oud laugh he pointed to the savage crew, who panic stricken were
fleeing before the pniese like a flock of frightened sheep.

"Have after them! Follow me, men!" shouted Standish rushing down the
hill, the others following as fast as they could, but not fast enough,
for before they came within shot, the party was halted by Hobomok's
return, who half glorious, half laughing, reported the enemy hidden in a
swamp, whither he led his friends.

"We will slay no more if we can help it," declared the captain. "Alden,
show a flag of truce. Haply they will understand it."

But although as Standish drew near the thicket, Alden carrying the white
flag beside him, the savages refrained from firing, his invitation to
parley was received with a volley of abuse and defiance renewed at every
attempt of his to speak.

"Obtakiest is there. I know his voice," declared Hobomok who had crept
up behind. "He will not show himself lest I curse him."

"Obtakiest! Sachem! Art thou there?" demanded Standish. "Come forth then
like a man, and we two will fight it out here in the midst. I challenge
thee, sachem!"

A hoarse laugh and a volley of obscene abuse was the reply, and Standish
indignantly cried,--

"Dost not know how base and cowardly it is to hide there and tongue it
like an angry woman! Thou 'rt not fit to be called a man!"

A shower of arrows was the only response to this, and presently the
movement of the bushes showed that the Indians were retreating to a
deeper fastness, and Standish deeply disgusted marched his own men back
to the village, the only casualty on either side being the broken arm of
the powah or priest, who with Wituwamat and Pecksuot were really the
heart of the conspiracy; for Obtakiest after a while sent a squaw to
Plymouth abjectly begging for peace, and declaring that he had since
Standish's visit changed his camp every night for fear of receiving
another one.

"And now, Master Manning, and you, master of the Swan and friend of the
Neponsets," demanded Standish, as he arrayed the Weymouth men before
him, and declared his success in their quarrel, "what shall I do more
for your comfort or safety before my return to Plymouth? For myself, I
should never fear to remain in this plantation had I the half of your
men, but for yourselves ye must judge. Only I will add that I am charged
by Governor Bradford to say that any who will come to settle in Plymouth
and abide by its laws and governance shall be kindly welco