rls many cautions about being on
the shore at the right time, he went happily off to look over the sloop
"Peggy," and to wonder what Jimmie Starkweather would say if he knew that
he, Amos, was going to sail a boat straight up to Boston!

CHAPTER XVII

THE SLOOP, "PEGGY"

The sloop, "Peggy," was becalmed. Anne, Amanda and Amos looked over the
smooth stretch of water, but there was not a ripple to be seen. Since
sunrise, the boat had not moved. They had made the start at midnight, as
they had planned, and had sailed away under a fair wind; but before the
sun rose the wind had died away, and the mainsail now swung back and forth
and the boat drifted slowly with the current.

None of the children had thought of bringing a jug of fresh water, and the
salt fish and corn bread which they had brought along for food made them
very thirsty.

"We're off Barnstable now," said Amos. "I've a mind to let the boat drift
in nearer shore and anchor, and then row ashore in the tender and get some
water."

[Illustration: THE BOAT BEGAN TO TIP]

"How far is Barnstable from Boston?" asked Anne.

"Miles and miles," answered Amos. "'Tis only about half-way up the cape
from Province Town."

"Then we could not walk to Boston from there?"

"No," said Amos; "why should we walk? There'll be a good breeze come
sunset. All we need is a good drink of water, and there's a water-jug in
the cabin. I can take it ashore and fill it at some spring."

As the children talked, the current had carried the boat steadily toward
shore, but now it did not move.

"She's stuck on a sand-bar," exclaimed Amos, "and the tide's turning.
Perhaps I can walk ashore."

It was not long before the boat began to tip to one side, and as the tide
went out, they found themselves on a sand-bar, a full half mile from
shore. The water seemed to flow in little channels, like wide brooks, here
and there, between the boat and the land, and Amos wondered if he could
either jump or wade those channels. The hot July sun beat down upon them,
they were very thirsty and uncomfortable, and Amanda began to wish herself
at home.

"We ought not to have started," she said, ready to cry. "I know my mother
won't like it, and Mistress Stoddard will not like it, either."

Anne was very quiet. She was thirsty, hot and uncomfortable, and being run
aground on a sand-bar near a strange shore was a very different thing from
her other prosperous voyage with Captain Enos. What if t