THE REGICIDES Jfjf Jf A TALE OF EARLY COLONIAL TIMES jrjrjf BY FREDERICK HULL COGSWELL orma .al o-V* ' THE REGICIDES A TALE OF EARLY COLONIAL TIMES BY FREDERICK HULL COGSWELL Illustrated by F. Usher Devoll NEW YORK THE BAKER & TAYLOR CO. 5 and 7 East Sixteenth Street COPYRIGHTED 1896 BY FREDERICK HULL COGSWELL. To C. W. C. 1782184 THE REGICIDES. i. A strange tale, and one not entirely devoid of romance, has lain buried in the records and traditions of a New England town for more than two centuries. Now and then an enterprising student of the past has unearthed portions of it for the delectation of the histor- ical society, or the readers of a county news- paper. An occasional fact peeps out from between the covers of the ancestral books of some of the old families. The local histor- ians have made a bare chronicle of the event. But for the most part the tale has slept as undisturbed as the bones of the forefathers whose living eyes looked upon the scenes and persons involved, and whose dying eyes were closed by the pious hands of the village minister. So far as New England is concerned for the story takes a deep root in the history of two countries it began in the latter part of 6 THE REGICIDES. March, 1661, in a snow storm. Twenty- three years before, John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton had arrived from the in- hospitable shores of England with their little company of traders and planters, and had entered the beautiful harbor of Quinnipiac. The system of government which they had been obliged to flee was so revolting to their consciences that they could no longer support or endure it. Charles Stuart, that prince of promise-breakers, sat upon the throne, little dreaming that within a dozen years a Puritan would be guiding the destinies of England, and his own head lying at the foot of a scaf- fold. Archbishop Laud was carrying his persecution of the ' ' crop-eared fanatics ' ' so far that the lives of Davenport and some of his friends were in danger, and they saw no hope for themselves and their children except in a new country and under new conditions. Davenport had fled to Holland for a brief sojourn, but Laud had boasted that he would reach him even there, and it was decided to leave the old world behind, and set sail for the new West. The new-comers had bought a large tract of the Indians, and laid out the town at the head of the harbor. The Indian name of THE REGICIDES. ^ Quinnipiac was soon changed to New Haven, a haven to be forever free from political and religious oppression, and where public affairs were to be administered by citizens of the people's own choosing. At eight of the clock on Friday evening, while the storm was furiously raging, William I/eete, deputy and acting governor of the colony, was engaged in a low conver- sation with two men at his home in Guilford. One was about seventy years of age, tall and soldierly in bearing, his venerable head adorned with snowy white hair and a long flowing beard. His face, naturally pale, showed signs of exposure, though he would anywhere have been judged to be of scholarly taste and habit. As he sat looking into Gov- ernor lyeete's comfortable fireplace, it was evident that he was controlling a strong emo- tion. The other guest was perhaps twenty- five years younger, shorter in stature, of firm and not too heavy build, with a magnificent head rising from a strong but graceful neck and a broad pair of shoulders. His black hair and beard had begun to turn to iron gray. His hands, though brown and show- ing the effects of the weather, were delicately and gracefully formed, and under the smooth 8 THE REGICIDES. skin could be seen the play of steel-like mus- cles. The most striking feature of his face was a pair of coal-black eyes, instinct with power and passion, that bespoke a nature fitted and accustomed to command. He and Governor L,eete were carrying on most of the conversation, while the elderly man gazed silently into the fire. ' ' I have grave fears about allowing thy friend to take the journey in this terrible storm," the governor was saying, "but it shall be as thou sayest." " True, it is a rather hazardous undertak- ing," replied he of the coal-black eyes, " but there is no alternative. If we remain here, we render thy position one of extreme danger. That we will never consent to do. We have faced death cheerfully in a hundred battles for a principle, and we would sooner perish in the storm than betray a friend. Is it not so, my father ? " At that moment the wind struck the house with a violence that threatened to crush it, and the roar in the great square chimney was so deafening as to interrupt all conversation for the time. A shudder involuntarily shook the form of the old man as he rose and met the governor, who had stepped to a window to examine its fastenings. THE REGICIDES. 9 " My dear friend," he said, extending his hand, ' ' I am old, as thou seest. The strength that has sustained this arm for seventy years is almost gone. My days are nearly spent, yet life is as sweet to me now as it was in the flush of youth. Thou wilt pardon this weak- ness. It is of the flesh and not of the spirit. God knows I would sooner die by the road- side and be buried in the drifting snow, than remain another hour in this house. There must never be cause to regret thy friendship for us." He spoke with deep feeling, and the gover- nor grasped his hand warmly. " As thou sayest, so be it," replied Gover- nor L,eete. " Were my own safety alone concerned, I would not listen for a moment. God grant the storm may abate ere long ! ' ' Stepping to a door that led to the kitchen, he opened it and motioned a young Indian to approach. " Owanuc, it is decided to go. Art thou still willing? " A grunt of assent was the only reply. 4 ' Tell James to have the horses ready at once, then." The Indian disappeared toward the barn, and the governor returned to his friends. He stepped to the sideboard and took therefrom 10 THE REGICIDES. a decanter and some glasses which he placed upon the table. He then brought a pair of greatcoats from a corner and hung them inside out near the fire. This being done, he seated himself in a large arm-chair, and for some minutes not a word was spoken. ' ' How many miles are we to ride ? ' ' asked the old man finally. " It is sixteen goodly miles to New Haven, ' ' replied the governor. ' ' The wind will be in your teeth unless it veers, but the roads are hard and smooth, and half the way there will be no drifts." ' ' It will never do to urge a horse above a walk on a night like this," said the younger man, "or we shall suddenly find ourselves obliged to go on foot. I learned in our last campaign, when I sacrificed two horses in one night, that it takes something more than brute endurance to brave a storm. Well, I presume that is our summons." The erect form of the Indian stood in the doorway, and the three men rose. The younger gently helped his friend into one of the greatcoats, buttoned it well up to the chin, and donned the other himself. The governor then lifted the decanter and moved it toward the old man. THE REGICIDES. II " Thou wilt need extra strength. Take a generous draught. A full flask will be found in the saddlebag when thou haltest." With a hand beginning to be unsteady with age the old man poured a glassful, and passed the decanter to the other. " Thanks, but I do not need it. My own strength will be sufficient. L,et us be gone ere we bring confusion upon the house of our most generous friend." Owanuc led the way out through the kitchen to the woodshed, and thence to the stable where the men could mount under cover. "Should there be further trouble," said the governor in parting, " thou wilt receive warning, but I trust that with prudence it may be avoided." ' ' God bless and keep thee ! ' ' said the younger of the departing guests. "If it comes to a sacrifice, let us be the ones to suf- fer." "Remember, Owanuc," said Governor lyeete to the Indian, after the handshaking was over, " one at each house." He watched the three riders file out of the yard into the pitiless storm, then returned to his comfortable chair by the blazing fire. 12 THE REGICIDES. He had scarcely seated himself when there came a loud rap at the outside door, and a lew seconds later a horseman covered with snow entered the room and handed the gov- ernor important papers for his inspection. II. On the evening of the great storm the Rev- erend John Davenport sat in the family sit- ting-room of his residence in New Haven. The howling of the elements outside rendered the blazing logs in the fireplace all the more cheerful by contrast. It was half -past eight by the tall time-piece that stood in the cor- ner, and the minister had just come from his study to spend a half hour with the family before retiring. Mistress Davenport, a com- fortable matron whose silvery hair was partly hidden by a muslin cap, sat knitting by the table. John, the only son, a man verging toward thirty, was replenishing the fire ; and Abigail Pierson, daughter of the minister at Branford, sat across the table, reading by the light of a tallow dip. ' ' Think you the storm will last long ? ' ' asked Mistress Davenport, when the head of THE REGICIDES. 13 the household had taken his seat in front of the fire. 4 ' It is hard to say, ' ' replied the minister. ' ' These late spring snows are often very troublesome. Is everything reported snug at the farm, John ? " " Yes, father, every animal is comfortably housed and fed. At least, I sent word to have extra care taken. Human beings will fare much worse if any there be who chance to be abroad this night. When I came across from Master Jones' just now the gale nearly carried me bodily off the steps, and but for familiar acquaintance I could scarcely have found the house for the blowing of the snow." At this chilly reminiscence, it occurred to the Mistress Abigail that Branford was but eight miles away, and might receive a simi- lar visitation. " Oh, I do hope father will not have to go out anywhere ! " she exclaimed. " It would be exactly like somebody to be sick or in trouble just when he would have to wade through snow up to his chin to reach them ! Think ye not, Master Davenport, that people can afford to be well, just for one night, when it means so much to him ? ' ' 14 THE REGICIDES. The minister could not repress a smile at the thought of his venerable colleague strug- gling chin deep in a snow bank. " I know not, my dear. I hope so. But thy father will do his duty, no matter what the circumstances." Mistress Davenport stepped to a cupboard in one corner of the room and took down a small limp bundle. ' ' My daughter, wilt be pleased to hold this yarn a minute while I wind ? ' ' The dutiful Abigail, with visions of pater- nal discomfort floating troublously before her mind's eye, placed her elbows on the table and reached her hands across, while the matron took a skein of yarn and hung it on the girl's extended wrists. She then sat down, and taking a loose end from the skein, began winding the yarn into a ball. ' ' Heard you any news across the way ? ' ' asked the minister, turning his eyes towards his son. " Ay, much news. A post letter from Bos- ton arrived this noon, and it giveth Master Jones much anxiety. There have been terri- ble times in England. It appears that certain of the royalists were so overjoj'-ed to see a king once more upon the throne, that no THE REGICIDES, 15 sooner was Charles the Second well seated than a brutal mob entered Westminster Abbey and violated the graves of Cromwell, Ireton and Bradshaw. Their coffins were broken open and the bodies dragged upon hurdles to Tyburn. There they were ignominiously hanged, while the ruffian mob howled and insulted the sacred bones until sunset. They were then taken down and beheaded, the bodies thrown into a vile pit at the foot of the gallows and the heads placed upon poles on the top of Westminster Hall." The ladies dropped their work and sat speechless while John continued. " Not content with this heathenish outrage, the drunken jackals searched out the burial place of Cromwell's mother and sister, dese- crated the sainted remains, and threw them into the hole at the foot of the gallows." The mistress fixed upon her son such a ter- rible look that he hesitated. ' ' Stop ! ' ' she exclaimed imperiously. ' ' I^et me hear no more ! If that be England, I would know it not ! ' ' 1 ' Forgive me, mother, but my indignation was so strong that I forgot thy tender heart. I will say no more, though the story be but just begun." 1 6 THE REGICIDES. ' ' Was there aught of a more gentle import in the letter ? ' ' asked the minister, ' ' It related the fact that Governor Endicott hath been notified by the king that he must arrest and deliver up the two judges who have been living in Boston for some time." ' ' And said the lettei what had been done about it? " ' ' Yes, although they had been living openly and treated with great consideration, the gov- ernor deemed it his duty to obey orders. But when the papers had been made out and given to serve, the judges had disappeared." " Did the letter say whither they had gone ? ' ' ' ' Nothing, except that they were suspected of having started toward Springfield." ' ' Why should not the king be satisfied with his horrible work at home without pur- suing two peaceable judges in this country ? " queried Mistress Davenport, who had resumed her knitting. " Because," said her husband quietly, " he is so human as to resent their action in order- ing his father beheaded a few years ago." " What, the judges of Charles the First ? " ' ' None other. When the son succeeded Cromwell you know what happened. Every THE REGICIDES. 17 one who had participated in his father's trial was summoned to appear at once or forfeit pardon. Some who had confidence in the word of a Stuart came forward and were promptly executed or imprisoned. These two were wiser, and lost no time in fleeing the country. It seems quite important now that they be found and murdered, for one of them stood so high as to be thought of by the Puri- tans as a possible successor to Cromwell." " Oh. that these terrible things need hap- pen! " said the mistress with a sigh. " Can they not be stopped in some way ? ' ' " I heartily wish they might," replied the minister gravely, "but so long as men are weak and selfish, just so long will there be trouble on earth. The death of the king's father was a cruel necessity to many minds, but right or wrong, the men who decreed it were the saviors of England. The present generation may not know it, but future gen- erations will." " Yes, and the king might have done right just as well as wrong ; then we could have stayed in dear old England instead of being driven like criminals into a foreign wilder- ness ! ' ' said Mistress Davenport, with some warmth. 1 8 THE REGICIDES. The minister smiled at his wife's vehe- mence, but he knew the years of wandering and anxiety and heart-sickness that lay be- hind it. He remembered their home life in I/ondon, where so many delightful y ears were spent, where their boy was born, and where his wife was happy and contented amid sur- roundings the most refined and congenial. He remembered his own school and college days, so dear to every man's heart, and the time when he, although one of the youngest, was one of the best known and most popular preachers in London. Then the unfortunate hour when he was introduced to the king as a "puritan" by an injudicious friend, the suspicion that followed, his persecution by Archbishop L,aud, and the sudden flight to Holland. Then the plan of his wealthy friend Eaton to come to the virgin coast of New England, and there establish a republic whose only sovereign should be the King of kings, and whose laws should be made and executed by the people themselves. Then the trials and hardships and failures of their experiment of founding a government in a wilderness, savages without and malcontents within. Wealth they had, it is true ; but it THE REGICIDES. 19 could not buy a balm to soothe the heart- ache, or take away the sting of ingratitude. Yes, he thought, the brave little woman who had sacrificed so much for her family and for future generations could be pardoned for thinking what might have been if one man who chanced to be a king had been a little more considerate of others. The minister rose and took the family Bible from a stand, and resumed his seat at the fireplace. While he was selecting a chapter, John wound the tall clock and the matron laid aside her work. After reading the story of the guidance of the children of Israel through the wilderness, and of the L,ove that suffered and died that sinful man might live, each one kneeled, and the minister offered a fervent prayer. Two hours later Master Davenport still sat by the fireplace, but he was alone. The blustering of the winds outside and the roar- ing in the great chimney did not seem to dis- turb his meditations, though he occasionally went to a window and peered out into the blinding storm. Suddenly there came a rap at the door, and he gave a start. In another moment he had admitted a solitary man cov- 20 THE REGICIDES. ered with snow, while a second remained out- side. " Was there any word, Owantic ? " asked the minister, as the other started to move away. " One at each house," was the reply. III. The moment Governor Leete glanced at the papers presented by the snow-covered horseman, he knew that his friends had not departed a moment too soon. He invited his visitor to remove his greatcoat and be seated at the fire. ' ' Gladly will I accept thy hospitality, sir, as will also my friend who is waiting outside, ' ' said the stranger. " Methinks he is more nearly frozen than myself. ' ' The governor called his man and bade him take care of the horses, while he personally attended to the comfort of his guests. A gen- erous draught from the decanter and a cozy seat in front of the blazing logs soon thawed them out. The spokesman appeared to be about forty years old, rather tall and strongly built, and THE REGICIDES. 21 with a peculiar air about him which unmis- takably bespoke the trader. His hungry eyes indexed a nature at once grasping and insa- tiable, and it would be perfectly safe to as- sume that should he suddenly inherit the uni- verse he would spend the rest of eternity in a feverish anxiety lest a planet explode and thereby leave him so much poorer. There was a metallic sound to his voice that seemed to have been caught by instinctively imitat- ing the clink of coin. He introduced himself as Thomas Kellond, merchant, recently from England. The papers which he displayed showed that he was commissioned by the governor of Massachusetts, under a warrant from King Charles the Second, to arrest two fugitives from England named Edward Whal- ley and William Goffe, who were supposed to be hiding somewhere within the limits of the colony. His companion he introduced as Thomas Kirke, merchant also, and jointly commis- sioned with himself as an officer of the king. Kirke was about five years younger than the other, somewhat under the medium height, and inclined to stoutness. His face was as good-natured as that of Kellond was forbid- ding. Still, there was a look of shrewdness 22 THE REGICIDES. about him which showed that he was capable of taking care of himself. " What success dost thou think we will have ? " inquired Kellond, as soon as he was comfortably disposed in a broad arm-chair. " I cannot give much encouragement," said the governor guardedly. " Heard you any rumors concerning their whereabouts ? ' ' "Nothing definite. We traced them to Springfield from Boston, and thence to Hart- ford, where they spent some time with Gov- ernor Winthrop. It appears that the gover- nor was not aware that his guests were fugi- tives, or he might not have been so hospitably inclined. From Hartford they announced it as their intention to proceed southward, so we naturally infer them to be within this jurisdiction. At any rate, our papers were made to cover every colony in New England." " I much doubt whether thou wilt find them in these parts," said Governor L,eete, without explaining why. " We were told in Hartford that they most probably would stop in this colony, where they could easity step over into New Amster- dam should occasion require," continued Kel- lond. " Think you it would be worth while to search here in Guilford first, or would we THE REGICIDES. 23 do better to proceed at once to New Haven ? ' ' The governor was a deliberate man, and he thought for some minutes before answering. " In a matter of this importance to you it might be well to begin here and make thor- ough work of it," he said at length. " I will render every assistance in my power to search the town. Come around in the morning, and I will take pleasure in examining thy papers more carefully than I can do to-night. We colonists keep early hours, but by rising at daylight we make long days." Notwithstanding this gentle hint, the offi- cers sat for another half hour in front of the fireplace. Finally, after taking another drink from the enticing decanter, they requested that their horses might be brought. The governor summoned his manservant and or- dered them to be led around. ' ' At what hour in the morning ? ' ' asked Kellond, as they stood in the doorway. " Ten, if you please," replied the governor. The strangers mounted and picked their way slowly through the blinding snow toward the village tavern. -4 THE REGICIDES. IV. A heavy snow storm in a New England country town was an event which called out the combined efforts of the population as fully as did a fire, or an expected onslaught from the Indians. The next morning at sunrise one looking from a front window of almost any residence on the main street in Guilford would have seen a vast plain of snow, broken only by trees and buildings and fences. The smoke was curling gracefully upward from a score of stone chimneys, for not a breath re- mained of the wind that blew so furiously the night before. Presently a door opened, and a man bareheaded and bespectacled stood for a moment and surveyed the landscape, then retired. In a twinkling he returned with his hat on his head and a broad shovel in his heavily mittened hands. He attacked the huge drift with all the vigor of early morning, and soon had the steps cleared. Only his head and shoulders could be seen as he straightened up and deposited a shovelful of snow, and as he pressed onward toward the road his bobbing head and regularly appearing shovel were all that could be seen. A glance up the street a little later revealed a dozen bobbing heads and flying shovels. Now and THE REGICIDES. 25 then a worker would.pause to catch his breath and shout across the drift to his neighbor. Governor L,eete came to his door, adjusted his glasses and cast an anxious look in the direction of the tavern. Nobody seemed to be stirring there except the stableman, and, judging from the thin line of smoke that struggled upward from the chimney, the kitchen maid. The governor seemed satisfi- ed, and disappeared. But what was this savory odor that came stealing out from some- body's kitchen door? Bacon and eggs? Yes, this surely was New England ! Coffee, too ? Alas ! no ; for that grateful morning beverage had not yet found its way to this re- mote corner of the earth. At breakfast the governor appeared to be preoccupied. Mistress I^cete asked him for a second serving of bacon, and he passed her the salt ! His wits were certainly wool- gathering. Bacon was salt, beyond question, but nobody would pretend that salt was ba- con. What was the matter with the gover- nor ? He was a robust and active man, yet he played with his plate like an invalid. He breathed a sigh of relief when the repast was over. But there was one service which he did not neglect. He reached for the family 26 THE REGICIDES. Bible, while each person moved a little back from the table. He selected a chapter. ' ' Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them." Was there anything else in the whole chap- ter ? If so, the governor did not see it. He reverently closed the book, his lips involunta- rily repeating the words. Then all knelt at their chairs and the morning prayer~was offer- ed, a prayer of thanksgiving, a prayer for guidance, for wisdom and for help. The gov- ernor rose from his knees with a more cheer- ful light on his face. His mind was evident- ly made up. His doubts about something or other had been dispelled. He went to his office across the hall muttering, half aloud, ' ' Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them." Half an hour later there was a strange sound in the street, something quite unusual for a quiet country village. Then a curious looking caravan came in sight. First a small army of shovelers, followed by a dozen yoke of sturdy oxen. The shovelers were working with a will, and soon there was a high ridge of snow on either side of the road. Then came the oxen, encouraged by mingled sounds of "gee," "haw" and "get up," THE REGICIDES. 27 drawing a heavy wooden sled which was weighted down by a load of laughing and shouting children. The procession moved slowly down the street, the trampling feet of the oxen leaving behind a fairly well beaten road, while the runners of the sled marked two hard and well-defined runs, several inches wide. By half past nine the village streets were thoroughly broken, and the company of workers were invited to assemble in front of the governor's house. Governor I/eete stood on the doorstep, and in a few sober and dig- nified sentences commended his fellow towns- men for their industry and public spirit, and exhorted them and their children to remem- ber and cherish the principles which had brought them hither to help found a republic in the wilderness. He then bade them enter the large kitchen, where they found the tables liberally spread with cakes and home- brewed ale. When the company had finished eating and drinking, and were filing out the door, the governor requested Jonathan Meigs and David Thompson, neighboring planters, to remain behind. 28 THE REGICIDES. At precisely ten o'clock the two officers arrived and were ushered into the office. "Pray be seated, gentlemen, and I will examine your papers at once," said the gov- ernor courteously. ' ' I was discussing a little matter of business with my neighbors," with a nod towards Meigs and Thompson. He sat down by the window to get a good light, and proceeded to read the papers slowly, and in a tone that could be heard about the room : " To our trusty and well-beloved, the present Gover- nor or other magistrate or magistrates of our plantation of New England. CHARGES R. Trusty and well-beloved, wee greete you well. Wee being given to understand that Colonell Whal- ley and Colonell Goffe, who stand here convicted for the execrable murther of our Royall Father of glorious memory, are lately arrived in New Eng- land, where they hope to shroud themselves securely from our laws ; our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby expressly require and command you forthwith, upon the receipt of these our let- ters, to cause both the said persons to be appre- hended" "Ahem!" said Kellond, glancing ner- vously toward the two planters, who could hear every word, "would his honor please THE REGICIDES. 