Standish of Standish: A Story of the Pilgrims

by Jane G. Austin

  CHAPTER XXVIII.

  PHILIP DE LA NOYE.

  "'T is a year agone to-day since we in the Mayflower sighted land inthis place," said Bradford to Standish, as the two stood beside the gunjust fired for sunset when all obligatory labor ended in the village.

  "Ay, is it so? Well, it hath been a year of note in more ways than one,and the next is like to be as adventurous. Ha! Look you there, Bradford!Dost see that Indian runner breasting the hill. Some great news,surely,--come, let us go to meet him."

  "Squanto is before us. See him leap the brook"--

  But Standish was already half way down the hill, and presently in theopen space already spoken of as the Town Square he and two or three ofthe other leaders met the runner, who escorted by Squanto came pantingup the hill from the brook, and after the usual salutations informed thegovernor that he was sent from Aspinet, sachem of the Nausets, to informthe white men that a vessel had been watched feeling her way through theshoals around Cape Cod, and was now laying her course apparently forPlymouth. Not knowing whether this might be good or bad news, the sachemhad felt it a friendly act to convey it to his new allies with thegreatest possible dispatch.

  "And he did well, and both he and thou shall see that we are notungrateful," replied Bradford courteously. "Tisquantum, take this manto the Common house, and see that he is suitably refreshed. And now,brethren, what meaneth this? Is it indeed good news or bad?"

  "Bad," replied Standish promptly. "For well do we know that no reliefwas to be sent us until our friends the traders had seen the firstfruits of their Adventure, and as we perforce sent home the Mayflowerempty, I for one expect to hear no more from Cheapside unless it be arating."

  "There hath not been time for the Mayflower to go and return, were ourfriends never so willing to aid us," suggested the elder pacifically.

  "Then what think you, men?" persisted Bradford. "Allerton, Winslow,Warren, what say ye all?"

  "We know that the French are at war with England," suggested Winslow."And this may be a privateer coming to harry the settlement."

  "In that case it were well to hide whatever we have of value and retreatto the woods with the women and children," said Allerton turning pale.

  "And leave our housen, and the Fort and its armament, and our boats!"exclaimed Standish contemptuously. "Nay, Governor, my counsel is that weat once arm ourselves, train what guns we can upon the offing, and ifthese indeed be buccaneers, French, Spanish, or Turks, receive them witha volley that shall leave little work for a second one. The women andchildren may retreat to the woods, and he who has any pots, or cups, orpans of value may bury them an' he chooses. My best treasures are Gideonand my snaphance, and I cannot spare them so long as I live to wieldthem."

  "That's the chat that suits me, neighbor," declared Hopkins in hisusual rough, hearty fashion, while Allerton, an unwonted tinge of colorupon his sallow cheek, hastened to avow himself as ready for fighting asany man since fighting was decided to be the best policy.

  And now Standish assumed control of the occasion and showed himself inhis most becoming attitude. His quick eyes and ready hands wereeverywhere, and the somewhat sharp and terse military orders thatsometimes had seemed a thought arbitrary now carried assurance in theirtone, and strengthened the hearts of some and supported thedetermination of others, who left to themselves would have scatteredlike sheep without a leader.

  "Let each man arm and harness himself and report for inspection in theTown Square," was the first order, and while it was obeyed the Captainclimbed the hill carrying the "perspective glass" made by Galileohimself during his exile in Holland, and brought to the new world byGovernor Carver, whose widow bequeathed it to the colony as one of itschief treasures.

  He was followed by William Trevor, one of the seamen hired by the colonyfor a year, a fellow of quick eyesight and undaunted courage. TheCaptain silently and carefully adjusted his lenses, and then handed theglass to Trevor.

  "Now you, Bill, clap your eye to that and get it on yon headland,Farther Manomet, d' ye see?"

  "Ay, Captain, I have it, and can count the squirrels on the tree tops."

  "Canst tell a ship's topmast from a squirrel if one should heave insight?"

  "Mayhap I could, master."

  "Well, then, watch for it, and so soon as any craft of any color, be itone of your squirrels on a chip, an Indian in a canoe, or a Frenchman-of-war, send this boy Cooke tumbling down the hill to bring thenews. Now, man, show thy discretion and thy wit."

