Free Serpent Never Sleeps by Scott O’Dell

Admiral Somers said. "One will have to be built, a ship seaworthy and large enough to berth one hundred fifty people.
Sea Venture
has to be taken apart, not an easy task jammed on a reef as she is, but every plank and rib must be removed, brought ashore, and used. New timber has to be cut, sails repaired."
    Governor Gates was in the water floating on his back, gazing up at the starry sky, remarking how pretty it was. He had on a pair of red drawers and his round stomach shone white. He didn't look at all like a governor, which encouraged me to tell him what I had told Admiral Somers, that Anthony had not deliberately killed anyone.
    "'Twas an accident," I said, "and the king has not sent for him. It is Robert Carr who wants him."
    "The two are the same," Sir Thomas said. "They're loving twins. Injure one and you injure the other. Pinch one, the other screams."
    "What's more," I said, "you treat Anthony as if he were a felon, already tried before the assizes and convicted. 'Tis wrong of you to pretend that you're both judge and jury."
    The governor was playing whale, sucking in water and spouting it out. He rose at my words and jerked a finger at me.
    "But I am the judge, also the jury," he shouted. "And my verdict stands. Foxcroft stays in chains."
    Admiral Somers, to his knees among the small waves, reached down, took up a handful of water, and rubbed it over his chest.
    "At sea," he said to Gates quietly, "you failed to recognize me as commander of the fleet. Equally now that we're on land, I hereby refuse to recognize you as the commander. You're the duly elected governor of Virginia, true. But we are not in Virginia, not yet. Perhaps we never shall be.
    "We're on an island that by discovery belongs to Spain. It's our temporary home. When and if we leave here, it will be by ship, in which case I'll be in command. Until that day it's best that we divide the honors. It is my judgment that Foxcroft be allowed his freedom. Since we differ about this, let us ask Captain Newport to cast a vote and break the tie."
    "That would be fair," I said, believing that Newport would agree with Somers.
    The governor crept out of the sea. "Young lady," he said in a rage, "women are at work in camp, cleaning up from supper. I suggest that you hie yourself thither and join them or else I'll have you punished."
    I thought it best to leave. I didn't go back to camp.
I went no farther than a grove of palmetto trees, hid myself, and listened.
    I heard nothing of the argument, save violent sounds, but when Gates stalked by and Admiral Somers followed at a distance, I knew that this feud, which had started the first day at sea, had not come to an end.
    I ran out and overtook the admiral. "What was decided?" I asked.
    "Sir Thomas insists that as governor of Virginia he's also the governor of Bermuda."
    "I mean what was decided about Anthony?"
    "He remains under guard."
    "For how long, pray tell?"
    "Until he is sent back to England."
    "There's nothing you can do?"
    "Little. The camp's unsettled. Sir Thomas has his followers, especially among the young gentlemen. If I make an issue of Foxcroft, it can cause trouble at a time we can ill afford trouble." He turned away and called back over his shoulder, "Be patient."
    That night Sir Thomas Gates officially took command. A stiff old warrior who wanted things done at once, he divided the camp into two groups: workers and their families in one; the pampered young gentlemen, some thirty of them who during the voyage had shown a strong dislike of work, in the other.
    "There's much to do," he said. "And I shall see that it's done."

ELEVEN
    After breakfast early next day, workers were sent afield. Hunters were to bring in swine, conies, squirrels, birds—whatever they could find. Women were to gather fruits and plants; fishermen to fish the reefs.
    The women came back at night with heaping baskets of cedar berries and the white hearts of palmetto tree, which proved to be flavorful. The fishermen, Admiral