urs long with his
friends all about him and such a secret buttoned up inside his jacket
without an explosion, but Daniel did it. He did n't dare do otherwise,
for Gran'ther Wattles ranged up and down the little aisle with his
tithing-rod in hand on the lookout for evil-doers. Once, indeed,
during the sermon there was a low rumbling snore, and Daniel was
horrified to see Gran'ther Wattles lean over and gently tickle the
Captain's nose with the squirrel-tail. The Captain woke with a start
and sneezed so violently that the boy next Daniel all but tittered
outright. Gran'ther Wattles immediately gave him a smart rap on the
head with the knob end of his stick, so it is no wonder that after
that Daniel sat with his eyes nearly crossed in his effort to keep
them fixed on the minister, though his thoughts were far away ranging
Massachusetts Bay with the Lucy Ann of Marblehead.

At last, however, the sermon ended, the final psalm was sung, and
after the benediction the minister passed out of the church and the
congregation dispersed to eat a bite of brown-bread in the church-yard
before assembling again for another two-hour sermon.

The sun was now shining brightly, and, once outside the door, after
the first sermon, the Captain wiped his brow as if exhausted, and a
few moments later Daniel saw him quietly disappearing in the direction
of the river. He was not of the Cambridge parish, so no discipline
could be exercised upon him, but Gran'ther Wattles set him down at
once as a dangerous character, and even Goodwife Pepperell shook her
head gently when she noted his absence.

[Illustration]

Somehow, although it was a breach of Sabbath decorum to tell it, the
great news leaked out during the intermission, and Daniel was the
center of interest to every boy in the congregation during the
afternoon. When the second long sermon was over and the exhausted
minister had trailed solemnly down the aisle, the equally exhausted
people walked sedately to their houses, discussing the sermon as they
went. All that day Daniel kept a tight clutch on his manners, but the
moment the sun went down, he heaved a great sigh of relief and turned
three somersaults and a handspring behind the cabin to limber himself
up after the fearful strain.

[Illustration]

III

ON BOARD THE LUCY ANN

The family rose at daybreak the next morning, tasks were quickly
performed, and after breakfast the Goodman read a chapter in the Bible
and prayed l