Contents ▼▲
Front Matter A Name to be Proud of Ready for Sea The King's Gift Why I am an Adventurer The Signal for Departure A Lad's Portion The Allotment of Land An Unexpected Delay Our Arrival at Cowes We Put to Sea The Dove Disappears A Second Tempest An Unseemly Christmas The Port of Barbadoes The Arrival of the Dove Under Sail Again The Land of America The Land Given by the King Fear of the Brown Men Where to Build the City Taking the Island A Voyage of Discovery Visiting the Indians An Unexpected Meeting Captain Fleet's Story An Indian Werowance Indian vs. English Claims Seeking a Place for the City The Bargain The Village of Yaocomico What the Indians Look Like Indian Weapons and Tools Landing the Goods Counting Our Blessings The Susquehanoughs A Land of Abundance Buying Cattle Storehouse and Fort A Visitor from Virginia A Talk with the Indians Running up the Colors Settling Down Master William Claiborne Lord Baltimore's Claims Stirring up the Indians Winning Back the Indians Busy Times Indian Women as Servants Making a Canoe A Boat of Bark Indian Money A Generous Harvest Trouble at Plymouth Strange Religious Service The Dance Begins An Odd Ceremony William Claiborne's War Settlement on Kent Island We Prepare for War The Army leaves St. Mary's In Command of the Guard A Flag of Truce Captain Fleet Repents The First Prize of War A Battle is Fought The Return of the Fleet William Claiborne's Flight The City of Saint Mary's A Cruel Murder Mystery Remains Unsolved Master George Evelin A Fatal Accident Preparing for Action Ready for a Man's Duty I Wear the Uniform My New Name On Board the Pinnance Indians in War Paint The Arrival at Kent Island The Capture of the Fort Butler and Smith Captives Back to Claiborne's Fort I am Assigned New Duties A Narrow Escape Words of Praise

Calvert of Maryland - James Otis




The Dove Disappears

Not until eight and forty hours had passed was the tempest so far abated that it was possible for me to go on deck.

Only then did I learn that the Dove  was no longer to be seen. Captain Lowe, the master of our ship, believed that she had gone to the bottom, the wind and the waves proving too much for her, and John declared it was a judgment upon us because of our having set sail on Friday; but Father White tells me it is wicked to give ear to such foolish superstitions. The good God would not allow that one of the days of the week should be evil, and another good; but that all are alike to our advantage, if so be we live according to His laws.

I had believed when the sickness in my stomach was so great, that nevermore in this life would I desire to look upon food, much less taste it, and yet, strange as it may seem, I had no sooner become able to move about, or, as the sailors say, "got my sea legs on," when hunger beset me until it was as if there could not be food enough in all the ship to satisfy my desires.

But for the belief that the Dove  and all on board had gone to the' bottom of the ocean, the first portion of our voyage, when the winds were favoring, and no greater in strength than was needed to carry our ship swiftly along, would have been pleasing.

As it was, however, we who were in the midst of that mighty ocean, where was to be seen no token of land, could but be saddened by the sudden taking away of such a large portion of our company, and there was ever present in my mind the thought that before we might reach that far-away country where we hoped to make a new home and live amid plenty, the Ark  would suffer the same fate as that of the Dove.

Many a time and again did I check myself when in dined to mirth, almost fearing to laugh at a moment when we stood, as it seemed to me, so near death.

Because of my fears did Father White chide me severely, saying that the God in Heaven had the same care over us whether we were on the sea or on the land, and that we should put our trust in Him for the continuance of life, knowing that when it was His will should we die, and not until then, however tempests might rage and monsters of the sea rise up against us.