ts two drums, a
trumpet, and a fife, while a house just roofed in and not yet portioned
into rooms, was hastily prepared as an audience chamber by clearing it
of litter, and spreading at the upper end a large green rug belonging to
Edward Winslow, and various cushions and mats, while a high-backed
settle in the place of honor covered with some scarlet broadcloth cloaks
stood ready to receive the king and the governor in equal honor.
Everything being thus in readiness, Samoset and Squanto were dispatched
with a courteous message to the king as the Pilgrims chose to translate
the Indian term of sachem, inviting him to a conference, but the envoys,
soon returning, brought an intricate greeting, from which Winslow the
diplomatist at last evolved the meaning that Massasoit declined to trust
himself among the white men without adequate hostages for his safety,
and desired that one of the principal of the strangers should come to
him while Samoset and Squanto remained in the village.

"Zounds! And does the barbarian fancy that two of his naked salvages
count as one of our meanest, not to say our principal men!" exclaimed
Standish angrily, but Winslow interposed,--

"If the governor and the brethren consider me as a fit man to answer the
demand I will go and convey what message is decided upon to this
potentate, and if he accepts me will remain as hostage while he visits
the settlement."

"Nay, Winslow, I claim the post of danger, if danger there be. It is the
right of mine office," exclaimed Standish.

"Not so, Captain; thy duty is to do us right in a quarrel, mine to keep
us out of a quarrel. Each man to his own work, say you not so Governor?"

"Master Winslow is right, Captain Standish, and furthermore we need your
protection here, should an attack be made upon the village."

"I submit, and my good will go with thee, Master Ambassador," replied
Standish cordially; "but be sure if thy skill at keeping the peace fails
of saving thy scalp, thou shalt have a royal guard of salvages to escort
thee whither thou wilt go."

"Gramercy for thy courtesy good my Valiant," replied Winslow in the same
tone. "But I hope my wit shall avail to save my scalp."

And a few moments later the courtly Winslow, armed cap-a-pie and
carrying a haversack of gifts at his back, strode down the hill, and
across the brook to a point where a knot of dusky warriors awaited him,
and with them passed out of sight, leaving his comrades to an hour of
e