29 not read so loud? It is convenient to be more private in such concernments as these. " I ask your pardon," said the governor, "but it is an old habit, and I forget." He then continued in a more subdued but still distinctly audible voice to decipher the clumsy warrant : "and with the first opportunity sent over hither under a strict care, to receive according to their demerits. Wee are confident of your readiness and diligence to perform your duty ; and so bid you farewell. Given at our Court at Whitehall, the 5th of March, 1660-1. By his Majesty's command, EDW. NICHOLAS." When the governor had finished he took off his spectacles and looked enquiringly at the officers. Kellond seemed ready to fly apart for nervousness. The two planters, noting the fact that their presence was caus- ing some embarrassment, exchanged glances with the governor and withdrew. ' ' Return in half an hour, ' ' said the gover- nor, as they were leaving, ' ' and I will be through." Then turning to the officers he 30 THE REGICIDES. said, "Just what service am I expected to render in this matter ? ' ' ' 4 We desire a warrant to search every house in New Haven colony," said Kellond. " If our information be true, the two colonels are somewhere within its limits." " In a matter of this importance," replied Governor I,eete thoughtfully, " I must take a little time to examine the papers. The war- rant which you have handed me cannot be acted upon without some deliberation. Note how it reads : ' To our trusty and well beloved, the present governor or other magistrate or magistrates of our plantation of New Eng- land.' Strictly construed, that warrant gives me no authority to act. This colony is not known as ' The Plantation of New England.' It has never borne that title, and, so far as I know, has never been called such. Were I to act hastily in a matter of this importance, grave consequences might follow to you as well as to myself. Come in at three o'clock, and I will have decided what to do." The officers were greatly exasperated at the prospect of delay, for their expedition was one of pure speculation. Were they 'in the end successful, a substantial grant of land in Massachusetts, and a large sum of money, THE REGICIDES. 31 would be their reward. If they failed, they were to expect nothing. They walked slowly over to the inn, and entered the tap-room. Here they found a dozen or more townsmen gathered out of curiosity to see what was afoot. Meigs and Thompson had reported, a few minutes before, that the two strangers were the king's officers, and were hot on the track of Colonels Whalley and Goffe, two fugitives from England, on whose heads the king had set a price. Among those who had come to see the offi- cers was Daniel Brockton, a busybody who found an occasional exercise for his prying instincts in filling the office of constable. He was a natural-born man-hunter, and would pursue his game, be it large or small, with all the zeal of a hound on the trail of a fox. It mattered not whether it were a wee tot who had reached through a garden fence and innocently plucked a flower, or a man who had defrauded his neighbor ; he would march the child screaming through the streets with as much satisfaction and pomposity as he would the man. He was suspicious of every- body, and there was not a boy in town but had had his turn at being accused of some- thing or other by Brockton. 32 THE REGICIDES. " I can tell ye where they be," said Brock- ton, accosting the strangers as they entered the tavern. " Thy men are not in this town. Ye will have to look further. ' ' "How is this, my good man?" said Kel- lond, wondering what had suddenly appeared before him. " Dost thou know anything about it?" "Ay, that I do, "replied Brockton, rub- bing his hands in expectation. ' ' I can put ye on their track, and that right soon." " Well, that is what we want," said Kirke. " We have come all the way from Boston town to meet the man who could do that. ' ' Brockton surveyed for a moment his towns- men in the room with the air of a man who knows a great deal more than any of them could possibly hope to know, were they to live ever so long, then called the officers to one side. 4 ' There is no doubt that ye want to know where they be ? " he whispered when they were across the room. "What I know I know, and what I know is no man's business. Would it be worth anything to ye to know what I know ? ' ' " Certes it would," said Kellond, eagerly, seeing a possible chance to make the expedi- THE REGICIDES. 33 tion a short and successful one. " But give us the information that leads to the apprehen- sion of these colonels, and thou hast the word of two honest men that thy reward will be handsome. Is that not right, Kirke ? " "Truly," replied Kirke. "We want to make quick work of this, and if thou savest time for us thou wilt not be sorry. Now, what hast thou to say ? ' ' Brockton glanced toward the other end of the tap-room, and deeming his thoughts of too much importance to be uttered there, took Kellond outside. " The men ye look for are in New Haven," he whispered. "If ye go quick ye will find one at Parson Davenport's and the other across the way at William Jones'. Jones' father was one of them as had his head cut off over there for a-signin' his name to that death warrant. Now ye know it. Do ye not waste any time ! ' ' ' ' But Governor Leete thinks we will not find them in the colony," said Kellond, eyeing Brockton suspiciously. " Look thee here, my good man, we want no fooling in this matter. Do ye but play us false, perchance thou knowestthe consequences, well, do not do it, that is all. It would not be prudent." 34 THE REGICIDES. Kellond laid his hand upon his weapon in a manner that conveyed a strong hint to the informer. " I know what I know," reiterated Brock- ton, moving a little further away. " I tell ye they are there, and without all question Deputy Leete knows as much, let him say what he likes ! ' ' Brockton seemed positive. Was the gov- ernor playing them false ? Was he like the other Puritans, in sympathy with these regi- cides ? They looked at Brockton a minute, then withdrew and consulted. As a result they hastened across to Governor Leete 's house. " May it please your honor, " said Kellond, as soon as they had entered the office, " we learn that the fugitives are at this very moment concealed in two certain houses which have been named to us. We are obliged to ask that thou wilt furnish us with two fresh horses and a warrant without delay." " It will give me great pleasure to supply two fleet horses," replied the governor, affa- bly, " but I am in so much doubt about the warrant that I must decline to grant it until I can consult with one or more of the magis- THE REGICIDES. 35 trates. Forget not that I am responsible to the people of this colony, and it will not do to move hastily. Were thy warrant from the king directed to me in unmistakable terms, I should obey it without a moment's hesitation. Coming in the form it does, I know not whether it is directed to me at all, and thou wilt bear witness that it is my duty to move with caution." " But they may get warning and make their escape ! ' ' cried the officer, in consterna- tion. " It is always prudent, in matters of impor- tance, to have papers that are not defective," said the governor calmly. " If a soldier uses poor weapons he hath little cause to complain that he cannot hit the enemy. I do not see as the fault is anything but a misfortune on thy part." " But the magistrates, can your honor not see them immediately, so we may act before it is too late ? ' ' ' ' It will be necessary for me to consult with Master Gilbert at New Haven, a man of great wisdom and probity. To-day is Saturday, and it will be impossible, owing to the state of my engagements, to go hither before Mon- day." 36 THE REGICIDES. Kellond was furious, but lie dare not betray his feelings in the presence of the governor. The birds in the bush were almost as good as in the hand, and he was powerless to reach forth and grasp them. " I prithee, let us have the horses, your honor, "cried Kellond, desperately, "and we will go to New Haven on our own responsi- bility. We will bring the magistrate to thee this very afternoon." The governor shook his head. ' ' I would not wish to show Master Gilbert that discourtesy, ' ' he replied. " It is my duty to go and see him if I wish to consult him. I must again remind you, gentlemen, that defective papers always occasion delays. Suppose I were to accept the responsibility, and grant a warrant for the arrest of these men without taking proper counsel ? A judge would release them in a moment on the ground that they were illegally held." " No judge who was satisfied with the fit of his head upon his shoulders would dare dis- charge them ! ' ' exclaimed Kirke with some warmth. "This mandate is from the king himself, and in such a concernment it is not well to split hairs ! " "Gentlemen," said the governor with dignity, ' ' you have my decision. As soon as THE REGICIDES. Z7 this business can be arranged you shall know the result without delay. Until then, I can see no use in further debating." The officers were completely discomfitted, and there was nothing left but to withdraw and seek what consolation they might from the Brocktonian fountain. The constable was waiting in front of the tavern. He had in the meantime been nar- rating, with much pomposity, the fact that he had been employed by the messengers of the king as a special agent to assist in capturing the fugitives. Kellond related to him the result of the gubernatorial interview. "Just what I told ye ! " exclaimed Brock- ton. ' ' I know a thing or two about this business ! Deputy L,eete wants 'em to get away." " Ssh ! " said Kirke, looking at the heads crowded against the tap-room window. " Let us keep our business to ourselves. What think ye, Brockton, had we better not take the horses and go to New Haven without the warrant? Perchance we may apprehend them suddenly, then we can hold them until the governor decides." "Ah, that would not do," said Brockton, with a self-satisfied grin. "They would arrest ye for Sabbath-breaking for anything 38 777,2: REGICIDES. ye did between sundown to-night and the same hour on the morrow, and then the colo- nels might go to kingdom-come for all ye could stop 'em ! Your ankles would feel lame a-restin' in the stocks, and your minds would be uneasy as ye sat there and saw the colonels a-mockin' of ye. Ye see I know a thing or two about law." This seemed to be the last straw. The officers raved and swore as they walked toward the tap-room. There they at once proceeded to drown their sorrows in a mug of good old New England flip. Brockton was the only cool member of the trio. Even his mug of flip failed to excite him. It seemed rather to increase his self- control. He planted himself in front of the open fireplace, and was soon lost in medita- tion. Late in the afternoon he learned that there was an Indian of the town missing, Owanuc by name. Nobody knew what had become of him. Brockton felt certain that he had gone to New Haven, and therefore allowed himself no anxiety on the subject. He re- gretted it, but could not help it. But the announcement sent the two officers flying for more flip. An hour later came the more im- THE REGICIDES. 39 portant tidings that Jonathan Meigs was pre- paring to go to New Haven Sunday evening. At tliis Kellond and Kirke rushed over to Governor I,eete's and begged him to prevent Meigs' going. " Master Meigs hath the right to go where he pleaseth," said the governor, " so long as he obeys the laws." "But he will certainly give information that we are here, and all our plans will come to naught," exclaimed Kellond, in despera- tion. ' ' We shall be ruined ! I pray thee call him here and learn the nature of his bus- iness." " Hath Goodman Meigs committed any misdemeanor by which I would be justified in arresting him ? ' ' ' ' None that we know of, but if your honor would please to call him, and caution him not to say aught that will give any warning." " That I cannot do. He is an honest and upright man, and I would but insult him were I to do as you desire." The governor's attitude did not please them, yet he treated them now, as at all times, with the most studied courtesy. They retired and held another consultation with Brockton. That individual held that, under the circum- 40 THE REGICIDES. stances, there was nothing to do but wait until Monday. The officers were speechless with rage. More flip. When they again emerged from the tavern the long shadows lay across the village street, and the rich sunset flooded the snowy land- scape with red and gold. The farmers were taking a final look at their barns and store- houses, and the boys were carrying in the usual Saturday night supply of wood. A few straggling villagers were hurrying to their homes. Then as the last ray of the departing sun faded from the treetops, a solemn hush fell over all, and the New England Sabbath had besrun. IV. Sunday morning broke fair and smiling in New Haven. The air was clear and crisp. The market-place showed here and there a track made in the snow by some passing ox- team ; but there was not a living thing in sight to mar the quiet of the scene. At the northeast corner of the square the little bridge over the morass had been uncov- ered the afternoon before, and a path dug, so THE REGICIDES. 41 that the minister's family might cross to the meeting-house without going around the road. The rising smoke from an occasional chimney showed that many families were astir, yet not even the rude shutting of a door broke the perfect Sabbath stillness. No stranger would imagine that within the com- pass of that peaceful Puritan village there slumbered a volcano which might at any moment burst forth and shower ruin and death upon more than one honored head. At a few minutes before eight o'clock two men crossed the bridge at the southeast cor- ner of the market-place, and walked slowly toward the square wooden meeting-house that stood near the center. They were the common drummers for the town. Not a word was spoken as they continued their solemn march. When they arrived at the church they climbed to the tower and stood for a moment with drumsticks in hand. Then suddenly there rose the roll of beating drums, which continued for several minutes. As many people within reach of the sound as possessed timepieces saw to it that they indi- cated the hour of eight. Having faithfully discharged their pious duty, the drummers departed as silently as they had come. 42 THE REGICIDES. Soon after nine there appeared from the west a man on horseback, and behind him, seated on a pillion with a small boy in her lap, rode a middle-aged woman. A heavy gun was slung over the man's shoulder. As they approached it was impossible not to rec- ognize the stalwart form and honest face of Richard Sperry. They had ridden four miles from the farms on the other side of West Mountain. They halted in front of a rude hut of logs a few rods front the meeting- house, and soon a column of smoke was seen rising from its stone chimney. In a short time Mistress Sperry and the boy were warm- ing their half frozen fingers by a cozy fire, and the horse was shaking himself comforta- ble at the opposite end of the hut. 1 ' There hath been another Sabbath-day house built since the last meeting time," quoth Master Sperry, as he stood in the door- way and surveyed the group of similar huts that stood scattered about. "I surely knew of but twelve before, and now there are thir- teen, if I count aright." " Of a truth the colony is growing," re- plied the mistress, coming to see for herself. " The Sabbada-house hath been made large and roomy, which betokens a good-sized family." THE REGICIDES. 43 They returned to the fire, and Sperry stood rubbing his hands before the cheerful blaze. "Think you the wraps will all be need- ful ? " he asked, while his wife busied herself with sorting and folding the various extra clothing that had been worn in from the farm. "The sun shines clear and bright, but the meeting-house will be like a barn. Rsmember you must sit for an hour and a half in a cold room without a fire." "I will not need more than usual," was the resolute reply, ' ' but Joseph was restless during the night, and I shall bundle him up well." While the Sperrys were thus employed, others were arriving on horseback from the outlying districts, helping their wives and children down from the dizzy pillions, and starting the fires in the Sabbath-day houses. By half past nine the whole thirteen huts were inhabited, and during the next half hour there was a free exchange of visits. The sudden and fierce snow-storm was per- haps the chief topic of conversation, but there was a general flow of talk upon all sorts of subjects. The men discussed the amount of wood they had cut and sold during the winter, the quality of the ale they had brewed, and their plans for the spring plant- 44 THE REGICIDES. ing. The women were eager to know about each other's spinning and garment-making, the herbs that had been gathered and what had been their efficacy, and that always uppermost topic in the minds of mothers children. A marked seriousness characterized the conversation, for colonial life was a serious matter in those days ; but there was an en- tire absence of that hypocritical and whining cant which is so often attributed to the early colonists. Their dress was quiet and sensi- ble. Now and then a stray bit of color would peep from under a maidenly cloak, and a gray bonnet was sometimes relieved by a delicate fringe of white. Among the men there were a few, however, who still clung to the peaked and broad-brimmed hat, and som- bre cloak of the English Puritans. Their visiting was suddenly interrupted by the roll of the second drumbeat, and the vil- lagers began to approach from all sides of the market-place. First came Mistress Daven- port, accompanied by her son and Abigail Pierson, as if to set an example of prompt- ness. The minister remained behind en- gaged in prayer until service time. As the family reached the little bridge they met the THE REGICIDES. 45 master of the watch on his way out to look after his men, who were patrolling the town, for it was never safe in those troublous times for the people to assemble and leave their homes unprotected. From the opposite part of the village came Jonathan Marston, the schoolmaster, leading his little motherless girl of ten years by the hand. She looked too delicate to sit so long in a fireless room. Marston looked melancholy, solemn, grim and resolute. Had his conscience told him to endure cold, hunger, and even death, for his soul's sake, he would have done so with- out flinching. Then came Goodman Brown, old, bent and decrepit. He carried a staff, and wore a peaked hat and gray cloak. His haggard face told of a night spent in wrest- ling with some great theological problem, for Goodman was a rigid Calvinist, and spared not himself while there was a Hell to shun. Goody Bascombe came from the east, a sweet- souled, pious woman, with traces of suffering on her kindly face. By a quarter past ten nearly every wor- shipper was in his seat, the women on one side of the center aisle, the men on the other. It would never do for the sexes to sit together at church. There might be an amorous pas- 46 THE REGICIDES. sage taking place when the most impor- tant word of the whole sermon was being spoken. Think of it, ye who dare ! Salva- tion Brown and Priscilla Jones might be slyly clasping hands and looking ineffable tender- ness into each other's eyes at the very moment when the minister was uttering his "tenthly!" Behind the pulpit sat the teaching elders, grave, reverend and learned. In front of them sat the ruling elder. In front of him sat Deacon Peck and his fellow deacons. The remainder of the congregation was seated according to social rank, the front seats on either side being assigned to the worshipful governor and his famity. Those unfortunates whose station in life did not entitle them to be called goodman or goodwife sat as they might near the door. Thus were the poor in purse and the humble in station left to reflect on the class distinctions that were made in the name of the Carpenter's Son. At precisely half past ten the Reverend Master Davenport walked slowly over, by his private path, wearing the ministerial gown and bands, and took his seat behind the desk. The congregation rose and remained standing as he passed. He removed his hat as he en- THE REGICIDES. 47 tered the door, and after reaching the pulpit donned a small round black cap. The min- ister was a man of marked presence. Tall, slender almost to emaciation, a pale, student- like face, wearing a snow-white moustache and slight chin-beard, the gift of real elo- quence upon his lips, a subtle personal force that defied inattention, a spotless life it is little wonder that the parish of Saint Stephen in London mourned his loss, and pleaded for his return. As soon as the minister had taken his seat, the squad of soldiers on duty for the day left their post outside, entered the house with martial tread, and occupied three seats on either side of the center aisle, near the door. Then the roll of drums in the tower ceased, and the drummers descended noiselessly to their seats. For a few moments there was a -solemn stillness in the room, broken only by the occasional coughing of the schoolmaster's daughter. Everyman's breath showed white on the frosty air, his ears tingled, his nose was red with the cold, his feet were like cakes of ice ; yet for an hour and a half he was to stoically endure all for his soul's sake. The minister rose and prayed earnestly for a few minutes, while the congregation stood 48 THE REGICIDES. with bowed heads. Then all remained stand- ing during the reading of the scripture by the ruling elder. Following this, a psalm was sung, each stanza being first dictated* by the elder. These exercises being concluded, the minister read the bills, or notices. First he read the bans of Godfear Ailing and Humility Punderson, and demanded to know if any man had aught to say why these two should not be made one. Then a bill for prayers on behalf of sundry persons about to take a long sea voyage. Goodwife Chapman desired prayers to aid her in a speedy recovery from the effects of a broken limb. Goodman Thomas returned thanks per bill that he had enjoyed a successful business trip to Bos- ton. The reading of the bills being concluded, the people rose and remained standing while the minister announced the following text : "Hide the outcasts, bewray not him that wandereth : let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab ; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler." The Reverend John Davenport was never more earnest than upon that day. For more than an hour he talked, and as he talked the * Sometimes called " lining: " and " deaconing." THE REGICIDES. 49 tears ran down his face, though he was far from being an emotional man. There seemed to be an agony in his soul as he pleaded, in Christ's name, for those who were outcasts and exiles for conscience's sake. " Brethren," he began, " it is a weighty matter to read let- ters and receive intelligence in them concern- ing the state of the churches. You need to lift up your hearts to God, when 3-011 are about to read your letters from our native country, to give you wisdom and hearts duly affected, that you may receive such intelli- gence as you ought ; for God looks upon every man, in such cases, with a jealous eye, observing with what workings of bowels they read or speak of the concernments of his church. * * * * The Christian Hebrews are exhorted to call to remembrance the for- mer days in which, after they were illumi- nated, they endured a great fight of afflic- tions, partly whilst they were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly whilst they became companions of them that were so used. Let us do likewise, and own the reproached and persecuted people and cause of Christ in suffering times. "Withhold not countenance, entertainment, and protection from such, if they come to us 50 THE REGICIDES. from other countries, as from France, or Eng- land, or any other place. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. " Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, and them who suffer adver- sity, as being yourselves also in the body. The I,ord required this of Moab, saying, ' Make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday ' that is, provide safe and comfortable shelter and refreshment for my people in the heat of persecution and opposi- tion raised against them ; ' hide the outcasts, bewray not him that wandereth : let mine out- casts dwell with thee, Moab ; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler.' Is it objected, but so I may expose myself to be spoiled or troubled ? He, therefore, to remove this objection, addeth, ' For the danger is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth ; the tread ers down are consumed out of the land.' While we are attending to our duty in owning and har- boring Christ's witnesses, Cod will be provid- ing for their and our safety, by destrojdng those that would destroy his people." * When the minister sat down and covered his face with his hands, there were many *See Appendix A. THE REGICIDES. 51 moist eyes in the house. The kind heart of Goody Bascombe fairly ached. It was well for her composure that the voice of Deacon Peck soon caught her attention. The dea- coii had risen in his seat behind the pulpit, and in a firm voice was saying, " Brethren of the congregation, now there is time left for the contribution ; wherefore, as God hath prospered you, so freely offer." Then the magistrates went forward, one at a time, in order of age, and deposited their contribution in the wooden box held by Deacon Peck. The rest of the congregation, according to rank, came forward and gave, some money, some small articles of value, some a written promise, and some laid more bulky contribu- tions on the platform at the deacon's feet. Then another psalm was sung, the minister invoked a blessing, and the people were dis- missed for the morning. It was not until they began to move that the worshippers realized how much they were benumbed by the cold. The villagers and their friends hastened at once to their homes, where frozen toes might be thawed at huge fireplaces, and hot beverages would quicken the circulation. Those from a distance re- 52 THE REGICIDES. paired to their "Sabbada-housen," and pro- ceeded to rekindle the dying embers at the foot of the rude chimneys. " A most powerful sermon," said Richard Sperry, as he broke some dry sticks across his knee and cast them into the fire. " Mas- ter Davenport is a man of large heart. I verily believe he would harbour one of the wandering judges of Charles the First, and trust to God for the consequences, were they to come in his way. There could be no higher test of his courage." "Yea, methinks he would do even more. He would shield them with his life, did he but deem it his duty," added the mistress in a tone of conviction. ' ' There could be no other way of shielding them," exclaimed her husband quickly. ' ' Know ye not that according to the laws of England one who harbours a traitor is guilty of high treason ? ' ' " And that means ? " " That his life pays the penalty ! " The cold lunch which had been brought with them was soon spread out iipon a rough bench. Joseph, who was so stiffened with cold and long sitting in one position that he wished Sunday came but once a year and THE REGICIDES. 