ou were it to reach the ears of some of whom we wot. But know, Sir
Christopher, that your zeal makes you unjust, and that you have
defamed a God fearing Commonwealth, and one in covenant with God. Not
without His guidance did we trust ourselves to a waging sea, calmed
for our sake by His breath; and not without His inspiration are we
building up a State, after His own divine model, which shall be the
admiration of the world. The kings of the earth may rise up, and the
heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing; but know, Sir
Christopher, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against us."

As the usually calm Winthrop concluded his prophecy, he smote the
table with his hand, as if to give emphasis to his words.

"My wise, and prudent, and most valued friend," said Sir Christopher,
rising and approaching the Governor, "pardon me, if with sacrilegious,
though unwitting hand, I have touched the sacred ark of your faith.
But I were meaner than a stock or a stone; I were duller than an
insensible clod; I were worse than an idolatrous heathen or a beast,
if I were unwilling to encounter any danger, even to the hazard of
losing your friendship, for the sake of a man, who, at the risk of his
own life, saved mine."

"I heard not of your debt before," said Winthrop.

"It was in Moldavia, on the bloody field of Choczim, where the Poles
defeated the Turks. I was then but a stripling, and the impetuosity of
youth, or the fiery temper of my horse, had borne me in advance of my
friends, when I was surrounded by the infidels and hard bested, and my
life beyond peradventure had paid the penalty of my rashness, and my
bones been left cleaned by the wolf's teeth to whiten on the sand, but
for this valiant soldier. Disregarding danger, he leaped among the
foe, and so lustily plied his blows, that together we bore the turbans
down, until his bridle-hand was struck. Then was it time to fall back,
for verily we had need of both hands, with the one to guide out
horses, and with the other to defend our heads. I seized his rein, and
with our flashing swords, side by side, we fought our way through the
throng. Judge, then, if I were not an ingrate to forget the service."

"It is a pity, for the sake of the prisoner," said Winthrop, "that
either Standish or Endicott is not in my place: a tale of daring were
sure to win their ears, and upon its recital, the cause were as good
as gained; but much as I admire the valor of the soldier and