CHAPTER X
SAFE AT HOME
It was late in the evening when the three tired, hungry children reachedthe settlement. Amanda and Amos ran up the path to their door and Anneplodded on toward Mrs. Stoddard's, nearly a half mile from the Caryhouse.
There was not a light to be seen in the village, but Anne could see theshining lanterns on the "Somerset" sending narrow rays of light across thewater. But she was too tired to think of the British ship, or of anythingexcept how good it would be to sleep in a real bed again.
At Mrs. Stoddard's door she stood for a moment wondering if she could notcreep in and up-stairs without waking Uncle Enos and Aunt Martha; shetried the door softly, but it was bolted, so she rattled the latch andcalled, "Aunt Martha! Uncle Enos!" a sudden fear filling her heart thatthey might not hear her and that she might have to sleep on thedoor-step.
But in an instant she heard steps hurrying across the kitchen floor, thebig bolt was pulled back, the door swung open, and Anne was warmly claspedin Aunt Martha's arms. Uncle Enos hurried close behind her, and Anne wasdrawn into the kitchen with many exclamations of wonder and joy.
"Light a candle that we may look at her," said Aunt Martha, "and start upa fire. 'Tis a chilly night, and the child must have some warm porridge."
It was not long before the fire was burning brightly, a kettle of hotwater bubbling cheerfully, that Anne might have a warm bath to rest andsoothe her tired limbs, and Anne, sitting on Aunt Martha's lap, was eatinga bowl of hot porridge and telling the story of her adventures.
"House Point Island, eh?" said Uncle Enos; "'Tis lucky there was an islandjust there, even so low a one as that. In a hundred years or so the tidesand waves will sweep it away."
Anne told of the brush-covered shelter, of Amos making a fire and cookingthe fish, and of their journey home, while her kind friends listenedeagerly.
"We feared the boat had been carried out to sea and that our little maidwas lost," said Aunt Martha, "and the men have looked for you all aboutthe shore. The 'Somerset' is in harbor and its crew are doing muchmischief on shore, so that we have had much to disturb us. What a tangleof hair this is for me to brush out," she added, passing a tender handover Anne's dark locks.
How good the warm water felt to Anne's bruised feet; and she was sure thatnothing ever tasted so good as the porridge. The rough hair was brushedinto smooth braids, and it was a very happy little girl who went to sleepin the upper chamber with her wooden doll beside her, and the white kittencurled up on the foot of her bed.
"I'm glad I'm not a little Indian girl," was Anne's last thought beforeshe went to sleep.
It was late the next morning when she awoke. Her soiled and torn clotheswere not to be seen, but a dress of clean cotton and a fresh pinafore layon the wooden stool.
"My, it's nice to be clean," thought Anne, remembering the uncomfortableefforts that she and Amanda had made to wash their faces in water from theisland spring.
"It's near noon, dear child," said Mrs. Stoddard, as Anne came into thekitchen. "You shall have a boiled egg for your breakfast, and I am cookinga fine johnnycake for you before the fire. You must be nigh starved. Tothink of that Amos Cary hiding the oar instead of fetching you straighthome."
"But he worked all the time to make a house for us, and to cook the fish,"explained Anne, "and he speaks well of my father. I like him better thanwhen he called me names."
"Of course you do, child; and I did not think him so smart a boy as heproves. 'twas no small thing to start a fire as he did."
"'twas Amanda made him come home," said Anne; "she told him we would walkthrough the water to the Point, and then he said he would fetch us."
"Your Uncle Enos thinks Amos may make a good sailor," said Aunt Martha."Indeed, if it were not for these British ships hovering about our shoresit is likely that Skipper Cary would have been off to the Banks and takenAmos with him."
The "Banks" were the fishing grounds off the island of Newfoundland, andfor several years the Cape Cod fishermen had made summer cruises there,coming home with big cargoes of fine fish which they sold in the Bostonmarket at excellent prices. These fishing grounds were called the "Banks,"because of the heavy banks of fog which settled down in that region.
After Anne had finished her breakfast she went to Mrs. Stoddard's bigwork-basket, and took out her knitting-work.
"May I not knit a long time to-day, Aunt Martha?" she asked. "My feet achesorely, and I should like well to knit."
"That is right," answered Mrs. Stoddard, nodding her approval. "Your UncleEnos drove Brownie over the hill where the sailors from the 'Somerset'will not be like to see her, and we will both stay indoors to-day andknit. Maybe we shall begin to read to-day, also."
"After I have knit a good stint," said Anne, "for 'twill be time forstockings soon."
It was a happy morning for the little girl. She worked steadily andcarefully until Captain Enos came up from the shore for his noon meal.
"Well, well," he said smilingly, "now this seems good--to see our littlemaid safe at home by the window with her knitting. I saw MistressStarkweather as I came home, and she bade me tell you she should walk thisway to see you this afternoon. 'Tis a great day for Amos," continued thecaptain; "he tells all the boys in the village of his great adventure inrounding Long Point and living two days on an island. You'd think he'dseen Terra del Fuego, to say the least."
SHE WORKED STEADILY]
"And what is Terra del Fuego?" asked Anne wonderingly.
"'Tis a far island, Anne, in warm southern seas, such a distance as fewCape Cod sailors ever go; though we go to most places, I will say," headded with a hearty laugh.
