hole available force of the Pilgrim
army at this time.

Massasoit rose as the governor approached, and when Carver extended his
hand laid his own in it, each potentate saluting the other with a
punctilious gravity much to be admired. Carver then seated himself at
the other end of the settle, and turning to Howland, who stood as a sort
of Aid at his elbow, he requested some strong waters to be brought that
he and the king might pledge health and amity to each other. This
request having been foreseen was immediately complied with, and a great
silver loving-cup with two handles and filled with a compound of Holland
gin, sugar, and spice, with a moderate amount of water, was brought and
presented to the governor who tasted decorously, and then passed it to
the sachem, who seizing both handles carried it to his mouth and drank
with an air of stern determination, as one who would not allow personal
distaste to interfere with public obligations. The cup was then passed
to the other guests, and replenished more than once until all had
tasted, Squanto remarking to his next neighbor as he handed him the
cup,--

"It is the witch water to make a man brave that I have told you of
drinking in the house of Slaney in the land of these Englishmen."

"Hugh! It is like the sun in summer," muttered the neighbor passing it
on in his turn.

"John Howland!" whispered a low voice at the unglazed window near which
the young man stood, and as he leaned hastily out he nearly bumped heads
with pretty Elizabeth Tilley, who laughing said,--

"Nay, 't is no such great alarm, but Priscilla bade me tell thee to keep
an eye upon the governor's loving-cup, lest some of these wild men steal
it."

"Nay, they have no pockets to hide it in," replied John laughing. "Still
I will have an eye to it, for we have none so much silverware in the
colony that we should be willing to spare it."

The ceremony of welcome over, the business of the meeting began, and
Massasoit, albeit a little incommoded by his strange potation, showed
himself both dignified and friendly in his intentions. Carver on his
side was as honorable as he was shrewd, and in the course of an hour the
first American International Treaty was harmoniously concluded, and so
much to the advantage of both sides, that not only was it sacredly
observed in the beginning, but nineteen years later, when Massasoit felt
his own days drawing to a close, he brought his sons, Alexander and
Philip, to Ply