han
for need since the weather was mild and lovely, so peculiarly so that
when it recurred the next November and the next, the people remembering
that first feast said, "Why, here is the Indians' summer again!" But on
that day the only thought was that God accepted their thanksgiving and
smiled His approval.

Hardly had the guests comprehended the announcement and placed
themselves in order, when a wild fanfare of trumpets, an imposing roll
of drums was heard from the vicinity of the Fort, and down the hill in
orderly array marched the little army of nineteen men, preceded by the
military band and led by their doughty Captain. Above their heads
floated the banner of Old England, and beneath their corselets beat true
English hearts; and yet here stood the nucleus of that power which a
century and a half later was to successfully defy and throw off the rule
of that magnificent but cruel stepdame; here stood the first American
army; and then, as since, that score of determined souls struck terror
into the hearts of five times their number.

"If they have beguiled us here to destroy us!" murmured Quadequina in
his brother's ear.

"Canst not tell an eagle from a carrion-crow?" returned the wiser man.
"Would Winsnow, or The-Sword, or the Chief, or the powah, do this?
Peace, my brother."

But as the military manoeuvres accompanied with frequent discharges of
musketry, and accented at one point with a tremendous roar from the
cannon of the Fort progressed, not only Quadequina, but many other of
the braves became very uneasy; and to this cause as well as benevolence,
may be attributed the offer made at dinner time by Quadequina to lead a
hunting party of his own people into the woods to look for deer, whose
haunts they well knew.

Standish alone suspected this _arriere pensee_, and when Bradford mildly
applauded the generous kindness of their guests, he answered with a
chuckle,--

"Ay, as kind as the traveler who begs the highwayman to let him go home
and fetch a larger treasure."

But in spite of his doubts the prince intended and made a _bona fide_
hunt, and returned early in the next day with as much venison as lasted
the entire company four days.

"Oh, if I had but some Spanish chestnuts to stuff these turkeys, they
might seem more like their brethren across the seas," exclaimed
Priscilla as she turned over a pile of the wild birds and chose those to
be first cooked.

"Nay, but to me the flavor is better, and th