53 Thanksgiving every week, rallied a little at the sight. In the other "Sabbada-housen " the ser- mon was principally discussed. It was generally agreed that never had Master Davenport spoken with such feeling and power. ' ' Christ himself must have spoken like that when he said, ' Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so to them,' " said one of the devout ones. "Yea," said another, "the spirit of the L,ord was upon him. It little excuses us if we go wrong under such spiritual guid- ance." ' ' But heard ye the coughing of the school- master' s little girl? " enquired a sympathetic Puritan mother. ' ' The poor child looked so pitiful as she sat there patiently and listened to words above her years. Saw ye how frail and sickly she looked ? ' ' " Ay," replied her companion, " I fear she is not long for this world. Her mother was young and delicate, and should never have left London for these hardships." " Of gentle birth, was she not? " "It is so said. Her heart was quite broken at leaving, but Master Marston said 54 THE REGICIDES. there could be no religious liberty in Eng- land, and she came with him." " No wonder the child droops, poor thing ! Her father hath no judgment of women. His should be made of sterner stuff. She hath been to meeting every Sunday this long winter, when she had better been nursed in bed with herb teas." ' ' Think ye not that we are too strict in the matter of a fire in the meeting-house ? Are we not killing these tender bodies that we may save their souls ? ' ' "Alack, I know not. I trow the seven pillars of the church know what is best, but for my part, I could worship just as sincerely if the house were not so bitter cold." The lunches were in due time finished, and there was another general spell of visiting which continued until the drumbeat for the afternoon service. This was less formal and more lengthy than the other, consisting prin- cipally of psalm singing and exhortation. At its close the sun hung low in the west. The villagers eagerly sought their convenient homes. The fanners and their families gath- ered once more about the "Sabbada-housen" fireplaces and tried to thaw themselves out. When they were thoroughly warmed, the THE REGICIDES. 55 tippets and wraps were adjusted, and each man helped wife and child to mount the pil- lion. Then slinging his gun over his shoul- der and climbing to the saddle, he set out for the distant farm-house. VI. At sundown the Puritan Sabbath was at an end, and according to custom, the good peo- ple of the village devoted the evening to rec- reation and dignified pleasures. At an early hour the Davenports dropped over to William Jones', across the way. It was an hospitable house to visit. Governor Eaton, who built it, was a man of wealth, the wealthiest of the colonists, and his fame as an entertainer had extended as far as his name was known. It was one of the grandest of the early colo- nial mansions, large, roomy, and elaborately furnished, and was one of the few houses in the country that contained a library. Nine- teen fireplaces gave forth warmth and cheer to those who were so fortunate as to be its guests. The minister was unusually weary after the taxing labors of the day. The arctic temper- ature of the meeting-house had told upon 56 THE REGICIDES. him less than upon those who were obliged to sit motionless, but the mental strain had been severe. In addition to his perpetual anxiety for the spiritual welfare of his people, his feelings had been wrought to a high pitch by the new responsibility which he felt had been laid upon him. The men with whom he had labored in England for a free church and pure politics were at that moment under his roof. They had been denounced as trai- tors by the jesting libertine who had suc- ceeded in gaining control of the government, after an implied promise that if made king he would pardon all political offenders. But true to the creed of the Stuarts, he had made the promise with the deliberate intention of breaking it, and the hand that was reached forth as if in friendship was suddenly raised to smite. The men who had fled for their lives, leaving all they possessed behind, looked for a short-lived monarclry. They confidently expected that the principles for which they fought and labored would soon triumph, as they had already done for a brief period. One of them Goffe had stood upon the very threshold of the English throne, and, like the great Oliver, might per- haps have had it for the asking. THE REGICIDES. 57 A few short months or years of kingly mis- rule, and they saw before them the rounding out of that great career of usefulness and honor which had been suddenly interrupted. In these men the minister saw, not traitors, but high priests of heaven, specially ordained to hasten its kingdom upon earth. As to his duty in shielding them from their enemies he never had a doubt. He well knew that in so doing he was placing his own life in jeopardy, but he felt that had he not done so, he would be a traitor to his own soul, and to a higher Power than the man who happened to sit upon the throne of England. It was with a sense of relief that he drew a chair in front of his friend Jones' fire, and for a time forgot the weariness and anxiety of the day. Young and pretty Mistress Jones had been chatting so pleasantly in the sitting-room with the minister's wife that she had for- gotten all about John and Abigail. ' ' Noted you where they went ? ' ' she asked, a little worried lest she had neglected her duty as a hostess. "They took off their things in the hall, and went toward the library. Perhaps I should learn if they are comfortable.'' 58 THE REGICIDES. "Fear not," replied Mistress Davenport, smiling. ' ' John is old enough to take care of himself, and ' ' she was about to say, "and of Abigail too," but thought it would not sound well. So she added, "and Abigail is a great reader ; she is most likely deep in a book somewhere." ' ' She seems to be fond of reading, ' ' returned Mistress Jones. ' ' What a pity there are no books in Branfofd ! " ' ' That is why she is with us over the win- ter, and on account of her mother's death. Master Pierson thought it best she should have a change, for the poor child was pining away for grief. And Master Pierson hath so few books that she cares for or could under- stand." ' ' It must be good to have her with you in that great house. I should find the winter evenings weary without my little daughter." " Ah, yes," sighed Mistress Davenport. ' ' I never had a daughter of my own, and I dread the day when she must go. She is as dear to the people here as she is to me. She never tires of doing good deeds, albeit they are at times a little troublesome. Since Goody Chapman broke her arm and cannot do much about the house, Abigail goes over THE REGICIDES. 59 and does her work, and reads to her, and sings so merrily with it all that Goody told me yesterday she blessed the Lord that she broke her arm, for she had never seen so much human sunshine in all her life." Mistress Jones could not rest until she had made sure the young folks were not dying somewhere of neglect. She went across the hall to the library. " Why, Tommy ! " she exclaimed, as she nearly ran over her ten- year-old son near the door. ' ' How you scared your poor old mother ! ' ' Tommy he was Tommy in that household, though in most New Haven homes he would have been Thomas kissed his mother's bright cheeks, and averred that owing to her ad- vanced years he would be more careful next time. 41 Saw you the Mistress Abigail and Master John?" she asked, looking with motherly fondness into the clear, honest eyes of her son. " They were here but shortly ago," replied Tommy, replacing his book on the shelf and taking down another. " Methinks they went toward the dining-room." But the dining-room had a single occupant, and that was little Mistress Jones. She sat 60 THE REGICIDES. deep in a chair, watching a log that had nearly burned through. It seemed to be quite a problem whether the two ends would finally drop outside the andirons, or pitch for- ward into the bed of glowing coals. She was studying the question with a seriousness worthy of her eight years. ' ' Of what is my little Puritan thinking ? ' ' queried the mother, bending over the child's shoulder. " Only of the fire, mother," replied the child. " It seems that I should never tire of watching it. There they go ! " With a quick snap the burning log broke, and the ends tumbled inward, scattering the live coals and quickening the blaze. ' ' I knew it must fall in! " The mother had pressed her face close against her daughter's, when she heard a sound of mingled laughter coming from the kitchen. She listened a minute to make sure of the direction, then went to the door. John was sitting on a settle at one side of the fire- place, and directly opposite on another sat Abigail. They manifested few symptoms of being in a state of dissolution through any- body's neglect. At that moment, though, both were silently gazing into the fire. THE REGICIDES. 61 " Oh, you runaways! " said Mistress Jones with an air of mock severity, as she stood in the doorway, " I have been looking for you from the top of the house to the bottom ! ' ' ' ' Too bad ! ' ' said John good naturedly. 1 ' Had you but begun at the bottom we might have saved you much climbing of stairs." The mistress smiled at her own exaggera- tion. " Strange you should expect to find us at the top of the house," said Abigail laughing. "It would not be half so romantic as this." "Hear the Puritan maiden talk of ro- mance! " exclaimed John. "Mistress Jones, thou shouldst chide her for such levity. I fear she hath been reading those forbidden plays of Will Shakespeare. Father hath a copy that he keeps somewhere out of sight, away from the young folks." "And he bids you read them not ? ' ' queried the mistress. "Not quite so. He says they are the work of a true poet, a great master of expression, but that they show some sides of human nature that had best not be dwelt upon." "Thanks," said Mistress Jones, as John remained standing, " I will not sit. I only 62 THE REGICIDES. feared thou wert neglected, and I could not think of spoiling so pretty a picture." They did make an interesting picture as they sat there on the quaint old settles, with the firelight playing over their happy faces. ' ' But wilt thou not come to the parlor ? ' ' ' ' Are we needed ? ' ' ' ' Nay, but thou wilt be very welcome. " John looked at Abigail, and Abigail looked at the fire. ' ' Came you solely on our account ? " " Solely," with a little laugh. ' ' Then wilt thou accept our thanks and allow us to remain here ? ' ' " Certes, an thou art comfortable." " We are quite resigned." Mistress Jones paused a moment as she left the kitchen, to look back at the picture of happy youth. Could it be true that but a dozen years had passed since she had occu- pied that same settle on a certain Sabbath evening and listened to a certain sweet story ? The minister and his friend had been sit- ting perhaps an hour when a servant an- nounced that a man desired to see Master Davenport at home on important business. A noticeable paleness settled on the minister's face as he received the summons. What it THE REGICIDES. 63 might be no one realized more fully than his host. "Send for me if needful," said William Jones, as he helped his friend to don his cloak. " I shall be in readiness to respond." Master Davenport grasped his hand, but said not a word. " Wilt thou return ? " asked Mistress Dav- enport, as he passed by the sitting-room door. " I think so," was the cautious reply, and with a peculiar look at his wife, such as one takes before going on a long journey, he left the house and walked rapidly across the Street. When he reached his own door it was with a sigh of relief that he recognized a no more formidable person than Jonathan Meigs. A few hurried words explained his mission. "Nay, I must not be seen," said Meigs, in response to an invitation to enter the house. "I have notified Master Gilbert, and he will soon be here. Is there aught that I can say by way of return message ? ' ' "Nothing," replied the minister, after thinking a minute. " Yes, say that we will endanger no one except ourselves if it can be helped." 64 THE REGICIDES. " It shall be done," said Meigs fervently, and in another instant he was gone. The first thing the minister did on going to his study was to call his servant and send for Master Jones. He then dropped into a chair and became absorbed in thought. "Well, it hath come at last," he said, as his friend entered the room. "What?" " Two officers have arrived at Guilford with the king's warrant." "When?" " They reached there late Friday evening, and but a moment after the others had left. It was a narrow escape." " How is it that they are still there ? " "Iveete hath managed well. The warrant was poorly worded. He declined to issue a special warrant for this jurisdiction until he had consulted with Gilbert. That he cannot postpone longer than Monday, which is to- morrow. It will have to be issued. That cannot be avoided. So whatever is done must be done quickly." ' ' But Gilbert must not be here when he comes," said Jones, after a moment's reflec- tion. " If he cannot find Gilbert how can he consult with him ? ' ' THE REGICIDES. 65 " That must be seen to. Gilbert will soon be here. There is his step, now." They listened a few seconds, then the min- ister slipped quietly down to the door. He soon reappeared with the magistrate, and made the case known to him. " It will pain me much to disappoint the governor," said Gilbert, finally, "but certain persons in Fairfield have my word that I will be with them by eleven of the clock to-mor- row. I must needs start early to keep the appointment." A smile of joy lit up the minister's troubled face. "That means one more day," he said, " and in that time all may be saved. In the meantime what shall we do ? " "It hath occurred to me," said Jones, "while anticipating just this condition of affairs, that were our friends to hide them- selves on West Mountain they could safely defy every messenger in the king's service." "But the weather," interposed the minis- ter. " It is yet too severe, especially for Gen- eral Whalley.* He is very feeble since the ride of Friday night." * Whalley and Goffe each held the rank of major-general. 66 THE REGICIDES. " I had thought of that," returned Jones, " but the April sun will soon be shining, and that will answer for old campaigners, I feel sure. Meantime, there is a fireplace in the corner of my mill at the foot of the mountain. When the miller hath gone for the night they can go there and sleep. It will not be luxu- rious living, but it is better than having one's existence entirely cut off." " I fear for the older man," said the minis- ter, whose humane instincts were far keener than those of self-preservation, "yet it may be God's will. What think you of the plan, Master Gilbert?" ' ' Excellent, ' ' replied the magistrate. ' ' The mill hath a comfortable corner, as I well know, for many a time have I stood there to get warm after a long ride. It will be safe if well managed. But how about provisions ? Can they be successfully conveyed without dis- cover;,- ? It seemeth to me that there will rest the difficulty." " That can be arranged," said Jones. King Charles the Second of England," replied Brockton with some degree of importance. "I scarcely approve their errand," said the magistrate curtly. ' ' They should have some- thing better to do." " They be most worthy traders, your honor, to whom this special and important mission hath been entrusted. They are held in high esteem in Boston, where they are well known. The governor's commission showeth that he hath great confidence in them." Master Treat gravely studied the fire for several minutes. "Think ye, Master Brockton, that the hunting of these two noble men for the sole purpose of putting them to death is a very- honorable mission ? " he inquired finally, looking the constable steadily in the eye. Brockton's face fell, and he avoided the honest gaze of the magistrate. "But their mission is a lawful one. It hath been ordered by the king himself." " Many wicked deeds are done daily, Mas- ter Brockton, in the name of the law." " It is not for the subject to question the order of his king." 134 THE REGICIDES. "Ay," said the magistrate, his wrath ris- ing, " and what is the motive of the king but to gratify a low revenge ? These men can do him no harm. They are engaged in no con- spiracy for his overthrow. They have done one of the noblest acts in all history, in show- ing the world that tyrants can no longer trample on the rights of the people. They had no wish for Charles Stuart's life. They spent years in trying to bring him to his senses, but he would not come. They told him if he would but regard the rights of the people in a few particulars even, they would support him right royally as their king. He promised everything they asked, and more, only to break every promise and laugh in their faces. They tried him again and again until they saw there was no truth in Charles Stuart, no hope for better things. The nation was rent with civil war, a war in which a king was trying to crush his own people. There was no alternative but to arrest this man and try him like any other criminal. These noble patriots knew what they were doing ; they knew they might be sacrificing everything they possessed for the good of England, and they did. They threw their wealth, their position, their homes and fami- THE REGICIDES. 135 lies, even their lives, on the altar of their country when they set their hands and seals to that death warrant. Their execution by him who claims to have the welfare of Eng- land at heart would be naught but cold- blooded murder. No, Master Brockton, I do not think I can help ye ! " The magistrate grew excited as he spoke, and the constable knew he was voicing the sentiment of nearly every person in the colo- ny. Brockton realized the awkwardness of his own position, but his natural instincts as a man-hunter, and the prospect of a hand- some reward in case of success, were more than he could withstand. He saw no further hope of getting assistance from this quarter > and rose to depart. ' ' I am sorry your honor finds it not agree- able to release these honest gentlemen. Should anything serious happen, I suppose it will be proper for me to report your refusal, and the grounds on which it was made, to the authorities at Boston. I beg ye to remember, Master Treat, that these two officers of the king are under your special protection at this moment. If ye refuse to save their lives when it might be done, remember what I have told ye if serious consequences result." 136 THE REGICIDES. But the magistrate did not hear. He was walking up and down the room with his hands behind him, thinking over a phase of the case that had not been presented. He suddenly stopped before the constable, who stood looking into the fire. ' ' Wait ye here until I can go and consult with a friend. Perhaps we can do something for ye after all." Brockton resumed his seat while the mag- istrate buttoned his coat and reached for his cap. " I shall return in half an hour," said Mas- ter Treat as he closed the door behind him and left his caller to his own thoughts. Master Treat went directly to the house of the village minister. He had dined there that day with the two fugitives, and knew he would receive wise counsel. When he ar- rived he found Master Tompkins, a neighbor and a man of discretion, sitting with the min- ister. After a short consultation it was con- sidered best to help the two officers out of their predicament. "The colony will be well rid of them," said the minister, as the magistrate rose to leave, "and some harm might befall them were they left in the hands of the Indians." THE REGICIDES. 137 ' ' Methinks the generals will not miss them," said Master Tompkins, with a signifi- cant glance at the others. " Let them go." The magistrate returned to his own house, and after promising Brockton the desired assistance in the morning, offered him hos- pitality for the night. In a few minutes the guest was fast asleep, dreaming of a paradise where no obstacles were thrown in the con- stabulary pathway, and where on the coach of the Lord High Constable flashed the glit- tering arms of Brockton. XIII. On the northwest corner of the market- place, among a few straggling remnants of primeval forest, stood the school-house. Here Jonathan Marston ' ' Old Mars, the god of war," as he was called by his affec- tionate pupils reigned supreme. The soci- ety here assembled represented the only absolute monarchy within the limits of the original purchase. Everywhere else the individual was sovereign, and the executive was nothing but the symbol of the universal will. Here there was but one will, and that was the all-powerful will of Jonathan Mars- 138 THE REGICIDES. ton. He ruled his small kingdom with, a rod of iron, supplemented by a long rod of pliant birch. No child that was entrusted to his tutelage was ever spoiled by too great a spar- ing of that rod. Sometimes, when a boy of studious inclinations so mastered his lesson that the severest cross-examination could not shake him, he was rewarded by a kind word, and held up as an example to his less fortu- nate fellows, who were always in an over- whelming majority. But nothing like a smile ever lit up his terrible countenance, ex- cept when some luckless offender felt his iron grip about the collar, and then it was the grin of the ogre who gloats over the writh- ings of a new victim. This picture of Jonathan Marston is not meant to be severe, it is meant to be simply true. He was not cruel by nature. He cer- tainly was not sympathetic, but his instincts were thoroughly kind. The severity of Pur- itan discipline acting on a melancholy tem- perament had made him what he was. DUTY, spelled with capital letters, and still further enlarged by the magnifying glass of current doctrine, was his rule of life. Pleas- ures he had none. He had seen a kingdom brought to ruin through a too great de- THE REGICIDES. 139 votion to pleasure. The realities of this life and the next were too stern to admit of any trifling. The delight he apparently took in flogging a boy was not from any hatred of the boy himself, but of the sin that was in him. He was simply casting out devils, and he thought they might take up a permanent abode somewhere in the anatomy if it were not frequently beaten, as we beat a carpet to drive out the dust. He was, perhaps, a fair type of the extreme Puritan of his time, stern, unyielding, unlovely and unloving, so affected by the follies of the English aristoc- racy that he must needs go to the other ex- treme and have no pleasures at all. Jonathan Marston's school-house was in keeping with his character. It was severely plain, without luxuries of any sort, and con- tained nothing but the barest necessities. It was built of logs. To the left, on entering, was a platform raised a few inches from the floor, and on this stood the master's table. Just back of this table and supported by two wooden pegs driven between the logs, lay a pile of birchen goads, symbols of scholastic authority. On the table lay a pile of freshly sharpened goose-quills. At the rear of the room was a rude stone 140 THE REGICIDES. fireplace filled with blazing logs, for the weather was still cold. Between the door and the fireplace was a broad aisle with a row of low benches on either side. The little boys sat in front, and there was a regular gradation back to the overgrown bumpkins who occupied the rear seats. The girls got but little learning, and this at the dame school kept by Mistress Thorpe. Marston's laws were as numerous and in- flexible as those of the Medes and Persians. There was a law against whispering, another against looking off the book, one against hitching about on the bench, no matter how hard it became after sitting on it for several hours, one against asking for a drink of water except in case of hiccoughs, one loaded with dire penalties in case of failure to toe the mark when reading or spelling, and dozens more that will occur to those whose imagina- tions may have been touched by scholastic ''rules." But laughing ! A boy might whisper if he would, or he might look off his book when Marston dropped a stick of wood ; he might do a score of ordinary reprehensible things, but laugh never ! There was one incident, however, in the THE REGICIDES. 141 memory of those present on this particular morning, the recollection of which made it hard for the boys to refrain from smiling ; and smiling was laughing, only a good deal worse, for it implied a secret desire to laugh, and that was of the very essence of the offense itself. It was a trifle more than a year since a little boy by the name of Klihu Yale, a cousin of Tommy Jones, had suddenly burst out laughing one day when the schoolroom was wrapt in almost deathly stillness. EHhu had fairly roared for a minute or two at some humorous reminiscence that had popped into his mind, and then recollecting where he was, and seeing the terrible face of ' ' Old Mars ' ' glaring at him, he had held his breath for an instant, and then began to cry as loudly as he had laughed. It was one of those strange nervous reactions that are sometimes ob- served, though not so easily accounted for. It was like suddenly reversing an electric current. Marston had walked down the aisle and taken poor Elihu by the collar, and marched him to the platform, where he laid him across the pedagogical knee and played a tune upon him. Zeke Pendleton, the best boy in school, 142 THE REGICIDES. was on this morning allowing his thoughts to wander toward this incident. Zeke knew that while Tommy was Elihu's cousin, he was always visibly affected but not to tears by the recollection. To-day he was seized with the impulse to bring the scene to Tommy's mind. He quietly took his slate, and with all the gravity of a searcher after mathematical truth, proceeded to draw the mirth-provoking picture. He had turned the corners of " Old Mars' ' mouth up, and was turning those of poor Eli- hu's down, when Tommy caught sight of it. An explosion followed. Instantly every eye was turned toward Tommy , whose face suddenly became blanched, and then toward the master. Jonathan Marston rose from his seat at the table and stepped to the edge of the platform. "What does this mean, sir?" he de- manded, in a voice that struck terror to the soul of the culprit. " Nothing," answered Tommy faintly. "Nothing! " thundered the master. "Is it nothing to break one of the rules of this school ? Is it nothing to waste the golden moments you spend here in levity? Come here, sir ! " THE REGICIDES. 143 Tommy rose and staggered against the bench. His strength seemed to have left him, but he slowly forced his steps toward the platform. "Stand there! " Tommy stood still while Marston reached for a goad. ' ' Do you realize what such conduct means? " he demanded, when he had braced himself. "No, sir," truthfully answered Tommy, who laughed at anything funny for the same reason that birds sing in the early morning and the roses blossom in the June sunshine. "Well, I will try and show you. You should know, sir, that levity is the curse of this earth. It brings men to folly and king- doms to ruin. Did you know, sir, that indul- gence in laughter and kindred follies brought the king of England to the block a dozen years ago, and his country to ruin? " "No, sir." "Well, it did; and I saw the unhappy king laugh in the faces of his judges when he was on trial for his life ; and your grand- father, sir, was one of the judges. That ex- ample should have taught you better. Now what is the curse of this earth ? ' ' 144 THE REGICIDES. " Laughter," feebly murmured Tommy. " Yes, and a lack of seriousness in youth will bring gray hairs to your father, and an early grave to your mother. ' ' Tommy could have endured Marston's anger and its consequences without flinching, but at this reference to his beloved parents he completely broke down. "Charles the First," continued Marston, with an almost savage delight in the boy's tears, "was a scoffer and given to levity, lyike you he probably laughed in school when he should have been developing a sober char- acter. If you cannot profit by these exam- ples, I must give you such a lesson as you will remember. Have you anything to say for yourself, sir ? " The culprit stood with his arm over his eyes, that the scholars might not see his tears. "Ze-Ze-Ze-Zeke ! " sobbed Tommy, who was so overwhelmed with grief and mortifica- tion that he did not know what he was saying. " What about Ezekiel, sir? " 4 ' Nothing, on-on-on-only Ze-Ze-Ze-Zeke did-did-didn't laugh ! " Tommy had recovered his mental and moral equilibrium. "Of course Ezekiel did not laugh. He THE REGICIDES. 