Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIII THE CONSPIRACY T N the first year after they came to Plymouth, word was brought that the Indians were plotting against them. Squanto and another friendly Indian, called Hobomok, went to find out the truth. Presently Hobomok ran in with the news that Squanto had been captured. "I saw them in the wigwam of the chief," he said. "He was sharpening his knife to kill him. He said that Squanto was your tongue and that if he were dead you would no longer be able to speak. I broke away from them and escaped, and as I ran, I looked back and saw the chief holding a knife at Squanto's heart." "We must go at once," said Captain Standish; "it will never do to allow the Indians to think we are afraid." "But," said Mr. Allerton, "they are many and we are few." "For that very reason," said Standish, "we must go promptly and must show all courage. If they think us afraid, they will kill us with ease. I must have ten men and and we must start at once." They marched rapidly and surrounded the town. When the savages discovered them, they rushed around in great confusion and fear. The chief was not there, but Squanto they found in a wigwam, quite safe. So, firing a couple of volleys to frighten the inhabitants, they returned to Plymouth. In the second year at Plymouth a rattlesnake skin, stuffed with arrows, was brought into the town and left by an Indian. They were much at a loss to know what it meant. "Squanto," said Mr. Bradford, "what can this mean?" "It means war," said Squanto: "he challenges you to fight him. He is a great chief. His people are the Narragansetts and they live far from here, but they are very many, as many as the sands on the shore," and he pointed to the beach; "or the leaves on the trees," and he pointed to the forest....