"Why, what now! Dost want thy troth-plight lover slain?"
"No in truth, nor do I want my troth-plight friend, for thou art that now, slain; but neither do I want the one nor the other to lurk safely at home when his brothers are at the war. There's no coward's blood in my heart more than in yours, Captain Standish, and I care not to shelter any man behind my petticoats. I have not wed John Alden all this long year and more, because I would not wed with your frown black upon my heart, and I will not wed him now until he hath showed himself a man upon that same field whence you do not greatly care to come alive."
"Nay, Priscilla, I care more now for life than I did an hour since, for I have a friend."
"And you will take John, and if he comes home alive you'll smile upon our marriage?"
"Yes girl, yes to both. God bless you, Priscilla, for a brave and true woman. And now—good-night."
A moment later as the dark clad figure flitted down the hill Standish stood with bared head and fixed eyes silent for a little space, and then the boom of the sunset gun sounded in solemn Amen to the soldier's silent prayer.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
PECKSUOT'S KNIFE.
The next morning as the village sat at breakfast, two men at half an hour's interval passed hastily down the forest trail, and entering the town sought the governor's house.