145 lias a more serious purpose in life than that, sir." Zeke was a studious boy who always had good lessons. He was a favorite with the master. ' ' He is an honor to his parents. He will grow up to be a useful member of society, perhaps a governor or a judge, while you who can foretell to what depths of infamy you may descend if you persevere in your way- wardness ? ' ' (Squirms and inward groans from Zeke, who is tempted to rise and confess that he is the real sinner.) " Now, sir, take off your jacket." One garment was removed, leaving the boy's tender flesh but thinly separated from the cruel birch. Then Marston seized his pupil by the collar and flogged him until there was nothing left of the goad except the heavy butt. The boys looked on with hard faces, except one or two who leered out of sheer depravity. Tommy uttered not a sound during the ordeal, and when it was over he walked to his bench and buried his face in his hands. Zeke leaned over to comfort him, but the master's eye was upon him. 146 THE REGICIDES. " Ezekiel, attend to your lessons ! Thomas Jones is not a fit associate for you." This was too much for Zeke. He rose in his place, though Tommy tried to hold him down. " Master Marston," said he, " it was I who made Tommy laugh. He couldn't help it." Jonathan Marston was dumbfounded. It was his favorite scholar who had trans- gressed, and for the first time. But there was HO strain of weakness in this man, whose sole rule of life was DUTY- Had it been his own sickly little daughter it would have been the same. He called Zeke to him, read the customary lecture, and administered the flog- ging with no abatement of energy. About the middle of the afternoon there was a commotion out of doors in the vicinity of the school-house. Marston went to the door, and soon learned the cause. A look of keen satisfaction overspread his features as he returned to his place at the table. "Scholars," he said, after clearing his throat, "there is to be an important lesson administered outside. Not the least of the valuable things to be learned at school is self- control. There is too little of it. Men are too apt to spare the flesh and allow the soul THE REGICIDES. 147 to sink to degradation. They do not learn the lesson in youth as they should. They spend their time in laughing, in gamboling like calves, in playing at useless games, and idly strolling about. They demean them- selves as though there were nothing in this life or the next worthy of serious attention. Such gross blindness to the better things of life is born of Sathan." He paused a moment to let this piece of wisdom sink deep into the youthful minds, and then continued. ' ' We had an example this morning of what idleness and a spirit of frivolity bring about. This afternoon we are to be favored with a still more striking illustration of the results of folly. Learn ye the lesson well, for woe be unto him that heareth but listeneth not ! "The scholars will now pass out in order, and take their places on the north side of the school-house. See to it that ye profit by what ye there witness." When the master had finished, he stepped to the door and stood while his charges filed solemnly out and took places as directed. It was the custom of Jonathan Marston to thus address his school once or twice a week, then marshal them outside to observe the 148 THE REGICIDES. administration of the laws at the public whip- ping post. He held it to be an essential part of every one's education to see with his own eyes the results of sin, and to know and feel that the way of the transgressor is hard. " God is a God of justice, and not of mercy," he used to sometimes say before an occasion of this kind. "So surely as the fire burns your finger when put in the flame, just so surely will retribution follow for every act of sin." And yet Jonathan Marston was thoroughly kind at heart. He preached jus- tice because he believed in it, and cried out upon mercy because he thought it engendered weakness of character. ' ' When you do a thing, do it prepared to take the conse- quences," was a favorite maxim of his. Yet while he taught so diligently the law of cause and effect, he was as persistent in claiming that everything was foreordained from the foundation of the earth. If a baby tripped and bumped his nose, he would say that the accident had been foreordained for some wise purpose, perhaps to aid somehow in the de- velopment of the juvenile's character. If the season were so dry (or so wet) as to prove damaging to the crops, he would make that the subject of a lecture and call it a divine THE REGICIDES. 149 judgment upon the people of New Haven for their sins; and if some bright youngster ven- tured to suggest cause and effect as a solu- tion of the weather question, Marstoii would say the subject was really too deep for young people to understand. When the scholars found themselves stand- ing in line against the north side of the school-house, they saw an unusually large crowd of people assembled. It seemed as though the inhabitants of the town had come together for some important celebration. The whipping-post, a large tree-trunk a dozen or more feet high, stood perhaps six rods north of the school-house. About three feet from the ground was a stout rope, the ends of which, after three or four coils about the post, hung dangling. Above this, and high enough to clear a man's head, was a small platform, which was reached by means of a ladder. On a level with this platform were two cross-beams, one stationary, and the other so arranged as to slip up and down. At the place where they met were two round holes perhaps two feet apart and five or six inches in diameter. This combination was called the " stocks," and small offenders were often seated on the platform for hours at a time, 150 THE REGICIDES. with their feet sticking through the holes in the beams, exposed to the derision of the people. Four or five feet above this was a similar device, only the two holes were smaller, and there was a larger one between to receive the neck of the person thus honored by tempo- rary prominence. This was the "pillory," and firmly clasped in its embrace were the neck and wrists of a woman. She was pour- ing forth a torrent of epithets and abuse up- on the governor and the magistrates and on mankind in general, while the crowd stung her into continued activity by repeated jeers and insolence. "Goody Beasley," said a young man, step- ping up to the foot of the pillory and placing his arms akimbo, ' ' thy husband saith thou art an angel of silence, and not a common scold. He is so attached to thee that he would fain be with thee even now. Behold him com- ing !" The additional humiliation of seeing her husband led toward the whipping .post set Goody's tongue running faster than ever. She spat in the young man's face before he could retire, and bestowed upon him a string of epithets more biting than printable. THE REGICIDES. 151 Beasley was tied fast to tlie post and stood with hanging head while the magistrate in charge announced the crime for which the culprit was about to be punished, and the nature and amount of the punishment. The strong- armed constable dealt nine-and- thirty blows of the whip upon Beasley's trembling back. They were not the hardest that he could deal when occasion required. He knew Beasley was weak and inoffensive, and did not seem to think the episode with "Goodman Barnes his horse " a very flagrant affair. He moreover pitied the man whose childish and shrinking nature was driven to desperation so often by the venomous tongue of the town scold. Beasley seemed relieved when the whipping- was over, and took his place in the crowd to watch subsequent proceedings. "James Stenton!" called the magistrate, and the defiant James was led forward by two constables. " For lighting a pipe in the public street, one hour in the stocks," announced the magistrate solemnly. Goody Beasley was in the way of promptly executing the sentence, but with a horrible grin she offered to give way if it were any ac- 152 THE REGICIDES. commodation to Master Stenton. Goody was allowed to come down, and James climbed to the little platform, assisted the officer to ad- just his ankles to the stocks, then set his audience in a roar by his foolish grimaces as he attempted to smile and look unconcerned. " Abner Welton, profane language, twenty lashes !" said the magistrate as the next culprit was led to the whipping-post. Abner was a sober and thrifty artisan who had recently brought some valuable tools from England. A fellow workman had claimed some of them, and there was a dispute where- in the claimant was politely requested to hie himself to the Adversary. Whereupon there was a complaint made to the magistrates that Welton had been guilty of using profane lan- guage. Abner took his twenty lashes in silence, then went to look for his enemy. Israel Bodman, who came next, was a pitiful piece of humanity. He was lean, rag- ged, dirty looking, and snake-like in his movements. His eyes, too, had now and then a gleam and glitter like those of a serpent. His fingers were long and claw-like. They had reached by stealth into the purse of a poor workwoman who was feeding him in THE REGICIDES. 153 her kitchen. The officer threw off his coat and bared his arm for a freer play of his power- ful muscles. The contemptible scoundrel at the post writhed and squirmed like a python in the toils, while the nine-and-thirty vigorous blows were being rained upon his back, then slunk away out of sight. "Will Harding and Martha Malbon!" called the magistrate, with as much apparent unconcern as though it were a stranger and not his own daughter whose doom he was an- nouncing. Harding took his punishment without a word, and left the place. There was a look of terror in Martha's eyes as she was led through the crowd, a look that some- times comes into the eyes of drowning people when all hope is gone. When she came to where her father stood she broke away from the constables who were leading her and threw herself at his feet. He turned away, and Martha was carried half fainting to the cruel post. Her hands were tied, but she was un- able to stand, and fell on her knees. Even the stern-browed Puritan who held the fatal whip shrank from the task before him. ' ' Officer, do thy duty ! ' ' commanded the magistrate, in whom the father had sunk com- pletely out of sight. But long before the 154 THE REGICIDES. blows had ceased the delicate and sensitive victim had swooned. Jonathan Marston reassembled his scholars, and the work of the school-room was resumed. At four o'clock he bade his pupils rise. " You have learned some valuable lessons this day," he said. " See to it that they are not forgotten." And with that affectionate pedagogical in- junction the school was dismissed. XIV. Goffe's plan for outwitting the pursuers, notwithstanding the fact that its boldness somewhat staggered those who were in the secret, proved a complete success. It con- sisted in appearing openly in the streets, with all the indications of being travelers on their way to Manhattan ; then turning into the woods a little below Milford, and returning to the house of Mr. Davenport under cover of night. So successfully was the scheme car- ried out that no question entered the minds of Brockton and his companions concerning it. Those three worthies, after Kellond and Kirke had been liberated by the intercession of the magistrate, continued their journey THE REGICIDES. 155 southward, confident of capturing their men in Manhattan, if, indeed, they did not over- take them on the way. They were baffled for a time by not finding any trace of the fleeing generals below Milford, but this was easily accounted for by the keen-scented Brockton. "It's as plain as a sum in addition," was his reflection upon the situation. "These men may be knaves, but they are not fools. They must know we would follow as soon as we learned they were abroad. Nobody but an idiot would travel by day and thus leave a plain track behind. I tell ye they were on the road all night, and ye will find they never stop until they get to Manhattan, and we a day behind them. Ye can stake money on my opinion. I go slow, but when I put my foot down I know whether it's on a rock or in the mud." Sure enough, Brockton seemed capable of solving every problem, for while not a trace was to be found of the generals during the day, just at nightfall they came upon a de- serted Indian camp and found an old brave who had seen two horsemen gallop by in the early morning. "Didn't I tell ye so ?" said Brockton, look- 156 THE REGICIDES. at his companions. "Ye don't fool an old bird with chaff!" The poor Indian was scarcely able to speak, but managed to answer a few questions with difficulty. The two Englishmen were aston- ished to find him there apparently abandoned, and with nothing but an old blanket and a low smoldering fire to protect him from the cut- ting wind. A dish of parched corn was his sole provision. Brockton explained that "it was but a common instance of the abandonment of old warriors by the tribe when they were no no longer able to bear their share of the bur- dens. Even the miserly Kellond was touched, and thrust his hand into his pocket for a coin. "Tell him to go to Manhattan and buy something," said Kirke, sarcastically, when he saw Kellond hand the money to the dying man. "It is only thirty miles, as Brockton telleth me, and he might like some comfits, or a painted kite! " Kirke then proceeded to the exercise of a more practical charity. He went to his saddle-bags and took a good quantity of provisions, and a small bottle of brandjr, which he carried to where the old warrior lay. But the Indian shook his head. ' ' Let the kind-hearted white man give me THE REGICIDES. 157 nothing," he said brokenly. " I do not need it. My people are gone to the great river called the Hudson, for it is better hunting there. I have lived and hunted and fought the enemies of my tribe for many moons. Now I am old and useless. This is the fate of all who do not fall in battle, and it is right. The old must not burden the young. It will not be long before this corn will be gone, and the fire will soon die out. Then I shall lie down to sleep, to wake in the happy hunting grounds. The Great Spirit has called me to my fathers, and I am glad to go." The simple faith and stoical resignation of the broken-down old brave moved his hearers deeply. Brockton felt a choke in his throat, and turned to tighten his saddle-girth. Kirke actually wiped away a tear, and Kel- lond really wished that a small sum of money might be of use. Brockton in particular was strongly affected, and as they rode along his thoughts turned to the nature of his errand to Manhattan. He thought of the noble men who were being pursued as the hound pur- sues the hare, but for the baser purpose of gain. What was he that he should dis- honor his manhood and sell the life of a fellow-man for gold ? A few years before 158 THE REGICIDES. he would have fallen on his knees in their presence. Then they were great and power- ful. He thought of the position of the minis- ter, who, he felt sure, had sheltered them at the risk of his life, and compared it with his own. He saw, as every man sometimes sees when he looks into his own heart, a picture that startled him. It made him shudder, but instead of using it as a means of redeeming his manhood, he tried to dismiss it as he would a nightmare ; and the flood of generous sentiment receded so far that even its echo was soon forgotten. They spurred their horses on as night fell, and when they reached Manhattan it was so late that they were obliged to rout a sleepy landlord before they could obtain accommo- dations. " Now," said Kellond, as they were eating their supper in the generous Dutch kitchen, " we shall have our men inside of twenty-four hours. There will be no ranting Puritans to hide them here. It is lucky we arrived in the night, Kirke, for we can steal a good march on 'em in the morning." " Thou art right, as I believe, Friend Kel- lond," replied Kirke. " They could not be seen abroad here without making a great con- THE REGICIDES. 159 trast to these fat and stupid Dutchmen. What think you, Brockton, will they live openly as in Boston, or will they try to hide their beggarly heads in some beer cellar ? ' ' " If they are here at all we shall find traces of 'em in the morning fast enough," said Brockton, and on that comforting decision they retired, snoring the night away like ver- itable Dutch burghers. At breakfast the next morning they took occasion to inquire whether two tall men of soldierly bearing had been seen in the town the night before. No one had seen them or heard of their arrival. Not even the land- lord, who maintained that he knew every- thing that was going on in the town, had any knowledge of them. ' ' They are lying low until they see wheth- er they are followed," said Brockton. ' ' They have doubtless heard of me in Guil- ford or New Haven, and know better than to show their heads at present. We shall get 'em, though, and we had better call on the governor at once and get a warrant. Then we will be ready for 'em." This seemed wise counsel, and the confi- dent manner of Brockton was greatly reassur- ing to his comrades. They were in high 160 THE REGICIDES. spirits when they settled their score and set out to find the mansion of the governor. His Excellency, Peter Stuyvesant, the worshipful governor of Nieu Amsterdam, as the town was sometimes called, lived close down to the water's edge in the Stadt Huys. It was a gloomy looking building, without much orna- mentation, and seemed built more for a ware- house than state receptions. A tall gallows- tree stood directly in front, as if to insure a cheerful frame of mind on the part of his worship. A windmill creaked and groaned in dismal tones as they came near the place, causing Brockton to look suddenly behind him. Perhaps he was thinking how nice it would be were he a constable of Nieu Am- sterdam and obliged to spend his nights in such a neighborhood ; but from the way he shuddered his companions thought differ- ently. They soon found themselves in a small waiting-room while their names were being announced. The interior was in striking contrast to what they had expected from a glance at the outside. The Stuyvesant man- sion was full of ceremony and official dignity, as became the executive headquarters of a colony of traders. It was quite different from. THE REGICIDES. 161 the plain and informal house of Governor I/eete up in Guilford. In a few moments the servant who had admitted them reappeared and said his worship would see them. Personally the executive was not so stiff and forbidding as they had been led to antic- ipate. As the)'- entered the reception-room they saw a rather large, heavy shouldered, gruff looking individual, whose appearance might have been extremely dignified had he not been the wearer of a wooden leg in the shape of a long slender stump. This was completely covered with silver ornaments, and seemed to be a matter of considerable pride with the governor. He received them kindly and bade them state their business. As they proceeded to unfold the nature of the offense with which the fugitives were charged, and the trouble experienced in get- ting a warrant in New Haven, all the old sol- dier feeling in the governor's breast revived. "Vat! "he cried, moving his stump ex- citedly about his chair in a semicircle, "are dese de men vat de Koenig's kopf off cut ?" "The same, sire. They most wicked^ ordered the good king to be beheaded," re- plied Kellond. " Den, niein Gott, I vill help you de dam 1 62 THE REGICIDES. rascals catch ! ' ' exclaimed Governor Stuy ve- sant, and without further parley he wrote an order directing his officers to report to him at once should ' ' de dam rascals ' ' show their heads in his jurisdiction. Their object accomplished, the trio uttered a profusion of thanks and compliments, and withdrew from the audience. Kellond and Kirke were so overjoyed that they actually hugged each other in the excess of enthusiasm. They probably would have embraced Brock- ton, but there was somewhat about that worthy constable repugnant to the idea of such affectionate demonstration. They rushed back to the tavern, however, and bade Brockton fill up on the best the house afforded. To this invitation he heartily re- sponded, for he had long wished to compare the beverages of the Dutchmen with good old New England flip. THE REGICIDES. 163 XV. It soon became evident that Whalley and Goffe were not concealed within the bounds of Nieu Amsterdam. The Englishmen were puzzled. It seemed to them that the fugi- tives must suddenly have vanished from the face of the earth. They rilled themselves day after day with Dutch beer, in a vain effort to clarify their reasoning powers, but each suc- ceeding day found them more befuddled than the last. Brockton, who confined his pota- tions principally to schnapps, seeing that deep drinking was incompatible with deep thinking, drank sparingly and thought con- stantly. The more he pondered the more he became convinced that they were on the wrong scent ; and he finally came to believe that the men had never left New Haven col- ony. Who had ever seen them after they left Milford ? There was the evidence of the old Indian, but he might have seen forty horsemen and not these. He communicated his views to his associates, and as a result, they called again at the executive mansion, paid their respects to the governor, and shook as much of Manhattan's mud as possible from their feet 1 64 THE REGICIDES. The April rains had made short work of the big snow-fall, and the roads were knee deep with slush and water. It was slow trav- eling at best, and the pursuers were in a fever of excitement over the thought that they had been outwitted. Their only aim was to get back to the colony, and that at the earliest possible moment. They did not even stop to bury the body of the old Indian, but after a brief survey left it as they found it. They noted that the dish of corn was substantially as when they saw it before, and concluded that the worn-out brave had starved himself to death that he might the sooner reach the happy hunting grounds. As soon as they reached New Haven they made inquiries at the tavern, but the aston- ished landlord could only say that his distin- guished guests had left a week before on their way to Manhattan. He had heard nothing of them since how could he ? There was plainly nothing to do but go to Guilford and demand a search warrant, and thither they bent their course. Governor L,eete was extremely affable when they arrived. He had quite recovered from his illness. ' ' We are obliged to request your honor to THE REGICIDES. 165 give us a warrant at once," said Kellond, as soon as the formal courtesies had been ex- changed. " It will give me great pleasure to call a meeting of the magistrates in the morning," said the governor, " and the matter will receive immediate attention. We began to think you had left the colony without com- pleting your errand." The two Englishmen exchanged glances. "Ahem! " said Kirke, after a moment's hesitation. ' ' We were suddenly called to Manhattan on private business of importance. ' ' The governor smiled, and after a few com- monplaces, the officers left and went to the tavern for the night. Brockton was in the tap-room, surrounded by the usual tavern con- tingent. At the moment his friends entered he was discoursing in a loud voice of his intimacy with the governor of Nieu Amster- dam. " They dp say he be terrible when in a rage," said Sam Barlow, puffing wisely at his pipe. " Ay, he is a great man," replied Brock- ton. " All great men have mighty tempers. I sometimes give way myself, under great provocation. But Pete gets right over it, 1 66 THE REGICIDES. and that is where the strength of the man shows itself. One night last week he and I were a settin' by his fireplace a drinkiir schnapps, when a man opens the door and walks right in without sayin' a word. Me and Pete was right in the middle of an important discussion, and it made him mad. Well, sir, he jumped up and kicked the fellow with first one foot and then the other till he whooped like an Indian. ' I'll larn ye manners, if ye be a Dutchman ! ' says Pete. ' Now git o' here, 'n go to the devil ! ' The fellow limped off, 'n Pete come back 'n says to me, ' Dan,' says he, ' I never let them little things trouble me after they are gone ; now tell me what you think about 'pintin' Deidrick Van Spittz- leheisen, to the office of ' but that was a state secret ; I don't s'pose Pete would want to have me mention it ; it was in confidence between us ; but it shows the kind of man he is, 'n what he thinks of me. Well, sir, what be you a-gapin' at? " Old Gaffer Simpson had been looking steadily at Brockton for some time. "Oh, nothing," replied Gaffer, "only it hath puzzled me to know how the governor could kick that man with both feet when he had but one to kick with." THE REGICIDES. 167 There is no telling how Brockton would have explained this extraordinary accom- plishment on the part of his friend " Pete," had not the two officers entered at that mo- ment. With a look of superiority that none but Brockton could assume, he disdainfully turned his back upon the company and paid his attention to the new-comers. XVI. The meeting of the magistrates was an event of unusual interest in the community. It had been noised about New Haven that the special messengers of the king were to be present, and long before the hour of sitting had come there was a crowd assembled in front of the house of Master Gilbert, where the session was to be held. "I prithee, tell me what manner of men they be," said a stripling from the farms. ' ' Come they in armor and carrying a lance ? ' ' ' ' Nay, not like that, ' ' replied a man with a peaked hat and brown cloak. " Morelike they wear plumes in their hats, and swords at their sides. I know not whether they ba knights or no until they have appeared." 1 68 THE REGICIDES. " It seemeth that they expect to find the two generals hidden somewhere in the town," said another. " Every body knows that they went to Manhattan a week ago." "Be not so sure of that, ye fool!" ex- claimed Goody Godman, who had been tried for a witch. " Majrhap they did not go at all." If Goody's character had been entirely above reproach, her remark would doubtless have passed unnoticed ; but a trial for witch- craft, even if followed by an acquital, never left the unfortunate victim free from the terri- ble suspicion. Moreover, it was a matter of common knowledge that the evidence ad- duced at Goody's trial was far stronger than that which had hung people at Salem a short time before. Many thought the judges had erred in not convicting, and accused them of lacking courage ; but both Governor Eaton, who presided at the trial, and Master Daven- port, whose counsel was invoked, held that while witchcraft was a reality according to Scripture, it was not to be found except on the best of evidence. So Goody went free. But in view of her history this sudden burst of hers was considered particularly signifi- cant. Those who heard it exchanged mean- THE REGICIDES. 