Without any ceremony, the good wife began to prepare a meal. First she put a pot on with fresh water, then went out to the river bank where her husband kept lobsters and crabs in a small trap. By using a small dipping-net, she brought out a large lobster and a half a dozen crabs. These were hurried into the steaming kettle, and there sat Barclugh watching his meal cook, while he became acquainted with the children by making grimaces at them. Barclugh ate his sea food, potatoes, and coarse bread with much relish. He offered the good housewife a piece of silver, but she only shook her head in the negative. The day wore on and Barclugh sat on the river bank, watching the children build houses in the sand, and the dog pant in the broiling sun. He knew that the fisherman must come home, and then he would find some one with whom he could converse. However, a foreign-tongued woman and guileless children suited his purpose, for the less that he had to talk the better for him. The sun was setting over the broad expanse of sea-marsh, when a well-rigged fishing sloop drew into the river’s mouth and landed at the fisherman’s hut. Two gnarly Swedes and a lad jumped ashore. The older one was the husband of the young woman, evidently, for she went to the landing and in a few words explained to him the presence of the stranger. The Swede approached Barclugh, who noticed that the fisherman’s face was much weather-beaten, his beard shaggy and unkempt. “Meester, you have been shot?” “Yes, sir,” replied Barclugh anxiously. “I am wounded and came near being captured by those English ships of war. I want to go to Philadelphia.” “Vaal, I go to Pheeladelpheea with my feesh right avay. Eef you----” “I’ll give you two guineas to take me there, and two guineas more to keep silent, and let no one know where I came from,” nervously added Barclugh. “Aal right, I say nothing. I geeve you goot passage.” Barclugh then handed him four guineas. The Swede smiled and went into the house, where he gave the gold to his wife, and got his bag of clean clothes. There were no delays in the Swede’s movements. He jumped on board the sloop with the other Swede and left the lad to stay with the family. The sloop was well loaded amidships. An assorted cargo of crabs, lobsters, bluefish, flounder, and mackerel were all packed in ice, and covered over with moss. Hatches were fastened athwart-ship and bulkheads protected the cuddy and the cockpit from the cargo of sea food. The cuddy was forward of the mast, and a square hatchway let the crew below to the bunks, which were on each side of the keel between the stem and the bulkhead. The cockpit had seats all around it in the shape of a half-circle. A barrel of fresh water rested on the keel under the seat next to the after bulkhead; little drawers were arranged under the seats where dishes and food were stored; a small charcoal stove was used to furnish heat in cold weather and to cook the meals.