tearing off his scalp, and
carrying it back to throw it triumphantly at Henrich's feet! We shall
see whether such joy was accorded to him.

Standish and his companions took their leave, and returned to the hill,
where they found great progress had been made in building the wigwam;
and two hours before sunset it was completely wattled round, leaving
only a small aperture near the top to admit light, and a narrow place
of entrance, to which a strong door was affixed.

The captain then explained his plan, which was approved by all but
Maitland; and he forbore to urge any further opposition, which, he
felt, would now be useless. A temperate meal was partaken of, and a
hymn sung by the undaunted little company; and pipes and tobacco having
been plentifully placed in the hut, the sides of which were decorated
with pieces of gay colored calico, and a few knives and trinkets, as
pretended gifts to the Chiefs, nothing remained but to await the
arrival of the victims.

Soon the Indian Chiefs, decked in all their bravery of feathers and
embroidered skins, came marching a cross the plain, followed by a few
attendants less richly adorned. Standish and his party went to meet
them, and conducted them with much courtesy to the wigwam, which was
soon obscured by the clouds of smoke that issued from the pipes of the
grave and silent assembly. But this silent gravity did not long
continue. Captain Standish addressed the Chiefs, and strove to speak
kindly to men whose deaths he was compassing all the while: but,
whether his resolution somewhat failed as the moment for the execution
of his bloody purpose drew on, or whether he was disconcerted by the
absence of Rodolph, who refused to enter the wigwam, and assist at the
slaughter, so it was that he manifested evident signs of weakness and
indecision.

The Chiefs were emboldened by this, and they were troubled by no qualms
of conscience on the subject of shedding the white men's blood. They
rose from their seats on the ground, and began to taunt the captain
with his want of eloquence, and also with the smallness of his stature,
which was despicable in their eyes. Then, growing still bolder as they
became excited, they drew their knives, and whetted them before the
eyes of their hosts: flourishing them round their heads, and boasting
how they had already shed the blood of many white men in the distant
European settlements.

It was a fearful scene: but the real peril of his situation in