Some Three Hundred Years Ago | Page 5

to America with me this spring. Governor Mason wishes to
make a settlement and proposes to establish a Manor on his new grant.
We will pursue fur trade and fishing, and even hope to cultivate vines
and discover mines."
It was an astonishing thought to this carpenter, whose son was his only
companion.
"I should have to take the boy with me," was his first remark, after
some thoughtful moments.
"Certainly," replied David Thompson, who knew that the good
workmanship of this man was worth an extra passenger. "We shall need
the boys in a year or two," he added.
Final arrangements were completed, and in the spring of 1623, Roger
and his father sailed with the party for New England.
Edward Hilton and his brother William, who had been fish dealers in
London, were on board with equipment for one settlement, while David
Thompson had charge of the other.
From the map which Captain John Smith had made, the Piscataqua
River was found. Here the coast was thoroughly studied. Thompson
selected for building the very point at which Monsieur Champlain once
stopped. But the Hilton brothers preferred river fishing and continued
some eight miles up stream to a point of land called by the Indians,
Winnichannat. It later became a part of Dover.
Thompson's location was at the mouth of a small stream, which led to
the main river. He called it Little Harbor. The hillock on which he
planned to build gave a commanding view of the ocean. At the west
stretched a salt marsh, of great value to a plantation.

Small log cabins were quickly constructed, and also a secure building
for the abundant provisions. Roger worked with the men in landing
barrels of pork, kegs of molasses, sacks of oats, and boxes of candles.
A securely fastened door not only protected these supplies from the
weather, but also kept off the prowling beasts that might find
comfortable living on such food.
When the excitement of landing and the newness of this life began to
wear away, the days seemed much alike. Roger asked one morning,
"Father, shall we see no one but each other again today?"
"That is all, my boy, for the Plymouth Colony is many miles to the
south, and there are only a few people between that settlement and our
own. The Indians are probably up river now for their spring fishing."
Roger had been eager to see an Indian, though he had hoped he might
not be alone, for he rather feared them.
The days wore on with much monotony. The carpenters were busy
building the Manor-house. A few men were planting only the most
necessary crops. Others were making arrangements for the manufacture
of salt, which was of first importance. Otherwise fish could not be
preserved for the markets of England.
One day something did happen. At dusk Roger passed the cabin where
provisions were stored and found the door wide open. It was a law of
the settlement that that door be kept closed and barred.
The boy darted in to see if any one was there. Peering about the kegs
and boxes he met a pair of glaring, fiery eyes that glowed through the
gloom between himself and the doorway. He screamed. The creature
crouched. An added horror came when Roger glanced at the door and
saw there the dark, stern face of a tall Indian with arrow poised. It was
aimed not at Roger, but at the springing lynx. The whirr of that arrow
lived in Roger's mind the rest of his days. The boy himself was almost
as limp with fright as the creature that was carried by Nonowit to the
main cabin. For this Indian had heard of the new settlement and had
travelled miles through the forest to make friends with the white men.

He was close behind Roger and heard his scream of fright when he ran
into the store-house.
The settlers, resting from the day's work, were surprised at the
appearance of the Indian, but still more astonished by Roger's story.
John, the cook, then confessed that he had come out of the store-house
with his arms full, and had forgotten to go back and close the door.
The day's excitement was not over, for that night David Thompson led
into camp Captain Miles Standish of the Plymouth colony. He had a
hard story to tell of the starving condition of his people. They had
compared themselves with the Israelites during the famine of Egypt,
yet the Hebrews had their flocks and herds left to them. "However,"
continued the captain, "the Lord has been good to give us the abundant
fish of the sea and the spring water, which is all we have, save a few
dried peas." He then added that Governor Bradford had