would be worried and sadly troubled by her disappearance, Anna would +have thought it a fine adventure to go sailing down the stream with her +captured rabbit. Even as it was, she had a gleeful thought of Luretta's +surprise and of Melvina's admiration when she should tell them the +story. + +She soon discovered that the boat leaked, and, holding the rabbit +tightly in one hand, she took off her round cap and began to bail out +the water, which had now risen to her ankles. Very soon the little cap +was soggy and dripping; and now Anna began to wonder how long the leaky +little craft could keep afloat. + +Both Anna and Rebby could swim; their father had taught them when they +were very little girls, and Anna knew that if she would leave the rabbit +to drown that she could reach the shore safely; but this seemed hardly +to be thought of. She now resolved to clutch at the first branch within +reach, hoping in that way to scramble to safety with Trit. But the boat +was being carried steadily along by the current, although the water came +in constantly about her feet. + +"I mustn't get frightened," Anna said aloud, remembering how often her +father 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 was +wabbling. + +"I never thought of the seat," she whispered, slipping down to her knees +and pulling the seat from the loose support on which it rested. It was +hard work to use the board as a paddle with only one hand, but Anna was +strong and resolute, and managed to swing the boat a little toward the +shore, so when a turn of the river came, bringing the boat close toward +a little point of land, she quickly realized that this was her +opportunity, and holding Trit close she sprang into the shallow water +and in a moment was safe on shore. + +The old boat, now half-filled with water, moved slowly on, and Anna knew +that it would not be long afloat. She looked about her landing-place +with wondering eyes. Behind the little grassy point where she stood the +forest stretched close and dark; the curve of the river shut away the +course by which she had come, but she could look down the smooth flowing +current, and toward the wooded shores opposite. + +The rabbit moved uneasily in her hands, and the little girl smoothed him +tenderly. "I don't know who will ever find me here, unless it should be +Indians," she said aloud, remembering the canoe that she and Rebby had +noticed as they sat on the big rock. + +Anna felt a little choking feeling in her throat at the remembrance. It +seemed so long ago since she had seen Rebby and her father. "And it's +all your fault, Trit," she told the rabbit; "but you could not help it," +she added quickly, and remembered that the rabbit must be hungry and +thirsty, and for a little while busied herself in finding tender leaves +and buds for Trit to eat, and in holding him close to the water's edge +so that he could drink. Then she wandered about the little clearing and +to the edge of the dark forest. She began to feel hungry, and knew by +the 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 would +be in danger from the wild beasts of the wilderness, but that almost any +of the Indians who fished and hunted in that region would take her +safely back to her home. + +An hour or two dragged slowly by; Anna was very tired. She held Trit +close, and sat down not far from the river's edge. "Father will find me +some way," she said to herself over and over, and tried not to let +thoughts of fear and loneliness find a place in her mind. The little +wild rabbit was no longer afraid of its captor, and Anna was sure that +it was sorry it had led her into such trouble. But now and then tears +came to the little girl's eyes, when suddenly she heard a voice from the +river 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 with +joy; and the next moment a canoe swung round the curve, paddled by a +tall 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 his +paddle he sent his canoe to shore. + +Anna told him quickly of the capture of Trit, the leaking boat, and her +jump to safety, while Paul listened with astonished eyes, and, in his +turn, told of the discovery of the honey-tree, and then of the search +for Anna. + +"Your father and Rebby are sadly frightened," he concluded; "they are +well on the way home now, thinking possibly you might have followed the +path. Now, get in the canoe, and I'll try my best to get you home by the +time they reach the settlement." + +Anna sat in the bottom of the canoe, and Paul skilfully wielded the +paddle, sending the little craft swiftly down the river. + +"That bucket is full of honey," he said, nodding toward the bow of the +canoe. But Anna was not greatly interested in the honey; she had even +forgotten that she was hungry and thirsty. She could think only of her +father and Rebby searching along the path for some trace of her. + +It was late in the afternoon when the canoe swept across the river to +the same landing where Paul had fastened the liberty tree earlier in the +month. 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, and +held close in her mother's arms she sobbed out the story of the capture +of Trit, and all that had followed. And then Paul told the story of the +honey-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, and +how closely Rebby held her little sister, as Anna again told the story +of her journey down the river. + +When Paul started for home Mrs. Weston insisted that a generous portion +of the bucket of honey should go with him; and Trit, safely fastened in +a small basket, was sent to Luretta as a gift from Anna. He promised to +be ready the next morning to return to the falls with Mr. Weston in the +canoe to bring home the store of honey. + +As the Westons gathered about the table for their evening meal they +looked at each other with happy faces. + +"I couldn't feel happier if the _Polly_ were in port, and America +triumphant over her enemies," declared Mr. Weston, as he helped Anna to +a liberal portion of honey. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + AN UNINVITED GUEST + + +Paul and Mr. Weston started off at an early hour the next morning in +Paul's canoe to bring home the honey. Beside a tub they took with them a +number of buckets, for the old stump had a rich store of honey. + +It was a time of leisure for the lumbering settlement. The drives of +logs had all come down the river and were safely in the booms. The mills +could not run as usual, for the conflict with England made it difficult +to send lumber to Boston. The crops were now planted, so Mr. Weston, +like other men of the settlement, had time for hunting and fishing or +for improving their simple homes. Some of the men passed a good part of +each day lounging around the shores and wharves, looking anxiously down +the harbor hoping to see Captain Jones' sloops returning with the +greatly needed provisions. + +Rebecca was up in season to see her father start, but Anna, tired from +the adventure of the previous day, had not awakened. + +"Is the liberty tree safe?" Rebby asked a little anxiously, as she +helped 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 strange +thing that, search though they may, no trace can be found of the +rascals." + +Rebecca's hands trembled, and she dared not look up. It seemed to the +little girl that if her mother should look into her eyes she would at +once 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 that +Lucia Horton had said; but the promise bound her. She could never tell +anyone. Rebecca knew that she could never be happy again. "Not unless I +could do some fine thing to help America," she thought, a little +hopelessly; for what could a little girl, in a settlement far away from +all the strife, do to help the great cause for which unselfish men were +sacrificing everything? + +Mrs. Weston was troubled about Rebecca. "The child has not really been +well since her birthday," she thought, "although I cannot think what the +trouble can be." + +"Your father says that the honey is really yours, Rebby dear," continued +Mrs. 