“Mr. Chairman,” said he, “we have, indeed, bad news to tell. Hoppy and Win are prisoners, sure enough, and it is known that Captain Raggett is to hold them for a heavy ransom, failing which, they will be transferred to another ship and sent to England. This, we understand, means that they are destined for imprisonment in Dartmoor.”
“That certainly is bad news, Timothy,” said the chairman. “What is the opinion in Provincetown about the new policy of Captain Raggett?”
“Well, Mr. Chairman, they say he is in very bad humor. A sloop arrived from England about three weeks ago and it is thought she brought fresh instructions to Raggett. Before she came, the British sailors were frequently ashore and behaved very civilly, leaving quite a lot of money in the town in the way of trade with the people. The town is in a bad state and this trade was a great help. The people say they are in a worse condition than the other Bay towns, for the British ships cannot approach such places as Eastham, Brewster, or Orleans closely on account of the shallow waters and the sandbars, whereas, the harbor of Provincetown is always open water and a fine anchorage for all kinds of craft. From what we observed they are sorely pressed.”
“Is there no communication with the British allowed now, Timothy?”
“Very little, Mr. Chairman, but Master Jonathan Cook, of the Committee of Safety, told me what he had gathered about the capture of Win and Hoppy and how they were held for ransom.”
“Did Master Cook know anything about the terms of ransom?” inquired Squire Knowles.
“No, squire, he had heard no particulars. However, he told us that Win and Hoppy were being treated with great civility by Captain Raggett. They had been seen on deck in company with one of the officers and apparently on very friendly terms with him.”
“Very likely Captain Raggett appreciated highly that part of the whaleboat’s cargo which was consigned to Master Thomas Crosby.” This sally of Peter Walker caused even the town fathers to smile.
“Well, Master Walker,” said Timothy, “there is certainly a great scarcity of good refreshment in Provincetown. We treated Master Cook and his fellow-members of the committee to a little of what we had with us, and they told us that since the sailors had been deprived of shore leave there was nothing like it in the town.”
“Then the worthy citizens will be glad to see you again, Timothy,” replied Peter.