The Freemans all went down to the wharf with Anne the next morning. The fine portmanteau, filled with Anne’s new clothing and with her gifts for the Province Town friends, was placed carefully in the little cabin. Captain Starkweather had already hoisted the sloop’s mainsail, and gave Anne a warm welcome as her father helped her on board.
“Good-bye, good-bye, dear Rose,” Anne called back.
As the sloop swung off from the wharf and the little girl looked back toward the friends who had been so kind to her there was a little mist in her eyes.
“It’s good luck indeed to have this favoring wind,” said Captain Starkweather, as the boat moved swiftly down the harbor. “I doubt not Amanda Cary is on the beach already hoping we may have sailed at midnight,” and the Captain nodded smilingly toward Anne. “What are you watching so sharply, John?” he asked, for Mr. Nelson, shading his eyes with one hand, was watching a small schooner.
“Why, I’m wondering a bit about that schooner,” he replied. “Her sails were hoisted and her anchor up when we left the wharf, and she’s kept the same course. She couldn’t be after us right in Boston harbor, but I don’t like her keeping so close.”
“’Tis hard work to know friends from foes on land or sea these days,” said Captain Starkweather a little anxiously. For several fishermen had recently been captured by English vessels, the men taken to England, and their boats kept by the captors.
“Hoist the jib, John,” directed the captain. “We’ll sail away from that craft; I don’t like her company.”
Up went the jib, but the sloop did not increase the distance from the schooner. Both boats had now left Boston harbor well behind them. The sloop could not hope for any help now if the schooner really meant to capture it.
“There are guns on that schooner,” exclaimed John Nelson. “Go into the cabin, Anne, and don’t come out until I tell you to. Remember, stay in the cabin,” and almost before she realized what had happened Anne found herself in the sloop’s cabin, and the little door shut. A moment later she heard the bang! bang! of a gun, and felt the boat swing heavily to one side.