e we would not send unprotected
women or children upon a long voyage with such a crew as man the
Mayflower,"--

"Nay, they're not psalm singers," muttered Jones half exultant half
ashamed,

--"every man in the company has a right to decide for himself and those
belonging to him," calmly concluded the governor, "and I will ask our
captain, as equal in authority to myself, to bid the attendance of every
man over twenty years old in the company, here at once."

"It shall be done, Governor," replied Standish rising, and ten minutes
later a dozen or so more of men comprising all that were left alive of
the Pilgrim Fathers crowded into the Common house and stood attentive
while Carver briefly but distinctly conveyed to them Master Jones's
offer.

"Ye understand, brethren," said he in conclusion, "that any one of you,
or all of you are free to accept this offer without reproach. We seven
men, to whom the message first was conveyed, have for ourselves refused
it, but our will is not binding upon you or any of you. Master Hopkins,
Master Warren, Cooke, Soule, Eaton, Howland, Alden, Gilbert Winslow,
Browne, Dotey, and Lister, Billington, Goodman, Gardner, I call upon
each of you to answer in turn, will you and those belonging to you
return to England in the Mayflower, or will you abide here and trust in
God to sustain us in the undertaking we have entered upon in His name.
Master Warren and Master Hopkins will you declare your wishes?"

"I have no desire but to stay, and I have writ to my wife to come to me
and bring our five daughters," said Warren without hesitation, and
Hopkins gruffly added his sentence,--

"I am no idle maid with a yea-say and a nay-say. I am here with all
belonging to me, and here I abide."

And so in effect said every man there, each gently questioned by Carver,
and each speaking his mind without fear or force, until at the end the
governor turned to the grim old sea-dog who stood looking incredulously
on, and with a cheek tinged by honorable pride declared,--

"We thank you, friend, for your kindly invitation to take passage with
you for our old home, but not one among us will give up the hope of our
new home. Not one having set hand to the plough will turn back!"

"Not one?" asked the master looking slowly around.

"Not one," replied the elder exultantly; and like the breaking of a
great wave upon the Rock a score of deep-throated voices echoed back the
boast,--

"NOT ONE."

The next morn