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," said +Mrs. Weston. Before Rebecca could speak Anna came running into the room, +her brown eyes shining, and her curls, now long enough to dance about +her face, falling over her brown cheeks. + +As she ate her porridge her mother questioned her about the adventure of +the previous day, and for a time Rebby forgot her own worries in +listening to Anna's account of her journey in the leaking boat, and of +her leap to safety. + +"It was not mischief, was it, Mother, to try and capture Trit?" she +concluded. + +"No, indeed, dear child. Who could foresee such an adventure?" replied +Mrs. Weston. "And we are all proud that you did so well; that you did +not wander into the forest, where you would surely have been lost. I was +just asking Rebby what use we would make of the honey. Of course we want +to share it with our neighbors. 'Tis rare good fortune to have such a +store 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 up +the whole settlement to be asked to a party. To be sure I can offer them +only honey; but perhaps 'twill take their minds from the _Polly_, and +from England's injustice toward us. Rebecca, you and Anna shall start +out at once and ask the neighbors as far as Mr. Lyon's house. That will +bring as many as twenty people. And tell each one to bring a cup and +spoon, as I have no extra dishes." + +As soon as Anna had finished her breakfast the two girls put on their +sunbonnets and started on their pleasant errand. The neighbors were to +be 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 spoon +that each guest was to bring. + +"I wish I could offer them a dish of tea," thought Mrs. Weston, and then +reproached herself for the thought, for was not the tea tax one of +England's sins against the colonies, and had not loyal women refused to +brew 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-forks +were always in demand, and he made many stout locks and keys, as well as +door-latches and hooks. + +"Shall we ask him first?" questioned Anna. + +"Yes," replied Rebecca. "He is our best neighbor, so 'tis right to ask +him first." + +Rebecca and Anna stood in the open doorway for a moment watching the +glow of the forge and the bright sparks that sprang from the red bar of +iron which Mr. Foster was shaping into a spearhead. + +He nodded toward his little visitors smilingly, and listened with +evident pleasure to Rebecca's invitation. + +"But you tell me Paul is to have a good portion of the honey; 'tis +hardly fair we Fosters should come," he replied, and then added +quickly, "But why not let us have the neighbors, and divide the honey +that is left after the party?" + +"Why, yes, sir; I think that will be a good plan," responded Rebby +soberly, "and perhaps Luretta will go with us to ask the neighbors." + +Mr. Foster nodded again, whistling softly to himself, and as the little +girls bade him a polite "Good-morning" and went on toward his house they +could 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! You +are the bravest girl in the settlement. Paul says you are. And to think +you caught the rabbit for me." Luretta, quite out of breath, with her +arm across Anna's shoulders, looked admiringly at her friend. + +"It's only fair," Anna replied, "because I lost yours." And then Anna +had to tell again the story of her capture of Trit. Luretta listened +eagerly. "I do wish I could have been with you, Danna," she said. But +Anna shook her head. "The boat would have sunk," she responded soberly. + +Mrs. Foster thought the plan for a honey party an excellent idea, and +promised to come in good season; and Luretta was greatly pleased to go +with 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," she +announced. + +"Not ask Lucia! Why not?" questioned Anna, while Luretta looked at Rebby +with wondering eyes. + +"No," Rebecca declared firmly. "The Hortons have a cupboard filled with +jellies, and candied fruits, and jars of syrups, and fine things from +the West Indies and from far places, and 'tis not fair. We have only the +wild bees' honey, a taste for each neighbor." Rebecca stopped with a +little sigh. She had not thought about not asking Lucia until Anna +spoke, but now she realized that, if she could help it, she would never +again go to the Hortons' house. Rebecca was old enough to realize the +difference between loyalty and selfish indecision, and she was sure that +the Hortons were thinking more of their own comfort than of the good of +America. + +"But Lucia is your best friend," said Anna; "she gave you those +beautiful silk mitts on your birthday." + +Rebecca's face colored. She made no answer. The silk mitts, she +resolved, must be given back. Probably she would never have another +pair; but never mind, if she gave up Lucia's friendship she must give up +the mitts. + +For a few minutes the little girls walked on in silence, but Luretta was +eager to talk about Trit, and very soon she and Anna were talking +happily of plans to teach the captured rabbit, and were no longer +troubled by Rebecca's decision not to ask the Hortons to the honey +party. If they thought of it at all it was to agree with Rebby: that +people with a cupboard full of dainties, when their neighbors had only +the coarsest fare, ought not to be asked to share the wild honey. + +Mrs. Lyon welcomed the little girls in a most friendly manner, and Anna +was made happy when the minister's wife said that she really believed +that Anna's stitches were as tiny and as neatly set as those of Melvina +herself. + +"Melvina is out-of-doors," she continued; "I have decided that she is +much stronger to be in the open air a portion of each day, and London +has made her a playhouse under the pines behind the house." + +Both Anna and Luretta hoped that Mrs. Lyon would ask them to go and see +Melvina'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 was +eager to get home, urging Anna to stop and see Trit, who was safe in the +same box that had been made for the other rabbits. + +"You may both run ahead if you wish," said Rebby with quite a grown-up +manner, 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 take +the path along the bluff and see for herself that the liberty tree stood +safe, defiant of all enemies. Rebby's thoughts were filled with a +certain fear that Lucia Horton might contrive some new plan to make away +with this emblem of freedom; and she gave an exclamation of +satisfaction as she saw the handsome young pine, well braced with rocks +and 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 comforted +by this thought she started on toward home. + +Mr. Weston and Paul were just landing their load of honey, and Rebecca +went down to the shore to tell them of the plan for the honey party, of +which they both approved. The tubs and buckets were all carried to the +Westons' and safely stored away in the big pantry. + +Mrs. Foster and Mrs. Weston were talking over arrangements for the next +day. Mrs. Foster had suggested that they should each bake a quantity of +"spider-cakes." "They are thin and crispy, and will relish well with the +honey," she said, and Mrs. Weston agreed, although both the women +realized that by making these cakes they would diminish their household +stores of Indian meal almost to the danger point. But the _Polly_, with +her cargo of wheat flour, sugar, and other necessities, was long +overdue; 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 the +guests could enjoy the spring air. Paul was quite ready to help him; +they brought planks from the lumber yard, and long before the first +visitor arrived the low comfortable seats were ready. + +Anna and Rebby were busy all the morning making small plates of +birch-bark, which they stripped from the big logs. These little plates +would each hold a square of "spider-cake" and a helping of honey; and as +the guests would bring their own cups, to be filled with clear spring +water, and their own spoons, the Westons felt that all was ready. + +Rebby and Anna both wore their Sunday best, but their dresses were +carefully covered by their long pinafores. For they would serve each +guest, and it would not do that any careless movement should send a +stream of honey over their best gowns. Luretta and Melvina would also +help, and had been warned to bring pinafores to