Defending the Island: A story of Bar Harbor in 1758

It was his intention to have them closely guarded during every hour of the day and night, and to such end Luke was stationed at the front of the building, where, through a crevice which had been made between the logs by Mark, he could keep his charges in view.

Mistress Pemberton would not consent to having the wounded man removed with the others. He was given a bed in one corner of the room, after the furniture piled up as a barricade had been put in place, and Mary and Ellen were instructed to watch him, not with the idea that he might try to escape, but because his condition was such, owing to the wounds and subsequent exposure, that the most careful nursing and attention was needed.

The storm subsided at sunset; the clouds disappeared, and the first night after the besieged were turned jailers was as calm and peaceful as if the harmony of nature had never been disturbed by the clash of arms.

Luke remained on duty until about ten o'clock in the evening, when Susan took his place, and shortly after midnight Mark took his turn at guarding the prisoners.

The Frenchmen had shown no signs of a disposition to do other than as they were commanded; but Mark would not put faith in them, and kept his watch as if knowing they had already formed a plan for capturing those who succored them.

The lad paced to and fro in front of the dwelling, looking in upon the men every five minutes, until a new day had come, and then as he gazed across the waters watching for the sun to rise, he saw the dingy canvas of the Future Hopes, glistening like silver in the early light.

The fresh breeze was bearing the little vessel swiftly on, and before any inmate of the Pemberton house was astir, she swung to her anchor close inside the harbor, while the two men listened to the story which Mark had to tell.

The fishermen had not been able to gain a shelter when the storm burst upon them, therefore the Future Hopes scudded before the wind during the four and twenty hours, which explained why she had arrived so much sooner than had been expected.

It would be a labor of love to follow the fortunes of these two families who, in 1758, defended the Island of Mount Desert so bravely against the combined attacks of French and Indians; but historians make no further mention of them, after setting forth in the fewest possible words their deeds, therefore this tale must perforce come to an end.

We do know, however, from the records of Pemaquid, that Masters Pemberton and Harding carried to the fort eight Frenchmen as prisoners, and that the authorities of Massachusetts took them in charge several weeks later.

It is also known that in 1769 one Mark Pemberton, with his wife Susan, settled on Penobscot Bay near where the town of Camden now stands, and it is reasonable to infer that this man was the same who, aided by Susan Harding, so bravely defended the island.

THE END

notes

1

This paragraph is accurate to the book. It could read like this: "…otherwise the defences would not be being strengthened when the boys should have been making ready…".

2

The words "any one" appear to be time period usage.

3

The original does use the word "then" though it should probably be "when": "…relieved from guard duty, and when the gate had been closed…"

4

The original does use the word "and": "…the gate was barred on the inside, and Mary Pemberton standing close beside it…"

5

The original does use the word "prosecute". I suspect it is just time period usage. "…in position to prosecute their murderous work."

6

This paragraph is accurate to the book: "…there's no show of our being able to do anything here…"

7

The second "e" in the word "reechoed" is a small letter "e" with diaeresis.

8

The words "any one" appear to be time period usage.

9

The word "of" appears to be time period usage: "…uncle heard from those aboard of the last vessel…".

10

The word "resentiments" appears to be a misprint of "resentments". "…gave vent to their resentiments and rage…"

11

The words "some one" appear to be time period usage.

12

The second "e" in the word "reentered" is a small letter "e" with diaeresis. It is also used in the title of the 13th illustration.

13

This paragraph is accurate to the book: "…shake the very earth, and on the moment rain fell in torrents…"

14

The word "greal" appears to be a misprint for "great". "…the storm continued with greal fury."

15

The words "some one" appear to be time period usage.

16

The word "of" appears to be time period usage: "…to permit of a rescue…"