Tales and Sketches | Page 5

when a
sudden tramp of feet, and a confused murmur of human voices, fell on
the ears of the assembly.
The minister closed his Bible; and the whole group crowded closer
together. "It is surely a war party of the heathen," said Mr. Ward, as he
listened intently to the approaching sound. "God grant they mean us no
evil!"
The sounds drew nearer. The swarthy figure of an Indian came gliding
through the brush-wood into the clearing, followed closely by several
Englishmen. In answer to the eager inquiries of Mr. Ward, Captain
Eaton, the leader of the party, stated that he had left Boston at the
command of Governor Winthrop, to secure and disarm the sachem,
Passaconaway, who was suspected of hostile intentions towards the
whites. They had missed of the old chief, but had captured his son, and
were taking him to the governor as a hostage for the good faith of his
father. He then proceeded to inform Mr. Ward, that letters had been
received from the governor of the settlements of Good Hoop and
Piquag, in Connecticut, giving timely warning of a most diabolical plot
of the Indians to cut off their white neighbors, root and branch. He
pointed out to the notice of the minister a member of his party as one of
the messengers who had brought this alarming intelligence.
He was a tall, lean man, with straight, lank, sandy hair, cut evenly all
around his narrow forehead, and hanging down so as to remind one of
Smollett's apt similitude of "a pound of candles."
"What news do you bring us of the savages?" inquired Mr. Ward.
"The people have sinned, and the heathen are the instruments whereby

the Lord hath willed to chastise them," said the messenger, with that
peculiar nasal inflection of voice, so characteristic of the "unco' guid."
"The great sachem, Miantonimo, chief of the Narragansetts, hath
plotted to cut off the Lord's people, just after the time of harvest, to slay
utterly old and young, both maids and little children."
"How have ye known this?" asked the minister.
"Even as Paul knew of those who had bound themselves together with a
grievous oath to destroy him. The Lord hath done it. One of the bloody
heathens was dreadfully gored by the oxen of our people, and, being in
great bodily pain and tribulation thereat, he sent for Governor Haines,
and told him that the Englishman's god was angry with him for
concealing the plot to kill his people, and had sent the Englishman's
cow to kill him."
"Truly a marvellous providence," said Mr. Ward; "but what has been
done in your settlements in consequence of it?"
"We have fasted many days," returned the other, in a tone of great
solemnity, "and our godly men have besought the Lord that he might
now, as of old, rebuke Satan. They have, moreover, diligently and
earnestly inquired, Whence cometh this evil? Who is the Achan in the
camp of our Israel? It hath been greatly feared that the Quakers and the
Papists have been sowing tares in the garden of the true worship. We
have therefore banished these on pain of death; and have made it highly
penal for any man to furnish either food or lodging to any of these
heretics and idolaters. We have ordered a more strict observance of the
Sabbath of the Lord, no, one being permitted to walk or run on that day,
except to and from public worship, and then, only in a reverent and
becoming manner; and no one is allowed to cook food, sweep the
house, shave or pare the nails, or kiss a child, on the day which is to be
kept holy. We have also framed many wholesome laws, against the
vanity and licentiousness of the age, in respect to apparel and
deportment, and have forbidden any young man to kiss a maid during
the time of courtship, as, to their shame be it said, is the manner of
many in the old lands."
"Ye have, indeed, done well for the spiritual," said Mr. Ward; "what
have you done for your temporal defence?"
"We have our garrisons and our captains, and a goodly store of carnal
weapons," answered the other. "And, besides, we have the good chief

Uncas, of the Mohegans, to help us against the bloody Narragansetts."
"But, my friend," said the minister, addressing Captain Eaton, "there
must be surely some mistake about Passaconaway. I verily believe him
to be the friend of the white men. And this is his son Wonolanset? I
saw him last year, and remember that he was the pride of the old savage,
his father. I will speak to him, for I know something of his barbarous
tongue."
"Wonolanset!"
The young savage started suddenly at the word, and rolled his