Thus as he spake, he turned, in the strength of

his strong resolution,

Leaving behind him the shore, and hurried along in the twilight,

Through the congenial gloom of the forest silent and sombre,

Till he beheld the lights in the seven houses of

Plymouth,

Shining like seven stars in the dusk and mist of the

evening.

Soon he entered his door, and found the redoubtable Captain

Sitting alone, and absorbed in the martial pages of

Cæsar,

Fighting some great campaign in Hainault or Brabant or Flanders.

"Long have you been on your errand," he said,

with a cheery demeanor,

Even as one who is waiting an answer, and fears not the issue.

"Not far off is the house, although the woods are

between us;

But you have lingered so long, that while you were going and coming

I have fought ten battles and sacked and demolished

a city.

Come, sit down, and in order relate to me all that has happened."

Then John Alden spake, and related the wondrous adventure,

From beginning to end, minutely, just as it hap

pened;

How he had seen Priscilla, and how he had sped in

his courtship,

Only smoothing a little, and softening down her refusal.

But when he came at length to the words Priscilla

had spoken,

Words so tender and cruel: "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?"

Up leaped the Captain of Plymouth, and stamped on the floor, till his armor

Clanged on the wall, where it hung, with a sound of sinister omen.

All his pent-up wrath burst forth in a sudden ex

plosion,

Even as a hand-grenade, that scatters destruction

around it.

Wildly he shouted, and loud: "John Alden! you have betrayed me!

Me, Miles Standish, your friend! have supplanted,

defrauded, betrayed me!

One of my ancestors ran his sword through the heart of Wat Tyler;

E

Who shall prevent me from running my own

through the heart of a traitor?

Yours is the greater treason, for yours is a treason to friendship!

You, who lived under my roof, whom I cherished and loved as a brother;

You, who have fed at my board, and drunk at my cup, to whose keeping

I have intrusted my honor, my thoughts the most sacred and secret,

You too, Brutus! ah, woe to the name of friendship hereafter!

Brutus was Cæsar's friend, and you were mine, but henceforward

Let there be nothing between us save war, and implacable hatred!"

So spake the Captain of Plymouth, and strode about in the chamber,

Chafing and choking with rage; like cords were the veins on his temples.

But in the midst of his anger a man appeared at the doorway,

Bringing in uttermost haste a message of urgent importance,

Rumors of danger and war, and hostile incursions of Indians!

Straightway the Captain paused, and, without further question or parley,

Took from the nail on the wall his sword with its

scabbard of iron,

Buckled the belt round his waist, and, frowning

fiercely, departed.

Alden was left alone. He heard the clank of the

scabbard

Growing fainter and fainter, and dying away in the distance.