s almost as well for
us as soap," said Howland taking up some and washing his hands in the
brook. "There, now, see you its use!"

"Have with you, friend," cried Winslow, daintiest of the pioneers.
"Surely cleanliness being next to godliness tendeth somewhat to the same
satisfaction!"

The exploration, carried as far as Eel River at the south and Murdoch's
Pond westerly, lasted until night, when the Pilgrims bivouacked on the
shore, supping merrily on some great clams dug by the sailors and wild
fowl shot by Howland and Dotey. Before they slept under the sheltering
brow of Cole's Hill it was pretty well decided that Plymouth, as they
began at once to call it, should be their permanent dwelling-place, more
especially as in their day-long explorations they had seen no natives or
even their dwellings, and the site seemed for some reason abandoned to
their occupancy.

But the joyous return with good news to those on board the Mayflower was
turned into grief and dismay by the tidings awaiting the explorers.

Dorothy Bradford was dead. How it could have happened, or just when, no
one knew, but on the very day after her husband's departure she had gone
quietly on deck while the rest of the company were at supper and never
was seen again; nor till the sea gives up its dead shall any know the
story of that poor overwrought soul's last fierce struggle and defeat.

Nor can we speak of the young husband's anguish, and it may be
self-reproach, in that awful hour. He speaks not himself of this matter
in his journal, save in briefest words; nor dare we intrude upon such
matters as lie between a man and his God. But this we may say, that as
Jacob, wrestling with the angel and overcoming, went halting all his
days from the wound of that strange conflict, so Bradford's face when he
again took his place among his fellows told of years forever consumed in
one terrible struggle.

CHAPTER IX.

ROSE.

"Myles!"

"Ay, sweetheart, here am I."

"A little drink--nay, I want it not. I was dreaming thy cousin Barbara
was making a sallet, and I was fain to taste it, it looked so cool and
fresh,--and I wakened. I would well like some sallet, Myles."

"As soon as the day dawns, my Rose, I will go and look for herbs. I
marked some sorrel on the hill yester e'en, albeit something dry and
sere."

"Why doth the ship roll so sorely, Myles?"

"Thou 'rt not on shipboard, child, but in our little hospital here
ashore. Mindest thou not