Naked down to the waist, and grim and ferocious in aspect; While on the table before them was lying unopened a Bible,' 110 Ponderous, bound in leather, brass-studded, printed in Holland,

And beside it outstretched the skin of a rattlesnake glittered,

Filled, like a quiver, with arrows: a signal and challenge of warfare,2

Brought by the Indian, and speaking with arrowy tongues of defiance.

This Miles Standish beheld, as he entered, and heard them

debating

115

What were an answer befitting the hostile message and men

ace,

Talking of this and of that, contriving, suggesting, object

ing;

One voice only for peace, and that the voice of the Elder, Judging it wise and well that some at least were converted,3 Rather than any were slain, for this was but Christian be120

havior!

Then out spake Miles Standish, the stalwart Captain of Plym

outh,

Muttering deep in his throat, for his voice was husky with

66

anger,

What! do you mean to make war with milk and the water

of roses?

Is it to shoot red squirrels you have your howitzer planted

1 The favorite version of the Scriptures used by the Puritans was the Geneva Bible (1557), which was made in Switzerland on account of persecution by Queen Mary. It is also known as the Breeches Bible, the word breeches being used instead of aprons in Genesis iii., 7. It was published at least once at Amsterdam.

.2 In January, 1622, Canonicus, a Narragansett chief, actually sent a rattlesnake skin filled with arrows as a challenge to Governor Bradford, who returned the skin filled with powder and ball by the messenger, Tisquantum.

3 After the Pilgrims' first fight with the savages, John Robinson, the pastor, exclaimed: "Oh, how happy a thing had it been, if you had converted some before you had killed any !"

There on the roof of the church, or is it to shoot red devils? 125
Truly the only tongue that is understood by a savage
Must be the tongue of fire that speaks from the mouth of the

Thereupon answered and said the excellent Elder of Plymouth, Somewhat amazed and alarmed at this irreverent language: "Not so thought Saint Paul, nor yet the other Apostles; 130 Not from the cannon's mouth were the tongues of fire' they spake with!"

But unheeded fell this mild rebuke on the Captain,

Who had advanced to the table, and thus continued discoursing: "Leave this matter to me, for to me by right it pertaineth. War is a terrible trade; but in the cause that is righteous, 135 Sweet is the smell of powder; and thus I answer the challenge!"

Then from the rattlesnake's skin, with a sudden, contemptuous gesture,

Jerking the Indian arrows, he filled it with powder and bullets Full to the very jaws, and handed it back to the savage, Saying, in thundering tones: "Here, take it! this is your answer!"

140

Silently out of the room then glided the glistening savage, Bearing the serpent's skin, and seeming himself like a serpent, Winding his sinuous way in the dark to the depths of the forest.

V.

66

THE SAILING OF THE

MAYFLOWER."

JUST in the gray of the dawn, as the mists uprose from the meadows,

There was a stir and a sound in the slumbering village of Plymouth;

1 Acts of the Apostles, ii. 3, and Romans, xii. 18.

Clanging and clicking of arms, and the order imperative, 66 Forward!"

Given in tone suppressed, a tramp of feet, and then silence. Figures ten, in the mist, marched slowly out of the village. 5 Standish the stalwart it was, with eight of his valorous army, Led by their Indian guide, by Hobomok, friend of the white

men,

Northward marching to quell the sudden revolt of the savage. Giants they seemed in the mist, or the mighty men of King

David;1

Giants in heart they were, who believed in God and the

Bible,

10

Ay, who believed in the smiting of Midianites and Philis

tines.3

Over them gleamed far off the crimson banners of morning; Under them loud on the sands, the serried billows, advancing, Fired along the line, and in regular order retreated.

Many a mile had they marched, when at length the village of Plymouth

15

Woke from its sleep, and arose, intent on its manifold labors. Sweet was the air and soft; and slowly the smoke from the chimneys

Rose over roofs of thatch, and pointed steadily eastward;
Men came forth from the doors, and paused and talked of the

weather,

Said that the wind had changed, and was blowing fair for the "Mayflower";

1 II. Samuel, xxiii.

20

2 An Arabian tribe settled in the northern part of the Syro-Arabian desert. They were descendants of Abraham and Keturah. Moses destroyed their cities, and Gideon defeated them when they crossed the Jordan to ravage the country. Later they disappeared almost entirely from history.

A nation supposed to be of Semitic origin. Professor Sayce thinks they were established by Egyptian kings as a garrison on the southern border of Palestine. They were frequently at war with the Hebrews in the reigns of Saul and David.