“And what is Terra del Fuego?” asked Anne wonderingly.
“’Tis a far island, Anne, in warm southern seas, such a distance as few Cape Cod sailors ever go; though we go to most places, I will say,” he added with a hearty laugh.
“Amos and Jimmie Starkweather were all for sailing off this morning to bring the dory home,” he continued, “but a boatload of the ‘Somerset’s’ men stopped them and sent them ashore, threatening to dismast any sloop that put up a sail in this harbor without their permission.”
Anne knit steadily on, thinking of her father, and wondering if these men on board the “Somerset” had any knowledge of him. But she asked no questions, knowing that Captain Enos would tell her if any news came.
The scarlet stockings had made good progress when Mistress Starkweather was seen coming up the sandy path. Anne ran to the door to meet her, and the good woman kissed her heartily. “To think of the danger you were in, dear child,” she said, as Anne led her into the sunny kitchen and drew out the most comfortable chair for her.
“Amos was not afraid,” said Anne, “but Amanda and I did wish ourselves home.”
“I’ll warrant that boy would not be afraid of the water, storm or no storm,” said Mrs. Stoddard, drawing her own chair near to her neighbor’s; “yet Captain Enos tells that he fled from our Anne here when she threw water at him,” and the two women smiled, remembering the little girl’s loyal defense of her absent father.
“School is to begin next Monday, if all goes well,” continued Mrs. Starkweather, “and beside that the minister declared we must all come more punctually to church. Last Sunday there were but seven in the meeting-house,” and Mrs. Starkweather’s face grew sober.
“I shall not have time to learn to read long words before Monday,” said Anne anxiously.