rmed, and
sawyers were at work preparing planks for the buildings. Already many
houses had been run up, with high gables, gaily ornamented with paint
and rough carving; for the Swedish settlers had been there already
nearly forty years. The somewhat romantic notions entertained by
Wenlock and his younger fellow passengers were rather rudely dissipated
on their arrival. The work of settling he soon found was a plain
matter-of-fact business, requiring constant and persevering labour.
Some of the settlers remained at the town, others proceeded farther up
the river to a spot near the confluence of the two rivers Schuylkill and
Delaware. Wenlock, however, resolved to wait the arrival of Colonel
Markham, who had gone out as chief agent and commissioner for his
cousin, the governor, some months before. He was now, with his staff,
some distance off, surveying the province. Although not a Quaker, he
was greatly trusted by William Penn, as a man of dauntless courage,
talent, and perseverance. Soon after landing, old Bill Rullock came up
to Wenlock. "I have a favour to ask," he said. "I have knocked about
at sea all my life till I am weary of it. I heard your addresses and
those of others on board, and I have made up my mind to turn Quaker. I
want you, therefore, to get my discharge from the captain. I could run
from the ship, of course, but that would not be a good way of beginning
my new career; so if I cannot leave with a proper discharge, I must go
to sea again. If it is God's will that my old carcase should become
food for fishes, I must submit to it; but I have truly a great fancy for
ending my days in these green woods." Wenlock promised to make interest
with Captain Dinan.

"I shall be sorry to lose him," answered the captain; "but he deserves a
reward for the service he rendered us, and it would be hard to take him
off again to sea against his will. Here is his discharge, and his pay
up to the present time."

The old seaman was highly delighted when Wenlock told him that he was
free.

"And, now, another favour I have to ask is, that I may stick fast by
you. I have still got plenty of work in me, and I should like to serve
you as long as I live. There is another person, however, I should not
like to serve, and that is Jonas Ford."

Ford had behaved so cunningly during the voyage from the West Indies,
that he had considerably lessened the suspicions against him. He had
assured Captain Dinan that he ha