169 ing glances, and a child who stood near her moved a little farther off. ' ' I always held her to be a witch ! ' ' whis- pered an old crone. " How else could she know this ? ' ' "If it be true, the Devil hath told her," said another, eyeing Goody as she would the Evil One. "Oho, dames, be not too ready to con- demn," said he of the peaked hat, coining forward. " It is a terrible thing to be called a witch unless it be true ! ' ' "True!" exclaimed the crone. "What would ye have ? Did she not sour Mistress Hooke's beer, and it but one day old ? Did not one of Goody Thorpe's chickens die, and when they opened it was not its gizzard full of water and worms ? Do ye forget that Mis- tress Bishop fell into strange fits, and her ba- bies came dead into the world, and all because she had quarreled with Goody Godman? Didn't Master Nash's boy have a grave sick- ness the like of which the doctor had never seen ? Not a witch ! If this be not evi- dence, what d'ye want? "* "Ay," replied Goody's defender, "beer will sour, and chickens will die, and people * See Appendix 13. 1 70 THE REGICIDES. will have fits, and poor babies will be born dead, and the doctors may not understand their business but all that doth not make Goody Godman or anybody else a witch." The discussion was suddenly interrupted by the appearance of three horsemen ap- proaching from the east. Their dress was not so striking as the youth who had first spoken had expected, and he had grave doubts as to their identity. The foremost rider carried his head so high that there was danger of his toppling over backwards. A look of supreme self-content rested upon his hawk-like features. He appeared like some one whose prominent role afforded him the keenest satisfaction. In this person was soon recognized the all-knowing constable of Guilford. " Make way for the king's messengers ! " shouted Brockton pompously as they drew near, though everybody had made way al- ready. Their horses were taken by Master Gilbert's man, and the three entered the house. A little later the crowd saw Benja- min Fenn, one of Milford's magistrates, ride up. Then after a long wait they saw Gov- ernor L,eete approaching on horseback, ac- companied by Jasper Crane of Branford. THE REGICIDES. 171 The chief magistrate having arrived, the court assembled and announced its readiness to hear what the king's messengers had to propose. Kellond made a long address, con- sisting principally of murderous and unpro- voked assaults upon the King's English, and incidentally mentioning the object of their visit. Kirke followed briefly, but spoke long enough to misquote a couple of proverbs ; and then the two officers awaited the result of the hearing. The magistrates, with the exception of Matthew Gilbert, really knew nothing of the stratagem of Goffe, and were in absolute ig- norance of the whereabouts of the two men. Not even Governor Leete knew where they were. He preferred, for good and sufficient reasons, to remain ignorant. 1 ' Methinks the men ye seek are not now within the colony," said the chief magistrate, when the officers were done talking. "It appears that they left New Haven several days ago on a journey to the southward. Are you not taking unnecessary and prob- ably bootless measures to apprehend them here?" " May it please your honors, we have al- most certain knowledge that the fugitives are 172 THE REGICIDES. at this very moment within the reach of your warrant," said Kirke with some warmth. " Indeed, we have it on good authority that they are concealed in a certain house within the sound of my voice ! " " The charge you make is rather serious," replied Governor Leete. " What authority have you for that statement ? " " With all due respect to your honor, we much prefer not to make known the informa- tion which hath been given to us," said Kirke." The court held a long consultation without coming to any definite understanding as to w r hat course should be pursued. The papers upon which the two officers based their de- mand were so loosely drawn that some of the magistrates thought they ought not to be acted upon at all. Others thought that there could be no doubt as to their intent, and ad- vised honoring them. ' ' We cannot and will not make ) : ou magis- trates, to enter private residences against the wishes of their owners," said the governor, finally, " if that is what you desire us to do. We do not think your papers entitle you to make that request, nor do we consider that our duty to the people would permit it. ' ' THE REGICIDES. 173 " Then will your honors please to order some one else to make a search ? ' ' demanded Kellond, desperately. " I beg to assure your honors that you will incur the severest resent- ment of his majesty by disregarding his ex- press command." " We honor his majesty, but we have ten- der consciences," replied the governor, gravely. After a still further consultation of nearly three hours, the magistrates announced that they were ready to declare their decision. The officers thought they saw upon the faces of the court a more hopeful sign. ' ' We trust your honors have decided to do your duty in loyalty to his majesty," said Kellond, when the announcement had been made. " We are endeavoring to do our duty," retorted the governor, with some show of severity. ' ' We have taken oath to adminis- ter the laws of this colony according to our best understanding, guided by Divine Provi- dence, and we do not propose to exceed our authority if we can help it." "It is desirable to know whether you will own his majesty or no," exclaimed Kirke, in a threatening tone. 174 THE REGICIDES. ' ' It may be as important to know whether his majesty will own us," responded the gov- ernor dryly. It had been decided to issue a search-war- rant, not to Kellond and Kirke, as those wor- thies had hoped, but to some indifferent per- sons, who should be designated by the court. Much as they hesitated to take this step, the magistrates knew that failure to take action of some sort might result in the wholesale ruin of themselves and the prospects of the colony. They were well aware that at that moment the fate of the colony trembled in the balance. Governor I/eete dipped his pen and com- menced to write the warrant. The stillness of the room was broken only by the splutter- ing scratch of the magisterial goose-quill, when suddenly there was a commotion out- side which caused the governor to pause and look up. Through the window he saw the rugged form of Robert Treat, the Milford magistrate, towering above the crowd. In another moment Master Treat had entered the room, and it was immediately decided to acquaint him with the facts under considera- tion before proceeding further. ' ' It seemeth to me best to leave the whole THE REGICIDES. 175 matter to the General Court," said the new arrival, after some thought. " This question concerneth the whole people, and so long as this mandate is not expressly directed to us as magistrates of New Haven Colony, me- thinks we would do wrong to act without the express direction of the Court. We can call a special session, and have the whole question determined with but a little delay." Robert Treat's quiet remarks settled the matter. The court at once reassembled and announced its decision. The officers were dumbfounded. It was some time before they recovered their composure sufficiently to con- sult and make a suitable reply. ' ' We hope your honors have considered well this action, and are prepared to assume the consequences," said Kellond, finally, and after bowing low to the magistrates they left the room.* * See Appendix 1 76 THE REGICIDES. XVII. The Reverend John Davenport fully real- ized the peril which now faced him. Kel- lond and Kirke had left the colony in disgust at what appeared to be the evasive methods of the magistrates, and were certain to report matters in their worst possible light. He knew King Charles would be in no mood to trifle with those who had thwarted his pur- poses. As an aggravation to the present situ- ation, it could not be forgotten that the colony had neglected to acknowledge the sovereignty of the king, although he had been several months upon the throne of England. It was not for himself, however, that the min- ister trembled. He was of that firm moral fibre that shrank not at any danger resulting from obedience to an enlightened conscience. It was for his wife and son, and the little re- public that he trembled. Into that republic he had builded the best years of his life. He and his friend Baton had labored unceasingly to found a community upon principles which seemed to them the only sound ones. There had been failures and discouragements. They had come here rich, and Eaton had died leav- ing but a paltry share of his original fortune. THE REGICIDES. 177 His own estate had been slowly melting away before his eyes. Those who had embarked with them in the enterprise had suffered in a like proportion ; some had been completely ruined financially. Indeed, when Oliver Cromwell, who always had a deep interest in the prosperity of New Haven, offered them large grants of land elsewhere a few years be- fore, they had actually found themselves too poor to make the journey. His hopes of founding a college had already been shattered.* But the severest blow to the minister was the failure of his scheme to establish a civil government based upon the Church. Had he been less of a theorist he would have builded better than he did, but so true a disciple of John Calvin could hardly have done otherwise. Believing in the strict letter of Calvinism, the only log- ical course for him to pursue was to insist that the Church should be the foundation of all things on earth, and that out of it should come the State. The theory was perfect to the Calvinistic eye, for if none but church members had a voice in the government, the government must in the very nature of things be perfect. Every law that was passed was *See Appendix F-a. 178 THE REGICIDES. flanked right and left with Scripture quota- tions, and the laws were enforced to the very letter.* Bad men had ruled in England; only good men should rule here. Sound as seemed the premises, the result had been disappointing. Men and women were just as human in New Haven as they were elsewhere. Even church members, in- stead of always reporting the misdoings of their neighbors from a desire to purge their souls from sin, sometimes descended to the human level of mean revenge. Verily, it must be confessed that at one time the col- ony, which the minister had seriously hoped to make the abode of Christ at His second coming, had become a snarling nest of hypo- critical cat-clawing and hair-pulling ! Then, too, men of wealth and influence joined the church, not from motives of piety, but be- cause it was the only way to obtain political recognition. They had escaped a form of religious tyranny in England only to find an- other not less unyielding here. There they could at least be honest ; here they must either be hypocrites or remain political non- entities. The 'trouble with all this was not that men *See Appendix G. THE REGICIDES. 179 of New Haven were worse than other men, but because there was a wrong theory at the bottom. There was a constant struggle be- tween the theoretical and the practical. In- stead of the calm peace of which Davenport had dreamed, there was deceit, discord and disaster. Even now there was a strong party in the colony opposed, not to the minister personally, but to the political ideas which he represented. He was now an old man, be- yond three score, and the young men's party, the party of practical politics as divorced from Scripture texts, was every day growing stronger. He felt himself powerless to stem the tide which he saw would sooner or later engulf and forever obliterate the structure which he had fondly believed was built upon enduring rock. Surrounded by the wreck of his most cher- ished ambitions, and threatened by the new danger which loomed like a black thunder- cloud overhead, Davenport stood unwavering in his faith and courage, one of the grandest examples of fortitude and resolution the world has ever seen. His faith in God was never shaken ; his faith in man was never strong. He viewed his fellow-men through the medium of a narrow and uncharitable the- l8o THE REGICIDES. ology. Through one end of the telescope he saw the elect, radiant and powerful ; through the other he saw myriads of unregenerate sin- ners, mere groveling worms, doomed to ever- lasting darkness. His heart bled for those whose blindness kept them outside the church, but he felt that Divine Justice could not decree otherwise than it did. His own tender and forgiving soul shrank from the thought of eternal damnation for those whom he loved with an almost fatherly affection, but he never questioned the correctness of his own teachings. John Davenport was no her- etic. On the afternoon of the day of the magis- trates' court he left his study for his usual walk. There was a pleasant sky overhead, and the leaves were already well out upon the trees. The birds were singing a medley of sweet strains. On the market-place the chil- dren were running about gathering dande- lions. As he crossed the little bridge at the northeast corner, he was met by a company of young people. The youths raised their hats in token of respect, and the maidens courtesied. Just before reaching the meet- ing-house he came across two little dogs frol- icking:, and he, the grave theologian and Turi- THE REGICIDES. 181 tan preacher, stopped to watch them. Everything he saw breathed of springtime and happiness. He alone on that May after- noon seemed oppressed, and in the exercise of a sound philosophy was trying to chase the shadows from his brain by contact with cheerful things. A little past the meeting-house he saw Gil- bert and the schoolmaster approaching. He was glad to see Gilbert ; he wanted to talk with him; but Marston well, he felt gloomy enough already, and would much prefer a little sunshine. But poor Marston ! he had not the heart to slight him. Marston had a bilious body, a bilious brain, and a bilious heart. He was biliousness personified. He could not help being what he was any more than a rock could help being hard. There was no lack of warmth in the minister's greeting. ' ' I am told that it is deemed w r ise to con- vene the General Court in the matter of the king's messengers," he remarked to Gilbert after awhile. " It was thought best," replied Gilbert seri- ously, ' ' but its wisdom is to me a question of doubt. Think you not it will affect our 1 82 THE REGICIDES, standing as a colony with the powers at Con- don?" ' ' That is what I greatly fear. We have made a mistake in not recognizing the king in a formal proclamation. The situation seemeth to me complicating to our disadvan- tage." " There is nothing left but for the General Court to order a search. Though seemingly tardy, it will show our compliance with the royal mandate ; as for the proclamation, I fully agree that it should not be longer de- ferred. Why it has not been done already I know not." ' ' My son saith the officers departed in no genial mood." 1 ' Aye, and they must needs even utter a threat as a parting shot. Methinks there is trouble ahead, but I am convinced that we have done our duty, and a quiet conscience is better than temporal peace." "I am for making no concession at all," said the schoolmaster. " Let the sons of Belial rage ; the I^ord of Hosts will protect his own." ' ' In case they do make due effort to protect themselves," added the magistrate, with a smile. " And that remindeth me of what THE REGICIDES. 183 General Goffe said while at Boston, that if he had two hundred trusty men to stand by him he would defy the king and all his legions." "Unwise, unwise!" said the minister, thoughtfully. ' ' Goffe is ambitious and chaf- eth under his forced exile, but it is better that he remain quietly in hiding for the pres- ent. We have great need of cool heads and strong hearts. God only can read . the future ! " Marston's daughter came along as they stood talking. She was gathering dandelions with the other children, and had her hands full. She dropped a courtesy to the minister as she passed, and gave her father an affec- tionate look. " The child seemeth ill," said Master Dav- enport. " Hath the goodwife seen her ? " (There was no doctor in the colony at this time, and Goody Bascombe was always called in emergencies.) " Nay, she is in the hands of the Lord," was the solemn reply. " If it be His will that she suffer, far be it from me to interfere with His divine plans ! " " Methinks you judge our heavenly Father wrongfully," said the minister, shocked at Marston's cold-blooded manner. "He hath 1 84 THE REGICIDES. given us enlightened minds -wherewith to study ourselves that we may strengthen our bodies, and avoid disease. We do but poorly render our account if we neglect those means which have been placed within our reach." 1 ' He that letteth not even a sparrow fall unheeded will care for His own as it seemeth to Him best," returned the schoolmaster. " The Lord hath chastened me sorely in the past, and if it be His will that still further afflictions be laid upon me, His will be done ! " " I fear, Master Marston, that thou makest the question too personal," said the minister. " We are all prone to do so, but think you not that a little good nursing, with a draught of proper herb tea now and then, would bring the child's health back again ? She lacketh a mother's care, and we men do not see at all times what a little petting may do." " Heaven forbid that I should hinder the decrees of life and death," replied Marston, gloomily. "What mattereth that a body die so long as the soul be saved ? ' ' "The body is the temple of the soul," rejoined Master Davenport. " He that look- eth not to the temple to make it strong and beautiful, doeth not the will of the I,ord." THE REGICIDES. 185 "Ay, but when the temple falleth by its own weakness, shall we not rather turn our thoughts to the spirit lest it take a sudden flight unprepared? " "But the child's body is sound, as I be- lieve. It only droopeth for want of proper sunshine and nourishment. Let me, I prithee, send the good wife around. Her motherly touch alone may suffice to brighten the patient." Marston shook his head. ' ' The L,ord may pour His vials of wrath upon my head if He seeth fit. I shall bear the chastisement in meekness and humility." The narrowness of the schoolmaster was trying enough at all times, but when the life of a human being depended upon his action the case was particularly exasperating. It had been so in his wife's illness, rendered fatal only by lack of sympathy and care. He had viewed her decline and death only as a divine punishment for his sins, a chastise- ment sent for the good of his soul. It had never occurred to him that he had rudely torn a human flower up by the roots and cast it into a desert to wither and die. His daugh- ter's frail health meant only an additional vis- itation upon himself. The thought of its 1 86 THE REGICIDES. meaning anything to her never entered his mind. The minister had tried so many times to break down the fanatical barrier that stood between Marston and a sensible view of life, that he knew how hopeless would be any fur- ther attempts. He secretly resolved to let drop a hint in Abigail's presence, which would be worth more than an eternity of argument with the schoolmaster. He asked the magistrate to call in the evening for a few minutes, and continued his walk. There is no surer cure for our own troubles than to become interested in those of others. The minister forgot for a time the danger that hung over him, and sought to contrive some means whereby he might secure for lit- tle Hope Marston the attention she needed. In his extremity he called on Goody Bas- combe, whose potent herbs had assisted sick nature through many a crisis, in the absence of a regular physician. " Ah, how sad ! " said Goody, when she heard the full details. ' ' The poor child hath no strength of body, but it might be made to grow with proper care. What say you, wi'l he not hearken to my seeing her ? ' ' "I fear he will not. My words with him THE REGICIDES. 187 were fruitless, but I prithee go and see what thou canst avail." After leaving Goody Bascombe's house he met Martha Malbon vacantly strolling about the market-place. The poor girl had lost her reason at the cruel whipping-post, and had ever since been a harmless lunatic. Her long golden hair was streaming down her back, and there was a mournful light in her beauti- ful sad eyes. She stretched out her hands to Master Davenport as they met. " Pity me, sir; pity me ! " she said pathet- ically. Tears ran down the minister's face as he passed on. " A wreck at nineteen ! " he said to him- self. " May God forgive her father ! " It was later than usual when he reached home. The supper table was spread, and the mistress sat knitting by the window. She gave a quick glance at her husband's face, lyove read the tale of care and sorrow that had so often been written there during the years that had flown. During the repast he related his experience with Marston. Abigail was all attention. Her first impulse was to rush to Hope's assistance that very hour, but the minister's 1 88 THE REGICIDES. wiser counsel prevailed. A little judicious attention, he said, in concert with Goody Bascoinbe, would accomplish most. But Abigail's heart was not easily stilled. As she sat by the hearth corner in the even- ing and thought about it, the tears started in spite of all her efforts at self-control. John sat across the room and watched the fire-light play over her face. Poor John was struggling with a far different emotion. Cu- pid, sly little god, had been hovering about him all winter, and now, while this quiet fireside scene was being enacted, there was a twang of the little bowstring, and an arrow sped straight to the victim's heart. XVIII. England lost a soldier and statesman worthy the name when William Goffe was driven from her shores by a faithless despot. His generalship was bold to the pitch of daring, but it was the boldness of cool calculation and conscious power. Cromwell chose wisely when he made him a major-general, and later a shire-governor and personal adviser. Goffe's conceptions and plans of action daz- THE REGICIDES. 189 zled ordinary men b) r their brilliancy. They could not climb to his heights. He began where others left off. His mind balked at no difficulty. He took risks that appalled his comrades, but when the critical moment came he turned what seemed hopeless defeat into triumphant success by sheer courage. These qualities were soon called into action, for the minister's case, which for a few days, seemed more hopeful, suddenly became alarm- ingly desperate. When Kellond and Kirke left the colony they offered handsome rewards to any one who should give information lead- ing to the apprehension of the fugitives. Brockton had arranged to supervise opera- tions, and secure, if not the men themselves, at least a case against those who had har- bored them and helped to defeat the king's mandate. Brockton felt sure that Master Davenport either had the men under his own roof, or was a party to their hiding, and with the true instinct of a man-hunter, he concen- trated all his forces upon one point. He spent several nights in watching the house, and finally, one rainy evening, saw two tall men closely wrapped in long cloaks, emerge from the minister's doorway, peer cautiously up and down the street, then walk hurriedly 1 90 THE REGICIDES. across to William Jones', where they were instantly admitted without even knocking. Brockton had no doubt as to who the myste- rious men were. Ordinary people never moved like that, he reasoned. And there was a deep significance in the fact that their coming was expected across the way. The discovery was of little importance from one point of view. True, it gave him a clue which might be of the greatest importance in the future, but as evidence it was really worthless, for he had no way of corroborating his own statement. The only way to secure corroboration was to bring witnesses and con- tinue the watch. But in all further opera- tions he was unsuccessful. Night after night he lay in the minister's shrubbery with sleep- less eyes, but no sign of the men appeared. Keen wits were active to thwart his plans. On the evening following the meeting of the magistrates there was a session at the minister's house. He had been in his study but a short time after leaving the supper table, when William Jones appeared, and soon after, the magistrate. Jones' enthusiasm was deep and intense. His own father had signed the death warrant of Charles Stuart, and had gone to the scaffold by order of Charles the SecorA THE REGICIDES. 191 " Well," said the minister, when all were comfortably seated, "what is to be done ? A search will be ordered in a few days, and the men must be safely hidden. I know what will be their wish to leave the colony rather than make us further trouble. That I will never consent to so long as I can be of any service to them. None can protect them so well as ourselves, and upon none can the sacred trust so properly be laid." " Thy risk is great," said Gilbert, thought- fully, ' ' and a false step would be a serious matter for thee. As thou sayest, the obliga- tion for their care and protection cannot else- where be so great as here. Our sympathies and past ties all demand that we stand by them ; but, Master Davenport, I tremble for thy safety. We who do but lend our counsel take but little chance, but thou, under whose roof they hide, art the object of a bitter resentment. That fact was made plain at our meeting to-day." ' ' God forbid that I should shrink from my duty because it involves danger ! ' ' replied the minister fervently. ' ' Methinks but one course remaineth open, " said Jones. ' ' They cannot remain here. The very dooryards, as I believe, are nightly filled 192 THE REGICIDES. with spies. The danger is too great for thee and for them. In a little while this house must be searched, and mine as well. The General Court will meet on Friday. There is no time to spare. I/et them go to my mill Thursday night. They can leave in the morning before light, and hide themselves in the mountain during the day. That opera- tion can be repeated until the search is over." ' ' How about the miller ? ' ' asked the min- ister. " Is he a man of discretion ? ' ' ' ' The worthy miller hath a tongue that is hung in the middle andwaggeth both ways," replied Jones, "but if we are careful it can be accomplished without his knowledge." ' ' And what then ? ' ' ' ' Then we shall have a plain situation be- fore us to be met according to circumstances. If a thorough search be made, methinks the king will be satisfied, and that all vigilance will be relaxed." But the minister shook his head. "The monarch who has hanged, drawn and quartered those who surrendered to his prom- ise of pardon will not stop at one failure to capture those who ran away. His vigilance will never be relaxed. Party feeling and a desire to exterminate every vestige of Puri- THE REGICIDES. 