flagon down,--

"If as you say God guides the wind and weather, reverend sir, fair
weather speaks His willingness for me to sail, doth it not?"

"Sith thy time is so short, Jones, mayhap thou 'lt spare it, and tell
thine errand at once," interposed Standish sharply, and Jones turned
upon him with a leer.

"So cock-a-hoop still, my little Captain! Hard work and starving do not
cool thy temper, do they? But hold, man, hold. 'T is indeed true that I
am scant for time and mine errand is just this: Ye have been good
friends and true to me when I was in need, with my men half down and
half ready to mutiny, and your women have well-nigh brought me to
believe in saints and angels and such like gear, and so I am come to
offer such of you as will take it, a free passage home, if the men will
help to handle the ship and the women cook, and nurse such as may be
ailing. Or if you choose to give up the emprize and load in your stuff
and yourselves as ye were before, I'll take the stuff for passage money
and trust Master Carver's word for the rest."

The Pilgrims paused on their reply, and man looked at man, each reading
his own thought in the other's eyes. Then Carver spoke in grave
deliberateness,--

"Brethren, ye have heard Master Jones's proffer, and I doubt not ye
agree with me that it is kindly and generously spoken and meant. What
say ye to it man by man? Elder Brewster?"

"I say, Cursed be he who having put his hand to the plough turneth
back."

"And Master Allerton?"

"I will abide the decision of the rest."

"And Master Winslow?"

"I and mine remain here."

"And thou, Captain Standish?"

"Our trumpeter has not been taught to sound the retreat."

"And Bradford?"

"I fain would stay here."

"And thou, Doctor?"

"I' faith I see better hope of practice here than in the old countries.
I'll stay."

"And I have come here to live and to die," said Carver in conclusion.
"So you see good Master Jones, that while kindly grateful for your offer
and your heartiness, we cannot accept the first, but will requite the
last with equal good will."

"Ay, I want your good will, and perhaps you'll give me a prayer or two
just for luck, dominie?"

"Surely we will pray for thee, Master Jones," replied Brewster with fine
reticence of tone.

"But before we say more, brethren," resumed the governor, "we must not
forget that, as the master hath said, this question concerns every man,
woman, and child in the colony; and whil