22-But, Where Are We?

The children hurried off to rejoin their parents, excited by the — oh — so welcome news that they would see land
very soon. 'Land again. Land? Is it possible? Is it true?' Their excitement bubbled over. How eager they were to tell their parents — how pleased were they to hear it. Mr and Mrs Lovelace received the news with a pleasure almost equal to that of their children. All the passengers had grown voyage and Mayflower weary and they longed for the land. Longed for it with aching hearts. The news spread like wildfire amongst the Pilgrims and soon the whole company assembled on deck. They dropped all else and hurried to gain favoured vantage points. They gripped spars and clung on to ropes. Some dangled precariously over the edge to try to get the most advantageous station. Scores of longing eyes strained at the horizon. This was made difficult by the low winter sun and many hands were raised to shield peering eyes from its blinding power.