r with Sir
Christopher. With a courtly grace and insinuating address, without
contradicting the other, but rather by the recital of acts of
generosity and evidences of nobleness of spirit which had fallen under
his own observation among the Indians, he endeavored to dispose the
Deputy Governor to a milder judgment. But the prejudices of Dudley
were too deeply rooted to be removed by persuasive manners, or tales
however skilfully framed.

The unfortunate result of the embassy was deeply regretted by the
colonists. They had looked forward to it as a means of increasing
their security, and establishing a trade from which they hoped to
derive large profits. They must now renounce both expectations.
Henceforth their cabins were to be guarded with greater vigilance than
ever, and the courted trade was to remain monopolized by the French.
Moreover, the evil would probably not end there, but distrust and
apprehension spread among the tribes; and if such a feeling were to
become universal, and a general union be the consequence, the
condition of the colony might become one of extreme danger. The
character which the whites would then sustain would be that of men
disregardful of the most sacred obligations; of wretches who, after
offering the rights hospitality, had taken advantage of the
unsuspecting confidence of their guests to murder them. It was true,
that the whole twelve ambassadors might have been destroyed, and a
part were suffered to leave; but it was feared that the
undiscriminating minds of the savages might not give proper weight to
the consideration, or might ascribe it to some policy which was the
more dreadful because so mysterious. It was seen now how great had
been the mistake in permitting Sassacus, the terrible chief of the
Pequots, the most dreaded and implacable foe of the Taranteens, to be
present at the council. Him the Taranteens had seen in apparent good
understanding with the English, and been made the subject of his
taunts in their presence. Might they not justly consider this a
strange way of courting an alliance? True, the English knew not that
Waqua was Sassacus, but would the Indians believe it? Nor had they
known, until the interpreter explained, and until it was too late to
seize the offender, what he had uttered; but would the Taranteens,
amid the excitement of feeling mourning over the loss of friends, much
regard that?

CHAPTER XV.

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods.

C