wn sister?"

"He gave her not away. She was to remain to learn the wisdom of the
white man, as the little bird stays in the nest until it is strong
enough to fly."

Another pause ensued, for the reply of the Sagamore had furnished
pregnant matter for thought, until the silence was broken by the voice
of Winthrop.

"Why did Sassacus attack my people, and kill two of my men?"

"A superfluous question, after what we have heard," said Sir Richard
Saltonstall.

"Nevertheless, it is involved in the purpose for which the Indian was
brought before us, and he shall have the benefit of a reply, Sir
Richard," answered the Governor.

"Is it an earnest question the white chief asks," demanded the Pequot
chief. "Why does the bear attack the hunter who has robbed her of her
cubs? Shall Sassacus love Neebin less than a bear its cub? Owanux
burned the lodge of my friend. They seized his sister and Neebin, and
carried them away, and their chief asks why Sassacus fought for his
friends, and for the daughter of many Sachems! What white man ever
before was hurt by Sassacus? Who ever came to his lodge, and he set
not a meal before him? Who ever was tired, and Sassacus gave him not a
skin whereon to lay his limbs? When the white chief burns our lodges,
and carries away captive our women and children in the dark, must
Sassacus run with a bowl of succotash to refresh him, after his great
victory?"

"A shrewd retort withal, and, according to the law of nature, and of
the woods, an all-sufficient justification," said Sir Richard
Saltonstall, who had been opposed to the plan to capture the Knight
from the beginning.

"And yet none other than I expected," said Winthrop, whose generous
design in allowing the chief to exculpate himself in his own way was
only now understood. "Gentlemen," he added, desirous to take advantage
of the favorable impression produced by the Sagamore's reply, "what
remains but to remand our prisoner, unless it be your intention to
discharge him in consideration of the provocation, and that he can
hardly be said to be as fully amenable to our laws as they who
understand what these laws are."

"I desire to express my hearty astonishment," exclaimed Deputy Dudley,
"at the extraordinary proposition of the Governor. The consequences
which lie hid therein are horrible. Are our friends, engaged in the
execution of our orders, to be slaughtered with impunity, and thus
others to be encouraged to like atrocities?"

"Blo