"Hm!" growled the captain. "That's not in nature. Alden use the kettle
an' thou wilt, but after, return it to the Pamet. We'll not have them
making a Benjamin's sack of our shallop."

After dinner Standish so peremptorily demanded that his corn should at
once be put aboard that Canacum could do nothing but yield. The squaws
were summoned, and John Alden stood by with pencil and paper, keeping
tally as each delivered her basket-full on the beach, while Howland
standing mid-leg deep in the icy water shot it over the gunwale.

"Here men, bear a hand, and let us get this thing over and be off,"
commanded Standish, himself seizing a full basket and motioning Dotey to
another.

"And I, and I, my brother!" exclaimed Kamuso in his loud braggadocio
manner as he awkwardly lifted a third. "Never in all my life have I done
squaw's work, for I am a brave, I am a pniese, but what my brother does
I do."

"Nay, 't is too much honor!" replied Standish with his grimmest smile;
"especially as thou art somewhat awkward"--

And in effect the Pamet as he tried to swing the full basket off his
shoulder lost his hold, and the corn came showering down upon the sand.
At length, however, the tale was complete, and as the tide was out, and
night coming on, the captain decided to camp once more upon the beach,
refusing somewhat curtly the pressing invitation sent by Canacum that
the white men should sleep in his house. And once more Kamuso loudly
proclaimed that he was of the white men's party and should share their
quarters wherever they might be. Standish silently permitted him to do
as he would, but, as on the previous evening, he divided the little
company into watches, one to sleep and one to stand on guard.

"So soon as he sleeps I shall kill him," muttered Kamuso to Wituwamat,
as they secretly met behind Canacum's wigwam. "Give me now the knife
sent by Obtakiest."

"Here it is, brother, and when it is red with the blood of The Sword it
shall be thine own. Else it returns to him who sends it."

"It shall be red, it shall drink, it shall drip with the brave blood, it
shall shine as the sun rising across the waters! It shall feast, and
Kamuso shall be chief of Obtakiest's pnieses; yes, he shall be sachem of
the Massachusetts!"

Wituwamat made no reply in words, but as he turned away shivered
heavily. Perhaps a premonition of his own terrible fate crossed his
brain, perhaps the hooting of the owl just then skimming across the
thicket