with a man's face upon it which has already killed both French and
English; by and by they will marry, and there shall be a knife ready for
every white man's heart; they can see, they can eat, and they make no
childish noise like the white man's weapons. But the squaw knife is
enough for the white pniese."

"Hm! Methinks I cannot much longer keep Gideon in his scabbard--he will
fly out of his own accord," muttered Standish, a deadly pallor showing
beneath the bronze of his skin. Pecksuot saw it, and mistook it for the
hue of fear. With a savage smile he approached and stood close beside
the Captain, towering above his head, for he was a giant in stature and
strength.

"The Sword-of-the-White-Men may be a great pniese, but he is a very
little man," said he contemptuously. "Now I am a pniese as well as he,
and I am besides a very big man, and a very brave warrior. The Sword had
better run away before I devour him."

Without reply Standish turned and walked into the principal house of the
village, and looked around the large lower room.

"It will do as well as another place," said he briefly. "Alden and
Howland remove me this great table to the side of the room, and pitch
out this settle and the stools. Now John Alden get you gone and send me
Hopkins and Billington. Tarry you with Cooke and Browne at the gate;
bid Soule and Eaton stand on guard, and if they hear me cry Rescue! make
in to my help. Let no more of the salvages into the stockade until we
have settled with these. Hobomok, tell Pecksuot, Kamuso, whom I saw
behind the rest, Wituwamat, and that notorious ruffian his brother, that
I fain would speak with them in this place."

"Four to four," remarked Billington with grewsome relish.

"Ay. Take you Wituwamat; Hopkins, I leave you to deal with Kamuso;
Howland, take the young fellow, and I will deal with Pecksuot, for in
truth he is a bigger man than I, but we will see if he is a better."

What story Hobomok may have invented to bring the four ringleaders into
the house we know not, but as five white men remained outside with at
least an equal number of Indians, they could not fear being overmatched,
and presently came stalking impudently in, exchanging jeers and laughter
of the most irritating nature.

Hobomok followed, and closing the door stood with his back against it,
calmly observing the scene, but taking no part in it.

Then at last the captain loosed the reins of the fiery spirit struggling
and chaf