as such they with grave jest and solemn fun consented to
accept him. As for Samoset, he already had helped himself to the freedom
of the town, and these two, with Hobomok, the especial retainer of
Standish, remained the faithful and useful friends of the white men
until death divided them.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE LAST LINK BROKEN.

"Ho Jack! Where's thy master?"

"In heaven, Master Jones, or mayhap thou meanest King James, who by last
accounts was in London."

"I crave thy pardon, worshipful Master Alden!" and the shipmaster bowed
in ludicrous parody of reverence. "I would fain know where thy servant
Carver, and thine other retainers, Winslow, and Standish, and Allerton,
and the dominie may be."

"'T is a large question, Master Jones, for I do not keep them in my
pocket as a general thing, and they are just now about their own
business. Might I ask thine?"

"Were I not in such haste 't would be to cudgel some manners into thy
big carcase, Master Insolent; but come now, prythee be a good lad and
bring me to the governor, the captain, and the elder, for time and tide
are pressing, and I would fain be gone."

"In that direction our fancies pull together rarely, and if thou 'lt
find a seat in the Common house I'll see if I can come upon the
Fathers."

With an inarticulate growl the master of the Mayflower did as he was
bid, and by the time goodwife Billington had cleared and wiped the
benches and table, the men he had requested to see, along with Winslow,
Allerton, Bradford, and Doctor Fuller, came in together, for the hour
was just past noon, and the people collected for dinner had not yet
dispersed.

"Good-morrow, Captain Jones," said Carver courteously; "John Alden tells
me thou wouldst have speech of all of us together."

"Yes, Master Governor, and glad am I that peevish boy did my errand so
largely, for what I have to say concerns every man, ay, and woman and
child, in your settlement."

"In truth! And what may it be, Master Jones? Sit you down, and goodwife
Billington set on some beer for our guest."

"Well thought on, and I'll not forget to send you another can or so
before I sail."

"Is the sailing day fixed as yet?"

"To-morrow's flood will see me off, wind and weather permitting."

"And God willing," sternly interposed the elder; but Jones fixing his
twinkling eyes upon Brewster's face over the edge of the pewter pot
covering the lower half of his face answered scoffingly as he set the