"

"There, now," said the Captain. "Farming ain't such plain sailing; is
it? Have ye thought of getting an Indian slave to help ye?"

"Truly I have thought of that," said the Goodman, "but they are a
treacherous lot and passing lazy. There was a parcel of Pequot women
and girls brought up from beyond Plymouth way last year after the
uprising. The settlers had killed off all the men and sold the boys in
the Bermudas. I might have bought one of the women but I need a man,
or at least a boy that will grow into one. The Pequots are about all
gone now, but the Narragansetts are none too friendly. They helped
fight the Pequots because they hate them worse than they hate the
English, but they are only biding their time, and some day it 's
likely we shall have trouble with them. Nay, I could never trust an
Indian slave. Roger Williams saith they are wolves with men's brains,
and he speaks the truth."

"Well, then," said the Captain, "why don't ye get a black? They are
more docile than Indians, and the woods about are not full of their
friends."

"Aye," agreed the Goodman, "the plan is a good one and well thought
out, but they are hard to come by. There are only a few, even in
Boston."

"There will soon be more, I 'm thinking," said the Captain. "A ship
was built in Marblehead last year on purpose for the trade. Captain
Pierce is a friend of mine, and he 's due at Providence any time now
with a cargo of blacks from Guinea. Ye could sail down the bay with
me, and there 's a trail across the neck of the Cape to Providence,
where the Desire will come to port. I expect to spend the Sabbath
here, but I lift anchor on Monday. Ye can tell Captain Pierce ye 're a
friend of mine, and 't will do ye no harm."

[Illustration]

"Oh, Father," breathed Dan, "may I go, too?"

The Captain chuckled. "Art struck with the sea fever, son?" he said,
looking down into the boy's eager face. "Well, there 's room aboard.
I might take ye along if so be thy parents are willing and thou art
minded to see a bit of the world."

Up to this time Goodwife Pepperell had said no word, but now she
spoke. "Are there not dangers enough on land without courting the
dangers of the sea?" she asked.

Her husband looked at her with gentle disapproval. "Hold thy peace,"
he said. "What hath a pioneer lad to do with fear? Moreover, if he
goes I shall be with him."

Nancy leaned forward and gazed imploringly at the Captain. "Dost thou
not need some one to cook