n he saw Amos coming back with Amanda held fast by the
hand.

The boy and girl stopped at the edge of the water.

"Tell him, Amanda," commanded Amos.

"It's my fault," whimpered Amanda. "I got my mother to tell Mrs.
Stoddard that Anne slapped me and ran off with the luncheon. And she
didn't. I slapped her."

"Clear as mud," muttered the captain; then in a louder tone, "Amos,
you're going to make a good American sailor, and we're all going to be
proud of you. And I guess Amanda's going to do better after this," and
he pushed off from shore.

"But you won't go to Brewster now!" called both the children.

"I'll have to. Must go and tell the Freemans that we're willing for Anne
to go to Boston, and to tell Anne that her Aunt Martha knows the truth.
You just run up and tell Mrs. Stoddard all about it, Amanda," he
answered; and, having sent his boat into deep water, the captain drew in
his oars and began hoisting the big mainsail.

For a few moments the boy and girl stood watching him. Then, with a long
sigh, Amanda turned to go toward the Stoddard house. Amos began to feel
a little sorry for her.

"Say, Amanda, I'll go tell her," he called.

"You mind your own business, Amos Cary," and Amanda turned toward him
angrily. "I'll tell Mrs. Stoddard myself, and then I'll go home and tell
my mother. I'll tell everybody, and when everybody hates and despises
me I reckon you'll be satisfied," and without waiting for any response
she went on up the path.

Amos turned and went back to the shade of the boat, but Jimmie
Starkweather was no longer there. He wished more than ever that he was
back with Shining Fish. Then he remembered that in another week he would
be on board the "Sea Gull." He watched Captain Stoddard's sloop until it
was only a white blur against the distant shore, and then went up the
beach toward home.

Captain Enos had a favoring wind and a light heart, for he was glad to
know that their little maid had not been to blame. "She ran away because
she had not been fairly treated. 'Tis what older people sometimes do,"
he said to himself. "'Twas the very reason that sent our fathers out of
England to America. I'll not fetch Anne back, for she called to me from
the window and would have told me all the story had I been willing to
listen," and then because his mind was at ease the captain began to sing
an old song that he had learned as a boy. He had a musical voice, and
the words drifted back pleasantly: