n
to deal justly with him. Nothing had been heard of the Gazelle since her
departure from Boston.

Uncle Wyman was known to be a northern man with southern principles, while
his brother, though not in the habit of saying much about politics, was
fully committed on the side of the government, and was willing to sustain
the President in the use of all the coercion that might be necessary to
enforce obedience to the laws. The threatening aspect of affairs at the
South had made Captain Somers more than ever anxious to have his accounts
adjusted, as all his earthly possessions, except the schooner, were in the
hands of his brother; and the fact that uncle Wyman was so strong an
advocate of Southern rights, had caused him to make the declaration that
he would not return without a settlement.

The financial affairs of the Somers family, therefore, were not in a very
prosperous condition, and the solvency of the house depended entirely upon
the adjustment with uncle Wyman. The mortgage note which Squire Pemberton
held would be due in June, and as the creditor was not an indulgent man,
there was a prospect that even the little cottage and the little farm
might be wrested from them.

The family at home consisted of Mrs. Somers and three children. The two
oldest daughters were married to two honest, hard-working fishermen at the
Harbor. Thomas and John were twins, sixteen years of age. The former had a
place in one of the stores at the village, and the latter occasionally
went a fishing trip with his brothers-in-law. Both of the boys had been
brought up to work, and there was need enough now that they should
contribute what they could to the support of the family. The youngest
child, Jane, was but eleven years of age, and went to school. Mrs.
Somers's brother, a feeble old man, a soldier in the war of 1812, and a
pensioner of the government, had been a member of the family for twenty
years; and was familiarly known in town as "Gran'ther Green."

Having thus made our readers acquainted with Pinchbrook and the Somers
family, we are prepared to continue our story.

Thomas and John walked down to the Harbor together after dinner. The
latter had listened with interest and approbation to his brother's account
of the "Battle of Pinchbrook," as he facetiously called it; and perhaps he
thought Thomas might need his assistance before he reached the store, for
Fred and his father would not probably be willing to let the matter rest
wher