cially
finishing and arming the Fort upon the hill, and making it ready for
immediate use.

"It were well that you and I, Governor, went aboard this morning and
stirred up Master Jones to get out our ordnance and help fetch it
ashore," concluded he. "Shall we go at once?"

"So soon as the tide makes, Captain; for when the water is out, our
harbor is somewhat wet for walking, yet by no means suited for
navigation," replied Carver casting a whimsical glance at the verdant
flats, then as now replacing the tides of Plymouth Harbor.

"A wise provision of Nature whereby the clams are twice a day left
within our reach," replied Standish in the same tone. "After noon-meat
then, we will go."

But when the governor and the captain arrived on board the Mayflower
they found Jones too stupid with liquor to listen to any plans, and too
short-handed when he had been made to understand to carry them out with
half the dispatch the ardent spirit of Standish prompted, so that all
they effected was to have two of the larger pieces hoisted out of the
hold, and one landed and left upon the sand. The next day was devoted
to finishing the preparations on shore, and finally on Wednesday, the
third day of March, Captain Jones with all of his men fit for service
came on shore with the rest of the ordnance, and, aided by the Pilgrims,
dragged the clumsy pieces to the top of the eminence now called Burying
Hill, and mounted them in the positions carefully marked out beforehand
by Standish. The two minions, each eight feet long, a thousand pounds in
weight, and carrying a three-pound ball, were planted, the one to
command the landing at the rock, and the other the crest of Watson's
Hill, where the savages had twice appeared. The saker, a still heavier
piece, commanded the north, where the dense coverts of an evergreen
forest hid what was soon to be known as the Massachusetts trail, and a
very menacing quarter. The two other pieces called bases, and of much
lighter calibre, were set at the western face of the Fort, where they
would do good service should an enemy attempt to skirt the hill and
approach at that side. The pieces were heavy, the appliances crude and
clumsy, a shrewd east wind was driving in a sea-fog of the chillest
description, and Standish, although he toiled and tugged with the best,
proved himself a martinet in his requirements, not sparing in the heat
of the struggle some of those curious oaths for which "our army in
Flanders"