od for blood," thundered Endicott. "If that of Abel fell not to
the ground unavenged, though the slayer knew no law, save that written
in his heart, to forbid the deed, so now may not this savage escape.
Besides, the example were impolitic, as hath been already set forth."

Similar opinions were uttered by almost all of the Assistants, being
none other than anticipated by the wily Governor, who meant not what
he said, but desired to mitigate the severer counsels of his
associates.

During these remarks, a conversation in a low tone had been passing
betwixt the Sagamore and Samoset.

"Has the heart of Samoset turned white?" asked the Pequot.

"Samoset is an Indian," replied the interpreter, "and his heart is
red."

"Has he forgotten the time when, with Sassacus and his Paniese, he
drank of the Shetucket, where it bounds into the river of the Pequots,
when he was thirsty with driving the Narraghansetts over the hills,
like leaves chased by the wind?"

"Samoset has not forgotten."

"Does he powah with Owanux, or is he true to the faith of his
fathers?"

"The feet of Samoset will chase the deer and the bear over the happy
hunting grounds, whither his fathers have gone. He would not know what
to do in the heaven of Owanux."

"Then is not Samoset my brother, and lies he not close to the heart of
Sassacus, as a pappoose nestles up to its mother?"

"Samoset will do the bidding of the great Sagamore," said the
interpreter, anticipating what was to follow.

"Go then, my friend, my brother, terror of the Narraghansetts, praise
of the valiant Pequots, and find Soog-u-gest. Tell him that the blood
of Sassacus is running away, like water from an overturned vessel, and
that soon all will be spilled, unless he comes to set up the vessel.
Tell him to come quickly, and deliver the great Sagamore of the
Pequots, and his sister, and the young man with eyes like the sky."

"The feet of the blue eyes are free," said Samoset. "I saw him only a
little while ago."

"Good!" said the chief. "Then seek first my young friend, for he loves
Sassacus, and tell him, and do what he says. But if they cannot help,
fly, like the swallow over the hills and streams, to the hunting
grounds of my tribe, and say to my people that their Sachem is a wolf
in a trap, and Neebin a slave to Owanux."

"What says he?" inquired Endicott, whose attention had been attracted
by the longer speech, and somewhat raised tone of the Sagamore's
voice.

"He s