193 tanisin will spur him on. He may remain quiet for a time, but it will be the quiet of the panther that crouches hidden until the prey is off its guard. Whatever is done must be done for the future as well as for the pres- ent." ' ' Then let us adopt this means of present safety until the search be over. It will give time to get the full bearing of the situation. In the meantime they will be safe." " You can hardly do better," said Gilbert, on whom the minister relied for wisdom as he did on Jones for fertility of resource. "It may be prudent to note the trend of events before acting further." It did not seem to them as they sat there and discussed the situation that out of it harm could come to any one. But the dead- liest storms often gather in the smilingest of summer skies. As a matter of fact, the night when Brock- ton saw Whalley and Goffe, they were on their way to the mill, and never again re- turned to the house. The General Court met and ordered a search, and owing to the insidious prompt- ings of Brockton the searchers made the min- ister's house the first point of attack. Of 194 THE XEGICIDES. course the visit revealed nothing, but it filled his friends with a new dread to know that he was so prominent an object of suspicion. Brockton had plans of his own, however, which were to be far-reaching in their re- sults. As soon as Goffe learned the condition of affairs, he determined to be no longer a means of drawing his friends into fresh trouble. Whalley, with the infirmities of age creeping steadily upon him, insisted 011 giv- ing himself up rather than involve others. A council was held at the mill one night, and Goffe proposed a stratagem which he believed would effectually put an end to all suspicion, and still leave them in the care of those whose devotion was so much needed. The next day was Training-Day, and while it would be a very dangerous day on which to fail, owing to the numbers of armed men who would be in town, a better time could not be chosen on which to put the plan to the test. Should the ruse prove a failure, the fugitives would be captured, and all question as to the minister's complicity would be at an end. Master Davenport objected to so daring a step, saying he would rather take the chance of discovery himself than kt them run so THE REGICIDES. IQ5 great a risk. But there was a light in Goffe's brilliant eyes that showed that he, at least, knew no such word as fail. The others shook their heads and looked sadly at the two fugitives, as it seemed for the last time. They had helped to free Eng- land from one tyrant, and were now being driven to bay by another. XIX. The next morning everything was hurry and bustle in the town. On almost every doorstep could be seen a man cleaning his flint-lock musket, and gathered around him was the inevitable group of wondering chil- dren. The good wives were inspecting long rows of tempting pies and huge loaves of cake, and were putting the final touches to that unknown and unknowable quantity called by New England housewives "work." Daughters were becoming anxious to slip away and make themselves fit for the admir- ing glances of the Puritan youth who were that day to appear in the market-place. These same youth might pass by every day in the year goading a } r oke of stupid oxen. 196 THE REGICIDES. and never elicit a sigh, but stand them in a row with gun in hand and a big-voiced officer to order them about, and they became heroes to be worshipped. There is nothing poetic about driving oxen. It is the sleepiest sort of prose duty. But when a young man leaves the ploughshare to take up the sword, even for training in the skillful use of it, there is somewhat about him that sends a thrill through the dullest nerve. On all sides of the square booths had been erected the night before, and already tooth- some cakes and throatsome beverages were being dispensed to those who had ridden a distance. The ubiquitous small boys strolled about with wooden gun and home- made drum, scenting the battle afar like so many Trojan war-horses. The local companies were out early, and cut a fine figure as they marched, first through the streets and then from point to point about the market-place. Then the Milford company arrived with Major Robert Treat at their head. A little later the Bran- ford and Guilford companies put in an ap- pearance, and the other outljdng towns were in due time represented. The air was filled with martial sounds. Drums beat, fifes THE REGICIDES. 197 screamed, and officers shouted words of com- mand. The roll-call discovered several absentees. Richard Sperry, model of punctuality as of all the other manly virtues, was of them. Rich- ard, what will your descendants say if you allow such things to happen? Poor exam- ple, sir, very poor! A lost cow? Ah, that alters the case. But I prithee, Master Sperry, do not let her wander on the west mount- ain, lest she meet two strangers who desire to be let alone.* The militia companies were drawn up in line, every man in his place, and the inspec- tion was well under way. The clerk was diligently noting the imperfect locks, and the rusty side arms, and the empty ammunition pouches as they were told off by the inspec- tor. A little commotion on Market Street did not interrupt the exercise, yet there ap- peared to be two able-bodied men (one per- haps beyond the military age) talking with the women and children, instead of being in place in the ranks. Before the inspection was finished they had passed on and out of sight. Then Thomas Kimberly, the marshal, went to inquire who the recreants were. *See Colonial Records. 198 THE REGICIDES. ' ' They be Masters General Wlialley and General Goffe," said the first woman met. ' ' Whalley and Goffe ! ' ' exclaimed the marshal, dumbfounded. " Impossible ! " "There be no doubt it is true. I saw them with these eyes. ' ' ' ' How know you it was they ? ' ' ' ' Did I not see them when they came here before, and all the town shook hands with them? Mayhap I am blind, Master Marshal. Ask Goody Jameson." "I saw them not before," said Goody Jameson, ' ' but the younger told me he was General Goffe, and that the old man was his father-in-law, General Whalley." " What said they else ? ' ' "That certain persons were unjustly sus- picioned of harboring on 'em, and rather than have innocent ones suffer they had come from a distance and would give themselves up. They looked weary and travel- worn, as though they had walked many miles." "What else? Quick!" "They inquired the way to the house of Governor Leete." ' ' And was nothing more said ? ' ' "Nay, no more, only to ask what was afoot on the market-place when they saw ye all drawn up in line." THE REGICIDES. 199 Marshal Kimberly was in a quandary. He walked slowly back and told what he had heard to the commanding officer. An inves- tigation soon settled the question beyond all doubt. It was also learned that the two gen- erals had gone toward the eastward, as though having Guilford for their destination. Kimberly was no zealous royalist, but he knew his duty and was prepared to do it. He sent for his horse, and in a few minutes was riding at full gallop toward Guilford. "There!" said Major Treat to Matthew Gilbert, as the marshal disappeared around the corner. ' ' I hope this will be the last of the talk against Master Davenport." But Gilbert was uneasy. He saw no pos- sible escape now for his friends. Kimberly rode more than a mile out into the country without even a glimpse of the two men, but he recollected that they had more than a quarter of an hour the start of him. As soon as he swung around in view of Neck Bridge, he espied them less than forty rods ahead, walking briskly along with stout staves in their hands. "Halt!" shouted the marshal, when he had come within hailing distance. This military command was immediately 200 THE REGICIDES. obeyed. The two generals took position against a large oak tree and waited for the marshal to advance. ' ' Surrender ! ' ' commanded Kimberly. " By what authorit} r ? " replied Goffe, who thought he saw an advantage, both in posi- tion and superior numbers. " By authority of the General Court, whose warrant I hold ! ' ' "Read it." This was a poser. As a matter of fact the marshal had forgotten to bring it in his haste to effect a capture. In his quandary he sat on his horse and looked at them, and they gripped their cudgels and looked at him. The situation began to border on the ludi- crous. There was nothing left for Kimberly but to make a desperate move. " Gentlemen," said he, in a more pacific tone, " it is rumored that it is your intention to deliver yourselves up instead of putting the colony to the trouble of making a formal arrest. Be assured that it will stand you in good stead to pursue that course. It will be better both for you and for those suspected of hiding you. Return quietly to the town with me, and every possible arrangement for your comfort will be made." THE REGICIDES. 2OI " I prytliee, sir, to whom have we the honor of listening ? " asked Goffe quietly. "To the marshal of the jurisdiction," re- plied Kimberly, modestly, for he was not one to exploit his own titles. " I am a proper authority to receive your surrender." ' ' Prove thy assertion and we will talk fur- ther with thee, not otherwise." "Prove what everybody knows!" ex- claimed the marshal. Then he recollected that his opponents in this fencing match were not strictly residents of New Haven. " Come with me to the nearest house, and all doubt will soon be removed." " Pray accept our regrets," replied Goffe, "but unless thou canst show thy right to de- tain us, be so kind as to stand aside and allow us to continue our journey." Kimberly was at his wit's end. He was completely outgeneralled in the preliminary skirmish, and being a man of sound sense he knew it. While he was somewhat depressed at his failure, he could not help admiring the skill of his opponent. There was nothing left now but to return to town for credentials and assistance. So bowing with a grace and courtesy that were rare in those days of puri- 202 THE REGICIDES. tanical severity, he wheeled and galloped back to New Haven. " That is what Oliver would have called a close rub," said Goffe, when Kimberly had disappeared. " Had the marshal brought his ammunition with him we must surely have surrendered . ' ' ' ' Thou wert made for greater exploits than these, William!" exclaimed the old man with enthusiasm. " England will yet find thee again sitting high in her councils." " I pray God she may," replied Goffe, in whom action developed a sort of fiery energy that was glorious. They continued their way eastward until they came to the bridge, where Whalley found it necessary to take a short rest Prov- identially or accidentally (according to the theological views of the reader) the tarry was prolonged for several minutes, and to that short delay they owed another escape from capture. They had already stepped from the bridge to pursue their journey when they heard the sound of galloping horses to the eastward. Goffe quickly turned and dragged his father-in-law down the steep bank and around under the bridge. The abutments were low, and the full tide set the water THE REGICIDES. 203 nearly up to the floor of the bridge, but hesi- tation at such a moment might be fatal. The two men stood in the water to their arm- pits, while the horses' hoofs clattered over- head and disappeared in the distance. When all was quiet they crawled out of the water and up the bank. Not a soul was in sight, and the men quickly made their way to a piece of thick woods near by. " Now," said Goffe, when they were in a situation to take a long breath with perfect safety, " our plan hath succeeded. Nothing now remains except to get back to the mill under cover of darkness." They watched Marshal Kimberly and a posse of assistants as they galloped on a sec- ond expedition. These went tearing over Neck Bridge at a furious pace, and on toward Guilford. It transpired later that Brockton was with them, and that he and two associ- ates were the ones who had ridden over the bridge while the generals were under it. Brockton had his warrant with him. He was never parted from it. To him its solitary folded page was the center of the universe around which everything Brocktonian re- volved. 204 THE REGICIDES. XX. Abigail found her crusade against Jonathan Marston no easy task. That stern visaged dispenser of learning refused point blank to allow any interference with his domestic affairs. Abigail urged in vain that Hope would die unless her decline was checked and her cough broken up. Marston solemnly de- clared that the issues of life and death were with the I^ord of Hosts, and that anything that man might do could avail nothing ; that the day of Hope's death had been fixed before creation. Goody Bascombe went to the cheerless rooms that the Marstoiis called home, and carried soothing herbs. " Goody Bascombe," said the schoolmaster one morning, "all thy decoctions are an af- front to the divine will. Christ alone can heal the sick. He knoweth when the child shall be called home. Thy meddling of- fendeth Him as it doth me. As foj thy pres- ence, it is welcome ; but as for thy herbs, let me not see them again." A decree from such a source could be noth- ing else than final. Goody cast a look of motherly tenderness on the pale child sitting by the window, and went sadly home. THE REGICIDES. 205 One day Abigail thought she had hit upon a scheme that would work. The more she thought about it the surer she became. She confided her idea to John, and John called her an angel. He just blurted it out as though he couldn't help it, and then looked ashamed of his enthusiasm. Abigail looked queerly at him a minute, then went off to find Mistress Davenport. "I would that I were rich!" sighed the little diplomat, after trying various ways of leading up to the subject without success. (The mistress was knitting, and Abigail was just in time to hold a skein of yarn.) " And what wouldst thou do with riches, my daughter ?" " I would make some poor people happy." The mistress smiled. 11 That is an old saying, but knowest thou not that with riches often cometh forgetfulness of the poor?" " Nay, it would not be so with me. In truth I would not need to be so very rich." 1 ' What hast thou on thy mind ?" " The schoolmaster's daughter." 1 ' She needeth healing herbs and thought- ful care rather than riches. These are luxu- ries that the poorest can afford." 206 THE REGICIDES. " Yet she hath them not. If I only did but have a house of my own I would take her and nurse her back to life and strength. Goody Bascombe saith her only trouble is a frail body, except a little cough that could easily be cured." The tears came into Mistress Davenport's eyes. ' ' Bring the lass here if he will let thee. The house is large, and John is the only child that ever played around the hearthstone. Do thou go at once." Marston was sitting by a window reading a theological treatise aloud for the good of his daughter's soul, when Abigail called. The very air had a brimstone flavor. The chapter he was reading had particular reference to the probability of children being able hav- ing been born in sin to so far comprehend the plan of salvation and avail themselves of its conditions as to escape the flames of Hell. The little victim of pre-natal wrath sat patiently listening, with a worried look on her face. Marston civilly offered his visitor a chair, and waited for her to begin the con- versation. Her Puritan training stood her in good stead. She had been taught to be direct with direct people. THE REGICIDES. 207 " Master Marston, I love Hope as a sister. It will soon be time for me to return to Bran- ford, and then I shall see her no more until next winter. Let her come and spend a few days with me at the parsonage, that I may have her with me constantly." Hope's eyes opened wide. She looked earnestly at her father for a moment, then walked over and took hold of Abigail's hand. " What saith Mistress Davenport ? " " She hath expressed her pleasure." " Oh, may I go, father ? " exclaimed Hope, taking Marston's question as an indication of assent. ' ' We will take heed that no harm befalls her," urged Abigail. Hope slipped a slender arm around her waist. Jonathan Marston was really touched by this invitation from the minister's household. He felt it an honor to be considered a social equal, and while affecting to scorn all such distinctions, he yielded with more grace than he had shown for many a day. " And may I go now? " asked Hope, with dancing eyes. " Yes, my child, but forget not thy prayers 208 THE REGICIDES. and thy meditations. Sathan is ever watch- ing to snare the unwary soul." Hope gathered, a few necessaries into a bundle, and was soon skipping along the market-place by the side of Abigail. Her heart beat fast, and her face glowed with pleasure. It was the first real sunshine that had come into her life for a long time. Mistress Davenport was astonished. She had felt certain that the schoolmaster would refuse. But now she laid her knitting down and kissed Hope tenderly. A chamber was made ready at the back of the house where the sun would shine all day, and a little fire was built on the hearth to take away any dampness that might linger. Then Abigail ran across the garden to tell the news to Goody Bascombe. ' ' The Lord be praised ! ' ' was that good woman's first exclamation. " We shall save the child now. A little herb tea for the cough, and the cheer of thy household for her spirits will do it. Hand thou me the bundle that hangs over the fireplace, and the tea shall be brewed in a twinkling." Abigail took down the fragrant bundle and laid it on the table, while Goody filled her kettle and hung it on the crane. A few dry THE REGICIDES. 209 sticks set the fire blazing, and in a little time the kettle was singing away as if in very joy at the prospect of helping. "I will run back now," said Abigail. ' ' Thou wilt come soon ? ' ' " Ay, within a half hour by the glass, and do thou see that nobody carries the child away," with a humorous twist of the feat- ures. Abigail ran home and found Hope com- pletely overwhelmed by the attention she was receiving. She was afraid everybody would be tired with doing for her, and wanted to do Mistress Davenport's knitting. " Ah, take that awaj', child, and I would be lost. It would be like taking a baby out of my arms," said the mistress; and Hope contented herself by being very good and making as little trouble as possible. In a week there was a new Hope Marston running about the minister's house. She had the form and features of the old one, but far more vivacity and sparkle. The dull look had gone out of her eyes, and the pallor of her face had changed for just a faint sug- gestion of rosiness. There was no atmos- phere of gloom here. Sunshine filled every soul. Cheerfulness was an ever-present duty 210 THE REGICIDES. that each owed to himself and to every other. The irritating cough was fast disappearing, thanks to Goody Bascombe's daily trips across the garden, and to the general im- provement in tone incident to the change from brimstone to sunlight. One day Abigail happened to remember the schoolmaster's parting injunction. It had not been fully lived up to. True, Hope had said her praj^ers every night and morn- ing, but had given little time to meditation. Abigail secretly thought that meditation was fitter for strong men than for tender babes, but deemed it best to consult Master Daven- port, lest some important duty be left un- done. She rapped on the study door and was admitted. "What is it, my daughter?" asked the minister, looking up from his writing. "If } r ou please, sir, how much ought a child to meditate ? " ' ' Meditate ! What doth thou mean ?' ' ' ' Master Marston told Hope not to forget her prayers and her meditations, and I fear she doth." " Doth she forget to pray ?" " Nay, she saith her prayers every day." " At night doth she pray for forgiveness of THE REGICIDES. 211 sin, and in the morning for strength and guidance ?" " Alwaj^s, and with me." ' ' Then keep the child cheerful and happy, and save thy hard questions for wiser heads than mine." And with a peculiar smile the minister resumed his writing. "Oh, that Hope had a father like that !" said Abigail to herself as she closed the study door and softly went away. Marston came over every day to call, and everybody trembled lest he should take Hope away. He noted her improved health, and attributed it entirely to her living in a holy atmosphere. In this conclusion he was perhaps right, for holy living may mean a cheerful heart, a willing mind, and a thought- ful care for others. But that was not just Marston's definition. He was quite willing, however, that she should stay a week longer. Master Davenport sat in his study day after day with a wrinkle on his brow, in spite of all attempts to be cheerful. One of the principal sources of his anxiety was the approaching election. The training-day episode had for a time relieved suspicion concerning Whalley and Goffe. They were now staying on the mountain during the day and sleeping in the 212 THE REGICIDES. mill at night. Public opinion was divided. Most people thought they really came from the wild country to the north, intending to give themselves up, but changed their minds and went to Manhattan under cover of night. A few thought the whole thing a clever ruse to throw the public off the scent. Brockton sat on the fence and could not make up his mind which way to jump. The coming election meant little to the aver- age citizen, but it meant the results of a life's work to the minister. At the very first there had been but one party, the church party. In Davenport's eyes there could be no other ideal community. But as time went on there was opposition, at first a mere protest half uttered, then a distinct and pronounced ex- pression of disaproval. At the last election there had been a struggle. The church party was met by the young men's party, and while the former won, it could not be gainsaid that the old ways must sooner or later give way to the new. The young men were not necessa- rily irreligious or in any way opposed to the church itself. Their platform proposed a divorce between church and state as securing both a purer church and a stronger state. Davenport, schooled in the old ways, saw in THE REGICIDES. 213 the new movement the final doom of his fondest hopes. He saw no reason why men could not be sincere and honest of their own choice, and as practical inside the church as out. The church was to him a training school for heaven. What better school for the training of wise governors and magis- trates, he would argue. But a large and growing party held otherwise. Much as they loved and revered the minister, they deemed his plan the Utopian scheme of a student, and were firmly determined to resist it. Deputy-Governor Leete was of the young men's party, and had been asked to stand for governor at the coming election. He was wise, 'learned, pious, honest and industrious in the discharge of duty, and in him the young men saw their hope. There was much quiet work done during the few weeks preceding the election. Horse- men stopped and discussed the situation in the highway. The taverns were alive with politics. Even at the intermission on Sun- day an effective word was now and then spoken, while at the firesides in town and country it was the principal topic of conver- sation. 214 THE REGICIDES. When at last the decisive day came there was not a sign of dissension. It was more like a holiday than one that was to decide the policy of a government. The men from the neighboring towns brought their wives on the high pillions, and the female portion of the population devoted itself to trading and visiting. The younger members found the occasion available for cousining, and get- ting up an appetite for the election cake, which was always sure to be agreeable in flavor and inexhaustible in quantity. The young men indulged in various kinds of manly sport, backsword, fencing, running, wrestling and quoits being among the favorite games. In the forenoon the election sermon was preached by the Reverend Abraham Pierson. Then followed the collation, when everybody ate election cake to his palate's content, and moistened the disappearing morsels with home-brewed ale. The result was hardly unexpected to the minister, though its announcement was the severest blow he had received for many a day. When young John Davenport came home after the court, his father read the ill news on his face. THE REGICIDES. 215 " Say it, my son ; let the bitter truth be known ! ' ' "I would that I need not, father. William I^eete hath been elected governor, and Mat- thew Gilbert deputy-governor." There were some compensating features, however,, in the result of the election. Mat- thew Gilbert, a pillar of the church and a staunch member of the church party, had been elected deputy- governor, and John Dav- enport, junior, was now a judge. In this there was a crunib of comfort. Master Davenport sat in his study and care- fully examined his own motives. He was sure he had never wished to rule. He only wanted to see things go right, that the king- dom of heaven might come right on the very plain where the Puritan town was built. It would never be now, he sighed. He had labored unceasingly, only to find the men on whom he counted mere men when he would have made them saints. Sad indeed is it to look back in old age and find life's plans and labors gone astray. So thought the minister, yet he did not com- plain. ' ' I had hoped to be an humble in- strument in His hands for the accomplish- ment of great things, but let His will be 216 THE REGICIDES. done ! " lie said aloud, while great beads of perspiration stood out upon his forehead. The minister had builded better than he knew. XXI. One bright May morning Master Jones' miller sent the mill boy in on horseback. The boy was excited and rode fast. He reined his panting horse up to the block in front of the mansion, and without waiting to tie him ran to the door and lifted the knocker. A servant came and said the mas- ter was at breakfast. ' ' There be robbers at the mill ! ' ' gasped the boj'. ' ' Robbers ! ' ' echoed the servant, and dis- appeared at once to call the master. "Well," said Master Jones as "soon as he reached the hall, "what's the trouble? Speak out. " "Oh, sir, there be a world of it! Two mornings ago my father found tracks close by the nether millstone, made by some large man's boot. There was mud left like the same on the mounting, and it had rained the THE REGICIDES. 217 night before. Came we last night and watched until near the hour of midnight, when two tall men wrapped in big cloaks stole in, and laid down to sleep on a pile of empty bags, and " " Stop right there. Took they anything?" ' 'Alack, I know not. Crept we out and ran way, so scared were we. But surely they been robbers. " " Robber fools ! " " Mayhap they be fools, but my father said they were a-spyin' out, and to-night would carry off all the grain unless the soldiers came with their guns. " " lyook thee here, lad. Jump on thy horse and gallop back to thy father. Tell him to say naught of this until I see him. I will be at the mill in an hour. ' ' "Master Jones acteth queer," said the mill boy to himself as he rode back. "He seemethto think they be fools. " The first thing Master Jones did after finish- ing his breakfast was to order a horse and start for the farms, two miles beyond the mill. He stopped on the way and told the miller to keep his discovery to himself. 