wear. + +There was a pleasant air of excitement all through the little settlement +as the people, dressed in their simple best, walked along the path +leading to the Westons'. The minister and his wife, each holding Melvina +by the hand, were among the first comers. + +"It was a friendly thought to ask your neighbors to share your good +fortune," 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 surprised +to hear it, as she considered Anna a very thoughtful and generous child. + +Rebecca had forgotten for the time her own sense of unworthiness, and +was smiling happily as friend after friend arrived, when suddenly her +smile vanished. For coming up the path in a fine dress of pale yellow +muslin and wearing a flower-trimmed hat was Lucia Horton. No one but +Rebecca, of course, was surprised to see Lucia. It was to be expected +that she would be a guest at Rebecca's house. Anna and Luretta did not +see Lucia's arrival, but Rebby stood quite still, pale and angry, and +watched Lucia smiling and speaking to the neighbors. Then Lucia came +straight 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 any +response to this rude salutation; and, with another scornful glance, +Lucia went on her way to where Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Weston were talking +together, and took a seat beside them, and was cordially welcomed by +Rebecca's mother, who, of course, knew nothing of the trouble between +the two girls. + +"Lucia has forgotten her cup and spoon, Rebby; bring her your lustre +mug," called Mrs. Weston. + +For a moment Rebby pretended not to hear. She was filling the cups with +cool spring water, and not until her mother called the second time did +she start toward the house for her cherished lustre mug. She was ready +to cry at the thought of Lucia's insulting words, and now she must carry +the pretty mug to her, and serve her as though she were a welcome +guest. + +"I won't let her know that I care; and I must be polite because she is a +guest, even if she wasn't invited," thought Rebby, as carrying the +lustre mug and a birch-bark plate with a square of honeycomb and a +brownish crisp "spider-cake" she went toward Lucia. + +Neither of the little girls spoke, and Rebby did not look at her former +friend who had led her into such sad mischief. Then suddenly there was a +crash, a loud cry from Lucia and from Rebby as the lustre mug fell to +the ground, and the contents of the frail plate streamed over the +delicate 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 cherished +mug 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 of +her mug. Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Weston were both endeavoring to comfort +Lucia, and to repair the harm done to the yellow muslin. But the honey +and 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 friendly +women, 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 Horton +and his wife are not trustworthy," Mrs. Lyon said. "The child is so +ill-bred she can be but indulged and spoiled at home," and Mrs. Weston +agreed. But neither of them imagined that Lucia's mother and father were +disloyal to the American cause, and only waiting a profitable +opportunity to betray the little settlement to its enemies. + +Lucia's angry words cast but a brief shadow over the gathering, and no +one noticed that Rebecca had disappeared. At the moment Lucia started +for home Rebby had run toward the house. She hurried up the stairs to +the little room under the roof where she and Anna slept, and from the +closet she drew out the square wooden box that her father had made for +her. Her initials R. F. W. were carved inside a small square on the +cover, and it had a lock and key. Rebby was very proud of this box, and +in it she kept her most treasured possessions: a handkerchief of fine +lawn with a lace edge, a pin made from a silver sixpence, and the +prayer-book her Grandmother Weston had given her. When Lucia gave her +the silk mitts for a birthday present Rebby had put them carefully away +with these other treasures. Now she pulled them out hurriedly, and, +without waiting to close the box, she ran down the stairs through the +kitchen, keeping carefully out of sight of the group under the elm +trees, until she could not be seen from the house. Then she caught a +glimpse of Lucia's yellow dress, and ran faster than before. But she did +not call Lucia's name. She said to herself that she would never speak to +Lucia again. + +Hearing the hurrying steps behind her Lucia looked over her shoulder, +and seeing Rebby she became frightened and ran faster than ever. Lucia +did not know why she was afraid, but she remembered that she had not +been asked to the party, that she had spoken insultingly to Rebby, +and--she had dropped the mug purposely. So it was small wonder that her +guilty conscience accused her, and that she was eager to reach home +before Rebby could overtake her. + +On raced the two girls along the narrow path. A few men at the wharves +watched 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 the +street stood open to admit the pleasant spring air. In a moment Lucia +was 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. But +in a moment an upper window opened, and Mrs. Horton looked down at +Rebby. + +"Why, Rebecca Flora!" she exclaimed in her pleasant voice. "Lucia has +gone to your party." + +"If you please, Mrs. Horton, I have brought back the mitts Lucia gave me +for 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 heard +Lucia's account of Rebby's turning honey and water over the pretty +yellow muslin, she decided that Rebecca was ashamed to keep a gift after +treating Lucia so badly. + +Rebby went slowly toward home tired and unhappy. All the pleasure of +the party, she said to herself, was spoiled. She was not sorry to give +up the mitts, for everything that reminded her of Lucia made her think +of 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 moment +they 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 all +smiling and cheerful, and we are all the better for meeting in this +neighborly fashion," and Mr. Foster ended his sentence with a whistle +like a bird's note. "You must come with the others to the liberty pole +on 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 began +to seem to her that she would never escape from the liberty pole. And +now she met Mr. and Mrs. Lyon, with Melvina dancing along in front of +them. "More like Danna than Danna is like herself," thought Rebby, +smiling, as she remembered how sedately and quietly Melvina had walked +before Danna and Luretta had played their mischievous pranks on the day +of the tempest. + +The neighbors had all gone when Rebecca reached home, and Mrs. Weston +and Anna were in the house, while Mr. Weston and Paul were taking up the +seats under the elm trees. The pieces of the broken lustre mug lay on +the kitchen table, and Rebby's face clouded as she stood looking at +them. + +"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 of +her 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 the +simple fare of their neighbors, Rebby had decided not to ask Lucia to +her party. + +But when the little girl had finished her story, Mrs. Weston shook her +head disapprovingly. + +"I am not pleased with you, Rebecca," she said. "'Twas not a kind +thought to sit in judgment and decide to punish a friend for something +that is no fault of hers. Lucia did right to come. Of course she thought +you would welcome her." + +"She didn't! She didn't!" exclaimed Rebby. "She made up faces at me, and +said--" + +"Never mind, Rebecca. You see what comes from quarreling. Your mug is +broken, Lucia's dress is spoiled, and you had no pleasure from the +afternoon. Now, there is something for you to do to put this straight. +You must take off your pinafore, put on your sunbonnet, and go straight +to 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 that +she had been unfair to Lucia; she did not ask if Rebby had purposely +spilled the honey on Lucia's muslin dress, but she felt it was not the +time to allow any ill feeling among the families of the settlement, and +that Rebecca's failure to ask the Hortons to come