d Howland
stepped forward Standish held up his hand,--

"Hold your fire, men, until we see the foe, and Bradford load again with
all speed! We must hold the randevous at all odds, for here is half our
stuff, and our lives depend upon not losing it. Hasten ye laggards! Run
Tilley! Run men!"

"He is spent!" cried John Howland, throwing down his piece and dashing
out into the open, where he seized John Tilley round the waist and half
carried, half dragged him into the inclosure.

"They will seize the shallop!" cried Carver, and springing on the
barricade, heedless of his own exposure, he shouted to those in the
boat,--

"Ho, Warren! English! Coppin! Are you safe and on your watch?"

"Ay, well! All is well!" cried the rough voices of the seamen, and
Warren's manly tones added, "Be of good courage, brethren!"

"And quit yourselves like men," muttered Standish, his snaphance at his
shoulder, his eager eyes scanning the covert.

Three shots from the pinnace rang bravely through the wood, and then
came a hail,--

"Ho, comrades, bring us a light! We have no fire to set off our pieces!"

"Their matches are not alight!" exclaimed Howland, and snatching a brand
from the camp-fire he again dashed out, down the wooded slope, and
splashing mid-leg deep through the freezing brine, he gave the brand
into Warren's hand, then rushed back as he came, the arrows whistling
around his head and two sticking in his heavy frieze jerkin.

"Well done, John! well done!" cried Carver clapping the young man on the
shoulder as, breathless and glowing, he stooped to pick up his
matchlock. "The sight of such valor will daunten the Indians more than a
whole flight of bullets."

And in fact there was for a moment a lull in the enemy's movements, but
rather of rage than dismay, for the savage outcry burst forth the next
moment with more ferocity than ever, and as it died away a single voice
shouted in a tone of command some words, to which the rest responded by
such a yell as later on curdled the blood of the hapless settlers at
Deerfield and other places.

"Aha! There is a leader, there!" growled Standish, his eyes glittering
and his strong teeth clenched. "Let him show himself!"

As if in answer to the wish a stalwart figure leaped from behind a large
tree to the shelter of a smaller one, about half a gunshot from the
camp.

"That's your man, Captain!" exclaimed Howland, who stood next him.

"Ay, leave him to me!" growled Standish. "Ha