of trees which he had noticed upon his late
journey with Hopkins to visit Massasoit; and Hobomok recovering from his
bewilderment led the way as fast as the men could follow him, until in
the edge of a large clearing he paused, and pointing to a detached hut
whispered,--

"Corbitant sleep there."

"Now God be praised that there is a chance of fighting rather than
floundering!" piously exclaimed Standish, and with brief exact phrases
he proceeded to set the battle in array. Eight men were to silently
surround the house, their pieces ready, and their orders to cut down if
necessary any who should attempt to escape from the house. Standish and
Winslow, followed by Hobomok, marched meantime straight into a hut, and
the captain in a loud voice demanded,--

"Where is Corbitant? Give him up and no one else shall be harmed!"

A moment of panic-stricken silence ensued, and then through the darkness
was heard the indefinite rustling sound of living creatures seeking
covertly to escape from an enclosure.

"Look to it, outside!" shouted Standish. "Let no man pass your guard!
Hobomok, tell them that we will harm none if they give up Corbitant and
those who helped him to murder Tisquantum!"

But the hubbub increased momently, and presently a shout of "Back!
Back!" from without was followed by a loud shriek in a woman's voice.

"Fools!" roared Standish in the native tongue. "Keep still. Stay in the
house. We hurt none but Corbitant!"

Yet still the tumult grew; the savages trusting no promises, endeavored
to escape through the various openings of the wigwam, and although the
sentinels were as careful as possible, and heartily desirous of avoiding
bloodshed, several of the Indians were more or less hurt, while the
half-grown boys perceiving the immunity of the women from harm, ran from
one door to the other crying out,--

"Neen squaes! Neen squaes!" (I am a girl! I am a girl!)

The women also hung around Hobomok, pulling at his hands and clothing,
for attention, while they shrieked, "Oh Hobomok, I am thy friend! Thou
knowest I am thy friend!"

Winslow meantime had stirred up the embers of a fire near the doorway of
the hut, and the flame leaping out cast a wild and fitful glare over the
scene, in the midst of which Hobomok, climbing the stout pole in the
centre of the cabin, thrust his head through the smoke-hole at the top,
and after emitting a hideous war-whoop shouted the names of Tisquantum
and Tockamahamon at the top