men forth, and fought for
them and fended them, so long as they fought for themselves and were
careful to catch the order and obey it. I know not, Jack, these matters
are too mighty for a poor soldier like me to handle understandingly; and
still somehow it seemeth me that this same Lord of Hosts will know how
to deal mercifully even with a rough, war-worn fellow like me, who
repenteth him of his sins and hath freely given himself to do battle in
Christ's name against all Heathenesse, and to stand forth with this
handful of saints against His foes and theirs, and that, although he
cannot clearly see the Hills of Beulah, nor cares for such luscious
cates as suit some stomachs. Dost catch my meaning, boy?"

"Ay, master, and well do I wish my hope of God's favor were as fairly
founded"--

"Nay now, nay now, did not I this minute tell thee that I care naught
for sweets? Save thy honey for some maiden's lips. Ah, and now I think
on 't, here is a quiet and leisure time wherein to study out the
strategy of that wooing emprise I was telling thee of--nay, did I tell
thee?"

"Wooing--what--I--I know not fairly," stammered John Alden, but the
captain still gazing upon Hither Manomet, where now the purple bloom of
twilight was replacing the glory of the sunset, marked not the pallor
stealing the red from beneath the brown of the young fellow's cheek, nor
heard the discordant falter of his voice.

"Ay," replied he thoughtfully,--"my wooing of Priscilla Molines, thou
knowest. I thought I spoke to thee of it, but at all odds the time has
now well come when I should address the maid. I ought indeed to have
done it long ago, and mayhap she will be a bit peevish at the delay, for
doubtless her father told her ere he died of our compact, but there has
been no convenient season, and truth to tell, Jack, I have no great
heart toward the matter--yon green plateau lies betwixt me and"--

And in the sudden silence John Alden's gaze went out over the steel gray
waters, out and out to the far horizon line where the rose tint had
faded from the sky and a low line of fog gathered slowly and sadly.

"I'll tell thee, boy," suddenly resumed the captain rising from the
bench and confronting his companion, while lightly touching his breast
with the mouthpiece of the pipe upon whose cold ashes John mechanically
fixed his eyes,--"thou shalt woo her for me."

"I--I woo her--nay, master, nay"--

"And why nay, thou foolish boy? 'T will be rare prac