with the other +neighbors to taste the wild honey could easily offend them. + +Anna stood looking first at Rebby and then at her mother. It was so +seldom that Rebby cried, that it seemed a very dreadful thing to her +younger sister. + +"I'll go, Mother, let me go!" she asked eagerly. + +"Do not be so foolish, Anna," responded Mrs. Weston. "This is your +sister'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 mother +really meant that she should go and ask Lucia Horton's forgiveness. + +"If you knew----" she began, tempted to tell her mother all that Lucia +had said about the liberty pole, and even what they had done to prevent +its erection. But the memory of her promise held her. She knew that her +mother expected obedience, and she took off her pinafore, took her +sunbonnet, and, still sobbing, went slowly from the room. Anna started +to follow her, but Mrs. Weston called her back sharply. + +"Anna, you are not to go with your sister," she said, and the little +girl came slowly back. + +"Oh, dear," she sighed, "I wish Lucia Horton would go sailing off to far +lands. To--to Egypt," she concluded. For Anna had never heard much that +was pleasant about Egypt, and was sure that all this trouble was +Lucia's fault. + +Rebecca had never been so unhappy in her life as when she realized that +her mother expected her to go to the Hortons' and ask Lucia's pardon for +not inviting Mrs. Horton and Lucia to the honey party. There were robins +singing in the trees, bluebirds flitting about with gay little notes, +and the spring day was full of beauty, but Rebby was not conscious of it +as she went slowly along the path. + +Very soon she was again standing in front of the Hortons' door, and +summoning all her courage she rapped loudly. There was no response, and +after a few moments she rapped again; but the house seemed silent and +deserted, and no one came to open the door. + +And now Rebecca did not know what to do. If she went home she knew that +her mother would say that she must return at a later hour to fulfil her +errand. So the little girl decided to sit down on the steps and wait for +a time. + +Twilight was near at hand. The sun was low in the western sky, and a +cool little breeze crept up from the river and stirred the tree-tops. +Shadows gathered about the house, and still there was no sign or sound +of the Hortons, and Rebby was about to start for home when a man came +around the corner of the house and spoke to her. + +He was evidently a sailor, and in a great hurry. He asked no questions +but began speaking as if he had no time to lose. + +"Tell your mother that the _Polly_ and _Unity_ will come into harbor +to-morrow, and that Captain Jones is on board the _Unity_. There's a +British gunboat along with them, and your father says there may be +trouble, and for you and your mother to keep close indoors until he +comes." + +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 the +sloop. Be sure you tell your mother," responded the man, speaking in +such low tones that Rebby had to listen sharply to understand. + +"Yes, I'll tell my mother," she replied, and without a moment's +hesitation she started for home as fast as her feet could carry her. She +had entirely forgotten her anger toward Lucia, or her mother's reproof. +All she could think of was the news this sailor, evidently a member of +the _Polly's_ crew, had told her, believing that he was speaking to +Lucia Horton. + +And now Rebecca recalled all that Lucia had told her of what might +befall the little village if a British gunboat sailed into harbor and +saw a liberty tree flaunting its courageous defiance to injustice. But +now she could tell her father, not Lucia's secret, but what the sailor +had told her. + +"And Father will know what to do. Father and Mr. Lyon," she thought +breathlessly, 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 had +confided in her weeks before. "The sailor thought I was Captain Horton's +little 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 say +nothing 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," said +Mrs. 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 possible +dangers to the settlement from the British gunboat to think much of the +postponed 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 her +head. + +"No, Danna, I haven't. But perhaps I can sometime, and you too," she +replied. For some reason, that Rebby could not explain even to herself, +her thoughts centered around what her father had said on their trip to +the Falls of the store of powder and shot at Chandler's River +settlement. She had heard her father say that Machias was but ill +provided with munitions; and with a British gunboat coming into harbor +the next day who could tell how quickly powder and shot might be +needed? + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + REBBY DECIDES + + +The next morning dawned bright and tranquil. The fragrance of pine woods +and broad meadows filled the air, and practically all the inhabitants of +Machias 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 when +Mr. Weston had told the men of the settlement that the sloops were being +convoyed by a British war vessel their alarm and consternation can be +imagined. Mrs. Horton and Lucia were about the only ones absent from the +wharf 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, and +explaining that the presence of the gunboat was only to protect him from +attacks by British cruisers. But his explanation was received in +silence. The memory of the recent battle in Lexington was fresh in the +people's hearts, and much as they needed the provisions on the sloops +they were ready to do without them unless Captains Horton and Jones +could assure their fellow-townsmen of their loyalty and send the British +gunboat from the harbor. + +Finally he received consent to land his goods, and commenced trading +with 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 there +were two dolls for Melvina, the ones of which Luretta had spoken on the +day when she and Anna had led Melvina to the shore to show her a "clam's +nest." + +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 a +reward for carrying back those Lucia had given her. + +Mrs. Horton now kept Lucia closely at home. Anna and Luretta were +invited to spend an afternoon with Melvina, and become acquainted with +the new dolls, and Melvina urged Luretta to bring Trit, resolving to +dress up the rabbit as she and Anna had done before. + +Rebecca was more aware of the troubled condition of the settlement than +were 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 that +the Machias men ought to capture the British gunboat, and take the +sloops, making their captains and crews prisoners. Rebby listened +eagerly. + +"But we couldn't capture them, Paul; I heard Father say there was but +little powder and shot in the settlement," she said. + +"We'd get 'em," declared Paul. "If Jones and Horton think they are going +to load up their sloops with lumber for British barracks in Boston +they'll see trouble." + +"And Parson Lyon is not to preach at the liberty pole," said Rebby a +little thoughtfully. + +Paul made no response to this. He had come up to the Westons' on an +errand for his mother, and was now eager to get back to the wharves +where the sloops were being unloaded. + +"If the Britisher fires on our liberty pole they'll hear a sermon all +right," he called back as he ran down the path. + +It was difficult for Rebby to attend to the simple duties that her +mother required of her. Whenever her father entered the house she +watched his face anxiously, half-expecting him to say that the Machias +men 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 tell +of dressing up Trit, and that London Atus, coming into the room where +the little girls were playing and seeing the rabbit wearing a white +skirt 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 suppose +you and I could find the way to Chandler's River?" + +"Of course we could," Anna declared. "Don't you remember that Father +showed us where the trail began, marked by 'spotted' trees?" + +"Yes, I remember. Listen, Anna; there is hardly any powder or shot in +Machias; if