re not so blithe as might be. Hast been
chiding him, Myles?" asked Bradford as they followed down the hill.

"Nay," replied the captain. "But like enough he's thwarted at missing
the chance of a brush with the redskins to-morrow, and 't is a pity."

"Nay, Myles, look not so pensive on 't," responded the governor
laughing. "There are men, believe it if you can, who love the smell of
roses better than of blood. To my fancy John Alden--but there, light
jesting is surely ill befitting the hour of prayer."

CHAPTER XXIII.

"SPEAK FOR YOURSELF, JOHN!"

Further information gathered by Squanto and Hobomok from the Indian
guests who were constantly in and out of the village proved that John
Billington had wandered as far as Manomet, and that Canacum, the sachem
of that place, had sent him on with some Nauset braves who were visiting
him, as a present or perhaps hostage to Aspinet, chief of the Nausets
and Pamets. The course of the rescuing party was thus determined, and,
apart from the recovery of little Billington, Bradford was glad of the
opportunity of offering payment to the Nausets for the corn borrowed
from the mysterious granary near the First Encounter, and also much
desired to hear an explanation of the grave containing the bones of the
French sailor and little child.

It was, therefore, with considerable satisfaction that he next morning
led his little party to the water side, and embarked them just as the
sun rising joyously from out the blue, blue sea, sent a handful of merry
shafts to tip each wave with glory and glance in harmless flame from
every point of armor or of weapon in the pinnace, as the crew moved
every man to his appointed place, the captain pushing sturdily with an
oar while John Alden, half in, half out the water, heaved mightily at
the bows hanging at the foot of the Rock.

"Once more! Now again! There she floats!" cried the captain. "One more
shove, John! There, there, enough! Fare thee well, lad, and mind the
business I bade thee take in hand!"

"Ay, master," replied the youth, but as he stepped upon the Rock, and
shook the waters from his mighty limbs, he heaved a sigh so ponderous
that surely it helped to fill the mainsail now curving grandly to the
gathering breeze.

But the summer day ripened to noon, and waned until the sun all but
touched the crest of Captain's Hill, before the young man gave over the
work at which he had labored like a Titan all day long, and going down
to