clean," thought Anne, remembering the uncomfortable
efforts that she and Amanda had made to wash their faces in water from the
island spring.

"It's near noon, dear child," said Mrs. Stoddard, as Anne came into the
kitchen. "You shall have a boiled egg for your breakfast, and I am cooking
a fine johnnycake for you before the fire. You must be nigh starved. To
think of that Amos Cary hiding the oar instead of fetching you straight
home."

"But he worked all the time to make a house for us, and to cook the fish,"
explained Anne, "and he speaks well of my father. I like him better than
when he called me names."

"Of course you do, child; and I did not think him so smart a boy as he
proves. 'twas no small thing to start a fire as he did."

"'twas Amanda made him come home," said Anne; "she told him we would walk
through the water to the Point, and then he said he would fetch us."

"Your Uncle Enos thinks Amos may make a good sailor," said Aunt Martha.
"Indeed, if it were not for these British ships hovering about our shores
it is likely that Skipper Cary would have been off to the Banks and taken
Amos with him."

The "Banks" were the fishing grounds off the island of Newfoundland, and
for several years the Cape Cod fishermen had made summer cruises there,
coming home with big cargoes of fine fish which they sold in the Boston
market at excellent prices. These fishing grounds were called the "Banks,"
because of the heavy banks of fog which settled down in that region.

After Anne had finished her breakfast she went to Mrs. Stoddard's big
work-basket, and took out her knitting-work.

"May I not knit a long time to-day, Aunt Martha?" she asked. "My feet ache
sorely, and I should like well to knit."

"That is right," answered Mrs. Stoddard, nodding her approval. "Your Uncle
Enos drove Brownie over the hill where the sailors from the 'Somerset'
will not be like to see her, and we will both stay indoors to-day and
knit. Maybe we shall begin to read to-day, also."

"After I have knit a good stint," said Anne, "for 'twill be time for
stockings soon."

It was a happy morning for the little girl. She worked steadily and
carefully until Captain Enos came up from the shore for his noon meal.

"Well, well," he said smilingly, "now this seems good--to see our little
maid safe at home by the window with her knitting. I saw Mistress
Starkweather as I came home, and she bade me tell you she should walk this
way to see you thi