from old England."

"And you, young lady," he continued, "I suppose you are a real miss, not
afraid of Indians and lions and such like."

"Please, sir," Agnes replied, "there are no lions in the Colony, but if
there were they would soon fall dead before my trusty musket."

With mock dignity she took down the heavy musket and aiming it at the
man, said, "And, sir, here is how the women of America defend their
honor. Hold on, sir, or you will be a dead man." They all laughed, but
Mrs. Bradley urged Agnes to put away the gun, which was a fine specimen
that Mr. Bradley had especially imported from England for the girl.

"You are going to teach me a trick or two," the old man said laughing
boisterously. "I surely must guard my tongue, or the days of my earthly
pilgrimage will be cut short."

It was a lovely evening, and never for a long time was there so much
jollity In the house. However, when finally Mr. Bradley took down the
large family Bible to read the evening chapter, all were serious and
listened to the Word of God with devotion.

The service was closed with a hymn of praise, which Agnes accompanied on
her lute.

Tears crept over the rough cheeks of the old man, and as he bade his
friends good-night, he said, "Never was the heart of John Rawlins so
happy as tonight. The Lord has verily blessed my pilgrimage to America,
nor is it altogether a rough country, but one where there is much piety
and delight."

CHAPTER V

A WONDERFUL JOURNEY

Mr. Bradley was glad that he had his old reliable clerk with him in
America, for he was anxious to leave the colony, and establish trading
posts along the Connecticut River, west of the Massachusetts Colony.

Already the year before, in the summer of 1685, many settlers had left
the Boston Colony and gone west through the unbroken wilderness to the
Connecticut River. They were courageous men and women, for the journey
was very tedious and dangerous, and by no means inviting.

Yet they were dissatisfied with many things in the Colony, especially
with the farms allotted to them, for they were sterile and did not
produce rich crops.

Every one had the pioneer spirit in full measure; for the men who had
come from England, braving many dangers, would not linger helplessly in
a place where they did not find what they wanted.

The country was immensely large, and opportunities welcomed them
everywhere. The first adventurers, who blazed the trail, reported rich