sy hummock where no eye could see them; but
from time to time John Nelson looked about furtively as if expecting some
one to appear.

"You are not a 'traitor' or a 'spy,' are you, father?" questioned the
child. "When the Cary children did say so I chased them from the spring,
and Captain Enos said I did well. But I did think you lost at sea,
father!"

The man shook his head. "Try and remember what I tell you, child, that you
may know your father for an honest man. The day I left harbor on my
fishing trip I was run down by one of those British vessels. The sloop
sank, and they threw me a rope and pulled me on board. It was rare sport
for their sailors to see me struggle for my very life." The man stopped
and his face grew very grave and stern. "Then they said they were coming
into Cape Cod Harbor, and that I should be their pilot. They said they
would make a good bonfire of the shanties of the settlement. And then,
child, I misled them. I laughed and said, ''Tis a settlement of good
Royalists if ever there was one.' They would scarce believe me. But they
came into harbor, and when the men proved civil and refused them nothing,
then they credited what I said. But they told me they were bound for
Dorchester Harbor, and there they would make a good English soldier of me.
I said nothing, but this morning, in the confusion of making sail, I
slipped overboard and swam ashore, bound that I would have a look at my
girl and know her safe and well."

"And now, father, shall we go back and live in the little house by the
shore? Mistress Stoddard has kept our things safely, and she has taught me
many useful things," said Anne proudly.

"No, child. For me to stay in this settlement would bring trouble upon it.
Those ships will return here, and if I were found among the men here,
then, indeed, would their anger be great. They must think me drowned, else
they would indeed make a bonfire of every house along the shore."

"But what will you do, father? You must stay with me now."

"No, dear child. I must make my way up the cape to the settlements and
join the Americans. My eyes are opened: 'Tis right that they should
protect their homes. I will have some information for them, and I no
longer have any place here. The Stoddards are good to you, Anne? They task
thee not beyond thy strength? and they speak pleasantly to thee?"

"They are ever kind, father; they do smile on me, and Captain Enos does
always give me the best piece of fis