The weakness and illness natural after the discomforts of such a voyage now made themselves felt in an alarming manner, and an exploring party was hastily organized to select the spot for their final settlement. Setting forth in the frail shallop, a party of eighteen picked men, after a successful “First Encounter” with the Indians, were driven by a furious gale to take shelter in the lee of a little island lying in a friendly harbor to the west of their starting-point. After thawing out over a good cedar-wood fire and resting for a night, they explored the island and repaired their boat. Of this island, afterward named for John Clarke, mate of the _Mayflower_, Bradford writes: “But though this had been a day and night of much trouble & danger unto them, yet God gave them a morning of comforte & refreshing (as usually he doth to his children), for y^{e} next day was a faire sunshining day, and they found them sellvs to be on an iland secure from the Indeans, wher they might drie their stufe, fixe their peeces, & rest them selves, and gave God thanks for his mercies, in their manifould deliverances. And this being the last day of y^{e} weeke, they prepared ther to keepe y^{e} Sabath. On Munday they sounded the harbor, and founde it fitt for shipping; and marched into y^{e} land and found diverse cornfeilds and litle runing brooks, a place (as they supposed) fitt for situation; at least it was y^{e} best they could find, and y^{e} season & their presente necessitie made them glad to accepte of it.” So, on the 21st day of December, 1620, was made the now world-famous landing at Plymouth, of which these few words are the humble record. After a week of anxious waiting their return must have been hailed with delight on board the _Mayflower_, and their good tidings warmly welcomed. As with all sails set the good ship made her way into the harbor, eager eyes doubtless watched with joy the high hills of Manomet, the wooded bluffs, the shining, protecting beaches, the fair island, the low friendly stretch of the mainland sloping back to the picturesque hillsides, which make Plymouth harbor at all times and seasons a goodly sight to look upon. And here at length lay safely at anchor the ” ... simple _Mayflower_ of the salt-sea mead!” And now, “Courteous Reader,” as writes that most faithful secretary of the Pilgrims, Nathaniel Morton, in his _New England Memorial_ (1669), “that I may not hold thee too long in the porch,” even in such goodly company, I bid you welcome to the Plymouth of to-day. For in the harbor, the sand-dunes, the green hillsides and the fresh valleys and [Illustration: THE HARBOR.]