“Tory spies, indeed!” said Rose, sending a scornful glance in his direction. “He should have known better. Where is my father?”
“Right this way, miss,” replied Mr. Mains humbly, and the girls followed him to the kitchen where they found Mr. Freeman surrounded by the four men who had brought Anne back to the house.
Rose’s father was as ready to pardon the mistake as Bill Mains was eager to have him.
“It’s worth a little trouble to find we have such good men ready to defend our cause,” he declared, “but I am afraid my girls here are pretty tired, and if you can give them a room without cannon and powder, I’m sure they will sleep well,” as indeed they did in a neat little chamber into which Mr. Mains conducted them, bringing in the little trunk which had been strapped on the back of the chaise.
Mr. Freeman had believed that he was in the hands of the Tories, so that he did not greatly blame his host for being doubtful regarding him.
“It will delay us a little on our journey, but it is no great matter,” he said pleasantly in response to Mains’ repeated apologies. Then Mains explained that this house had been built of brick, and then boarded over and covered with shingles, as a storehouse for supplies for the American army. The four men had just returned from carrying powder to a couple of Yankee boats at Plymouth. These boats were among the many privateers that cruised about during the Revolution, harassing English vessels, and often capturing rich prizes, and helping the American cause. They stayed late in the evening talking with Mr. Freeman, and listening with interest to what he could tell them of affairs in Boston; and when they started off on their way toward Brewster they promised to let his brother know of the mistake, which seemed to them a very good joke on their friend Mains.
Mr. Mains was up at an early hour the next morning, and Mr. Freeman declared the breakfast to be the best that he had ever tasted. There was broiled partridge, hot corn bread, a big dish of freshly picked blueberries, and plenty of good milk; and Anne and Rose thought that nothing could be better, and even decided that Mr. Mains did not look like a pirate after all. “For I don’t believe pirates wear brown gingham aprons, do you, Rose?” said Anne, watching Mr. Mains awkwardly tying his apron strings.
Lady had been well cared for, and was rested and ready for the journey when Mr. Mains led her up to the door for the girls to enter the chaise.
“I’m mighty sorry,” he repeated as he helped the girls in, “sorry, I mean, to have locked you folks up; but real glad to know you,” and he waved them a smiling good-bye, as Mr. Freeman carefully guided Lady along the rough way to the main road.
“Well, Anne, I guess you’ll remember this journey all your life,” said Rose, as they reached the highway and Lady trotted briskly along as if glad to find her feet on good sand again. “Just think, father,” she continued, “of all that has happened to her since she left Province Town, and she’s not in Boston yet.”