caught by the current, had entered the little harbor instead
of the main river.

This catch made up for the loss in the day's fishing. Men and boys set to
work in the moonlight to clean the fish. They then spread them on the
flakes for salting and drying.

Godfrie started a good cargo to the English markets, and each of the four
boys carried the title of Captain for weeks to come.

THE FOREST GARDEN.

It was the spring of 1633. Richard and Samuel had watched the distant
horizon for many days. At last came the shout, "A sail! A sail!"

Later, the Warwick dropped anchor. The boys soon climbed aboard, and
there they found Rebecca Gibbons, an English girl, who had started with
her mother to join her father, Ambrose Gibbons, who was helping establish
the New Hampshire Colony for the Mason grant. John Mason had given the
name because of his home in Hampshire, England.

"Then you are going on to Newichewannock," explained Richard. "Your
father has built a house there for you. At the falls they have a
saw-mill. It is the only one in New England."

Samuel, who had gone ashore, then returned with a package, which he
tucked into Rebecca's hands with a whisper. She secretly hid this strange
parcel as the vessel started.

The Warwick left its passengers and supplies at the Great House on
Strawberry Bank, and continued up the winding Piscataqua, which seemed
endlessly long to Rebecca. At last a final turn brought to sight the new
home, and, best of all, her father, followed by his four helpers,
hurrying down to the shore.

[Illustration]

The house was a substantial one. There were also a barn, other small
buildings, and a fine well, all surrounded by a palisade which protected
the family from wild animals and hostile Indians.

The saw-mill kept a busy hum on the logs, making boards for immediate
use. Many were also to be shipped to England on the returning vessel.
Ambrose Gibbons and his men spent their time otherwise: in search for
useful ores or minerals, or trading for furs to be sent back to the
Laconia Company, who, in turn, kept the colonists supplied from English
stores. Perhaps for these reasons the gardens were quite neglected, and
so Rebecca's strange little parcel proved a double treasure.

Her spinning done with the spirit of a true pioneer, Rebecca explored the
surrounding woods and soon knew them quite as well as the nooks and
corners of her own dooryard. In one spot there grew a thick undergrowth