round the point, "for she
's been shown enough favor to spile her, according to my way of
thinkin'."

[Illustration]

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

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

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

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

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

Neither Daniel nor his father needed a second invitation, for the keen
salt air had given them the appetite of wolves, and the breakfast was
soon disposed of according to directions. Then the two followed the
Captain over the side and into the boat, which had been lowered and
was now bobbing about on the choppy waves of the bay. When they were
settled and the boat was properly trimmed, the Captain rowed toward a
small stream of clear water which flowed down from the hills back of
the town, and landed them at the foot of the one little street of the
village. The Captain drew the boat well up on the shore and stowed
letters and parcels in various places about his person, and the three
started up the hill together. They