until healed, and then joined their fellows. Seven men had been supported by the Plymouth people for a long time; the remainder had received shelter and much other accommodation, and had inflicted vital injury on their hosts. Yet for all they had done and all they had lost, no compensation was ever even offered to the Pilgrims. Instead of thanks, they received ingratitude and misrepresentation.

In September the "Discovery" arrived from Virginia on her way to England, under Jones, the former master of the "Mayflower." Jones had spare provisions and a large stock of goods for the Indian trade. He readily furnished the Pilgrims with all they wanted, but exacted a double price, and would only allow for beaver-skins a fifth or a sixth of their value. So great was the distress of the Colony, present and prospective, that the opportunity to trade on even these rapacious terms was attributed to "God's good mercy." The Indian wares were of the greatest importance, for with them food could be purchased from the natives.

The Colony's crop proved very light. Several of the subordinates had followed the example of Weston's men in stealing green ears; and though some were publicly whipped, the depredations continued. The result was that the matured corn, finally harvested, was altogether insufficient to feed the people, even for the winter.

In October the "Charity" sailed for England, leaving Weston's Colony an ample supply of provisions to last until the next harvest. This supply was at once wasted in the most reckless manner. One of the leaders was charged with maintaining an Indian harem from the public stores, while insubordination and prodigality ruled everywhere. At an early day the new-comers began to anticipate a famine.

1 See Neill's "English Colonization," etc., noticed p. viii. Bradford vaguely says, "One Captain Jons being cheefe therin." This expression shows that shipmasters were then sometimes called captains, - a title, however, which he had used before. Jones had as a passenger John Pory, late Secretary of Virginia, who for courtesies received returned thanks to Bradford and Brewster in a cor. dial, pious note. But Neill calls him, with unconscious humor, a "brilliant scholar and tippler."

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The head of this Weymouth company was "Master Richard Greene," a brother-in-law of Weston's; the next authority was John Sanders. There was also a surgeon; but no mention is made of a religious teacher. The government of the Colony exercised little if any restraint upon the settlers. Soon loud complaints began to be heard from the Neponsets that the new settlers were not only insolent, but were in the habit of robbing them. Bradford assured Obtakiest's messengers of the detestation of the Plymouth people for such conduct, and volunteered to remonstrate. He did the latter faithfully, but without effect; for the abuses and complaints steadily increased.

Late in the season Master Greene proposed taking the 'Swan" and uniting with Bradford in a cruise on the south side of Cape Cod, to buy corn with the Plymouth trading goods obtained from Jones. An agreement was soon put in writing. Standish was to command, and Tisquantum be pilot and interpreter. Just as the "Swan" was ready to sail, Mr. Greene died at Plymouth of a fever, and there, as the head of a sister Colony, he was buried with great ceremony. Twice the vessel sailed, and was driven back by storms; the third time, Standish was down with a fever, and his place was taken by Bradford.

The "Swan" failing on her first trial to find the way through the Monamoy shoals, her incompetent master insisted on postponing efforts to the next day. Accordingly Tisquantum took the craft to Monamoy (now Chatham), into which port she easily sounded her way. The natives at first fled, but were persuaded by Tisquantum to return and trade, — to such good purpose that eight hogsheads of corn and beans were soon obtained. Preparations were then made for resuming the voyage, for Tisquantum felt sure of finding the passage through the shoals. But he was destined not to make the trial, being seized with a fever, attended by nose-bleeding, which symptom the Indians regarded as fatal; and it speedily proved so in this case.

Tisquantum bequeathed his little property to several of his

white friends, and requested from Bradford, who tenderly nursed him, a prayer that his soul might "go to the Englishmen's God in heaven." Well might Bradford feel this death to be "a great loss." Tisquantum had at the outset allied himself with the Pilgrims, and rendered them invaluable services. If, with the weaknesses and ambitions of a savage, he had practised upon the foibles of his countrymen, he had at the same time magnified the greatness of the white men. To them his untutored heart had ever been true, and his devotion such as the highest civilization cannot well surpass. This son of Nature is indeed entitled to grateful recollection. In some far-off day it may be that the people of the Old Colony will honor themselves by applying the names of their ancestors to the towns and natural features of that region. Then, it is to be hoped, the devotion of Tisquantum and Hobomok will receive due recognition.

