“Your father is safe,” whispered Mrs. Weston, “and now let me see of what use I can be to the wounded men. Rebby, take Anna back to the house and stay there until I come.”
The two little girls walked silently back to the house. The battle that had been so feared was over; the enemy was conquered, and Rebecca and Anna knew that by their bringing the powder from Chandler’s River they had helped to win the conflict. But just then they did not think of that. They could think only of the wounded men, who had been so carefully brought on shore by their companions.
On the following day the inhabitants, such as were not caring for the wounded English and American soldiers, gathered at the liberty pole. It was a quiet and reverent gathering. Several men of the settlement had been wounded, and two had given their lives for America’s cause. Parson Lyon gave loving tribute to these heroes, as he offered thanks for the triumph of loyalty.
And then, before all the people, he praised Rebecca and Anna Weston for their courage in undertaking the difficult and dangerous journey through the wilderness to bring aid to the settlement.
“Step forward, Rebecca and Anna Weston,” he said smilingly; and, a little fearfully, the sisters, hand in hand, left their mother’s side and approached the liberty pole. Taking each by the hand Parson Lyon smiled down upon them.
There was a little murmur of approval among the people, and one by one the older members of the congregation came forward and praised the little girls.
“It is Rebby who should be praised, not me,” Anna insisted. “It is not fair for me to be praised.” While Rebecca, in her turn, declared eagerly that she could never have brought home the powder without Anna’s help.
There were many hard and troublous days ahead for the little settlement, but their courage did not falter. The valor of the Machias men was speedily recognized by the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, who, on June 26, 1775, passed a resolution extending to them the thanks of the Congress for their courageous conduct. The news of the brilliant victory was heralded throughout the land, stimulating the colonists everywhere to emulate the example of the courageous settlers of Machias.
Rebecca often thought of her former friend, Lucia Horton; but she never told the story of the night when, misled by Lucia’s plausible story, she had tried to defeat the loyalty of the settlers by setting their liberty tree adrift. As she looked up at the tall sapling, the emblem of the loyalty of the settlement, she was proud indeed that she had been of use in its protection.
Anna’s gold chain was her greatest treasure. It was shown to every little girl in the settlement, and each one knew its story. The golden sovereign given to Rebecca was no less highly prized.