he listened. "That is indeed good news!"
he said. "I am glad for our little maid's sake that her father is known to
be a loyal man. But 'Tis strange he did not seek to see Anne," he
continued thoughtfully.

"John Nelson loved the little maid well," declared Joseph Starkweather.
"He had but poor luck here, but he did his best. The Newburyport man tells
that the British are in great anger at his escape, and vow that the
settlement here shall pay well for it when they make harbor here again."

"We have no arms to defend the harbor. 'Tis hard work to rest quiet here,"
said Captain Enos; "but it is great news to know that our little maid's
father is a loyal man. We like the child well."

"'twas I sent Anne to your house, Enos," responded Joseph. "My own is so
full that I dared not ask Mistress Starkweather to take the child in; and
I knew your wife for a kind-hearted woman."

"It was a good thought, Joseph," responded the captain, "and Anne seems
well content with us. She has her playhouse under the trees, and amuses
herself without making trouble. She is a helpful little maid, too, saving
Mistress Stoddard many a step. I must be going toward home. There was an
excellent chowder planned for my dinner, and Martha will rejoice at the
news from Truro," and the captain hurried toward home.

Half-way up the hill he saw Anne, coming to meet him. "Uncle Enos! Uncle
Enos!" she called, "Brownie is lost! Indeed she is. All the morning have I
gone up and down the pasture, calling her name and looking everywhere for
her, and she is not to be found."

"Well, well!" responded Captain Enos; "'Tis sure the Britishers have not
stolen her, for there is not one of their craft in sight. The cow is
probably feeding somewhere about; we'll find her safe in some good
pasturage. Is the chowder steaming hot and waiting?"

"Yes, Uncle Enos," replied Anne, slipping her hand into the captain's,
"but Aunt Martha is greatly concerned about Brownie. She fears the Indians
may have driven her off."

"We'll cruise about a little after dinner," answered the captain. "I don't
like to think that the Indians would show themselves unfriendly just now,"
and his pleasant face grew stern and serious.

But his appetite for the chowder was excellent, and when he started out to
search for Brownie he was sure that he would find her near the marsh or
perhaps in the maple grove further on, where the cattle sometimes
wandered.

"Now, Anne, I have an errand for y