"Amos and Jimmie Starkweather were all for sailing off this morning tobring the dory home," he continued, "but a boatload of the 'Somerset's'men stopped them and sent them ashore, threatening to dismast any sloopthat put up a sail in this harbor without their permission."
Anne knit steadily on, thinking of her father, and wondering if these menon board the "Somerset" had any knowledge of him. But she asked noquestions, knowing that Captain Enos would tell her if any news came.
The scarlet stockings had made good progress when Mistress Starkweatherwas seen coming up the sandy path. Anne ran to the door to meet her, andthe good woman kissed her heartily. "To think of the danger you were in,dear child," she said, as Anne led her into the sunny kitchen and drew outthe most comfortable chair for her.
"Amos was not afraid," said Anne, "but Amanda and I did wish ourselveshome."
"I'll warrant that boy would not be afraid of the water, storm or nostorm," said Mrs. Stoddard, drawing her own chair near to her neighbor's;"yet Captain Enos tells that he fled from our Anne here when she threwwater at him," and the two women smiled, remembering the little girl'sloyal defense of her absent father.
"School is to begin next Monday, if all goes well," continued Mrs.Starkweather, "and beside that the minister declared we must all come morepunctually to church. Last Sunday there were but seven in themeeting-house," and Mrs. Starkweather's face grew sober.
"I shall not have time to learn to read long words before Monday," saidAnne anxiously.
"I planned to teach the child a little before school begins," explainedMrs. Stoddard, "from Captain Enos's 'Pilgrim's Progress.' His motherbought the book in Boston, and he treasures it."
"And no wonder," replied Mrs. Starkweather; "beside the Bible there arefew books in any household in the settlement. I doubt if the minister canlay claim to a half dozen. He has his knowledge in his head."
"And so should all people have," said Mrs. Stoddard. "Anne, go to the bigred chest in my bedroom and take out the book that lays there and fetch itto me. Mayhap Mistress Starkweather would like to see it."
Anne quickly obeyed. The big red chest was one that Captain Enos hadcarried when he went on whaling voyages. It had handles of twisted rope,and a huge padlock swung from an iron loop in front. Anne lifted the topand reached in after the book; but the chest was deep; there were only afew articles
on the bottom of the chest, and she could not reach it. Soshe pushed the lid back until it rested against the wall, and stepped intothe chest, stooping down to pick up the book. As she leaned over,bang,--down came the lid to the chest, shutting Anne closely in. For aninstant the child was too frightened to move, as she lay on her face inthe big chest; then she tried to sit up, and found she could not. Shetried to call "Aunt Martha," but her voice sounded thick and muffled.
In the kitchen the two neighbors sat waiting for Anne and the book.
"Anne! Anne!" called Mrs. Stoddard. "Why, the child is usually so spry. Iwonder what keeps her," and she went into the bedroom.
"Did Anne slip out while we talked?" she called back to Mrs. Starkweather."She's not here."
Just then there came a sound from the chest. "Pity's sake!" exclaimed Mrs.Stoddard. "I do believe Anne is in the chest," and she hastened to swingback the big lid and to lift the half-stifled child out.
"Did you ever!" she said. "How came you in the chest, child?"
"I got in to get the book and the lid fell on me," half whispered Anne,clinging to Mrs. Stoddard's skirts.
"Well, well, child, there is no harm done," said Mrs. Stoddard, "but 'Tisnot a safe thing to get into chests. I will get the book. I thought yourarms were longer," and Mrs. Stoddard reached into the sea-chest and drewout a long black-covered book. "It has many pictures," she said. "I wonderI have not shown it to Anne before."
Mrs. Starkweather looked at the book admiringly, and Mrs. Stoddard tookAnne in her lap that they might all enjoy the pictures together.
"Look," she said; "here is Christian setting forth on his journey, andhere are Obstinate and Pliable, two of his neighbors, following him tourge him to come home."
Anne looked at the picture eagerly. She had never seen pictures in a bookbefore, and it seemed very wonderful to her.
"It is a good story," said Mrs. Starkweather. "True, it is said to be buta dream, but I read it in my youth and liked it well. It has been a treatto see it, Mrs. Stoddard. 'Tis seldom I have so care-free an afternoon.Six boys to look after keep me busy," and the good woman rose from herchair and with cordial words of good-bye started for home.
"I wish I could read this book," said Anne, turning the leaves overcarefully and wondering what the pictures meant.
"So you shall. We'll read a little now. Come, you shall spell out thewords, and I will speak them for you and tell you their meaning."
An hour later when Captain Enos stepped into the kitchen he declared thathe thought school had begun there; and while Mrs. Stoddard hurried aboutto prepare supper Uncle Enos continued Anne's reading lesson.
"Perhaps I can read this book after I go to school," said Anne.
"That you can," answered the captain.
"And I will learn to write," said Anne, "and it may be I could send aletter to my dear father."
"That is a good child," said Captain Enos, patting the dark head; "learnto write and we'll set about starting the letter to your father as soon asyou have it ready."
"I shall have much to tell him," said Anne, smiling up into Uncle Enos'skind face.
"And he'll have a good deal to tell you," replied Captain Enos. "I wish Icould see him myself. I'd like news of what's going on in Boston."