Norfolk. Before leaving home he had assured his wife that he should not
return without effecting a settlement with Wyman, who had postponed it so
many times, that the honest sailor began to fear his brother did not mean
to deal justly with him. Nothing had been heard of the Gazelle since her
departure from Boston.

Uncle Wyman was known to be a northern man with southern principles, while
his brother, though not in the habit of saying much about politics, was
fully committed on the side of the government, and was willing to sustain
the President in the use of all the coercion that might be necessary to
enforce obedience to the laws. The threatening aspect of affairs at the
South had made Captain Somers more than ever anxious to have his accounts
adjusted, as all his earthly possessions, except the schooner, were in the
hands of his brother; and the fact that uncle Wyman was so strong an
advocate of Southern rights, had caused him to make the declaration that
he would not return without a settlement.

The financial affairs of the Somers family, therefore, were not in a very
prosperous condition, and the solvency of the house depended entirely upon
the adjustment with uncle Wyman. The mortgage note which Squire Pemberton
held would be due in June, and as the creditor was not an indulgent man,
there was a prospect that even the little cottage and the little farm
might be wrested from them.

The family at home consisted of Mrs. Somers and three children. The two
oldest daughters were married to two honest, hard-working fishermen at the
Harbor. Thomas and John were twins, sixteen years of age. The former had a
place in one of the stores at the village, and the latter occasionally
went a fishing trip with his brothers-in-law. Both of the boys had been
brought up to work, and there was need enough now that they should