r to be accomplished, furnishing guns to Indians being strictly
prohibited, and such weapons taken away whenever found in their
possession. Quecheco now thought he saw an opportunity of gratifying a
desire that had become a mania, and determined that a gun should be
the price of his friend's liberty.

With this view, at one of his visits to Plymouth, or Accomack, he
sought Governor Bradford, with whom he was acquainted, and proposed to
deliver the Knight into his hands, in consideration of the coveted gun
and a certain quantity of powder and ball. Much as was desired the
capture of Sir Christopher, Bradford hesitated, but finally promised
the bribe, stipulating for the life of the Knight, considering that
the rule might bear infringement in a single instance, for the sake of
the object to be attained; and from that moment Quecheco begun his
work of treachery.

In consequence of the activity of the search, the fugitives had been
obliged not only often to change their hiding-place, but sometimes to
remove to a considerable distance from Boston. One of their favorite
resorts was near Plymouth, both because they were less likely to be
suspected to lurk in a vicinity where the Knight had no acquaintances,
and also on account of a greater abundance of game. Here the two white
men often remained without Towanquattick, who, less liable to
discovery, hovered around the spot where was the sister of his
Sagamore.

Such being the state of things, Quecheco selected the neighborhood of
Plymouth (on account of the absence of Towanquattick, betwixt whom and
himself a feeling of mutual dislike existed, caused in his jealous
mind by the favor which the Knight had lately shown the Pequot, and
which he esteemed a derogation of his rights) as the theatre of his
plot, and here we find Sir Christopher at this moment.

"Our larder is exhausted, Philip," said the Knight one morning, "and
must be replenished. Shall we try our fortune together?"

"I am always ready," answered Philip. "It is two days since I
stretched my legs, and, by my halidome, I shall forget how to use
them, without more practice."

"Methinks," replied the Knight, smiling, "it is less than a week since
I saw legs much resembling thine moving with marvellous celerity."

"When this copper-hide here showed us Venn's band, within a hundred
yards of the old wigwam, right under Winthrop's nose, in the swamp.
Aye, it was high time to be moving; but it was unkind of Venn to bu