er ship that floats. No, I say,--push off, Cooke!"

And the captain strode up the hill, and climbed the roof of the Fort to
cover and pet his big guns and see that the dampness did them no
mischief.

Below, Alden helped Priscilla to make ready all the food remaining in
the village, for surely the new-comer had brought supplies, and the
famine was at an end.

"If this ship might bring him a wife as perchance it hath to our good
surgeon," said John after describing his master's mood.

"Ay, but I fear me he'll be hard to suit," replied Priscilla.

"Natheless, remember sweetheart, you promised me that so soon as the
famine was over and our new house finished"--

"And the captain cheerful as his wont."

"Ay, well so soon as all these matters were settled fairly, you
promised"--

"Oh sooth, good lad, stand not gaping there and minding me of last
winter's snow and last summer's roses! Go and call the captain and the
elder to their breakfast while I see to the dear mother."

But breakfast was hardly over when Mistress Winslow ran across the
street to the elder's wife.

"Lo you now, dear mother," cried she excitedly. "There are three boats
rowing toward the Rock, and in every one of them you may make out
women's gear, and who knows but Patience and Fear are of the company.
All the men have gone down to the Rock, and I am going."

Out she ran again, and Priscilla quickly moved to the mother's side, but
great joys do not kill even though they startle, and presently the white
white face was raised with a smile almost of heaven illuminating it, and
the dame softly said,--

"Yes, they have come. I knew it in the night. They have come, but
Priscilla thou 'rt none the less my dear and duteous daughter. Now get
you to the Rock with the rest. I shall be well alone."

"Now is Will Bradford well content; now is comedy ready to tread upon
the heels of tragedy, and funeral dirges to end in marriage chimes,"
muttered the captain as he plunged down the steep of Leyden Street, and
stood with overcast face and compressed lips watching the boats sweeping
merrily up to the landing.

In the foremost sat the governor, and close beside him two female
figures their backs to the shore. On the next thwart Surgeon Fuller, his
whimsical face for once honestly glad, leaned an elbow on his knee and
peered up into the comely face of Bridget, his young wife, for Agnes
Carpenter lay asleep beneath St. Peter's Church in old Leyden town. But
he