  "Ay, ay, Captain, you may trust Bill Trevor for a keen lookout. When Isailed aboard a whaler"--

  But already the Captain was out of hearing, and presently was inspectinghis little army, mustered in the Town Square, each man armed andarmored.

  Drawn up in two ranks the twenty men presented a striking array, for inthe forefront stood the governor, the elder, the surgeon, Winslow,Allerton, Warren, Hopkins, Howland, Alden, and Peter Browne, ancestor ofJohn Brown of Ossawatomie; while the file closers, if not men of equalnote in affairs, were each one a sturdy and determined Englishman, readyto fight till the death and never guess that he could be conquered.

  The inspection over, the train band was dismissed with orders to standready to reassemble at a moment's warning, and meantime to make suchdispositions of private property as seemed good to each man.

  Hardly was this order obeyed when from the Fort came Trevor's sonoroushail,--

  "Sail ho!" and presently young Cooke came pelting down the hillreporting with a military salute to the captain.

  "Trevor saith, sir, that a ship of not over sixty ton is drawing aroundManomet, and that she flieth no colors as yet."

  "Ha! Let us see then, let us see!" cried the captain, and two minuteslater was at the top of the hill, glass in hand.

  "Hm! Square rigged, slender built--what say you, Trevor, is she aFrenchman?"

  "More like a Dutchman to my mind, sir."

  "Ah, then were we all right, and with a goodly new store of schnapps tocomfort our souls, but my mind misdoubts me. Now let us see if we cantrain this saker to command the offing. Boy, run down the hill and fetchBillington and Master Hopkins. 'T will do no harm, and may--ay, thisminion will sweep the Rock like a new broom. Here, Billington, come onman and lend me thy bull's neck and shoulders. I would shift thecarriage of this saker. Ho, Hopkins, give us a little help here. Thereyeo-ho, men! Again, now then--yeo-ho! Now we have it, now! There, settleher in place, that's it, there! Now then, Trevor, how about theFrenchman?"

  "She is laying her course for this harbor, Captain. You may see herwithout the glass well enow, for she's going about to fetch BeachPoint."

  "Is tide high enow to carry her over Brown's Islands, as Champlaincalleth the outer flats?" asked Hopkins, who by fits liked to appearerudite.

  "Ay, 't is full water at noon to-day," replied Trevor, his eye glued tothe glass.

  "Now then, now then, here she is making straight into the harbor,"exclaimed Standish excitedly, and plunging down the hill followed by therest, he made signal to Bart Allerton standing expectant at his own doorto sound the "assembly" upon the trumpet which he had learned to managewith great precision.

  Ten minutes later the whole array of fighting men stood steady in theirranks, with the larger boys hanging in the rear, each carrying a sparegun, or some other weapon, and all eyes fixed upon the point where thestranger would appear as she beat her way into the harbor.

  Suddenly the captain waved his hand above his head, glancing up at theFort where, under the folds of the British standard, stood Trevor,linstock in hand. Another moment, and out from the hoarse throat of thesaker roared a defiant peal echoing grandly from hill to hill, startlingthe savages who covertly watched the arrival of new foes or new friendsas the case might be, and rolling ominously across the waters of theharbor to demand the name of the intruder.

  "They be busy with their ancient-staff," reported Trevor presently, ashe resumed the spy-glass. "There goes the bunting--ha--ay--run boy, andtell the captain 't is the red cross of Merrie En
gland; 't is the homecolors, boy!"

  But already the eager eyes in the Town Square had recognized the flag,and Standish lapsing from the martinet into the exile waved Gideon abovehis head shouting,--

  "'T is our own flag, men; 't is the red cross of Old England! Threecheers boys, three cheers for the dear old flag! Now then!"

  And the glad shout arose, and again and again, not only from the beardedthroats of men, but in the shrill treble of boys, and the dainty voicesof girls, who just out of sight watched as women do, when life and honorhang in the balance.

  "Oh Mary, Mary maid, why art thou crying! Silly wench"--

  "Nay, but thou 'rt crying thyself, Priscilla! Nay, now thou 'rtlaughing!"

  "To think how John Alden turned white as any maid when the good newscame!" sobbed Priscilla running in to fling her arms around DameBrewster, who sat with folded hands and rapt face praying to the God ofbattles.

