her," said Rebecca.

Mrs. Weston made no answer; her thoughts were too full of the possible
dangers to the settlement from the British gunboat to think much of the
postponed apology; nor was the matter ever again mentioned.

"Now, Rebby, you really have done something for America," declared Anna,
as the sisters went up to their room that night. But Rebby shook her
head.

"No, Danna, I haven't. But perhaps I can sometime, and you too," she
replied. For some reason, that Rebby could not explain even to herself,
her thoughts centered around what her father had said on their trip to
the Falls of the store of powder and shot at Chandler's River
settlement. She had heard her father say that Machias was but ill
provided with munitions; and with a British gunboat coming into harbor
the next day who could tell how quickly powder and shot might be
needed?

CHAPTER XVI

REBBY DECIDES

The next morning dawned bright and tranquil. The fragrance of pine woods
and broad meadows filled the air, and practically all the inhabitants of
Machias gathered about the wharves to watch for the _Polly_ and _Unity_
to come sailing into harbor.

The provisions the sloops were bringing were greatly needed; but when
Mr. Weston had told the men of the settlement that the sloops were being
convoyed by a British war vessel their alarm and consternation can be
imagined. Mrs. Horton and Lucia were about the only ones absent from the
wharf when, silently and without a cheer of welcome, the _Polly_ and
_Unity_, and the boat flying the hated English flag came to anchor.

Captain Jones came ashore, greeting his old-time friends cordially, and
explaining that the presence of the gunboat was only to protect him from
attacks by British cruisers. But his explanation was received in
silence. The memory of the recent battle in Lexington was fresh in the
people's hearts, and much as they needed the provisions on the sloops
they were ready to do without them unless Captains Horton and Jones
could assure their fellow-townsmen of their loyalty and send the British
gunboat from the harbor.

Finally he received consent to land his goods, and commenced trading
with the people as usual, while the _Margaretta_, the British gunboat,
lay at anchor off White's Point, some distance below the town.

Mrs. Lyon received many packages from her Boston relatives, and there
were two dolls for Melvina, the