there were the men could protect the liberty pole." + +"Yes, yes," Anna responded quickly. "I heard Parson Lyon telling +Captain O'Brien that all the men ought to be ready to defend the +settlement." + +"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 be +helping, 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 we +bring it back the men can drive off or capture the gunboat," Rebecca +explained. + +"I think Father ought to know," persisted Anna, so that at last Rebby +said no more, after Anna had promised not to repeat Rebby's plan to +anyone. + +But Rebby slept but little that night. If the gunboat fired on the town +she felt it would be her fault for having kept Lucia's secret to +herself; and yet she dared not break a promise. In some way Rebby felt +that she must do something to make right her foolish act in helping +Lucia set the liberty tree adrift. + +The next day Captain Jones began his preparations to load the sloops +with lumber for Boston, and the Machias men, doubtful of the Captain's +loyalty, determined that the sloops should not return to Boston. Rebby +and Anna were in the lumber yard filling a basket with chips, when a +number of men talking of this decision passed them. + +"If we only had more powder and shot," said one; "but we cannot spare a +single man to go to Chandler's River after supplies." + +"There, Anna!" exclaimed Rebby. "Did you hear what those men said? Do +you not see that we can help as much as a real soldier? We can go to +Chandler's River. We must." + +"Perhaps Father would give us permission if we asked him," Anna +persisted. But Rebecca shook her head at this suggestion; she dared not +risk 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 any +day. Do say you will go, Anna." + +Rebby knew that Anna's knowledge of the forest, her strength and +courage, would be all that could enable her to undertake the task. +Without Anna she feared that she might fail in finding her way, and +never reach Chandler's River. + +"Think, Danna! The gunboat will shoot down our liberty pole! Perhaps +burn the church and our houses, and they may carry off our father a +prisoner! 'Tis what they try to do whenever Americans resist; and if the +Machias 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 her +father being taken a prisoner and that she and Rebby could prevent so +great a misfortune made her no longer hesitate. + +"We will start to-morrow morning, early," she said. "We must make sure +that our moccasins are in good shape, Rebby; and we must take some +corn-bread, for 'twill be a good journey. How early can we start, +Rebby?" + +"Before sunrise, surely," responded Rebby, "and I will write on a strip +of birch-bark what we are going to do, and pin it to Father's hat. Then +they will not worry about us." + +"Worry! Why, Father will think it a brave deed," declared Anna. "I wish +we had started this morning." + +That day seemed very long to the sisters. They made their preparations +carefully 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 wide +awake, and at her whispered "Rebby," her sister's eyes opened quickly, +and they slipped quietly out of bed. In a few moments they were fully +dressed for their tramp through the forest. Very cautiously they made +their 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 the +previous day, with a bit of charcoal from the fireplace she wrote: + +"Dear Mother and dear Father: Anna and I are going to Chandler's River +to bring home powder and shot for Machias men to use to save the +settlement. 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 noiselessly +along in the shadow of the house, then ran swiftly up the path, and in a +short time were out of sight of the houses of the settlement. + +"Now we must walk slowly for a time," cautioned Anna, remembering her +father's warnings against hurrying at the beginning of a tramp. "We must +go on steadily for a time, and rest before we begin to feel tired. That +is the way Indians do, and Father says it is why they can travel day +after day and not be exhausted." + +Rebby looked at her little sister admiringly. In woodland lore she +realized that Danna was much wiser than herself, and she was quite ready +to be guided by her. + +When Mrs. Weston called the girls the next morning and received no +response she was not greatly surprised, as they often slept a little +later than their parents. "The extra sleep will do them no harm," she +said smilingly, as she and Mr. Weston sat down to the breakfast table; +therefore Rebby and Danna were well on their way before their father +took his hat from its accustomed place and discovered the strip of +birch-bark with its surprising message. + +Mr. Weston read the note, and stood for a moment silent, thinking what +could be done. His first impulse was to hasten after his girls and +bring them safely home. Then came the thought of the peril of the +settlement. At any moment he might be called upon to help in its +defense. Every man would be needed. He recalled Danna's strength and +fearlessness, and her knowledge of the forest, and Rebby's quiet good +judgment. If there were dangers he believed his girls could meet them +fearlessly. Then, too, what a blessing it would be to have them bring +home a store of powder and shot. It would mean the salvation of the +settlement. Mr. Weston began to feel very proud of his little daughters +and to feel sure they would return safely. + +"What is the trouble with your hat, Father?" questioned his wife. "You +stand looking at it as if it had some message for you." + +"Indeed it has," Mr. Weston replied smilingly. "It tells me that we have +two of the bravest girls in America. Listen," and he read Rebby's note +aloud. + +"'Tis a deed to make us proud," he said, "and 'twill give new courage to +every man in the settlement to know that a supply of powder will be here +to-morrow." + +But it was a long and anxious day for Mrs. Weston. She knew the perils +of the forest, and her thoughts centered about lurking bears that might +spring out upon Rebby and Danna as they went through the wilderness. She +endeavored to find comfort by remembering that their errand was for the +cause of justice and freedom, and that a love stronger than her own was +about them. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + A PERILOUS JOURNEY + + +Not until the girls reached the beginning of the forest trail, where +their father had pointed out the dim path leading toward Chandler's +River, did they feel really sure that their father would not follow +them. But as they stopped for a brief rest under the shadow of a +wide-spreading beach tree Rebby said: + +"Father could have overtaken us by this time, Danna, if he did not think +it was right for us to go." + +Danna agreed cheerfully, and now both the girls felt a new courage for +this perilous undertaking that was sure to tax their strength to the +utmost. The fact that their father had not hastened after them made them +both realize how important it was that powder and shot should reach the +Machias settlement as soon as possible. + +The faint path soon disappeared entirely, and had Rebby been alone she +would not have known which way to turn. But Anna went on confidently, +keeping a sharp outlook for the "blazed" trees of which her father had +told her as marking the way toward Chandler's River. + +They forced their way through dense masses of tangled underbrush, over +fallen trees, and through the shadowy stretches of thickly growing pine. +Now and then they came to some marshy stretch, which Anna would +carefully avoid, for she remembered how often her father had warned her +of the dangers of such places, with their unmarked quicksands that would +quickly swallow the heedless person who ventured upon them. + +Notwithstanding Anna's caution in regard to resting frequently they +pushed on steadily, with but one stop until the sound of water as it +dashed over a rocky bed warned them that they were near Whitneyville +Falls, and half-way to their destination. + +The sun was now directly overhead, and as they came out from the shade +of the forest to the open space along the river's bank Rebby sank down +on 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 