and
die. But aside from that, I would say, friends, that I am well pleased
at the trust you place in me, and that so long as God giveth me life and
strength I will heartily place them at the service of this"--

But a shriek, followed by a hubbub of voices, and the pattering of many
light feet, broke off the captain's sentence, and brought several of the
Council to their feet, and to the door, just as it was burst open by a
crowd of women and children all clamoring,--

"The Indians! They are upon us! They are coming into the housen! Haste!
Haste if ye be men!"

Not waiting to question farther, Standish seized his snaphance which in
these days seldom was out of reach, and briefly shouting, "Follow me!"
rushed out, looked about him, and seeing nothing seized young John
Billington by the arm and demanded, "Where are these Indians, thou
yelping cur! Didst rouse that hubbub for naught?"

"Nay, Bart Allerton and Johnny Cooke and I all saw them"--

"Well, lead on, and show them to me too," demanded the captain sternly,
and preceded by the half-frightened, half-delighted boys, and followed
in more or less order by his new army, he marched up Leyden and down
Market streets, until across the brook on the crest of a little hill two
savages in full panoply of war suddenly appeared, and gazed defiantly
upon the white men.

"Governor, the advance guard of the enemy is in sight, and I propose
that I with another, cross the brook and parley with him," said Standish
turning to Carver and unconsciously resuming the stiff military manner
and habit of a trained soldier in actual service.

"Your powers are discretionary, Captain Standish," replied Carver with
gentle dignity. "All is left in your own hands, always remembering that
we desire peace rather than war, if so be we may have it in honor."

"Hopkins, wilt volunteer to come with me?" asked the captain briefly,
and as briefly the veteran answered, "Ay, Captain," and followed.

But as the party of parley approached, the Indian scouts withdrew, and
before Standish could reach the spot where they had stood no creature
was in sight, although the stir and murmur of a multitude not seeking to
conceal itself were heard from the woods densely clothing Watson's Hill
and the valley between.

Returning with this report to the town, the captain gave it as his
opinion that so long as the enemy held off he should be left undisturbed
while the colony devoted itself to works of defense, espe