  "Oh mother, mother, they all are safe, and 't is an English ship.Belike, Fear and Patience and their brother are aboard."

  "Nay, dear maid, nay, be not so carried away. If indeed God sendeth mychildren"--

  But the mere thought of such joy was too much for the self-control thepoor mother so struggled for, and when the elder hastened into the househe found his wife weeping for joy upon Priscilla's heaving breast.

  "Nay then, wife, nay then, doest thou well?--and yet mine own eyes mightbut too easily rain with gratitude. Dame, wife I say, nay then--let uspray that in all things His will be done."

  And in less than an hour Mary Brewster was sobbing afresh in thestalwart embrace of her eldest son Jonathan, a young fellow offive-and-thirty, who full of health and courage was come to be the staffof her old age, and to bring news of the fair sisters who would comeanon.

  For this was the Fortune, a little ship of fifty-five tons, dispatchedby the Adventurers in London to carry over some of the colonistsdisappointed of a passage in the Mayflower, but principally to conveyRobert Cushman, who came pledged to obtain the consent of the Pilgrimsto a contract more favorable to their English friends than that theywere disposed to undertake. With him came his son Thomas, a boy offourteen, whom his father upon his hasty return in the Fortune leftbehind under charge of the governor, to whom he subsequently wrote, "Ipray you care for my son as for your own;" and so well did Bradfordtrain the boy soon orphaned and left entirely to his charge, thatThomas Cushman became successor of William Brewster as Ruling Elder ofthe Pilgrim Church, and now lies on Burying Hill beneath a goodlymonument erected by his numerous descendants.

  But little on that bleak November day recked the boy of future honors orproud posterities, for he and his friend Thomas Prence, future governorof the colony, but then a merry youth of nineteen, were hand and glovewith a gay company of lads and young men who had accepted the adventureof Pilgrimage as they would have sailed with Drake, or Hawkins, orCaptain Cooke,--any leader who promised novelty, excitement, and thechance of hard knocks and treasure.

  So little responsible for their own welfare were many of these younkersthat, although fairly fitted out for the voyage, they had whileweather-bound in the British Channel gone ashore at Old Plymouth and"brushed away" even their cloaks and extra doublets, in some cases theirvery bedding and such cooking utensils as passengers were then expectedto provide themselves with. So far from bringing fresh supplies of foodto the colony, these runagates had devoured perforce the provisions thatshould have victualed the Fortune on her return voyage, and thecolonists were forced for humanity's sake, to supply her out of theirown scanty stock.

  Among these young fellows was a slight, dark-eyed lad of about nineteen,who so soon as he had landed asked for the Demoiselle Molines.

  "Priscilla Molines? Dost thou know her then?" inquired Alden who heardthe question, although addressed to Billington, who only grinned at thelad's French accent and made no reply.

  "Certainly, yes. My sister is of her closest friends."

  "Ay? Is thy name De la Noye?"

  "Truly!" exclaimed the boy, his face lighting vivaciously. "I am Philipde la Noye."

  "Hm, and your brother Jacques--is he in the company, or coming in thenext ship?" asked Alden grimly; but at that moment Priscilla comingswiftly forward, held out both hands to the new-comer exclaimingjoyously in French,--

  "Philip, dear lad! Glad am I to see thee."

  "She will have news now from her lover," muttered Alden bitterly, butjust then the captain hailed,--

  "Here Jack, put thy long legs and brawny thews to service in bringingsome of these budgets up the hill. Here's a poor soul with three littlechildren tugging at her skirts and she a widow, and fit to be put to bedherself."

  "I'll help her up the hill, Captain," interposed Peter Browne hastily,and as he carefully aided the Widow Ford to climb the steep ascent somesprite might have whispered in his ear that this was his own futurewife. That night was born Martha Ford, who should from similarity ofhistory have married Peregrine White, but who instead wedded WilliamNelson.

  Not until the last bale or packet unloaded from the Fortune had beendisposed of in the Common storehouse, or in some one of the houses allhospitably thrown open to the new-comers, did John Alden cease hislabors or exchange more than a brief word with those about him, until atlast Bradford cheerily declared labor over for the day and added,--

  "Come friends to my house, and hear what Master Cushman will have totell us of affairs in the old home. Come Alden, and reward thy laborswith a good flagon of beer."

