“Meester, you have been shot?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Barclugh anxiously. “I am wounded and came near being captured by those English ships of war. I want to go to Philadelphia.”
“Vaal, I go to Pheeladelpheea with my feesh right avay. Eef you——”
“I’ll give you two guineas to take me there, and two guineas more to keep silent, and let no one know where I came from,” nervously added Barclugh.
“Aal right, I say nothing. I geeve you goot passage.”
Barclugh then handed him four guineas. The Swede smiled and went into the house, where he gave the gold to his wife, and got his bag of clean clothes.
There were no delays in the Swede’s movements. He jumped on board the sloop with the other Swede and left the lad to stay with the family.
The sloop was well loaded amidships. An assorted cargo of crabs, lobsters, bluefish, flounder, and mackerel were all packed in ice, and covered over with moss. Hatches were fastened athwart-ship and bulkheads protected the cuddy and the cockpit from the cargo of sea food.
The cuddy was forward of the mast, and a square hatchway let the crew below to the bunks, which were on each side of the keel between the stem and the bulkhead.
The cockpit had seats all around it in the shape of a half-circle. A barrel of fresh water rested on the keel under the seat next to the after bulkhead; little drawers were arranged under the seats where dishes and food were stored; a small charcoal stove was used to furnish heat in cold weather and to cook the meals.