There are two bunks
in the sloop's cabin, and I would be company for him."

The more Anne thought about this cruise to Boston the more she longed to
go. Captain Enos was late to his supper that night.

"I have a fine cargo of fish," he said, "and I shall go out on the morning
tide, before you are awake, little maid," with a nod to Anne. "Next spring
you and Aunt Martha shall go with me and see the fine town of Boston, with
its shops and great houses. The British soldiers will be gone by that
time, and it may be we will have our own government. There will be good
days for us all then."

"I want to go now," said Anne, and Captain Enos laughed and shook his
head.

"Run away to bed now, child," said Aunt Martha, as soon as the supper
dishes were washed, "and take these stockings up-stairs with you. I toed
off the last one while you were at Amanda Cary's."

So Anne said good-night, and Captain Enos gave her a good-bye kiss,
telling her to take good care of her Aunt Martha while he was away, and
went slowly up-stairs. But she did not undress and go to bed. She sat down
on the little wooden stool, her mind full of a great resolve. She sat
there quietly until she heard Captain Enos and Mrs. Stoddard go to bed.
Then she moved softly to the little table under which stood her new shoes.
Taking these and her scarlet stockings, she crept softly down the stairs.
Crossing the kitchen gently, she slid back the bolt, and let herself out
into the night.

There was a fresh wind from the southwest, and the little girl shivered a
little as she ran toward the shore. The sloop was anchored some little
distance from shore; Captain Enos would row out in his dory to her. As
Anne reached the shore and looked out at the sloop she almost lost
courage.

"I don't see how I can ever get out there without a boat," she exclaimed
aloud.

"Out there?" the voice sounded close at her elbow, and Anne gave a jump
and looked around.

"What do you want to get out to Captain Enos's boat for?" asked Jimmie
Starkweather.

"Oh, Jimmie!" exclaimed the little girl, "what are you doing down on the
shore in the night?"

"Night! Why, it's not much after dark," answered the boy. "Father has been
out fishing all day, and I have just pulled the dory up, and was going
home when I heard you. What do you want to go out to the sloop for?"

"Jimmie, my father is in Boston and I do want to see him," said Anne.
"Captain Enos is going to sail early to-morrow mornin