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




Why I am One of the Adventurers

Already are the serving men on board, save John, who has me in his care, and he claims that before the sun shall set again our gentlemen will be here, eager to set off on what can be no less than the bravest kind of an adventure, during which we shall see all the strange things that are to be found on the wide ocean, as well as wild savages, who go about naked, seeking to kill any who are not of their kind.

I am not overly brave, so John declares, but I am burning with the desire to see these wild men, whose skins are brown, if so be it may be done without too much of danger to myself.

And now it may be asked how it chances that I, a lad but just turned thirteen years, count to journey on such a venture in the company of gentlemen, especially if I be faint-hearted, as John claims.

That part of the story is quickly and easily told. My mother died so many years ago that I do not even remember her face, and of relatives I have none in all this world save my uncle, who also is of our company.

My father could not well leave so young a lad behind him, trusting to the care of strangers, and since John has had charge of me these two years past, and is the kindliest-hearted serving man in all England, what more natural than that he and I should go with Lord Baltimore's adventurers?

I may be faint-hearted, as John claims; but surely I am not so much of a coward that I would remain in a place of safety while my father was exposed to such dangers as will be found in the New World, for weaker arms than mine have been able to strike a heavy blow in defense of loved ones.

I have been speaking of young Lord Baltimore as if he were to be 'of our company, and yet such is not the case.. Because of certain people who have striven to prevent him from benefiting by the king's gift to his father, and who are yet enemies, Lord Cecilius must perforce remain here in England; but he is to send both his brothers out to Maryland, Leonard being named governor of the land, and George simply one of the adventurers.