rouched. When she began to pound
again, they hastened. The trail ended just at one side of Captain
Annawan. The old man and daughter passed on--and suddenly darting
forward Captain Church stepped right over the son's head, at Annawan's
feet, and stood by the stacked guns.

He was here. They knew him well. The surprise was perfect. Young
Annawan, seeing, instantly "whipped his blanket over his head and
shrunk in a heap." Old Annawan straightened half up, astonished.

"Howoh (I am taken)!" he gasped.

Then he fell back, without speaking farther, while Captain Church, with
his men on guard, gathered the guns. No one dared to resist. None,
there, dreamed that he had only the six men.

"Go to those other companies," ordered Captain Church of his scouts,
"and tell them that I have taken their captain, Annawan, and it will be
best for them to surrender peaceably; for if they try to resist or to
escape, they will find themselves entrapped by a great army brought by
Captain Church and will be cut to pieces. But if they stay quiet till
morning, they will have good quarter and be carried to Taunton, to see
their friends already there. As for you," he spoke to Annawan, "you
will be well treated, also; and at Plymouth I will ask my masters to
spare your life."

The scouts made the talk, and brought in all the guns and hatchets, so
that now Captain Church was in possession of the whole camp. His nerve
had won out for him.

So far, Chief Annawan had not uttered another word. He seemed dumb
with his astonishment.

Captain Church maintained a bold front, as though he truly had a great
army at his back.

"What have you for supper?" he asked. "You see I have come to sup with
you."

Chief Annawan aroused. He was a strong, burly man, and spoke in a deep
voice.

"Taubut (beef)." He called to the squaws, bidding them bring food for
the Captain Church men. "Will you have cow beef or horse beef?" he
queried.

"Cow beef would pleasure me the most," answered the captain, in Indian.
So he supped heartily upon cow beef and the dried corn that the squaw
had been pounding into meal in the mortar.

He had not slept any for two days and a night and had traveled hard
upon only one meal. Now he stretched himself out by the fire, to sleep
for two hours while his party watched. But he was so nervous that he
closed his eyes in vain. When he opened them, he saw that everybody
was asleep except himself and Chief Annawan!