A Little Maid of Massachusetts Colony

								

them on the "flakes"--long low frames--to dry. Captain Starkweather and
Amanda's father were near by, busy at the same work, and further along
the shore were other groups of men taking care of the "catch" of the
previous day. For the dried fish were shipped to many distant places,
and curing them was a part of the fisherman's business.
"Anne is gone! She has run away," called Mrs. Stoddard, and in a moment
she was telling Captain Enos that she was sure that the little girl had
crept out of the house in the night. Captain Starkweather and Mr. Cary
listened in amazement.
"But where could she go?" asked Captain Enos. "There's something wrong
in this. Anne called to me from her window yesterday that she knew not
the reason for her being punished. She has run away from us, Martha,
because we have been unfair toward her."
"But where? Stop not to talk, Enos. Is there a boat missing? Like as not
Anne has set forth for Boston." And Mrs. Stoddard looked out over the
wide harbor as if expecting to see Anne sailing away.
"It may be your little girl is playing about and will soon return,"
suggested Captain Starkweather.
"Is her doll gone?" questioned Captain Enos; "for if it is not you may
be sure that Anne is not far away."
"Indeed, I did not think to look; and you may be right, Captain
Starkweather. I'll step back and see," and Mrs. Stoddard's face
brightened as she turned toward home, followed by Captain Enos and the
two fishermen.
"The doll is gone," she called down from the little chamber, "and Anne's
cape and beads, and her shoes and stockings."
In a short time every one in the village knew of Anne's disappearance,
and Amanda heard her father say that he feared Anne had started off in
one of the little boats. "If she has there is small chance for the
child," he said soberly, and Amanda began to whimper.
"She gave me Amanda's basket to bring home yesterday," said Amos; "'tis
in the shed."
"Yes, she ran off with it yesterday, and ate all the lunch herself,"
explained Mrs. Cary, "and slapped Amanda. Your sister came running home
crying as if her heart would break."
"Anne didn't eat the luncheon. 'Twas all in the basket, and I ate it,"
said Amos. "I don't believe she slapped Amanda, anyway. Or if she did
I'll bet Amanda slapped her first."
"Amos!" Mr. Cary's voice was very stern, and the boy said no more.
It was found that a rowboat was missing, and remembering how Anne and
the Cary children had once started out to sail to Boston, it was
generally believed that Anne had started off in the boat. Nevertheless
search-parties went across the narrow strip of land to the outer beach
and up and down the shore of the harbor and along the edge of the Truro
woods. Several boats started off, for it was felt that the best chance
of finding her was the hope that the little boat could not have gone
very far. "It may have been swept out to sea," Mr. Cary said, and at