performed, and after breakfast the Goodman read a chapter in the Bible
and prayed long and earnestly that God would bless their journey,
protect those who were left behind, and bring them all together again
in safety. Then he and Daniel started down the path to the river, with
Nancy and her mother, both looking very serious, following after. The
tide was already coming in, and the bay stretched before them a wide
sheet of blue water sparkling in the sun. In the distance they could
see the sails of the Lucy Ann being hoisted and Captain Sanders in his
small boat rowing rapidly toward the landing-place.

"Ship ahoy!" shouted Daniel, waving his cap as the boat approached.

"Ahoy, there!" answered the Captain, and in a moment the keel grated
on the sand, and the Goodman turned to his wife and daughter.

"The Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent one from the
other," he said reverently, and "Amen!" boomed the Captain. Then there
were kisses and good-byes, and soon Nancy and her mother were alone on
the shore, waving their hands until the boat was a mere speck on the
dancing blue waters. As it neared the Lucy Ann, they went back to the
cabin, and there they watched the white sails gleaming in the sun
until they disappeared around a headland.

"Come, Nancy," said her mother when the ship was quite out of sight,
"idleness will only make loneliness harder to bear. Here is a task for
thee." She handed her a basket of raw wool. "Take this and card it for
me to spin."

Nancy hated carding with all her heart, but she rose obediently,
brought the basket to the doorway, and, sitting down in the sunshine,