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always。
So I was hurt at your words； and a little affronted to hear you
Urge me to marry your friend； though he were the Captain Miles
Standish。
For I must tell you the truth： much more to me is your friendship
Than all the love he could give； were he twice the hero you think
him。〃
Then she extended her hand； and Alden； who eagerly grasped it；
Felt all the wounds in his heart； that were aching and bleeding
so sorely；
Healed by the touch of that hand； and he said； with a voice full
of feeling：
〃Yes； we must ever be friends； and of all who offer you
friendship
Let me be ever the first； the truest； the nearest and dearest！〃
Casting a farewell look at the glimmering sail of the
Mayflower；
Distant； but still in sight； and sinking below the horizon；
Homeward together they walked； with a strange； indefinite
feeling；
That all the rest had departed and left them alone in the desert。
But； as they went through the fields in the blessing and smile of
the sunshine；
Lighter grew their hearts； and Priscilla said very archly：
〃Now that our terrible Captain has gone in pursuit of the
Indians；
Where he is happier far than he would be commanding a household；
You may speak boldly； and tell me of all that happened between
you；
When you returned last night； and said how ungrateful you found
me。〃
Thereupon answered John Alden； and told her the whole of the
story；
Told her his own despair； and the direful wrath of Miles
Standish。
Whereat the maiden smiled； and said between laughing and earnest；
〃He is a little chimney； and heated hot in a moment！〃
But as he gently rebuked her； and told her how much he had
suffered；
How he had even determined to sail that day in the Mayflower；
And had remained for her sake； on hearing the dangers that
threatened；
All her manner was changed； and she said with a faltering accent；
〃Truly I thank you for this： how good you have been to me
always！〃
Thus； as a pilgrim devout； who toward Jerusalem journeys；
Taking three steps in advance； and one reluctantly backward；
Urged by importunate zeal； and withheld by pangs of contrition；
Slowly but steadily onward； receding yet ever advancing；
Journeyed this Puritan youth to the Holy Land of his longings；
Urged by the fervor of love； and withheld by remorseful
misgivings。
VII
THE MARCH OF MILES STANDISH
Meanwhile the stalwart Miles Standish was marching steadily
northward；
Winding through forest and swamp； and along the trend of the
sea…shore；
All day long； with hardly a halt； the fire of his anger
Burning and crackling within； and the sulphurous odor of powder
Seeming more sweet to his nostrils than all the scents of the
forest。
Silent and moody he went； and much he revolved his discomfort；
He who was used to success； and to easy victories always；
Thus to be flouted； rejected； and laughed to scorn by a maiden；
Thus to be mocked and betrayed by the friend whom most he had
trusted！
Ah！ 't was too much to be borne； and he fretted and chafed in his
armor！
〃I alone am to blame；〃 he muttered； 〃for mine was the folly。
What has a rough old soldier； grown grim and gray in the harness；
Used to the camp and its ways； to do with the wooing of maidens？
'T was but a dream；let it pass；let it vanish like so many
others！
What I thought was a flower； is only a weed； and is worthless；
Out of my heart will I pluck it； and throw it away； and
henceforward
Be but a fighter of battles； a lover and wooer of dangers！〃
Thus he revolved in his mind his sorry defeat and discomfort；
While he was marching by day or lying at night in the forest；
Looking up at the trees； and the constellations beyond them。
After a three days' march he came to an Indian encampment
Pitched on the edge of a meadow； between the sea and the forest；
Women at work by the tents； and the warriors； horrid with
war…paint；
Seated about a fire； and smoking and talking together；
Who； when they saw from afar the sudden approach of the white
men；
Saw the flash of the sun on breastplate and sabre and musket；
Straightway leaped to their feet； and two； from among them
advancing；
Came to parley with Standish； and offer him furs as a present；
Friendship was in their looks； but in their hearts there was
hatred。
Braves of the tribe were these； and brothers gigantic in stature；
Huge as Goliath of Gath； or the terrible Og； king of Bashan；
One was Pecksuot named； and the other was called Wattawamat。
Round their necks were suspended their knives in scabbards of
wampum；
Two…edged； trenchant knives； with points as sharp as a needle。
Other arms had they none； for they were cunning and crafty。
〃Welcome； English！〃 they said；these words they had learned from
the traders
Touching at times on the coast； to barter and chaffer for
peltries。
Then in their native tongue they began to parley with Standish；
Through his guide and interpreter Hobomok； friend of the white
man；
Begging for blankets and knives； but mostly for muskets and
powder；
Kept by the white man； they said； concealed； with the plague； in
his cellars；
Ready to be let loose； and destroy his brother the red man！
But when Standish refused； and said he would give them the Bible；
Suddenly changing their tone； they began to boast and to bluster。
Then Wattawamat advanced with a stride in front of the other；
And； with a lofty demeanor； thus vauntingly spake to the Captain：
〃Now Wattawamat can see； by the fiery eyes of the Captain；
Angry is he in his heart； but the heart of the brave Wattawamat
Is not afraid at the sight。 He was not born of a woman；
But on a mountain； at night； from an oak…tree riven by lightning；
Forth he sprang at a bound； with all his weapons about him；
Shouting； 'Who is there here to fight with the brave
Wattawamat？'〃
Then he unsheathed his knife； and； whetting the blade on his left
hand；
Held it aloft and displayed a woman's face on the handle；
Saying； with bitter expression and look of sinister meaning：
〃I have another at home； with the face of a man on the handle；
By and by they shall marry； and there will be plenty of
children！〃
Then stood Pecksuot forth； self…vaunting； insulting Miles
Standish：
While with his fingers he petted the knife that hung at his
bosom；
Drawing it half from its sheath； and plunging it back； as he
muttered；
〃By and by it shall see； it shall eat； ah； ha！ but shall speak
not！
This is the mighty Captain the white men have sent to destroy us！
He is a little man； let him go and work with the women！〃
Meanwhile Standish had noted the faces and figures of Indians
Peeping and creeping about from bush to tree in the forest；
Feigning to look for game； with arrows set on their bow…strings；
Drawing about him still closer and closer the net of their
ambush。
But undaunted he stood； and dissembled and treated them smoothly；
So the old chronicles say； that were writ in the days of the
fath