  Muttering some reply, the young man followed the rest up Leyden Street,but as they reached the governor's house, a somewhat larger and moreimportant cabin than the rest, he passed quickly on and up the hill.Pausing but a moment at the Fort, he struck down the steep southerlyside to the brook, and having performed his simple toilet strode moodilyon toward the forest, but had only gone a few rods when a familiar voicecalled his name, and turning he saw Priscilla with Mary Chilton and theyoung Frenchman, to whom they seemed to be showing the brook and itssprings of "delicate water."

  Very reluctantly Alden turned and moved toward them.

  "Did you speak, Mistress Mary?" inquired he as the party approached.

  "I--I," stammered Mary blushing vividly.

  "It was I who bade her do so," interposed Priscilla with an impatientglance at the English girl whose honesty had spoiled her little finesse."We thought you looked but dull, and I would fain bring my new-arrivedfriend Philip De la Noye to your acquaintance."

  The two men exchanged salutations, Philip with the ready grace of aLatin, John with that distinguishing a Saxon, especially if displeased.

  "We are strolling about a bit before making ready for supper," addedPriscilla. "Philip is curious as to our manner of life in these wilds."

  "'T is but ill suited to slender folk," replied Alden glancingsuperciliously at the slight stripling, who, for his part, surveyed witha sort of amused wonder the thews and stature of the young giantstriding sullenly at Priscilla's other hand.

  "Nay, we do not pack diamonds in bales like hay," retorted Priscillastingingly, and then turning to Philip she inquired eagerly,--

  "And Jacques and Guillaume are well, quite, quite well, are they?"

  "Yes, and Marie and Jeanne," replied Philip placidly.

  "And have you news from friends at home, Mary?" asked John decidedlymoving to her side.

  "Nay, there are none left there of my nearest kin," replied the girlsadly. "We came all of us together, and only I am left."

  "Nay, Mary, so fair and so good a maid as thou, will never stay longwithout friends. Thou wouldst never flout an honest fellow's love anddraw him on, and turn him back, and use him worse than a baby doth itspuppet. The man who loves thee will never rue it."

  So meaning were his glances and his tone, that for a moment the simplemaid stood aghast. Could it be that Alden's constancy had given out, andhe was now ready to woo her instead of her friend; but in another momentthe truth dawned upon her, and with more diplomacy than she often showedMary smiled and shook he
r head.

  "I know not, for love and sweethearts have not come my way yet. 'T isPriscilla whom all men seek, and she in merry mood listeth to all andstill keepeth her own mind secret. She is well content to-night, forthis lad hath brought news of his brother's marriage."

  "What, the fellow they call Jacques?" demanded John glancing eagerlytoward the other couple now walking some paces in advance.

  "Ay, and Guillaume is betrothed, and Jeanne. They are dear friends ofour Priscilla."

  "But--but--nay, then, maid Mary, have compassion on a poor stupid oafwho is no match for her or you or any woman in subtlety and fence, andyet loveth yon maid as it is not well for man to love aught but hisMaker. Tell me, doth she care aught for me?"

  "Nay, John, that is a question none but she should answer, but yet I maytell thee thus much. The news she hath to-day may embolden thee to askagain."

  "Good wench, true friend!" exclaimed Alden, his whole face lighting witha new hope. "And now as we turn toward home, if thou wouldst but engageyon boy's attention, and let me essay while hope is strong and couragefresh, I will put my fate once more to the touch and know if joy and Iare henceforth partners, or the coldest of strangers."

  "Ah, lad, thou lovest her overmuch," replied Mary, letting her placidblue eyes rest upon him half curiously, half enviously. "No man willever care for me like that, for I have not the skill to hide my mind asPriscilla hath. But I'll help thee, John, for I do believe thou 'lt makethe dear maid happy if she will but stay in one mind long enough to wedthee."

  And in a few moments when the setting sun warned Priscilla that it wastime to turn homeward, and the two parties came together, Mary showedPhilip De la Noye the strawberry plants of which he had asked, and sodetained him for a moment, while John walking on with Priscillaimpatiently began,--

  "Wilt answer me one little question in good faith, mistress?"

  "In good faith if at all, John."

  "Then, what bond is there betwixt thee and this lad's brother Jacques?"

