Peter and the Pilgrims by Louise Vernon
Author:Louise Vernon [Vernon, Louise A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8361-9226-1
Publisher: MennoMedia
Published: 2012-01-15T00:00:00+00:00
Chapter Seven
TRAPPED IN A SINKING SHIP
The piles of casks and crates grew high as both crew and passengers helped unload the Speedwell. There were the firkins of butter, kegs of flour sealed with wax, and barrels of water.
Peter stepped over some iron kettles and pointed to boxes of seed.
âElbert, look at these.â He read the labelsâpeas, beans, onions, parsnips, cabbage.
âI just know theyâll grow twice as big in America,â he said. âIf only there could be some way for us to go.â
Each boatload added different supplies to the growing moundâdigging tools, carpenterâs and masonâs tools, fish nets and tackle, cloth, shoes, even blacksmith shop equipment.
âBut we arenât taking any horses,â Peter told Elbert, just as if he were still going. Then he remembered, and sighed again.
Elbert comforted him. âThis wonât be the only trip, Peter. Weâll try to go on the next one. Maybe thereâll be horses then.â
A number of men began to sort out supplies.
âIâll leave the fishing nets I made,â one said. âI wonât need them back in Leyden.â
âIâm leaving this cloth I wove. Theyâll need it worse than I do,â another said.
âWas the house brace stowed on the little ship or the big one?â a third man wanted to know.
âOn the big ship. It was too long for the Speedwell.â
Peter broke in. âDo you know how many are going back to Leyden?â
âAbout eighteen or twenty of us, I would sayâ the first man said.
âBut I thought only servants had to go back. Donât you want to go to America?â Peter asked.
âNot now.â The man sounded embarrassed. âThis trip is not meant to take place. Look at all the trouble weâve had. Itâs Godâs warning to us.â
Hope sprang up in Peterâs heart. He beckoned to Elbert, and they ran to find Elder Brewster.
âEverybody is going back to Leyden, Elder Brewster. Thereâll be plenty of room for us on the Mayflower,â Peter said.
Elder Brewster smiled. âNow, Peter, are you sure everybody is going back?â
Peter felt his face grow hot. âI-I-I just mean that some people are going back.â
âThatâs better. Yes, we have just found out that eighteen or twenty have decided not to sail.â Elder Brewster turned to Christopher Martin. âWouldnât you say thatâs a safe margin?â
Christopher Martin growled. âSafe enough. If any more back out, we might as well all stay.â
The word spread quickly: âFamily servants can go after all.â
âElder Brewster, what about us? Does that mean we can go?â Peter tugged at Elder Brewsterâs blue coat.
âYes, indeed, it means just that.â Elder Brewster gave a hug to each boy, âNow, stay close to me. Iâm going to have a roll call and you boys can help me find everyone.â
Elder Brewster directed those who were returning to Leyden to stand on one side of the dock and the passengers for the Mayflower on the other. Peter recognized Priscilla Mullins in the Mayflower group, and he remembered he had not brought back her cup. In fact, he couldnât remember what happened to it. He looked around to see if John Alden had come, but he wasnât there.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix(11035)
05 Trials of Death by Darren Shan(5812)
Ranger's Apprentice 1 - The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan(5342)
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle(4730)
Suicide Notes by Michael Thomas Ford(4258)
Percy Jackson 1 - The Lightning Thief by Riordan Rick(4193)
I'm Still Scared by Tomie dePaola(3906)
Pocahontas by Joseph Bruchac(3709)
The miraculous journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo(3578)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak(3417)
07 Hunters of the Dusk by Darren Shan(3169)
The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith(2921)
The Science Book (Big Ideas Simply Explained) by DK(2732)
Winnie_The_Pooh by A. A. Milne(2422)
Harry Potter 4 - Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K.Rowling(2405)
The Ring of Sky by Chris Bradford(2397)
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry(2334)
The Wrath and the Dawn by Ahdieh Renee(2288)
The Rose and the Dagger (The Wrath and the Dawn) by Renée Ahdieh(2259)