ving Winslow as guest of Quadequina, but
that first he was ready to exchange for some very valuable peltrie the
armor and weapons now worn by his guest, and as he observed by the other
men of the colony.

To this proposition Winslow returned a most decided negative, adding
that among his people no soldier relinquished his weapons except with
his life, which chivalrous boast Squanto after a moment's consideration
translated,--

"White man says these things to him all one as red man's scalp-lock to
him," and Massasoit replied by a guttural sound sometimes rendered
"Hugh!" although no letters can express it, and its intent is to convey
comprehension, approbation, contempt, or assent, according to the
intonation. In the present instance it conveyed approbation mingled with
disappointment, and Massasoit drawing forward his tobacco pouch filled
his pipe, lighted it with a sort of slow match made of bark, and having
drawn two or three whiffs passed it to Winslow who gravely accepted it.
Next the chief tasting the dainties offered him by one of his officers
distributed the remainder among his followers, excepting the flask of
gin, which having cautiously tried he laid aside, evidently not
understanding it, and unwilling to offend the donor by showing his
distaste for it. And here let it be said that Massasoit, although he
learned to drink the "fire-water" of the white men, never became its
victim like so many of his brethren.

These ceremonies over, Winslow, already a little uneasy lest Standish
and his musketeers should come to seek him and disturb the harmony he
was endeavoring to establish between this dusky potentate and his own
people, suggested to Squanto that the governor would be growing
impatient to receive his guest, and that the day was getting on.

This hint the interpreter conveyed in his own fashion to the king, who
simply drawing his puma robe a little farther forward, muttered a word
to Quadequina who stood beside him, and moved toward the village
followed by about twenty warriors.

Winslow, somewhat startled by the suddenness of this departure would
have followed at least for a few steps, but Quadequina, a younger and
handsomer copy of his brother, stopped him by a single finger laid upon
his breast, and a few guttural sounds which Squanto paused to interpret
as a direction that the white man should remain where he was until the
return of the sachem.

"Certainly. It is as a hostage that I am here. I woul