ones of which Luretta had spoken on the
day when she and Anna had led Melvina to the shore to show her a "clam's
nest."

Rebecca's gold beads, intended for her birthday, were safely delivered;
and beside the beads was a pair of silk mitts for both Rebby and Anna.
To Rebby this seemed a very wonderful thing, and she felt it almost a
reward for carrying back those Lucia had given her.

Mrs. Horton now kept Lucia closely at home. Anna and Luretta were
invited to spend an afternoon with Melvina, and become acquainted with
the new dolls, and Melvina urged Luretta to bring Trit, resolving to
dress up the rabbit as she and Anna had done before.

Rebecca was more aware of the troubled condition of the settlement than
were these younger girls. Paul Foster told her that his Uncle Benjamin,
a bold and energetic man who had served in the old French War, said that
the Machias men ought to capture the British gunboat, and take the
sloops, making their captains and crews prisoners. Rebby listened
eagerly.

"But we couldn't capture them, Paul; I heard Father say there was but
little powder and shot in the settlement," she said.

"We'd get 'em," declared Paul. "If Jones and Horton think they are going
to load up their sloops with lumber for British barracks in Boston
they'll see trouble."

"And Parson Lyon is not to preach at the liberty pole," said Rebby a
little thoughtfully.

Paul made no response to this. He had come up to the Westons' on an
errand for his mother, and was now eager to get back to the wharves
where the sloops were being unloaded.

"If the Britisher fires on our liberty pole they'll hear a sermon all
right," he called back as he ran down the path.

It was difficult for Rebby to attend to the simple duties that her
mother required of her. Whenever her father entered the house she
watched his face anxiously, half-expecting him to say that the Machias
men were ready to capture the gunboat before it could attack the town.
When Anna came home eager to describe Melvina's new dolls, and to tell
of dressing up Trit, and that London Atus, coming into the room where
the little girls were playing and seeing the rabbit wearing a white
skirt and bonnet, had turned and run out muttering something about
"witches," Rebby listened, but with little interest.

"Danna," she said, as soon as the sisters were alone, "do you suppose
you and I could find the way to Chandler's River?"

"Of course we could," Anna declared. "Don't