s afternoon. 'Tis a great day for Amos," continued the
captain; "he tells all the boys in the village of his great adventure in
rounding Long Point and living two days on an island. You'd think he'd
seen Terra del Fuego, to say the least."

[Illustration: 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 few
Cape Cod sailors ever go; though we go to most places, I will say," he
added with a hearty laugh.

"Amos and Jimmie Starkweather were all for sailing off this morning to
bring the dory home," he continued, "but a boatload of the 'Somerset's'
men stopped them and sent them ashore, threatening to dismast any sloop
that put up a sail in this harbor without their permission."

Anne knit steadily on, thinking of her father, and wondering if these men
on board the "Somerset" had any knowledge of him. But she asked no
questions, knowing that Captain Enos would tell her if any news came.

The scarlet stockings had made good progress when Mistress Starkweather
was seen coming up the sandy path. Anne ran to the door to meet her, and
the 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 out
the most comfortable chair for her.

"Amos was not afraid," said Anne, "but Amanda and I did wish ourselves
home."

"I'll warrant that boy would not be afraid of the water, storm or no
storm," 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 threw
water at him," and the two women smiled, remembering the little girl's
loyal 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 more
punctually to church. Last Sunday there were but seven in the
meeting-house," and Mrs. Starkweather's face grew sober.

"I shall not have time to learn to read long words before Monday," said
Anne anxiously.

"I planned to teach the child a little before school begins," explained
Mrs. Stoddard, "from Captain Enos's 'Pilgrim's Progress.' His mother
bought the book in Boston, and he treasures it."

"And no wonder," replied Mrs. Starkweather; "beside the Bible there are
few books in any household in the settlement. I doubt if the minister can
lay claim to a half dozen. He has hi