ear friend, I do remember."

"Well, 't was borne in upon me then, that I was only to look upon the
Promised Land, and then for my sins to die, and that thou wert the
Joshua who should conquer our Canaan and make the people to dwell safely
therein. Thou shalt be their governor, Bradford, and--their servant."

"As thou hast ever been! Chief of all because the helper of all."

"Send for Winslow and Standish and the elder. I cannot long command my
senses, and fain would speak--nay, 't was but a passing pang. Send for
them, and meanwhile call John Howland and Kate, my wife. I must
hasten--hasten"--

Again the stupor crept over him, but steadily fighting it off, and
holding his consciousness in the grasp of a strong man's will, he again
opened his eyes as his wife, so pale, so still, so self-controlled,
leaned over him and laid her cool fingers upon his brow.

"Ay, sweetheart, 't is thy touch. I could tell it among a hundred. Dear,
wilt thou go home to thy father's house? He'll have thee, now thy poor
'Brownist' is gone. Or wilt thou go to thy sister Robinson? She will be
fain to have thee."

"'Whither thou goest I will go,' my husband."

"Say you so, Dame? Ay, thou wast ever of a high heart, and a brave.
Mayhap our Lord will be merciful to both of us,--but His will be done.
Thou 'lt be submissive to thy God, Kate, as thou hast ever been to thy
lord?"

"Ay, dear, my lord, I will try to do thy bidding even thus far."

"Ah, Kate, Kate, thou hast never failed in all our happy wedded
life--fail not now--promise--promise"--

"Dear love, I promise to bow myself in all loving submission to
whatsoever our God shall send."

"Ay, that is right, that is well, that is mine own noble Kate. And
Howland, I leave her to thy care--be a brother, a leal and true
friend--thou knowest what that word means--I can no more--my senses
reel"--

"It needs no more, dear master, dear friend, if I may call my master
so"--

"My friend," murmured Carver.

"Then I do pledge my word as a God-fearing man, that from this moment
the first care, the chiefest duty of my life shall be to serve and
shield and comfort my dear lady so far as God gives me power. I will be
her servant, her brother, her friend, in all ways, and under all
comings, and so help me God, as I shall keep this my promise."

"Thou dost comfort my soul, even as it enters upon the valley of the
shadow. Stand ye two aside and bring in my brethren."

Howland quietly opened the d