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




Preparing for Action

Immediately this was done, the governor and gentlemen went into council to hear Master Evelin's story, and but little time was spent in deciding upon a course of action.

When, within the hour, the council had come to an end of its deliberations, Captain Cornwallis, having summoned all those who were capable of bearing arms, selected from among them thirty who were considered the best marksmen, ordering that they be ready to set sail in the Dove  by daybreak on the following morning.

[Illustration] from Calvert of Maryland by James Otis

Within another hour we who loitered about the shore of the harbor near by, where were anchored our vessels, could see that not only the Dove, but two of the pinnaces, were being made ready for sea, and thus we knew that a force much larger than those marksmen selected by Captain Cornwallis would be sent against the Kent Islanders. Then it was I ran with all speed to Governor Calvert's house, having the good fortune to meet my father just as he was coming out from the council.

When I asked if he was likely to go with the company who would punish those evil-minded Englishmen who counted to stir up the brown men against us, he answered me "Yes," adding that the time had come when I should show myself to be a man by looking after his affairs while he was away.