am +sure the remainder of the way will not be so hard, because we can follow +the river up to the settlement." + +Rebby was too tired to reply. She stretched herself out on the warm +grass and closed her eyes. + +"Poor Rebby," thought Danna, looking down at her elder sister and +remembering that Rebecca had never enjoyed woodland tramps, and +realizing that this undertaking was much harder for her sister than for +herself. + +"She's asleep," Anna whispered to herself, with a little smile of +satisfaction. "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 many +crimson berries still clinging to the vines, and Anna picked these +carefully, using her cap for a basket, and gathering a quantity of the +young checkerberry leaves. "Rebby is sure to like these," she thought +happily. + +Anna's sharp glance moved about quickly and finally rested near an old +stump. + +"Partridge eggs!" she exclaimed joyfully, and in a moment she was +beside the stump peering down at a circle of small brownish eggs. She +counted them, and before she had whispered "twenty!" a whirring, +scrambling noise close at hand told her that the partridge to whom the +eggs 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 then +going softly away, that she might not unnecessarily frighten the +woodland bird. + +She now carried the cap with great care, as she looked about hoping to +discover some sign of a woodland spring. She kept along at the edge of +the woods, and very soon she heard the sound of a noisy little brook +hurrying along to the river. It was not far up the river from the place +where Rebby was so comfortably asleep, and Anna decided that it would be +just the place for their noonday luncheon. + +She set the cap, with all its treasures, carefully under the shade of a +tiny fir tree near the side of the brook and then ran back to awaken +Rebby. + +"Dinner is ready!" she called gaily as she ran; and the sound of her +voice made Rebecca sit up quickly, and exclaim: + +"The British will shoot down our liberty pole!" For her dreams had been +of soldiers in red coats firing at the liberty pole, while Mr. Worden +Foster, with a big pitchfork, tried to drive them away. + +"It is a truly dinner, with eggs," declared Anna happily, as she led the +way back to the noisy little brook. + +The raw eggs tasted good to the hungry girls, and the good corn-bread +and spicy berries and tender checkerberry leaves, with cool water to +drink, made them both feel refreshed and rested, and ready for the +remaining distance to Chandler's River settlement. + +They crossed the little brook and went sturdily on. Now and then a +partridge flew in front of them. Squirrels scolded and chattered among +the tree tops, and once or twice a rabbit leaped out from behind some +stump and ran ahead of them as if daring them to capture him. + +Both the girls well knew that there were larger and more dangerous +animals in the forests. There were bears prowling somewhere in those dim +shadowy woods, eating the young buds and leaves, and capturing such +defenseless birds and rabbits as they could. Once or twice they heard +some heavy creature crashing through the underbrush, and looked at each +other with startled eyes; but no harm came near them, and by the middle +of the afternoon they reached the first house of the settlement, and had +told 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 amazed +admiration; and, when they told of the scarcity of powder and shot in +Machias, had said that the men of Chandler's River settlement had +believed Machias well supplied with powder, and had taken but a small +quantity with them. + +"One of our fishermen brought news of the British gunboat, and our men +started at once. They went by the lower trail," explained the woman, as +she 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 as +much as you can carry, and I will go with you a part of the way +to-morrow," she added, and Rebecca and Danna thanked her gratefully. +After they had eaten their porridge they were quite ready to bathe +their tired feet in the hot water their hostess had ready, and go to +bed, although the sun was yet an hour above the horizon. + +While the girls slept Mrs. Getchell hurried to the other houses of the +settlement, telling the story of the two courageous girls who had come +through the forest on their patriotic errand. + +"'Tis hardly to be believed," she declared. "These little maids are +brave as soldiers, and they will carry the powder and shot back in good +time to be of use. General Washington shall hear of them, and the +Province of Maine will not forget their names." + +The women and children listened eagerly, and all were anxious for a +sight of the little maids who had shown such courage and hardihood. But +Mrs. Getchell declared that they must not be disturbed, or they would +not 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, safely +packed, she returned home. + +It was broad daylight when Rebecca and Anna awoke. Mrs. Getchell had +breakfast ready for them, and they enjoyed the hot batter cakes and +maple syrup and the rich milk. They had not finished eating when a +murmur of voices outside the door made them look up in surprise. + +"'Tis the women and children," explained Mrs. Getchell smilingly. "They +have come to wish you good fortune." + +Rebecca and Anna hardly knew what to say as the women of the settlement +entered the big kitchen, and with friendly smiles praised the two girls +for their courage and loyalty. Boys and girls of their own age gathered +about the doorway and looked at them admiringly; and when Mrs. Getchell +said it was time to start, and with Rebby and Anna led the way toward +the river, young and old followed them. One of the older women slipped a +slender gold chain around Anna's neck, saying: "Wear it, dear little +maid, to remind you that there is no sacrifice too great to make for +America's freedom." And a little girl of about Rebecca's age shyly +pressed a little purse into her hand. "'Tis a golden sovereign that my +mother bade me give you," she said, "and my mother says that always the +children 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 liberty +tree afloat they would not praise me," she thought unhappily. + +A short distance beyond the settlement the women and children bade the +girls 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 loud +cheer went up, the boys waving their caps and the girls calling: "Good +luck to the brave little maids from Machias." + +Mrs. Getchell went on with them for several miles, carrying the powder +and shot, and a flat package containing food for their journey. She told +them to follow the river down, as that trail was more traveled and over +smoother ground, although farther to travel than the forest trail; and +kissing the girls good-bye, after they had promised to visit her "as +soon as the English had been sent home," she turned back toward the +settlement. + +Rebby and Danna watched Mrs. Getchell's stout figure until it was hidden +by the forest, and then, more serious and anxious than at any time +during their perilous undertaking, they picked up the heavy packages +that Mrs. Getchell had placed on the trunk of a fallen tree, and +prepared to continue their journey. + +The shot was in two strong bags, while the powder, in order that it +might be kept perfectly dry and safe, was in two tin canisters, each one +carefully sewn up in stout sailcloth. Mrs. Getchell had fastened a stout +strap to each bag of powder and a bag of shot. These straps went over +the girls' shoulders, and made them easier to carry than in any other +way. It was of course a tough job for each girl to carry ten pounds for +the 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 distance +out of their way. Before noonday Rebby declared that she could not go +another step, and sat down at the foot of a high mass of rocks over +which they must climb. + +"You will have to go on and leave me, Danna," she said. "My feet won't +go, they are so tired: and my shoulders ache." + +The day had grown very warm; there was not a breath of air, and Anna +owned that she had never seen so difficult a trail. Mrs. Getchell had +warned them to be sure and keep in sight of the river and it would lead +them straight to Machias. As Anna looked at her sister she began to fear +that they might not be able to reach home before night, and she knew all +the 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, and +they 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!" and +Anna held up the small cup-shaped dish. "I'll fetch you a drink from the +river," she added, and putting her burden of powder and shot on the +ground 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 a +small spruce tree. Anna wondered how she would ever manage to bring a +cup filled with water up that bank; but she kept on, and was soon at the +river's edge. The rushing water was clear and cool, and Anna drank +thirstily. Then she bathed her face and hands, slipped off her moccasins +and stockings and dipped her feet in the cool stream. She felt rested +and refreshed, as with the tin cup filled with water, and covered with a +broad leaf of a water-lily, she made her careful way back to where she +had left her sister. + +Rebby had taken off her hat and moccasins. She drank the water eagerly +before saying a word. + +"I feel better already," she said, "and by the time we have eaten our +lunch I know we can start. We _must_," she added soberly, "for if we do +not get home before dark Father will surely start after us." + +Danna was opening the package of food and made no response, but she was +wondering if Rebby could really hold out until they reached the +settlement. "I couldn't leave her alone," the little girl thought a +little fearfully, wondering if their long journey was, after all, to end +in failure. For she knew that if they did not reach Machias by the early +evening their attempt to aid the settlement would have been in vain. + +"Look, Rebby! White bread, spread with butter," she said, as she +unfastened the package, "and here are slices of chicken, and big squares +of molasses cake," and Rebby smiled at her little sister's evident +delight. The two girls thoroughly enjoyed the excellent food, and when +the last crumb had been eaten Rebecca declared herself rested, and ready +to start on. + +As she picked up her moccasins she exclaimed: "Oh, Danna!" in so tragic +a 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 a +long narrow slit on the sole. "These awful rocks! I can never walk +without 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 her +sharp clasp-knife; very carefully she cut a broad strip from the top of +Rebby's moccasin, and skilfully fitted it inside over the sole. + +"I saw Father do this very thing once," she said. "It will surely last +until we reach home." + +"I knew I could never make this trip without you, Danna," Rebby said +gratefully. "You are as wise as a real little Indian girl." + +They went on now at a slower pace, for both girls realized that if Rebby +was again overcome by heat and fatigue that it might be impossible for +her to continue. Even Danna owned to herself that she had never been so +tired. The strap across her shoulders, supporting the heavy load, +pressed heavily and at times became almost unbearable; but not for a +moment did it occur to Danna to relinquish the burden. + +They had left the rocky stretch behind them and come out to a +comparatively smooth pasture. The deep forest lay on their right; to the +left was the sloping bank leading to the river. Suddenly Anna stopped +short and grasped Rebby's arm; a second later a deer leaped directly +across 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 tired +feet and lame shoulders, sped silently over the open pasture land. + +Danna was the first to speak, but it was in a whisper: "We need not +fear, Rebby. He was after the deer." + +Rebby made no response. More fully than ever the elder girl realized the +peril into which she had led her younger sister. But nevertheless she +whispered to herself that it was the only way: the powder and shot were +all that could save the settlement from the hands of the enemy. + +The girls did not stop again to rest, nor did they speak until they +reached the top of a rise of ground from which they could see the first +houses of the settlement. The sun was dropping behind the tall pines on +the 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 smiled +at each other happily. + +"Can't we leave the powder and shot here?" pleaded Danna, twisting the +uncomfortable strap into an easier position. "Father would come and get +it, and it's so heavy." + +But Rebby shook her head. "It would not be safe. We must carry it +straight home," she said; so, with a sigh of endurance, Danna started +on. + +They were now in the broad trail that led straight to the little +settlement, and before they reached the first house they saw a tall +figure striding toward them. It was Mr. Weston, and in a moment their +load of powder and shot was swung over his shoulders, Rebby was clasping +one hand and Anna the other, and they were both talking at once, trying +to tell him the story of their journey. + +Their mother came running down the path to meet them, and clasped them +in her thankful embrace. The Westons had not told their neighbors of the +girls' undertaking, thinking it wiser to await their return; but as soon +as Rebby and Anna were safely indoors their father hastened away to tell +the men of the settlement that a supply of powder and shot had been +brought to Machias by his courageous daughters. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + TRIUMPH + + +The day following the return of Rebecca and Anna Weston from their +perilous and difficult undertaking to bring the much needed powder and +shot to Machias was Sunday, the eleventh of June, 1775. + +Very early that morning there was an air of unusual excitement about the +little settlement. It was known that the English officers from the +gunboat would attend service in the meeting-house that morning; and the +Machias men had decided, with the approval of Parson Lyon, to surround +the church and capture them before they had time to carry out their +plans against the settlement. + +Rebby and Danna were eating their breakfast when Captain Benjamin Foster +appeared at the kitchen door, saying that he had come to thank them for +their courageous effort to aid the men in defending their rights. As he +entered the room the girls jumped up from their seats at the table and +curtseyed; and as he went on to praise their loyalty and valor, the two +little girls, hand in hand, stood before him with downcast eyes, flushed +and happy at his approving words. + +In spite of anxious thoughts as to the result of the conflict between +the men of Machias and the English soldiers, Mrs. Weston was very proud +and happy that morning as she walked to church with Rebecca and Anna +beside her. Many neighbors stopped them to praise the little girls, and +all declared that the people of the settlement would always remember +what they had done. + +Even Parson Lyon and his wife were waiting at the church door to speak +to the two little heroines; and Melvina and Luretta felt as if they +shared in their friends' honors as they walked up the aisle of the +church beside them. + +Before the English officers had landed from their boat a number of the +Machias men had quietly hidden their guns in the building; while Captain +Benjamin Foster, with men armed and ready for action, were concealed +among the tall pines close at hand, ready to surround the church and +seize the English officers; and had they taken London Atus into their +confidence this well-prepared scheme might have succeeded. + +But London was entirely innocent of any trouble near at hand. From his +place in a side pew he kept a watchful eye upon Melvina, and perhaps +wondered a little at all the attention lavished on the little Weston +girls. + +Rebby saw Captain and Mrs. Horton and Lucia, with Captain Jones, enter +the church. Lucia did not look toward the group of girls seated in the +Westons' pew. The Hortons were no longer trusted by their neighbors, and +after that morning in church they vanished from the community and never +returned. + +Rebby's glance now rested on London. How queerly he looked, she