  "None save good will and old acquaintance."

  "But there was."

  "Was there?"

  "Nay now, Priscilla, I speak to thee in sober sadness, and I ask suchreply as honest maid should give to honest man who woos her for hiswife. If we fall to quips and cranks and wordy play, thou 'rt so far outof my reach that I know not if I ever come near thee, for I'm but aplain simple fellow, Priscilla, and I love thee more than I love aughtelse but God and the truth. Give me now a plain answer and have pity ofmy misery. Has aught of this lad's news changed thy will or thy intenttoward me?"

  And Priscilla moving slowly along beside her wooer shot a rapid sidelongglance at his white face, and for the first time in their acquaintancefelt a thrill of respect akin to fear, sweep in his direction across hergay self-assertive nature.

  "Yes, John, I will answer thee truly and soberly," replied she in avoice he had never heard from her before. "Philip De la Noye hathbrought news that sets me free from a teasing obligation of which no manknows. Marie and Jeanne, his sisters, are my dear friends and gossips,and their brother Jacques would fain have been my bachelor in Leyden,but I was too young my father said to listen to such talk, and he carednot greatly for Jacques, who was to tell truth somewhat gay and debonairof temper, and no church member, no, not he. So when we parted fromLeyden to come hither, and I went to bid good-by to my friends, James,as you call him in English, would fain have me promise to wed no man buthim, and he would come hither so soon as he was his own master."

  "And didst promise, Priscilla?"

  "Well, nay and yea, John. I said I knew not what might meet me here,and--but at long and at last I promised to wait until the first ship hadfollowed us, and if Jacques came in her I would--would listen to himagain."

  "And that was all thy promise, maiden?"

  "Ay, and enough, for before we landed on yonder Rock, and 't was MaryChilton and not thee, John, who first skipt ashore"--

  "Oh, mind not that just now, Priscilla."

  "Well, before I myself came ashore I knew that I cared not for JacquesDe la Noye. Beside the deathbed of my mother, and again by that of mybrother, I knew that life was darker and deeper than he could fathom."

  "Ay, maid, and nobly didst thou bear that sorry load of woe and care."

  Priscilla's color rose, and her dark eyes flashed a message of thanks,but without other reply she went steadily on,--

  "And so soon as Philip saw me, he delivered himself of the news thatJacques, some three months since, was wed at Saint Peter's Church toGertrude Bartholmei, a merry Flemish maid, who ever looked kindly onhim, and now is welcome to him."

  "Say you that honestly, Priscilla?"

  "As honestly as thyself could speak, lad."

  "And thou 'rt heart-whole?"

  "Nay, I said not exactly that."

  "What! Dost really care for the captain?"

  "As I care for the governor and the doctor; no more, no less."

  "Priscilla, wilt be my wife?"

  "Nay then, John, why didst not ask that at first rather than at last?Thou 'rt too fond of quip and quirk and wordy warfare, John, too muchgiven to fence and intrigue."

  "I, Priscilla! Nay then, I'll not be turned aside again, try as thouwilt. Priscilla, wilt be my wife?"

  "Nay then, I never could bear a cuckoo song all on two notes, and ifthou 'rt bound to say that phrase over and over till 't is answered"--

  "'T is just what I am bound to do. Priscilla, wilt be my wife?"

  "Yes, John, I will, and now I hope thou 'rt content."

  "Wait till I see thee alone this evening, and I'll tell thee howcontent. Oh, maiden"--

  "I will wait in what patience I may until that threatened evening hour,"interrupted Priscilla as restively as the young colt who, after longcoquetting, at last feels the bridle slipped over his head. "Mary, an'thou hasten not there'll be little done toward supper at supper time.Desire is naught and less than naught now that she's going home, andBessy Tilley thinketh only of John Howland, and the dear mother hath herson, so who is left but thee and me to do a hand's turn."

  "Here am I, Priscilla, and I'll help thee in any way thou 'lt say,"suggested John Alden a little presuming upon his recent acceptance, andfor his pains receiving a snub that made him wince again, for Priscillacoldly replied,--

  "They say they came nigh bringing a Jack in the Fortune, but had no roomfor him; so thou mayst take his place, and fetch me a bucket of waterfrom the spring. There's no mighty difference betwixt Jack and John."