1 ' But they will surely come back this night," said the man of flour. "They be 218 THE REGICIDES. large men ; it will take soldiers from three or fourhousen to cope with 'en)." ' ' Fear not. Curb thy tongue and all will be well." After leaving the mill Jones rode around by the base of the great cliff that loomed nearly four hundred feet sheer above the road. It was a strange formation. The Green Mountain range ended abruptly there in a precipice of trap rock within a mile of Long Island Sound. It seemed like the veritable jumping-off place. "They will be safe on the mountain," muttered Jones to himself, " only find them a place to sleep." He rode along by the side of West River, that flowed at the base of the great rock, until he came to a gap in the mountain. There he stopped to view his extensive acres that lay before him. The valley was covered with a carpet of green, excepting here and there a plowed field, for the farming operations had already been begun. Across the plain was Richard Sperry's house, and Jones turned his horse's head in that direction. Sperry had managed the farms for many years, and there was no more highly respected man in the colony. Moreover he was a man of discretion, THE REGICIDES. 219 and knew when to talk and when to keep silent. It was natural that he should be con- sulted in an emergency like this. Sperry was at work in a field near the house when Jones rode up. In a few moments the situation was made plain. " I will help thee," said Sperry, heartily. "Do thou but furnish sufficient provisions, and leave the rest to me. I will keep the men so safely hidden that no emissary of England will ever find them. But seems it not strange, Master Jones, to speak thus of the land that gave us birth ?" " Ay, yet it is not England, but the hand- ful of men that rule her, that we have to fear. Had we naught but the true sons of the soil to contend with, these men would not now be hiding for their lives in yonder mountain." " The time will yet come for better things, and God speed it. Do but come with me to the woods until we find them and acquaint them with their danger, then thou mayest go thy way and tell the minister to take no care. I will protect them." There was a quality in Sperry 's voice that instantly inspired confidence, and Jones felt that the charge was in strong and faithful hands. 220 THE REGICIDES. * l Thou knowest what it means to give aid to these men?" said Jones, as they walked across the valley toward the mountain. Sperry had not taken the step without con- sideration. His reply was characteristic. " It means the discharge of a sacred duty, the result of which may be death on the gal- lows!" They climbed up through the gap until they stood on the extreme top of the moun- tain. Then Jones realized how powerless even they were to find the hidden men. To the north, as far as the eye could reach, ex- tended miles of primeval forest that no white man had ever penetrated. There the law might search forever and never find. " But the Indians, is aught to be feared from them ? " asked Jones suddenly, as his eye fell upon a handful of wigwams across on the Amity hills. " Thou dost know them better than I." " They are our friends. Never hath a foot of land been taken from them except by law- ful purchase, and to their full satisfaction. In our courts they have always received justice. We have even gone further. A few years ago an old sagamore of that very tribe com- plained to the town that a herd of swine had THE REGICIDES. 221 eaten their corn. The town recommended them to fence their cornfield, and voted to give toward it three-score days' work by fit and able men, the same to be paid out of the town treasury." * ' ' In sooth, that was rather stretching the needs of the case. I fear I should have op- posed it, had I been there, on grounds of pub- lic economy." " Not so, hadst thou known the whole case. There was a two -fold object in view; one to do a deed of kindness, and another to bind them more firmly to us, for it was at a time when an effort was being made to stir up strife against us." " And did the red gentlemen appreciate thy generosity?" " Ay, they are ever our firm friends. An Indian never forgets a kindness or an injury. ' ' ' ' I would have feared to set such a prece- dent." ' ' Ofttimes too freely giving encourages too ready asking." "That was just our case," said Sperry, laughing. " In a little while the sagamore sent word that he was old and poor, and could not work ; could not the town give him a coat?" * Colonial Records. 222 THE REGICIDES. ' ' The which modest request was of course granted ? ' ' "Granted without hesitation. The coat was given him at the town's charge, but he thereupon became satisfied and made no fur- ther requests. " * Both laughed heartily over the incident, and then began to wonder how they could find the two generals. ' ' It was agreed between us that should we wish to communicate with them we should come here and imitate the whip-poor-will's call," said Jones, " but that staggereth me. I could as easily give an Indian war-whoop ! " Sperry put the tips of his thumb and forefin- ger between his teeth, and gave a call that might well have deceived a bird. Jones started in surprise, but before he could ex- press his astonishment the answer came loud and distinct, as though uttered but a few rods away. The call was repeated, and the reply came like an echo. " The rocks ! " exclaimed Sperry. " They are almost within a stone's throw of us ! " They pressed on through the thick under- brush until they came to a pile of huge boulders lying on the extreme top of the * Colouial Records. THE REGICIDES. 223 mountain. Some of these were more than twice a man's height, and had been left there ages ago when the great glacier was working its way slowly southward. They were so completely surrounded by stunted oaks as to be hardly visible a dozen yards away. As Jones and Sperry neared the rocks they saw Goffe standing on the top of the highest boulder. At their approach he slid rapidly to the ground and came to meet them. The appearance of a stranger by the side of Jones made him hesitate, but explanations were soon made. Then Goffe greeted Sperry with a warmth and sincerity of manner that was charming. " Are we not well hidden ?" he exclaimed, with some degree of enthusiasm, as he led his visitors around to the south side of the rocks. " We are so comfortable that we have decided to spend our nights here instead of running the risk of discovery in the mill." ' ' That is well, ' ' said Jones. ' ' The miller hath seen you." Goffe started. " But not to know who you were. He imagined you to be robbers, but it will not be safe to remain there." 224 THE REGICIDES. " Say it not to General Whalley ; it would unduly agitate him." Jones looked around as if expecting to see Whalley in the neighborhood. ' ' He hath gone to the edge of the cliff to keep watch. He is apprehensive lest we be taken here unawares. ' ' The hiding-place of the two generals was unique. There was a space several feet square, walled on three sides, but open at the top. The floor was smooth rock. Poles had been laid across and covered with green boughs, completely roofing in the space and making a room large enough to move about in comfortably. As it faced the south, the sun shone in and made a grateful warmth. There was a pile of hemlock branches in one corner that had been brought for a bed. ' ' We have spent most of our time about here for a week," explained Goffe, " and our means of building the roof were most fortunate. One day when we were walk- ing over the mountain, chance brought us to this place. We decided at once to make use of it, but could do nothing for the want of an axe wherewith to cut poles. We dared not go into the town, nor to thy house, and we did not deem it prudent to leave any note THE REGICIDES. 225 in the basket that conveyed our provisions every evening. But yesterday as we were standing near the edge of the cliff, a little back and out of sight, we happened to look down, and lo ! there lay on the ground a hatchet ! Some one had lost it. Though covered with rust and quite dull, we made it do good ser- vice, and the result you see."* " An admirable fair weather abode," said Jones, ' ' but in a rain storm I imagine thy roof would leak." ' ' Ay, but in this world we must take the bitter with the sweet. So long as we can preserve our lives and avoid involving our friends in trouble we shall be content. " 1 ' The political storm will soon be over, I pray ; then there will need be no more hiding. But I fear for thy safety even here. The miller is wrought up about his imagined inva- sion by robbers, and though I have ordered him to hold his tongue, I do not feel certain he can do it. An unfortunate blab on his or the boy's part might set the constables to scouring the mountain, for the reward is tempting." Goffe was not a man given to despair, but his face fell perceptibly at this depressing an- nouncement. * See Appendix II. 226 THE REGICIDES. " Whither, whither, whither?" he ex- claimed, clasping his hands and raising them toward heaven as if for support. Then with an apology for his temporary loss of heart, he began to talk of Whalley. " This terrible suspense is killing him. He cannot bear it as I, a younger man, can. He raves in his sleep, and talks about the hang- man, and imagines himself being hanged and drawn and quartered. Last night he cried out in his sleep that they were cutting out his heart, as they did poor Harrison's, and I had to wake him; but his nerves were so wrought up that he dared not slumber again for fear of the frightful vision. " * ' Horrible ! ' ' said Speny , with a shudder. "These dreams are growing upon him. Hardly a night passes but the same thing is repeated. This is aging him more than a dozen campaigns. But hist, here he comes ! " The tall form of Whalley was seen slowly approaching, then to stop with a sudden start. Goffe hurried to him as a mother would to her child, and in a few words explained the pres- ence of Jones and Sperry as a friendly visit. Whalley came forward and greeted his callers * See Appendix I. THE REGICIDES. 227 with all the grace and dignity of a high-bred gentleman. " Thou art welcome to Hatchet Harbour," he said, with a wave of the hand toward the rocks. "Our hospitality lacketh somewhat in abundance, but we can showthee a drop of good liquor and a biscuit even here." He entered the " harbour," and in a min- ute reappeared with a bottle that Jones imme- diately recognized as one he had put in the basket a few days before. After a prolonged discussion it was decided that to remain for more than a day or two longer in their present quarters would be dan- gerous in the extreme. Whalley was for leav- ing the colony at once and seeking an asylum in the great wilderness to the west of Nieu Amsterdam. Jones argued against this, main- taining that the only way to live thus would be to join a tribe of Indians, and that would render them so conspicuous that their dis- covery would be only a matter of time. Goffe was prepared for any measure, however des- perate, that did not involve too great a risk on the part of their devoted friends. ' ' To my mind there is but one prudent thing to do," said Sperry, when one plan after another had been suggested, " and that 228 THE REGICIDES. is to remain right here The general opinion is that you have left the colony. Many saw you go, none saw you return. This whole matter will blow over in time, then you can safely go whithersoever you will." " But we have just decided that it would not be prudent to stay here," reminded Jones, with a keen glance at his companion. " I mean, of course, in this neighborhood," said Sperry. ' ' This mountain mayhap will be searched for the miller's robbers, but I don't think it will. I^et them search if they want to. I know of a hole in the side of the mountain that is so screened by bushes that I doubt if even the Indians have ever seen it. I but stumbled on it by accident one day. I,et our friends hide there, and they can defy all the powers on earth to find them." ' ' Is the place large enough for two men of our size ? " asked Goffe. " Nay, but it can soon be made so. It is more than half full of crumbled rock and other rubbish that has rolled in there. In two days' time I can make it fit for a habitation." " What one man can do in two days, two men can do in one day," suggested Jones, who was anxious to have his charges beyond all danger as soon as possible. THE REGICIDES. 229 " Mayhap thy friend the miller could lend a hand," replied Sperry, with a smile. " Thou art right, Sperry, as always. Thou canst keep a secret. Call no babbler to help thee, but begin at once." That night and the next the fugitives slept in their house of rocks and boughs. By the following forenoon Sperry had made the new abode ready, and they bade farewell to Hatchet Harbour to seek the more obscure retirement of the cave. Every morning for nearly a month one of the Sperry boys carried a pail of provisions to the mountain and laid it on a certain stump. Every night at dusk he went for the empty pail. He was told that he was doing all this for some workmen, but his curious ears listened in vain for the sound of an axe on the mountain, and a human face he never saw.* * See Appendix J. 230 THE REGICIDES. XXII. When the lilacs began to blossom Abigail was reminded that her stay at New Haven was almost over. Though she loved her father and brother with a strong and abiding affec- tion, yet a motherless home was full of gloomy recollections for the sensitive girl. Her father was a studious man, deep in his meditations, and far less social in his tenden- cies than Master Davenport. Her brother Abraham was a recluse, a man of books, full of rare scholarship, and fitter for a professor's chair in the old world than a Puritan pulpit in the new. A distant relative was acting as housekeeper, and here came the severest strain of all. Miss Nancy Pierson was slim, prim, precise, and cold as a refrigerated skeleton. The ex- change of the motherly and sympathetic Mis- tress Davenport for this animated icicle caused many a tearful regret on the part of the affec- tionate and impulsive Abigail, but, like a true daughter of a sturdy race, she bravely and uncomplainingly set about making prep- arations for departure. ' ' Thou wilt come to see us often during the summer," said Mistress Davenport, by way of THE REGICIDES. 231 encouragement, when the final morning had arrived. "Ay,' hope so," was all Abigail could say, and she turned and ran to her room, lest she give way to her emotions before the mis- tress. She went over to bid Goody Bascombe good-bye, then to see Goodwife Chapman whose broken bones were nearly mended, but whose heart seemed shattered at the prospect of "Sunshine's" departure. She then crossed the market-place to say farewell to Hope Marston. " Poor little Hope ! " she said to herself, and then forgot her own sadness in the thought of how lonesome Hope would be -.vithout her. They clung together until IIarston came into the room, then soberly sat down at a proper distance from each other and put aside all " dalliance." " I will try to be cheerful," Hope said, in answer to Abigail's repeated in junctions to be brave and strong. "And Martha Malbon will come to see me. Father lets her come sometimes, because he says she is serious and not given to levity, and I love to have her come. She always brings me flowers and tells me how much she loves me ; but when 232 THE REGICIDES. she looks so sadly into my eyes and asks me to pity her, I have to run away and cry." When at last the farewells were all said, John led his horse around to the front door and helped Abigail to mount the pillion. Master and Mistress Davenport stood in the doorway and watched them ride out of sight. Then the minister heaved a deep sigh and went to his study. He felt that a bright and cheerful presence had left his fireside, perhaps forever. But his wife had a woman's eyes, and foresaw no such lengthy separation. John tried to keep up something like an animated conversation as they rode along, but the effort was ineffectual. He felt downcast, and every word showed plainly that it was forced. He made several vain attempts to talk about the flowers that skirted the road- side, the birds, and a solitary ship that stood out on the sound ; then gave it up and lapsed into silence. Eloquent silence ! There are times when heart-throbs tell their own sweet story, and every spoken. word seems a profanation. Arrived at the Branford parsonage, John dismounted and fastened his horse, then helped Abigail to the ground. The poor girl actually dreaded to enter her own home. THE REGICIDES. 233 She walked slowly in, bade John be seated in the sitting-room, went to the study to greet her . father, then forced her steps to the kitchen. Miss Nancy was busy at the fire when she looked up and saw Abigail. " So you've come home," she said coldly, without stopping her work. "Yes," said Abigail. And the home- coming of the daughter of the house was effected without further demonstration. Master Pierson and Abraham came to see John as soon as they heard of his presence, and were very hospitable. John accepted their invitation to remain to dinner, and really became quite hilarious in an attempt to elicit a smile from the solemn face of Miss Nancy. He related some of his experiences as a judge, to the great amusement of the gentlemen, but the spinster seemed all the time to be eyeing Abigail, as though wonder- ing how she would ever get along with such an impulsive and animated creature. After dinner John and Abigail strolled out through the orchard, young but already rich in apple blossonis, and down to the rocky shore of I,ong Island Sound. They dug in the sand, and gathered shells, and ran along the beach, like two children at play ; and 234 THE REGICIDES. when they were tired of this they sat down on the rocks and gazed out over the water. ' ' I would that eternity were like this ! ' ' said Abjgail, after a while. ' ' Would 3 T ou not tire of it if it were ? I think it is by constrast with the sterner realities of life that hours like these are so keenly enjoyed." John felt called upon to do a little preach- ing, for he knew that Abigail was about to undergo a severe trial, and that back of the brightness of that perfect afternoon loomed a great domestic thunder cloud that was charged and surcharged with Miss Naucyness. But the minute the words were uttered he saw his mistake, for she had paid the highest pos- sible compliment to his companionship. " Nay, I do not think I would tire of it," replied Abigail, with perfect artlessness ; and John blessed her for not picking up his un- fortunate words. " An eternity with our dearest friends would make of any place a paradise," he hastened to say. An advancing wave had crept steadily up until it touched the rock on which they sat. " We must go higher up or we will be caught, ' ' said John, and taking hold of hands THE REGICIDES. 235 they climbed to the top of the bluff. He held her hand a moment longer than necessary, while they stood looking at the curling wave. They watched the wave as it came up nearer and nearer to where they stood, and finally started on a long walk to the eastward, where they couM overlook the group of islands that lay off Stony Creek. They had walked per- haps a mile, following the coast-line, when they came out upon a rather bold promontory pushing out into the waters of the sound. Here they sat down at the foot of an oak tree, while Abigail counted the islands that lay spread out before them, " They are like so many thimbles sticking up out of the water," said she, after she had counted several score. " Why not call them the Thimble Islands ?" " That would be dangerous," replied John, laughing. " They might come out of the water some night and sew down the eyelids of the mariners when they were asleep in the harbor." ' ' The long legs of that blue heron would make good needles," said Abigail, as she watched the movements of a great bird w r ading among the sedges. Occasionally he would hop out of the water and stand for a time on a 236 THE KEGICIDES. rock, then take to wading again and dart his head quickly into the water. He finally rose into the air and circled over the spot where they were sitting. Abigail followed him with her eyes until he was directly overhead, when she suddenly uttered a piercing shriek and fell backward into John's arms. She could not say a word, but pointed up into the tree under which they sat. John looked up and saw a ghastly human skull stuck in the crotch between the two main branches. Some birds had built a nest in it, and as Abigail screamed, one of them flew out of an eye-socket and away. " That is the head of old Mononotto," said John, blessing the sachem for bringing Abi- gail so close to him even for an instant. " It has sat there grinning these twenty years or more, and has long ago done all the harm it ever can, except, perhaps, to scare timid maidens." " Why did you not tell me it was there ? " said Abigail, when she had recovered from her fright, ' ' then I should have been less startled." "In sooth I had forgotten all about it, though I have often seen it. He was a wicked old fellow, was Mononotto, and mayhap he THE REGICIDES. 237 grins to think liow much trouble he made. It was during the Pequct war that he and Uucas had a little disagreement over at New London. Sassacus, the father-in-law of Uncas, had lost the confidence of his tribes, and with some seventy or eighty of his per- sonal followers left the scene of battle and sought the wilderness bordering on the Hud- son. Uncas remained with the English and fought the remaining Pequots, and it was while pursuing the scattered warriors of Sassacus along the coast that he came upon Mononotto and a handful of followers across yonder little bay. These attempted to escape by swimming to this point, but were overtaken and waylaid as they landed. Uncas himself shot Mononotto, cut off his head and placed it in the crotch of this tree. The point has ever since been known as Sachem's Head." " I am glad those terrible times are gone," said Abigail shuddering. "They came and went before our time," returned John. " The very spot where New Haven stands was discovered by the English while on that march of extermination. As they approached the wooded plain they saw smoke of a camp-fire rising above the trees, and at first thought it was kindled by some of 238 THE REGICIDES. the fugitive Pequots ; but it turned out to be a camp of friendly Indians." The long summer afternoon slipped quickly by while the young people were loo deeply absorbed in each other to note its flight. The lengthening shadows finally reminded them that the happy hours were almost over. They rose from the foot of the oak and left its tragic recollections behind as they strolled back toward the village. Never had a day seemed so perfect to both. They talked little as they walked, and seemed entirely content to simply be together. As they passed through the orchard near the house, Abraham's "seat of meditation " attracted their attention, and they sat down to rest. The tree overhead was a perfect bower of sweet blossoms, and in and about it the bees were droning a sleepy tune. They sat there and watched the sun sink behind the mount- ain, then John rose to go. "This has been the happiest day of my life, " said he, as he stood under the apple tree. " When will there be such another ? " ' ' When you choose to come again, ' ' replied Abigail demurely, turning her eyes away. He pressed her hand a moment before going for his horse. Miss Nancy's shrill THE REGICIDES. 239 voice rasped the gentle air and shattered the fond delusion of the hour that earth was a garden of thornless roses. Miss Nancy desired assistance in the kitchen, and said so in unmistakable terms. Abigail stood by the gate and watched John ride away into the deepening twilight. Then she ran to her room and threw herself on the bed, where she lay sobbing for an hour, utterly heedless of Miss Nancy's calls. XXIII. Brockton, had he been born in Paris, and schooled from early life as a detective, might have achieved distinction. He had the feel- ing for it. He was by nature a ferret. Blood- less as a miser, he allowed no considerations of humanity to thwart his schemes. Since the two generals had swung into the range of his mental orbit he had had no peace. They had roused all the sleeping power that was in him, and that was no mean quantity. They had turned the village constable into a keen mathematical philosopher. From the night when he lay under the minister's lilac bushes and saw the two muffled figures depart from 240 THE REGICIDES. the door his wits had never slept. He was patient, and when he heard the story of the midnight robbers at the mill he felt that his patience had been rewarded. In his own mind he had no doubt whatever as to the identity of the " robbers." He was now quite sure that they were staying somewhere on the mountain. He began a cautious in- vestigation, and found occasion to have busi- ness early at the mill. There was nothing to be learned there, however, except the bare fact that the mill had been invaded by two unknown men, and that they had not been seen there since. He made an errand out to the farms for the purpose of interviewing Richard Sperry, but he might as well have consulted the Sphinx. Sperry talked all around the subject, took a pull or two at Brockton without being suspected, and the constable went away feeling that he had really found somebody who sympathized with him and would like nothing better than a chance to help him. So firm was he in this impression that he finally turned back deter- mined to make a confidant of Sperry. He thought better of his resolution before he reached the house, and returned to Guilford without having made any headway. THE REGICIDES. 241 But Sperry lost no time in putting the two generals on their guard. He also notified Jones, and Jones in turn sent word to Jona- than Meigs over at Guilford to have a sharp eye on Brockton and his movements. This was not so easy as it might have been, for Brockton managed to have a great deal of business in New Haven, and it was difficult to keep track of him without exciting suspi- cion. He questioned everybody in a round- about way. There were, indeed, many who suspected that the generals were really some- where in the neighborhood. Most people thought they had left the colony not to return. So there was nothing for Brockton to do but go to the mountain and watch for signs. He stuck close to the miller in the hope that some rainy night his vigilance would be rewarded. He watched a month, and at the end of that time became convinced that the fugitives had in truth left the colony. He went home and kept up his thinking. One day the thought occurred to him to go to Amity,* the town to the northwest of New Haven, and the other side of the mountain, and visit the Indians. They must hunt more or less on the mountain, he reasoned, and might discover something of value. * Woodbridge. 242 THE REGICIDES. The old sagamore sat in front of his wig- wam smoking when Brockton arrived. " The pale face brothers are the red man's friends," was the old man's reply to Brock- ton's question. "When our enemies would wipe us from the face of the earth, they help us. When we are naked, they give us clothes, and a hungry Indian is never turned from their door. When a white man cheats us, their wise men hear our cause and do justice. The Big Stud}' Man* teaches our children wisdom and goodness, and we love him. Shall we forget the traditions of our fathers, and do evil to those who befriend us in our time of need? The white man's friends are our friends. The men who would carry them across the great water and kill them are our enemies. Where the white strangers hide I know not, but did I know I would fight a hundred men single handed be- fore I would betray them ! " The old sagamore spoke with no sign of emotion, but there was a quality in his voice that showed the futility of further argument. Brockton's best resource was himself. He retraced his steps down the main path that led back to the farms, and stopped to make a * The name given by the Indians to Mr. Davenport. THE REGICIDES. 