"But what, thou stammering idiot!" roared the captain, his serene brow suddenly overcast, and the red surging up to his own brow. "Dost mean to say the girl flouted the suit of--nay, then, what dost thou mean? Speak out, man, and be not so timorous!" "Here is Giles Hopkins!" exclaimed John, as feet were heard running up the hill, and the captain angrily turned to meet the new-comer, shouting,-- "Well, what dost thou want, youngster? Is a man never to be rid of half-wit boys in this place!" "Please, Captain, the governor desires you to come in haste to a sudden Council. The Indians are come in, and methinks"-- "And who in Beelzebub's name cares what thou thinkst!" shouted the captain. "Begone before I box thy malapert ears." And driving the lad before him he strode down the hill without another word or look at John, who grinding his heel into the turf muttered,-- "And now he's angered, and beshrew me if I could not find it in my heart to wish Priscilla had said him yea, rather than nay. It were easier to bear her scorn of me if I knew that he was content. 'T is not so hard to suffer loss if a dear friend gains by that same loss." Meantime Standish striding wrathfully down the hill met Priscilla as she darted out of the door of the elder's house. At sight of him she stopped short, coloring scarlet, and yet her whole face gleaming with a wicked inclination to laugh. The captain also hesitated a moment, and then removing his barret cap with a bow whose stately courtesy recalled his lineage he said,-- "Pardon me, Mistress Molines, for what it seems was undue presumption. May I ask if the Council is convened here or at the Common house?" "At the Common house, Captain; but indeed and by my faith I know not"-- "Pardon if I venture to cut you short, Mistress, but I am summoned in haste to the Council." And with another formal bow the captain hastened on, leaving Priscilla biting her lip and staring after him, half angry, half amused. "One could be proud of him--if--if--Oh heart, heart! What is 't thou 'rt clamoring for! Well--at least I can go and make a posset for my dear dame, and the rest may wait." And with a sigh and a smile and a blush the girl turned back to the things of the hour. "Now here's a coil, Captain!" exclaimed Bradford as Standish entered the large room where about a dozen of the men of the colony were assembled in informal council, while in the midst stood Hobomok, his red skin streaming with perspiration and stained with travel, while his usually impassive face bore an expression of genuine grief and dismay. "What is it? Ha, Hobomok returned alone!"