ncipal personage present, having exhausted his
stock of Spanish, and German, and French phrases which he had picked
up in his trading voyages, as well as sundry uncouth sounds it was his
pleasure to call Indian, in a vain attempt to make himself understood,
at last decided that the only proper course was to take them before
the Governor. At the mention of Winthrop's name, the Indian's face was
lighted up with a look of intelligence, and he made a motion With his
head as though he knew for whom it was intended.

"Do ye see now, my hearties," cried the gratified Captain, "the
ignorant beggar understands me after all. I mistrusted, from the
beginning, that he was only playing 'possum, as they say down in
Virginny. For look ye, ye lubbers, it would be strange if a man who
has been buen' camarada with the Spaniard, and guter Gesell with the
Dutchman, and parleywood with Mounseer, and made the weight of his
ship in gold for his owners, out of these here salvages, shouldn't be
able to speak their gibberish. It's not so hard after all, do ye see,
when one gets the weather guage of it. But here, some o' ye, gallivant
the red skins up to the Governor, (a good enough fellow in his way, I
dare say, if he were not so d----d hard on drinking healths,) with my
compliments, with the compliments of Capt. Sparhawk, (do ye hear?) and
let him know how they drifted ashore. And hark ye, if he should be
inclined to a little agreeable conversation with the tanned hides,
just let him send me an invitation, and I shall be happy to officiate
as interpreter. Heave ahead, Bill Pantry, and take command of the
squad. You've been long enough under my command to know how to do the
honors in a gentlemanly way."

Accordingly Bill Pantry, in obedience to the Orders of his Captain,
which seemed to the bystanders the most sensible suggestion, took
possession of the Indians, and escorted them to the Governor's house.

It so happened, by an accident, that the invaluable services of Capt.
Sparhawk, as a linguist, were not needed on the occasion, for upon the
strangers being announced by one of the soldiers on guard at the door,
the Knight of the Golden Melice was found to be with Winthrop.

As the Indians entered the room, Winthrop rose, and with great
urbanity, offered his hand to him who appeared to be the principal. To
his astonishment, however, the Taranteen extended not his own.

"How is this?" exclaimed Winthrop. "Is this intentional discourtesy,
or