thought +wonderingly. He was leaning sideways peering out of an open window. As +Rebecca watched him he rose to his feet with a loud cry, and before any +restraining word could reach him he had leaped through the open window. + +In a moment all was confusion. There were loud cries of "Stop him!" Men +rushed from the church, but the English officers, followed by Captain +Jones and the Hortons, had scrambled through the open windows and were +well on their flight toward their boats, which they reached in safety, +although numerous shots were fired after them. The gunboat at once +turned her guns on the town. Shot after shot echoed across the quiet +waters 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 Parson +Lyon, musket in hand, came up from the shore to tell them that all was +quiet and to return to their homes. + +Melvina and Anna left the church together, and Luretta and Rebby +followed with Mrs. Weston. Melvina said good-bye to her friends very +soberly, and clasped her father's hand very closely as they walked +toward home. + +"Will the English soldiers shoot down our liberty pole, Father?" she +asked. + +"The English captain has sent us word that we are to take it down before +sunset, so that he may be saved that trouble," replied Parson Lyon, his +tone indicating that he considered the English captain's remark as an +amusing 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 peace +instead of mistaking Captain Foster's men for an armed enemy marching +upon us, the English would be our prisoners at this moment," declared +her father. "But that is but postponed," he added quietly, "and +to-morrow morning Machias men will give the English captain a lesson." + +There were many anxious hearts in the settlement that night, for it had +been determined that in the early dawn of the following morning the men +should seize the sloop _Unity_, and make the attempt to capture the +English gunboat. Neither Rebecca nor Anna knew of this plan; and, still +tired from their journey, as well as by the excitement that morning at +the church, they were glad to go early to bed and were soon sound +asleep. Mrs. Weston, unable to sleep, waited in the kitchen for her +husband's return. For Mr. Weston and his neighbors were busy with their +preparations for the coming battle. It was decided that Captain O'Brien +should take command of the sloop, and before the sun rose the next +morning forty Machias men were on board the _Unity_. Half this number +were armed with broad-axes and pitchforks; the remainder had muskets. + +It was just at sunrise when a warning shot from the gunboat reverberated +along the harbor, and Rebecca awakened suddenly. She realized at once +that the conflict had begun. In an instant she was out of bed, slipped +quickly into her clothing, and leaving Danna sound asleep, she sped down +the path and along the trail to the high bluff that commanded a view of +the harbor. + +There was a favoring wind and the _Unity_, with her crew of untrained +men, was now in full chase of a vessel well-armed and equipped. On swept +the sloop, and a sudden volley of musketry from her deck astonished and +confused the enemy. The gunboat swerved, and the bowsprit of the _Unity_ +plunged into her mainsail, holding the two vessels together for a brief +moment. + +Rebecca, standing on the bluff, shouted aloud. She was sure that the +moment of triumph for the Machias men was close at hand. But victory was +not so easily achieved; the vessels suddenly parted, and now a storm of +bullets rained upon the _Unity_. + +Captain O'Brien swung the sloop alongside the _Margaretta_ and twenty of +his men armed with pitchforks sprang to the enemy's deck. A hand-to-hand +conflict ensued. Surprised by the dauntless valor of the Machias men +the English were forced to yield. The English flag was pulled down amid +triumphant shouts of the Americans; the wounded were cared for, and +English officers and crew made prisoners of war. + +When Rebecca saw the English flag vanish from the gunboat's mast and +heard the resounding cheers, she knew that the Americans had conquered +their enemy, and that the liberty tree would stand unchallenged. But she +did not realize that she had been a witness to the first naval exploit +in America after the battle of Lexington. + +All the women and children and such men as had been left behind, were +now hurrying toward the wharves. Cheer after cheer rang out across the +harbor as the _Unity_ and the captured gunboat came slowly to their +anchorage. + +Mrs. Weston and Anna came hurrying down the path and Rebby ran to meet +them. + +"I saw the battle, Mother!" she exclaimed eagerly. "I was on the bluff +and saw it all." But before Mrs. Weston could respond to this +astonishing statement a boat-load of men from the _Unity_ had landed. + +"Your father is safe," whispered Mrs. Weston, "and now let me see of +what use I can be to the wounded men. Rebby, take Anna back to the house +and stay there until I come." + +The two little girls walked silently back to the house. The battle that +had been so feared was over; the enemy was conquered, and Rebecca and +Anna knew that by their bringing the powder from Chandler's River they +had helped to win the conflict. But just then they did not think of +that. They could think only of the wounded men, who had been so +carefully brought on shore by their companions. + +On the following day the inhabitants, such as were not caring for the +wounded English and American soldiers, gathered at the liberty pole. It +was a quiet and reverent gathering. Several men of the settlement had +been wounded, and two had given their lives for America's cause. Parson +Lyon gave loving tribute to these heroes, as he offered thanks for the +triumph of loyalty. + +And then, before all the people, he praised Rebecca and Anna Weston for +their courage in undertaking the difficult and dangerous journey through +the wilderness to bring aid to the settlement. + +"Step forward, Rebecca and Anna Weston," he said smilingly; and, a +little fearfully, the sisters, hand in hand, left their mother's side +and approached the liberty pole. Taking each by the hand Parson Lyon +smiled down upon them. + +There was a little murmur of approval among the people, and one by one +the older members of the congregation came forward and praised the +little girls. + +"It is Rebby who should be praised, not me," Anna insisted. "It is not +fair for me to be praised." While Rebecca, in her turn, declared eagerly +that 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 was +speedily recognized by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, who, on +June 26, 1775, passed a resolution extending to them the thanks of the +Congress for their courageous conduct. The news of the brilliant victory +was heralded throughout the land, stimulating the colonists everywhere +to emulate the example of the courageous settlers of Machias. + +Rebecca often thought of her former friend, Lucia Horton; but she never +told the story of the night when, misled by Lucia's plausible story, +she had tried to defeat the loyalty of the settlers by setting their +liberty tree adrift. As she looked up at the tall sapling, the emblem of +the loyalty of the settlement, she was proud indeed that she had been of +use in its protection. + +Anna's gold chain was her greatest treasure. It was shown to every +little girl in the settlement, and each one knew its story. The golden +sovereign given to Rebecca was no less highly prized. + +"That sovereign has a value beyond money. It is a medal for valor," her +father said; and on the year when peace was firmly established between +England and America Rebecca's golden sovereign was smoothed, and upon it +these 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. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Little Maid of Old Maine, by Alice Turner Curtis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A LITTLE MAID OF OLD MAINE *** + +***** This file should be named 20340.txt or 20340.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/3/4/20340/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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