nd five scouts, he
went--for he was a man who did things. He never missed a chance.

This time he rode horseback, being tired. At the swamp the Indian who
was looking for his father scurried ahead, to howl the wolf signal.
While waiting for him, the captain saw an old Indian man coming down
through the swamp, with a gun on his shoulder, and with a young squaw
close behind, carrying a basket. They were quickly ambushed and
seized. The captain questioned them separately, after telling them
that if they lied to him they should be killed. He questioned the
young squaw first.

"What company have you come from last?"

"We come from Captain Annawan's."

"How many are there with him?"

"Fifty or sixty."

"How many miles is it to the spot where you left him?"

"I do not know how to count in miles," she said. "He is up in the
great Squannaconk swamp."

The old man proved to be one of Annawan's councillors. He gave the
same answers as the young squaw, his daughter.

"Can we get to Annawan by night?" Captain Church queried.

"If you start at once and travel stoutly, you might get to him by
sunset," replied the old man.

"Where were you going when I seized you?"

"Annawan had sent me down to look for some of his Indians who were to
kill provisions on this Mount Hope Neck."

"Those Indians have all been taken by me," Captain Church informed him.
"They are with my men and will not be harmed. Now I mean to take
Captain Annawan."

He asked his little squad if they were willing to pay Annawan a visit.
That rather startled them. They made their reply.

"We are your soldiers and ready to obey your commands," said the
scouts. "But we know Captain Annawan to be a great soldier, too. He
was a captain under Massasoit, Phillip's father, and under Phillip
also. He is a man of courage and strong mind, and we have heard him
say that he will never be taken alive by the white people. We know the
men with him. They are warriors and very determined; and we are but a
handful. It will be a pity if after all your great deeds you should
throw your life away at last."

"I do not doubt that this Captain Annawan is a valiant man," Captain
Church admitted. "But I have hunted him a long time, and not until
this moment have I got exact news of his quarters. So I am loth to let
him escape again. If you will cheerfully go with me, by the protection
of Providence we shall take him, I think."

The scouts agreed to go.

"Wh