marsh. She often thought of the wolf, but she never saw it
again.

-----

[1] A coarse chinaware.

CHAPTER V

SCARLET STOCKINGS

"Good news from Truro, Captain Enos," said Joseph Starkweather, one
morning in August, as the two neighbors met at the boat landing. "There'll
be good hope for American freedom if all our settlements show as much wit
and courage."

"And what have Truro men done?" demanded Captain Enos. "They are mostly of
the same blood as our Province Town folks, and would naturally be of some
wit."

Joseph Starkweather's eyes brightened and twinkled at his neighbor's
answer.

"'twas the sand-hills helped them," he answered. "You know the little
valleys between the row of sand-hills near the shore? Well, the British
fleet made anchorage off there some days since, and the Truro men had no
mind for them to land and spy out how few there were. So they gathered in
one of those little valleys and, carrying smooth poles to look like
muskets, they marched out in regular file like soldiers over the
sand-hill; then down they went through the opposite depression and around
the hill and back, and then up they came again, constantly marching; and
the British, who could be seen getting boats ready to land, thought better
of it. They believed that an immense force of American soldiers had
assembled, and the ships hoisted sail and made off. 'twas good work."

"Indeed it was," responded Captain Enos. "I could wish that we of this
settlement were not so at the mercy of the British. Our harbor is too
good. It draws them like a magnet. I do think three thousand ships might
find safe anchorage here," and Captain Enos turned an admiring look out
across the beautiful harbor.

"Have you any news of John Nelson?" questioned Joseph Starkweather.

"How could there be news of a man whose boat sunk under him well off Race
Point in a southerly gale?" responded Captain Stoddard.

Joseph approached a step nearer his companion and said: "He was on one of
the British ships, Enos; he was seen there, and now news comes by way of a
Newburyport fisherman that 'twas no fault of John Nelson's. The Britishers
ran down his boat and took him on board their ship, and the news goes that
when the fleet anchored off here Nelson escaped; swam ashore in the night,
the story goes, and made his way to Wellfleet and joined the Americans at
Dorchester who are ready to resist the British if need be."

Captain Enos's face brightened as