a man whose mean and
truculent face contrasted forcibly with those about him pushed forward
and stood before the captain, who gave him a comprehensive glance,
noting not only the mean and bad face, but the wiry and well-knit
figure, and the eyes quick and watchful as a rat's.

"Billington," repeated he at last, "I've noticed on these expeditions
that thou hast a pretty knack at woodcraft, and can smell thy way among
these bogs and thorny coppices with marvelous good judgment."

"I learned such woodcraft and more while I was gamekeeper to my Lord
Lovell in the old country," interrupted Billington with an impudent
grin. The captain again regarded him with that penetrating glance whose
power is matter of history and replied,--

"I suppose it was in such service that thou camest by that ugly scar
across thy nose. Thou hast never been a soldier, well I wot."

"Thou 'rt right, Captain," said Billington putting his hand to his face
with an unabashed laugh. "It was a poacher"--

"Ay, I thought it was a poacher," interrupted Standish dryly. "Well,
master gamekeeper Billington, to-day thou 'rt under my orders, and I
desire thee to lead us through this wood in an easterly course, and to
keep a diligent eye upon all signs of occupation by the enemy, that is
to say, our friends the salvages. Be very careful in this matter, an'
please thee, good Billington, for shouldst thou think it a merry jest to
lead us into danger of any sort, I fear me thou 'dst find it but a poor
bargain for thyself."

"Nay, Captain, the man means no harm and feels that we are all comrades
in this matter," said Winslow pacifically, while Hopkins muttered
discontentedly,--

"O'er many masters to my mind."

Standish answered neither, except by a glance from his penetrating eyes,
and Billington taking the lead the little party struck into the woods
and marched rapidly and in silence for an hour or more, when Allerton,
the oldest and feeblest man of the party, suddenly halted, and called to
Standish that he must perforce rest for a few minutes, and was,
moreover, sadly athirst. This want was immediately echoed by all, for
the flasks at every man's belt contained spirits or strong beer, and the
toil of the march, sometimes in spite of Billington's skill through
thickets whose thorny branches tore even the armor from the Pilgrims'
backs, and sometimes through half frozen morasses, had induced a thirst
craving plentiful draughts of pure water.

"We've pas