ANNOUNCER
And so Captain Jones of the Mayflower was bribed by Dutch gold to play false with the band of Pilgrims. You know the story of the long and difficult job the Pilgrims had in getting fairly started on their voyage. The Speedwell sprang a leak, and they had to put back to Plymouth harbor where the ship was repaired. They made a second start, and again the Speedwell became unseaworthy and the captain refused to go on, so a second time the little flotilla put back to Plymouth. This time, since the season was far advanced and the Pilgrims feared that winter would be upon them before they could get established in their new home, the Speedwell was left behind, and on September 16, 1620, the Mayflower left alone for the New World. Halfway across the ocean the ship was beset by a long series of storms, so severe that it took more than two months for the ship to make the trip across the Atlantic. At last, on the morning of November 20, 1620, the ship's company were awakened by the electric cry of—
VOICE
Land—ho! Land—land—ho!
JONES [calling]
Where away?
VOICE
Two points off the starboard bow!
MOB [voices swelling up]
Land! Land! Is it really land? Captain, Captain! Have we really made land? Land? [etc.]
JONES
Aye, we've made land! Helmsman, bring the ship to bear on land, dead ahead!
VOICE
Aye, aye, sir, land dead ahead.
CARVER [coming up]
Ah, Captain Jones, at last!
JONES
Aye, at last—land ahead!
CARVER
Praise Jehovah!
ALL
Praise Jehovah! Amen! [etc.]
CARVER
Captain, tell us, is this Virginia that lies before us?
JONES
I know not; I've not yet taken our bearings.
CARVER
Do you not know where we are?
JONES
How should I? We've been tossed about in storms for a month, with no sun for days on end.
CARVER
There is sun this morning. Can you not take your bearings now?
JONES
The mate is figuring our position even now.
CARVER
Good!
VOICE
Captain Jones?
JONES
Aye, mate, have you the position?
VOICE
I made it, sir, about seventy west by forty-two north.
CARVER
Forty-two north—but, Captain, we are bound for forty north—we're out of our course.
JONES
What do you expect—with the storms we've had?
CARVER
Put your ship about—make for the south—this is not Virginia!
JONES
We'll land here.
CARVER
We have no right to land here. Our charter grants us land in Virginia, not here!
JONES
I can't help that. The ship is in bad shape—I won't risk sailing her any farther without repairs.
CARVER
Very well, you may stop here for repairs, but we must go on as soon as they are made.
JONES
It will take some time.
CARVER
My people will help you. We must speed the work.
JONES
Of course, I'll speed it all I can, but a man can't do any more than he can do.
CARVER
Well, get to it at once—this very day! We must get away from here within a fortnight or winter will be upon us.
JONES
Aye, so it will—and the winters in this country are bad.
CARVER
Then we must start south without delay.
JONES
Look you, Master Carver—
CARVER
Well, Captain?
JONES
Belikes 'twill be a month or more before I can make the Mayflower seaworthy—
CARVER
A month? Surely you can do better than that?
JONES
Perhaps not so well—why don't you land here?
CARVER
Here?
JONES
Aye. 'Tis a goodly country—full as rich as Virginia.
CARVER
Nay, nay, 'tis not to be thought on. We have a patent to lands in Virginia—a charter to establish and rule a plantation there; but here—why, the land is not ours—
JONES
It is if you take it—it belongs to no one else.
CARVER
But our Council would have no rights under the King—nay, nay. We go on to Virginia—as soon as you have made your repairs.
JONES
So be it, Master Carver.