orthern and western bluffs, and across the
wintry flood lay the shores of what was to be Duxbury, running out at
the south into a peninsula, terminating in a bold summit. This was
Captain's Hill, and the Captain standing there looked at it all
unconsciously and said:--

"Yonder is a spot that might be made into a goodly hold against any foe.
With a piece or two properly mounted on that fair height, and a palisado
cutting off the headland from the main, it would fall into as pretty a
little fortalice as could be asked."

"Too small a seat for our whole company, howbeit," said Carver
scrutinizing the spot.

"And we must seek a river with commodious harbor for our fishing fleet,"
added Winslow, not knowing the capacities then of Jones's River and
Green Bay, hard by Captain's Hill, where he was to spend the honorable
evening of his days.

"Fishing!" echoed Standish contemptuously. "It is like those good
dry-salters and drapers of London town, who have helped out our
enterprise, to expect us, landing on this barren shore in the depth of
winter, to fall on fishing before we break our fast, or build a shelter
for our wives and children. Our first work is to subdue the salvages, to
cut down the forest, to build houses, and plant crops. If we reach the
fishing by this day twelvemonth we shall have done well."

"I fear me the Adventurers of whom you speak so slightingly will hardly
be of your mind," replied Winslow coldly.

"Then let them come over here and collect their profits for themselves,"
retorted Standish. "And well would I like to see Thomas Weston and
Robert Cushman, with some of those smug London traders who think to buy
good men's lives and swords for the price of a red herring, set down
here to battle with the frost and snow, and sea and swamps, not to
mention the salvages. We should hear their tune change from 'Fish, fish,
fish!' I warrant me."

But at this speech Winslow, even more of a diplomatist than a soldier,
looked grave, and Bradford, in whose harmonious character valor was ever
in accord with reason, laid a hand upon the little Captain's shoulder,
and said affectionately:--

"Thy courage is still so keen, Myles, that when thine enemies are put to
flight thou 'rt tempted to turn upon thy friends! Doubtless the
Adventurers, mostly men of peace, traders, if thou wilt have it so, yet
none the worse for that, do somewhat fail to fathom the perils of this
our undertaking; still no man is to be condemned