"Yes," he replied, "and I presume you remember the story of the last war with England, connected with it?"
"I do," she answered; "but I presume it would be new to some at least of these young people."
Then entreaties for the story poured in upon her and the Captain from both boys and girls.
"It is but a short one; and I would prefer to have the Captain tell it," Mrs. Travilla replied.
"Oh, Papa, please do!" exclaimed Lulu; and he complied.
"It was, as I have said, during the last war with England that the occurrence I am about to tell of took place. At that time there was a light-house in the harbour kept by a man named Reuben Bates, who had a family of grown-up sons and daughters.
"He and his sons were members of a militia company of the town, and one day during the war they were all absent from home on that business, leaving the light-house in charge of the daughters, Abigail and Rebecca.
"The girls, who were no doubt keeping a vigilant watch for the approach of the enemy, saw a British ship entering the harbour, and conjectured that it was the design of those on board of her to destroy the fishing-boats in the harbour and perhaps burn the town, or at least rob its inhabitants.
"They must have been brave girls, for at once they began to consider what they could do to drive away the would-be invaders.