The " Swan," now without a pilot, gave up her southern cruise, and stood over to Boston Harbor. There Bradford was assailed with new complaints against the Weymouth Colonists. The latter, too, had by their prodigality destroyed the trade, for the Indians now asked as much for a quart of corn as they formerly did for a beaver's skin. A great pestilence or plague was also devastating their tribes, so that there could be little traffic on any terms. The vessel next went to Nauset (Eastham). There some ten hogsheads of corn and beans were bought; but as the shallop had been cast away in a storm, the grain could not be brought off. Bradford therefore stacked it, and hired an Indian living near by to guard it from thieves and vermin. The sachem was also employed to care for the shallop. At Mattachiest (Barnstable Harbor) a further purchase (some ten hogsheads) was made and stacked in like manner.

Bradford, desiring to examine the country, went home from the Cape on foot. He was treated with much respect by the natives along his route of forty miles through the wilderness, and came safely to Plymouth, "weary and surbated" (i.e., with galled feet). Three days afterward the ship came in,

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the cargo was divided, and she went home. Soon after Bradford walked to Namasket, and subsequently to Manomet (twenty miles south). At the former place he bought corn, to be delivered at Plymouth by the Indians. They, as usual, set their women at transporting it on their shoulders over the fifteen-mile route; but soon the pestilence reached Namasket, putting an end to the labor, and requiring the Plymouth men to perform themselves the slow, heavy labor they had paid others to do. At Manomet (Buzzard's Bay) more corn was bought, and left with Canacum for a time. During his stay with this hospitable old chief the Governor witnessed a curious case of criminal justice. One cold night two Monamoy Indians entered Canacum's dwelling; and taking seats by the fire, proceeded to smoke their pipes, while all present preserved a profound silence. After a long time one of the visitors, in the name of his sachem, made Canacum a present of beads and tobacco, and asked his opinion. Two of the Monamoys had quarrelled while gambling, and one had killed the other. The homicide was a powah of great note, whom the tribe could not well spare; but a stronger tribe than theirs threatened them with war if they did not execute him for the murder. Their sachem therefore referred the matter to Canacum. The latter took the opinion of his chief men, and also called upon Hobomok, Bradford's guide, who was well known as a pinese of Massasoit's. Hobomok replied that it was better for one to die than many, since he deserved it, and the rest were innocent. Canacum then decided in favor of the homicide's death.

The little supplies the Pilgrims thus procured would go but a small way toward subsisting their Colony till a new harvest. Another famine was evidently to come with the summer. Weston's men were arousing a hostile feeling among the Massachusetts tribes, trade was at a standstill, and the prospect for the new year appeared discouraging.

CHAPTER XIX.

INDIAN TREACHERY.

HE omens were indeed inauspicious as the third year of the Colony (1623 O. S.) opened. But with all their evils, present and impending, the people had the inestimable blessing of universal good health; and though less resolute hearts might have quailed, the calm courage of the Pilgrims rose with these new demands upon it. Nothing that energy could accomplish was left undone to keep back the wolf that threatened their doors. In January Standish, having recovered his health, took the remaining shallop, and, with the aid of the "Swan" and her carpenter, repaired the one wrecked at Nauset, and brought off the two stacks of corn, which had stood two months without injury. Before the ship sailed both these shallops had to be cut adrift in a storm, but were soon recovered in good condition.

While at Nauset a savage stole some goods from Standish's shallop. The impetuous little captain at once went to the sachem (Aspinet), demanding either the goods or the thief; and refusing all hospitality, left with threats against the whole tribe if his demand was not complied with. The next day the sachem, with a great following, came to the captain. Winslow describes Aspinet's salutation as follows: "He thrust out his tongue that one might see the root thereof, and therewith licked his hand from the wrist to the fingers' end, withal bowing the knee, striving to imitate the English gesture, being instructed therein formerly by Tisquantum. His men did the like, but in so rude and savage a manner as