The Arrival of the Dove

Before three days had passed, even those who doubted Father White's words came to believe them true, for then it was that the Dove, which we all felt certain had foundered at sea, came into port with never one of her people missing.

It can well be imagined how great was the joy among us at meeting here in mid-ocean; as one might say, those whom we had so long believed to be dead!

We were eager to hear the story of those who had much the same as come to us from out the grave, and I for one was disappointed because it had in it nothing whatsoever of adventure.

On the night of the terrible storm, when the Dove  had disappeared, so the people who were on board told us, she bore away for a refuge at the Scilly Islands, and as soon as fair weather was come, sailed in pursuit of us, stopping at Barbadoes by the merest chance.

That night we gave thanks to God for His goodness and mercy, Father White striving to impress upon all the fact that if we lived in the New World with the love of the Almighty in our hearts, we need fear no evil.

It was as if we had been sent to this island of Barbadoes simply that the Dove  might overtake us, for there was little opportunity to add to our stores because of the high prices which Governor Harvey's people put upon all their goods.

And then again, they carried themselves toward us as if we were enemies instead of Englishmen, and when, finally, some of the people, myself among the number, were allowed to go on shore, the dwellers on the island glowered upon us as if it gave them pain to speak a friendly word.