lf angry, half amused. "One
could be proud of him--if--if--Oh heart, heart! What is 't thou 'rt
clamoring for! Well--at least I can go and make a posset for my dear
dame, and the rest may wait." And with a sigh and a smile and a blush
the girl turned back to the things of the hour.

"Now here's a coil, Captain!" exclaimed Bradford as Standish entered the
large room where about a dozen of the men of the colony were assembled
in informal council, while in the midst stood Hobomok, his red skin
streaming with perspiration and stained with travel, while his usually
impassive face bore an expression of genuine grief and dismay.

"What is it? Ha, Hobomok returned alone!"

"Yes, and with evil tidings," replied the Governor. "He and Squanto
reached Namasket early this morning and sought to conceal themselves in
a house belonging to Squanto, though now lent to a kinsman. But some one
betrayed them to Corbitant, who was vaporing around the village calling
upon the men to rise in revolt against Massasoit and deliver him up to
the Narragansetts, and saying that we white men should all be slain, and
also those who have made alliance with us, for already he had news of
our visit to Nauset, and the contract made with Aspinet, and Canacum,
and Iyanough. While yet he raved against Squanto, and Hobomok, and
Tockamahamon, a traitor told him that the two first were hiding in the
village, and he swore a great oath by all his gods that they should die,
especially Squanto, in whom, said he, the white men will lose their
tongue"--

"What meant he by that, Governor?" demanded Warren.

"Why, that he is our interpreter," sharply replied Standish. "What else
should he mean? What next, Governor?"

"Next they circumvented Squanto in his cabin, and Corbitant seizing him
held a knife to his throat, mocking and taunting him as is their
fashion, while two fell upon Hobomok, but he being a lusty fellow and
quick, broke from them and fled hither so fast as legs could carry him.
You see the condition he is in."

"And left thy comrade to die!" ejaculated Standish looking scornfully at
the Indian, who humbly replied in his own tongue,--

"Hobomok only one man. Corbitant many men. Squanto perhaps dead, but the
white man will send a hundred of his enemies to be his servants in the
Happy Land. A brave fears not to die, if he may be avenged."

"Ha! 'T is the savage philosophy, and not a bad one," said Standish, and
although the elder raised stern eyes o