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




A Flag of Truce

He was not long in making out that this was indeed one of Captain Fleet's vessels, and he had but just turned to send a servant to the fort with orders to make ready to receive an enemy, when a white flag was hoisted on the pinnace.

"Captain Cornwallis must have had a ferocious look about him when he set sail, if so be he has frightened these rebels to such an extent that they are ready to sue for peace," the governor muttered half to himself in a tone of satisfaction, and because we had no flag there with which to make a signal, he went close to the water's edge, holding up both hands, palms outward, in token that he recognized the truce.

[Illustration] from Calvert of Maryland by James Otis

As speedily as might be thereafter, a small boat was launched from the vessel, and, with but two oarsmen, Captain Fleet came in to us, while his ship lay hove to within a cable's length of the shore.

Our governor gave him but a sorry welcome, as if receiving a traitor, and it seemed to me that this man was neither more nor less than that, since, having been our friend, he secretly went over to the enemy.

Nothing abashed by the way he was received, Captain Fleet asked that he might speak privately with Governor Calvert, and the two men moved up the shore where, although it was possible for me to keep them in view, I was not able to overhear the conversation.

So, as to what was said during this meeting, I know not, save as I afterward heard the story from John, who had it by way of gossip from some of the serving men many days later, they claiming to have heard the governor talking with Captain Cornwallis.

I saw only that the two men talked earnestly together for upward of half an hour, when our governor's bearing toward the visitor changed entirely and it appeared to me as if they had become friends.

Certain it is they clasped hands when Captain Fleet took to his boat again, and as Governor Calvert returned to the fortification across the harbor, the pinnace sailed boldly in close to the shore under the palisade, where she remained a good two hours, putting to sea at the end of that time.