Goodman Pepperell smiled.  “Thomas,” he said, “thou hast not lost thy power of narration!”

Captain Sanders for an instant looked a bit dashed, then he said, “Well, believe it or not, Josiah, it ’s the truth for all that.  Why, talk about the land of Canaan flowin’ with milk and honey!  This here water ’s just alive with money!  Any boy could go out and haul up a shilling on his own hook any time he liked.”

Daniel, his eyes shining and his lips parted, was just making up his mind that he would rather be the captain of a fishing-smack than anything else in the world, since he knew he could n’t be a pirate, when his mother came to the fireplace with a layer of corn-meal dough spread on a baking-board.  She placed the board in a slanting position against an iron trivet before the glowing bed of coals, and set a pot of beans in the ashes to warm.  “Keep an eye on that johnny-cake,” she said to Daniel, “and don’t let it burn.”  Then she turned away to set the table.

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This task took but little time, for in those days there were few things to put on it.  She spread a snowy cloth of homespun linen on the plank which served as a table, and laid a knife and spoon at each place; there were no forks, and for plates only a square of wood with a shallow depression in the middle.  Beside each of these trenchers she placed a napkin and a mug, and at the Captain’s place, as a special honor, she set a beautiful tankard of wrought silver.  It was one of the few valuable things she had brought with her from her English home, and it was used only on great occasions.

When these preparations were complete, she took the lobsters from the pot, poured the beans into a pewter dish, heaped the golden johnny-cake high upon a trencher, and, sending Dan to fetch Nancy, called the men to supper.  The storm was over by this time, the last rays of the setting sun were throwing long shadows over the fields, and the robins were singing their evening song.  The Goodwife stepped to the window and threw open the wooden shutters.  “See,” she said.  “There ’s a rainbow.”

“The sign of promise,” murmured Goodman Pepperell, rising and looking over his wife’s shoulder.

“Fine day to-morrow,” said the Captain.  “Maybe I can plant my lobster-pots after all.”

Nancy, looking pale and a little subdued, crept down the ladder and took her place with Daniel at the foot of the board.  Then they all stood, while Goodman Pepperell asked a blessing on the food, and thanked God for his mercy in delivering them from danger and bringing them together in health and safety to partake of his bounty.

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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.