ive, friends, that this is an instrument shaped and fitted to our
hands by the Providence of God, who hath also sent His plague to sweep
away the inhabitants of this spot whither He would lead His chosen
people?"

"Of a truth it seemeth so," replied Carver reverently, while Standish
muttered in his beard,--

"Pity but the salvages had known 't was Providence! 'T would have
converted them out of hand."

The elder who had his own opinion of the soldier's orthodoxy looked
askance at the half-heard murmuring, and suddenly demanded,--

"Where, then, is this man? How call you him?"

"Tisquantum he name. English trader across big water call him other fool
name. Red man not know it."

"Tisquantum is well enough for a name, but why did he not come hither
with you, Samoset?"

"Tisquantum much wise. He like see other fox put his paw in trap first
before he try it." And as he thus betrayed his comrade's diplomacy the
savage allowed a subtle smile to lighten his eyes, which, with the
instinct that in simple mental organizations is so much surer than
reason, he fixed upon Winslow, who laughed outright as he replied,--

"Wiser than thou, Samoset, me-seemeth. How is it thou wast so much more
daring than thy fellow?"

"Samoset poor fool. He not know enough to be afraid of anything. Not
wise like white man and Tisquantum." And the sachem with a superb smile
settled the tomahawk at his girdle, and threw off the folds of his
horseman's cloak. But the grim smile upon most of the faces around the
board showed that the jest had given no offense to men who knew their
own and each other's courage, and the conference presently broke up, the
visitor amusing himself by strolling around the village, discreetly
wrapped in his cloak, and taking a malicious delight in encountering
Helen Billington, who never failed to greet him with a fusillade of
suppressed wrath, to which he listened attentively, as if desirous of
storing up some of the objurgations for his own future use. As night
fell, and the guest showed no intention of departure, some of the more
cautious settlers suggested that he should be put on board the Mayflower
for safe keeping, a plan which met Samoset's ready approval, for as he
sententiously remarked,--

"Captain-man have much strong waters."

But then, as now, he who would navigate Plymouth Harbor must take both
wind and tide into account, and when Samoset with Cooke, Browne, and
Eaton to row him reached the shallop, th