his
fear was gone, and his eyes were wide with interest. Suddenly a shadow
fell across the path, and the little Indian's face brightened. There
stood a full-grown Indian of the Piscataqua tribe. It was Nonowit, though
these children did not know him. The little fellow was his son, Assacon,
who had lost his father on this hunting trip and had become exhausted for
want of food.

Not only Nonowit, but other Indians began to arrive at the new
settlement. White men landed on the shore with loads of woolen shirts and
heavy coats like those sent on the English vessels; even iron kettles
were lifted from their boats.

The next day, which was April 3rd, 1638, Wehanownowit, Sagamore of the
Piscataquas, Pummadockyon, his son, and Aspamabough arrived with many of
their tribe. The Squamscot Indians and others gathered together with the
white men in their clearing by the river.

The questioning children begged of their fathers to know what it all
meant. They were told that, as the men of the Plymouth colony had thought
it just and kind to pay the Indians for the use of their lands, so Mr.
Wheelright had urged the men of the New Hampshire settlement to do the
same.

A deed was made out to the Indians, promising the land of a certain
district for settlement by the white men, but reserving the privilege for
the Indians to hunt and fish there. Payment was to be made in money as
well as coats, shirts, and kettles. The white men signed their names, but
the Indians could not write. The children then saw Wehanownowit with the
point of a wild goose quill make his mark of a man holding a tomahawk.
Pummadockyon drew a man with a bow and arrow, and Aspamabough, who also
signed the deed, drew for his mark an arrow and bow. And thus a friendly
feeling was established between the natives and the colonists at the time
of this settlement, which grew to be the town of Exeter, named for the
one in England.

When the coats, the shirts, and the kettles of varying sizes were
shouldered, the Indians started homeward. The children then hurried back
to their camp and soon found that their own play-kettle was gone. After
many inquiries it was learned that in the confusion of things someone had
caught it up and tossed it upon the pile of kettles offered to the
Indians. The children were bitterly disappointed and sorely missed the
loved plaything. Nor could another be spared from the limited home
supply.

Weeks went by, and the children still played in