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II

TWO DAYS


The grace finished (it was a very long one and the beans were nearly
cold before he said amen), Goodman Pepperell broke open the lobsters
and piled the trenchers with johnny-cake and beans, and the whole
family fell to with a right good will. All but Nancy. She was still a
bit upset and did not feel hungry.

"Thou hast not told me, Captain, what voyage thou art about to
undertake next," said the Goodman, sucking a lobster-claw with relish.

The Captain loved to talk quite as well as he loved to eat, but his
mouth was full at this moment, and he paused before replying. "I 'm
getting too old for long voyages, Josiah," he said at last with a
sigh. "Kind o' losing my taste for adventure. Pirates is pretty
plentiful yet, and for all I 'm a sailor I 'd like to die in my bed,
so I have settled at Marblehead. They 're partial to fishermen along
this coast. The town gives 'em land for drying their fish and exempts
'em from military dooty. But I can't stay ashore a great while before
my sea legs begin to hanker for the feel of the deck rolling under
'em, so I 'm doing a coasting trade all up and down the length of
Massachusetts Bay. I keep a parcel of lobster-pots going, some here