Part 8 (1/2)
A few grim jests, a little laughter, and the camp was again quiet, until Standish, sure that no enemy could be at hand, resigned his watch to Howland, and he to English, until at five o'clock William Bradford aroused his comrades, reminding them that on account of the tide they must embark within the hour, and had still to breakfast.
A wintry fog, piercing in its chill, had closed down upon the camp, covering everything with a half-frozen rime, dropping sullenly like rain from such things as came near the fire, and stiffening into ice in the shade.
”I fear me our pieces will hang fire after this soaking,” remarked Carver examining his matchlock.
”It were well to try them before there is need,” said Winslow firing his into the thicket behind the camp. His example was followed by several, until Standish good-humoredly cried,--
”Enough, enough, friends! Save powder and shot for the enemy if there be one. Such grapes grow not on these vines.”
”Well, since the pieces are ready, and the twilight breaks, it were well for some of us to carry them and the other armor down to the boat, while the rest set out the breakfast,” suggested Hopkins, always anxious to be stirring.
”Nay, 't is but poor soldiers.h.i.+p to part from our arms even for so brief a s.p.a.ce,” said Winslow. ”There be other matters, cloaks and haversacks, and such like, that can be carried, but the arms and armor should abide with them who wear them.”
”Master Winslow may do as seemeth good in his own eyes, but my armor goeth now,” retorted Hopkins in a belligerent tone. And loading himself with his breastplate, steel cap, matchlock, and bullet pouch, he strode obstinately away to the boat, lying some three or four hundred yards distant, waiting for the tide to float her.
Standish watched him disapprovingly, and, turning to Carver, he inquired significantly,--
”What saith our governor?”
”Let each man do as seemeth good to himself,” replied Carver placably.
”'T is of no great import.”
”My snaphance goes nowhere out of reach of my right hand,” announced Standish somewhat sharply, for the want of discipline grieved him, and Bradford, Winslow, and Howland silently indorsed both his action and his feeling. The courteous Carver said nothing, and did nothing, but a sailor seeing the governor's armor lying together, carried it down to the boat, thinking to do him a service.
Reaching the sh.o.r.e, Hopkins found the boat surrounded by a few inches of water, and, not caring to wade out to her, laid his load upon the sh.o.r.e, to wait until she fairly floated,--an example followed by the rest, some of whom strolled back to the camp, while others stood talking to those who had slept on board, until a summons to breakfast quickened their motions; but just as the laggards entered the randevous the same horrible noise that had so startled Edward Dotey burst forth again, while one of the sailors yet lingering by the sh.o.r.e came rus.h.i.+ng up, shouting like a madman,--
”Salvages! Indians! They are men!” and, as if to prove his words, a shower of arrows came rattling into the randevous, one of them transfixing the lump of boiled beef laid ready for breakfast.
”Why didn't you bring up your pieces again, ye fools!” cried Standish angrily. ”Run, now, and recover them before the enemy seizes them, while we men of wit cover your course.”
Not waiting to dispute the style of this command, the unarmed men hastened to obey it, while Standish, taking position at the open entrance of the barricade, fired his shaphance in the direction where the sailor pointed; Bradford followed suit; but as Winslow and Howland stepped forward Standish held up his hand,--
”Hold your fire, men, until we see the foe, and Bradford load again with all speed! We must hold the randevous at all odds, for here is half our stuff, and our lives depend upon not losing it. Hasten ye laggards! Run Tilley! Run men!”
”He is spent!” cried John Howland, throwing down his piece and das.h.i.+ng out into the open, where he seized John Tilley round the waist and half carried, half dragged him into the inclosure.
”They will seize the shallop!” cried Carver, and springing on the barricade, heedless of his own exposure, he shouted to those in the boat,--
”Ho, Warren! Englis.h.!.+ Coppin! Are you safe and on your watch?”
”Ay, well! All is well!” cried the rough voices of the seamen, and Warren's manly tones added, ”Be of good courage, brethren!”
”And quit yourselves like men,” muttered Standish, his snaphance at his shoulder, his eager eyes scanning the covert.
Three shots from the pinnace rang bravely through the wood, and then came a hail,--
”Ho, comrades, bring us a light! We have no fire to set off our pieces!”