"that I am not of the
Separatist Church, nor agree in all its teachings. The Standishes were
ever good Catholics, since they came over from Normandy with William the
Baseborn, and if I hold not to the religion of my fathers I accept no
other, nor can I ever esteem lightly those things my mother venerated."

The younger man, perplexed and mortified, remained silent, but in a
moment Standish smiled and resumed his story.

"So, Pastor Robinson confessed his own want of skill, as so wise a man
need not shame to do, but told me of a certain aged scholar in
Amsterdam, well versed in Eastern lore, and able, if any man alive could
do it, to rede me the riddle aright, and he wrote down his name and
lodging and a line to recommend me to his kindly attention, and so gave
me fair good-night.

"Not long after, my occasions called me to Amsterdam, and be sure I took
the time to find the old ancient scholar, a queer, dried-up graybeard,
with skin like the parchment covers of his folios; but he gave me
courteous welcome, and I laid the sword upon the table under his nose.
Faith, John, I thought that same nose would grow to my blade, for a good
half hour passed away, or ever he stirred or spoke. Then he looked
askance at me and said,--

"'How old art thou in very truth?'"

"I told him some thirty years, and he stared and stared until had he
been a young man and a soldier I had asked him his intent. But as it
was, I did but stare back again, until at the last his parchment cheeks
creased and crackled in what may have been meant for a smile, and he
said,--

"'Thou mightst have been a score of thirties if thou hadst been born
when this blade was forged.'

"'And why?' asked I, wondering if Pastor Robinson could have known the
man was an old wizard.

"'Because there's that on this blade would have kept thee from all harm
if thou hadst made it thine own,' said he, tapping that circle."

And turning the blade, Standish showed upon the reverse from the sun,
moon, and stars, an ornamented medallion close to the hilt, containing
certain cabalistic signs and marks. Below this was an inscription of
several lines in totally different characters.[1]

[1] This sword may still be seen in Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth,
Massachusetts.

"And that is a charm to keep a man alive?" asked Alden with bated breath
and eager eyes.

"So that old man said," replied Standish, "but I concern myself little
with such matters, having ever found my own right ar