ip with Master Jones, who is in mind to go back before
night."

"Oh, he is overdone with the work we babes have scarce begun," muttered
Standish with a wrathful laugh. "Glad am I to spare him."

"And I," said Bradford joining them. "And we are all of one mind that
Captain Standish shall take command of those who remain, since the
governor and several others find themselves but ailing and will return
with Jones, who forebodes foul weather and needs must take his men
aboard to meet it."

"Why, that's no more than his duty, and mayhap I wronged him," said
Standish generously. "Well, who tarries with me?"

The division was soon made, and as the boats left the shore, beneath the
same cold and stormy sky that had led them forth, and feebly breasted
the hissing waves which seemed to sneer at their puny efforts, the
eighteen men who remained on shore drew closer together.

"Methinks our men are to be sifted like Gideon's army at Mount Moreh,"
said Edward Winslow running his eye over the little group as he linked
his arm with Bradford's. "They went forth twenty-and-two hundred and
fell away to three hundred."

"By the three hundred who lap the water with their hands will I conquer
Midian," quoted Bradford in a clear and ringing voice.

"Hear you that, John?" asked Standish of the young man who followed him
closely. "It is a good omen that the grand old story should have come
into Winslow's head. And now, men, my opinion is that we should strike
inland, and see if we cannot come upon some settlement or stronghold of
the natives, for certes, these barns and graves were not made without
hands, nor were the stubble-fields reaped by ghosts. The tract lying
north and east of this river is yet new to us, and, since you will be
led by me, we will march for some hours hither and yon through its
length and breadth, making our randevous where night may overtake us,
and returning hither to meet the shallop to-morrow."

"It is good counsel, and we will follow you, Captain," said Winslow,
while a consenting murmur stirred the russet beards around, and Hopkins
said, "He among us who best knows the ways of woodlands, and how to
steer the plainest course through these swamps and thickets, should be
on the lead, it seemeth to me, Captain."

"Ay, Hopkins, I have thought of all that," interrupted Standish rather
curtly; "and I have chosen my scout already. Billington, where art thou,
man?"

"Here, Captain," responded a coarse voice, and