243 call on Richard Sperry. But Sperry had gone to the mill with some corn and would not return until night. "I will cross over the mountain," said Brockton to himself, ' ' and perchance I will find Sperry and the miller together." So he made a short cut of the meadows and climbed the great gap in the mountain. When he had reached the top he looked about for a tree to use as a lookout that he might get his bearings for the mill. He soon came upon a pile of huge boulders. "Just the thing!" he exclaimed, as he made a scramble for the top. " Hulloa, what is this? Who would take the trouble to build a roof like this over a gap in the rocks? No boys around here except Richard Sperry's, and they live too far away to play on this mountain." He forgot all about looking for the mill, and jumped to the ground for a closer exam- ination. " These boughs have been cut within a month. Tender leaves on 'em. No boys could have done this, it is too high. I can stand up in it without hitting the roof. Meat bones lying around, too ! And here is an 244 THE REGICIDES. empty bottle. Let's see what sort of a smell it has." Brockton pulled out the cork and held the bottle to his nose. " Brandy ! No boy's playhouse this ! " The sudden revelation which rushed through Brockton's mind almost overpowered him. He leaned against the rock for support, and glanced about at the sure evidences which lay around him. " Gone !" he gasped. "Gone!" He soon recovered his equilibrium and sat down. The seeker after hidden treasure who is at last rewarded by a sight of an empty chest that some more fortunate rival has just left, could not be more crushed than was Brockton at that moment. He sat for half an hour scarcely realizing where he was. Then he looked about and saw the bones and the bottle, and the boughs lying on the dry poles, and he knew that it was no dream. The men on whose track he had hunted for months had been staying right there, and might have left not a week since ! He finally found strength enough to drag himself down the mountain side, but he kept clear of the mill. Whatever flaws there may have been in Brockton's composition, a loose THE REGICIDES. 245 tongue was not of them. He knew that wise men kept their own counsel. He made his way back to New Haven, where his horse was waiting, and the setting sun shone upon his door-sill at Guilford as he drew rein at the familiar place. That night Brockton did not sleep well. His body was tired with the labors of the day, but his mind was as restless as the universe. And this was the burden of his thoughts : Kellond and Kirke each had received a farm of two hundred and fifty acres in Massachu- setts for their efforts in trying to capture the fugitives ; they had really accomplished nothing ; what might be Brockton's reward if he should succeed where others had failed ? He not only knew that the men had recently been on the mountain, but the more he thought of it the more he became convinced that they were still in that vicinity. " Two and two always make four," he said to himself. "Those muffled figures going from the minister's door at midnight are two, and the discovery on the mountain is two: and if those two twos don't make four, then I'm an idiot!" Early the next morning Brockton started for Boston on horseback. 246 THE REGICIDES. XXIV. The minister stood in his dooryard one morning surveying a newly planted pear tree, when Governor Leete rode up. The two men had not met since the election, and each would have preferred not to meet the other. Nevertheless, the governor reined his horse up to the minister's step and dismounted. The minister came forward to meet him. " Good morrow, Governor Leete." " Good morrow, Master Davenport." The minister did not extend his hand as usual, and the governor made no advances. ' ' I have a letter that I wish to bring to thy attention," said the governor, after waiting until the pause began to grow embarrassing. "Come into the study, where we can sit down," replied the minister. He walked in the open door, his visitor fol- lowing, until they came to the study, when the minister stood at one side and motioned the governor to enter. "It hath just come by carrier from Bos- ton," said Governor L,eete, when they were seated, " and it so deeply concemeth the wel- fare of this colony, and some individuals in 777^ REGICIDES. 247 particular, that I deemed it best to bring it to thy notice." ' ' May I inquire to whose epistle I am to have the honor of listening?" inquired the minister, as Governor L,eete began to adjust his glasses. " It is from the Honorable Edward Raw- son, Secretary of the Council of Massachu- setts. It is a long letter, and parts of it were written at different times before sending. It appears, Master Davenport, that our position on certain public questions hath, perhaps, been ill considered. Our long neglect to acknowledge his Majesty King Charles the Second hath been a cause of complaint against us, as though our loyalty were sus- pected." ' ' I have always been in favor of making a proper acknowledgment of allegiance," re- plied the minister, " and have so stated at divers times and places. Such an act is a political necessity, no matter what our private preferences may be." "It shall be attended to, and at once," said Governor L,eete, taking off his spectacles and wiping them carefully. "Then after reminding us of our neglect in this matter, the secretary proceeds to refer to another 248 THE REGICIDES. subject, and one that just now seems to be of deep concern. The letter will explain itself. Is it thy pleasure that I read ? ' ' " I would be pleased to hear it, if you will oblige." " This part was written on the 4th of July, and with thy permission I will omit so much as refers to our allegiance. Skipping that, the letter continues : ' Further I am required to signify to you as from them that the non attendance with dilligence to execute the king's majesty's warrants for the appre- hending of Colonell Whalley and Goffe will much hazard the present state of these colonies, and your owne particularly, if not some of your persons, which is not a little afflictive to them. And that in their understanding there reniaines no way to ex- piate the offence and preserve yourselves from the danger and hazard but by apprehending the said persons, who, as wee are informed, are yett remain- ing in the colony, and not above a fortnight since, were seen there, all which will be against you. Sir, your owne welfare, the welfare of your neighbours, bespeake your unwearied paines to free yourselfe and neighbours. I shall not add, having so lately, by a few lines from our governor and myselfe look- ing much this way, communicated our sence and thoughts of your and our troubles, and have as yett received no return, but commend you to God and Kis rich grace for your guidance and direction in a matter of such moment, as his Majesty may receave THE REGICIDES. 249 full and just sattisfaction, the mouths of all oppos- ers stopped, and the profession of the truth that is in you and us may not in the least suffer by your actings is the prayer of Sir, your loving friend, EDWARD RAWSON, Secretary. In the name and by order of the Couucill.' " "Then on the isth day of July he added this postscript : ' Sir Since what I wrote, news and certaine in- telligence is come hither of the two- colonells being at New Haven from Saturday to Monday, and pub- lickly knowne, and, however it is given out that they came to surrender themselves, and pretended by Mr. Gilbert that he looked when they would have come in and delivered up themselves, never setting a guard about the house nor endeavoring to secure them, but, when it was too late, to send to Totocut, etc. Sir, how this will be taken is not dif- ficult to imagine, to be sure not well ; nay, will not all men condemn you as wanting to yourselves, and that you have something to rely on, that you hope, at least, will answer your ends ? I am not willing to meddle with your hopes, but if it be a duty to obey such lawful warrants, as I believe it is, the neglect thereof will prove uncomfortable. Pardon me, sir, it is my desire that you may regaine your peace (and if you please to give mee notice when you will send the two colonells) tho' Mr. Wood Greene is bound hence within a month, yet if you shall give me assurance of theire coming I shall 250 THE REGICIDES. not only endeavor, but doe hereby engage, to cause his stay a fortnight, nay three weeks, rather than they should not be sent, expecting your answer, remaine, Sir, your assured loving friend and servant, EDWARD RAWSON.' " ' ' Is there nothing more ? ' ' inquired the minister, when the reading was finished. " Nothing," replied the governor, passing the letter across the table. ' ' I have been looking for this for some time, and my only surprise is at its mildness of tone," said Master Davenport, laying the letter down. " I do not understand you, Master Daven- port." " Since the departure for Boston of a neigh- bor of thine some time ago, I have been ex- pecting rather more than this. The letter that thou hast just read is doubtless a gentle fore- runner of what is to follow." " I am still in the dark, sir." "There are many things hidden from the wise that are made plain to the simple. I presume Daniel Brockton is favoring Guilford with his presence nowadays? " " I have not seen Brockton in a month. " THE REGICIDES. 251 "Certainly not, unless them hast been in Boston. It is to be noted that a part of this letter was written at about the time he would arrive there." The governor paled visibly at this announce- ment. Certain things were suddenly made very plain to him. He had really been a good deal puzzled of late, and he, the keen man of the world and astute politician.did not relish being instructed in temporal matters by the minister. ' ' Well, what is to be done about it ? " asked Master Davenport, as the governor did not speak. ' ' There is but one thing to do in my view of the matter," replied Governor L,eete. ' ' Our own personal safety and the well being of the colony both demand that these men be arrested and delivered over to the Council of Massachusetts." " I note the order in which you state the grounds of your proposed action," remarked the minister quietly, and with a shade of sarcasm in his voice. "There was a time, Governor I,eete, when the question of person- al safety did not come from your lips in con- nection with the discharge of duty." "There was a time, Master Davenport, 252 THE REGICIDES. when the befriending of these men involved little more than a slight hospitality and a grain of caution. It meant simply a strict construction of a faulty warrant. That time is. now past. The matter hath gone beyond our control. In L,ondon as well as in Massachu- setts we are regarded as being in open de- fiance in protecting traitors to our king, whose authority we have not even acknowledged. What does this mean ? It means that our colonial affairs are at this moment in a critical condition, so critical that a word from Lon- don may forever blast all our hopes of pros- perity here. It means all that and more. It means that you and I and others now under suspicion of harboring these men may any day be placed under arrest and hurried to the scaf- fold. The contemplation of such a turn of affairs is not particularly cheerful. We have families whom it is our duty to protect. Our first duty is to them and to our colony. These men are naught to us in comparison. If we ever were under any moral obligation to shield them, that obligation hath been discharged tenfold. We have already done more for them than in all human probability they would have done for us under like circumstances." The clerical wrath had been steadily rising THE REGICIDES. 253 during the governor's remarks, and at the utterance of the last sentence it came to a white heat. The minister rose from his chair and walked excitedly up and down the room, then returned and stood by the table opposite Governor Leete. ' ' What does our duty to our family and our colony mean ? " he began in a voice hoarse with emotion. ' ' Does it mean that we shall desert the fathers of our liberties at the first cry of alarm ? Shall we bow down and fawn at the feet of a jesting tyrant who asks for their surrender that he may murder them ? Who are these' men, and what have they done for us and the world ? Who throttled the ty- rant that was robbing England of her priceless liberties ? Who made freedom of worship possible where oppression and despotism had prevailed ? Who swept intolerance and big- otry from the land at one stroke ? Who de- stroyed the Star Chamber Commission with all its iniquities ? Who made every man in England free to act and think as his Maker intended him ? Answer me, and then ask if we owe these men nothing ! They have laid their very lives upon the altar of their coun- try's devotion. They have shown the world that right, not might, will prevail where cour- 254 THE REGICIDES. age nerves the arm of virtue. Do we owe them nothing ? Does our colony owe them nothing ? Do you as chief magistrate of this people owe them nothing? Answer these questions before you hand these instruments of God's providence over to His and their enemies. Pause before you act, lest the ven- geance of heaven be upon your head ! There are traitors to earthly kings, but woe be unto the man who so far forgets his allegiance to God as to become a traitor to Him ! " The minister took another turn up and down the room when he had finished, and stopped at a window to look out, lest his feel- ings might lead him astray. Governor Leete sat quite composedly and toyed with Rawson's letter. His face was very grave, however. The stand he had taken was not without due consideration. He had spent many days and nights in trying to determine what was his duty, not as William L,eete, an individual of Puritan principles, but as chief magistrate of the colony. He had gone to great lengths in giving protection to the fugitives, and he had been criticised by some of the more cautious for doing so. His position was a trying one. A mere politician would have surrendered the two generals without a moment's hesitation. THE REGICIDES. 255 Governor I/eete was more than a mere politi- cian ; he was a high-minded man of affairs, who sought to be right rather than politic. He waited a few moments before speaking. " Were I alone concerned, Master Daven- port, " he said at length, "I would have little hesitation. You know how I have felt in the past, and what with God's help I have been able to do for these men. I have a per- fect right to sacrifice my own life for them if thereby a greater harm is not done to others, but the moment my act involves the welfare of this colony that trusts my wisdom and discre- tion for the conduct of its secular affairs, that moment I am no longer free to act as an individual, but must consider the conse- quences to them. I have hoped that these men, our benefactors and the benefactors of all mankind, might escape the fate that now awaits them. I have not only placed myself in a position of great personal danger, but have, I fear, put in serious jeopardy the pros- pects of this colony by so doing. I am con- vinced that having done this injury, it is now my duty to do all in my power to repair it. ' ' Master Davenport turned from the window with a smile that might have been sarcastic if another had worn it. 256 THE REGICIDES. 1 ' Dost thou believe in the all-powerful at- tributes of God?" ' ' I have never doubted His wisdom and power." " And dost thou believe in His good- ness ? ' ' "I do." " Believing in His power and goodness, dost thou think He will forget to protect His servants in doing His will on earth ? " " There is wisdom in all thou sayest," said Governor L,eete, thoughtfully. "It is hard to know God's will sometimes. I firmly be- lieve, Master Davenport, that it was the divine will that we should come here and plant this colony in the wilderness, where we might worship God according to the dictates of our own hearts and found a state upon the enduring rock of a free conscience. We have done this for ourselves, but we have done it to a far greater degree for posterity. Our children and our children's children to all generations will reap what we have sown. I believe it is God's will that this should continue. I do not believe that one man's life nor a hundred men's lives should stand in the way of perpetuating this sacred trust!" THE REGICIDES. 257 The minister had been standing by t: e window during the governor's talk. He no\v came to the fireplace, and resting one arm upon the mantel, looked down into the face of his old-time friend. " Thou well knowest, Governor I,eete, for what I have spent the best years of my life. Thou knowest the hardships and the trials that have been endured here, and for what object. It has been the dream of my life to be of some service in bringing about God's kingdom upon the earth. I hoped to come here, where the foot of a white man had never trod, where the villainy and corruption of courts had never contaminated the virgin soil, and plant a colony whose life should be the perfect exponent of Christ's teachings, and whose laws should be based upon Holy Writ. In a community like that Christ could come to earth again, and by His presence, His words and His example, forever redeem this new world from sin and destruction. It has been the dream of my life that this might be. I have toiled unceasingly toward that end. It has been my belief that a few devout men might come here and by their pious lives give to posterity a priceless heritage. No one realizes better than I that the plan 258 THE REGICIDES. has failed Men are the same here as they were in England, pious and devotional until a question of self-interest arises, then they throw their principles to the dogs and hug their consciences. I have learned that a little politics will strip a man of his religion as clean as a sapling after a hurricane. I have tried to make men what they should be in- stead of taking them as they are. Some say that in this I have made a mistake. Was Christ, whose minister I am, content to let matters take their own easy course ? Was it for that that He labored and taught and gave His life ? Ah, Governor Leete, it is not for any man to tell me, who have carried the welfare of this colony next my heart for nearly a quarter of a century, that its future should be well guarded ! " " And dost thou think, Master Davenport," asked the governor mildly, "that the inter- ests of this colony will be best conserved by longer defying the king's express com- mands ? ' ' " I have never advocated defying the king's express commands ! " thundered the minister. " Can it be possible that by this time my posi- tion on that matter is misunderstood ? What are the king's express commands ? The mag- THE REGICIDES. 259 istrates of ' The Plantation of New England ' are commanded to arrest and deliver up two certain men. Where is the plantation of New England ? What man ever heard of such a place ? Could you find it if you had all eternity to search in ? But suppose he meant to address his warrant to j^ourself as a magistrate of this colony, have you not done your full duty as a loyal subject ? Has not a search been ordered, and every building and cellar in the jurisdiction carefully searched ? " " But since that time the men have been seen publicly in the streets. They are sup- posed in Massachusetts and in lyondon to be living in our midst at this very moment." " Thanks to the efforts of Daniel Brock- ton." ' ' More than that, Master Davenport. You and I and others are believed to be concerned in harboring them, and our position is such that a suspicion against us involves the inter- ests of the whole colony." The minister smiled and made an impatient gesture. " Governor L,eete, idle rumors are easily run to the ground. Prove to all the world that you know nothing whatever of the 260 THE REGICIDES. whereabouts of these men. Have you even a suspicion of where they are ? ' ' "Not the least." " Then let me tell you something. Were my Maker to require me to produce them this day or forfeit my immortal soul, I could not doit! " The governor started at this announcement, and regarded the minister with a fixed look. He had come here with the intention of per- suading the minister if possible to take his view of the case and deliver up the fugitives. He had had no doubt but that their where- abouts were well known to Master Davenport. At first he was inclined to think the parson was a little technical in his statement, but on reflection he knew that equivocation from such a source was, to say the least, improba- ble. He saw, too, that having failed in his mission, there was no use in prolonging a discussion that had proved disagreeable to both. So he rose to take his departure. "I deem it my duty to say to you, how- ever," he said, as he stood in the doorway, " that in the discharge of my obligations as I view them, I shall make every effort to arrest Generals Whalley and Goffe and surrender them to the proper authorities." THE REGICIDES. 261 " Then all I can say," replied the minister, "is to remind you that those who have made a similar attempt in the past have met with ill success." When Governor lyeete had gone, Master Davenport went over to see William Jones. "Don't you think, Jones," he said, after detailing his interview with the governor, * 4 that in certain emergencies I ought to know the exact whereabouts of our friends?" 4 ' Should that emergency arise I will con- sider the matter, ' ' replied Jones, with a humor- ous smile, " but for the present I can assure you they are very comfortably disposed." XXV. We are seldom judged on our merits. People will persist in either overestimating or underestimating us, and history itself often fails to rate men at their true value. Gover- nor Iveete's change of base was held by some to be an example of heroic devotion to the in- terests of the colony ; others charged him with being a moral coward. Posterity draws its own conclusions, and fails to agree. Be the fact as it may, the governor's new standard of 262 THE REGICIDES. action altered the whole course of events, so far as the colony was concerned, and in the end caused its identity to be swallowed up in that of another. " Oh, that Cromwell had come here, as he once intended !" exclaimed Master Davenpoit in after years. " Then New Haven Colony might have remained true to the memory of her founders." But the governor must not be too hastily blamed. On most political questions there are two sides : one may be right and the other wrong ; yet the supporters of both may be honest and conscientious. John had frequent occasion to visit Guilford on official business, and while he deeply S3 r m- pathized with his father's views, he came to see that Governor I^eete sincerely believed in the soundness of his own position. The more he thought of it the more he felt con- vinced that from an impartial standpoint the question was a difficult one to decide. But his thoughts were more often turned in the direction of a certain house in Branford where dwelt a pair of bright eyes, and a voice whose melody sent a sweet vibration to his heart. . He never passed through on his way to Guilford without stopping at the parson- THE REGICIDES. 263 age. His calls were ostensibly upon Abra- ham Pierson, but it was plain that he found little that was congenial in the bookish re- cluse. They would spend a little while to- gether in the study of the young minister, but before he had been in the house an hour he had left the brother to his books and for- gotten his very existence in the charming society of Abigail. Together they planted flowers in the garden, and sought the fields for wild ones. John accompanied her on er- rands of mercy among the poor and sick of the parish, and noted how dull eyes bright- ened and hard voices became softer in her presence. He wondered how he could ever exist away from her, and whether she would .ever deign to look at him except in friend- ship. He spent hours in reviewing her every word and look and gesture, to try if he could reduce therefrom a grain of hope ; but these reflections always made her seem more per- fect and unapproachable. As a result he lost his appetite, moped about the house, and knew no more the luxury of sound sleep. He became so absent-minded that one day while presiding as judge he sternly ordered Goodman Barnes' horse to sit in the stocks one hour as a punishment for running away. 264 THE REGICIDES. Abigail was all this time wondering what could be the matter with John. ' ' He used to be like a brother to me," she would say to herself. ' ' Now he looks at me as though I were some strange being, and then sighs. I fear poor John is ill." There was much at home, however, to oc- cupy the attention of the young judge. The custom was still in vogue of visiting the full letter of the law upon all offenders, and in- formers were never wanting. Civil trials, too, became more numerous as time went on, and these made large demands upon him. He had often to go to neighboring towns to sit in judgment where local magistrates pre- ferred not to act, and Mistress Davenport noticed that he manifested a perfect willing-* ness to be called to Guilford and Branford, while he sometimes pleaded pressing engage- ments when requested to go in other direc- tions. He was so much occupied with matters per- taining to his judicial duties, and his specula- tions as to whether a certain maiden were really all angel or partly human, that he some- times lost track of current events. He was completely surprised one morning as he passed down the street to see a crowd collected on the THE REGICIDES. 265 market-place. He went up and stood on the outskirts of the company, which had gathered in front of the meeting-house. Suddenly there was a roll of drums, and the bespectacled clerk mounted the topmost step. The town crier commanded silence, and then, raising his voice to a high pitch, the clerk read the follow- ing proclamation : "Although we have not received any form of proclamation by order of his Majesty or Council of State, for the proclaiming his Majesty in this colony, yet the Court, taking encouragement from what hath been in the rest of the United Col- onies, hath thought fit to declare publicly and proclaim that we do acknowledge his Royal High- ness, Charles the Second, King of England, Scot- land, France, and Ireland, to be our sovereign Lord and King, and that we do acknowledge ourselves the inhabitants of this colony to be his Majesty's loyal and faithful subjects. "GOD SAVE THE KING!" A few years before, when the Commonwealth was proclaimed from the same steps, a mighty shout went up from the assembled crowd. Now there was a deep silence when the clerk finished, as though he had been reading the 266 THE REGICIDES. decree of final doom. This was broken by a single utterance. Old Goodman Brown, fresh from his meditations, raised his voice and cried, " God save the Commonweath !" but immediately recanted when touched upon the shoulder by a constable. Goodman was ab- sent-minded, as everybody knew, and his treason was overlooked. Master Davenport was not present when the proclamation was read. He was at that moment holding a session at the parsonage with Jones and Gilbert. Master Tompkins of Milford, who, be it remembered, helped Robert Treat upon an occasion to solve a problem of expendiency, was also there. " There is no time to be lost," said Master Davenport in answer to a question from Gil- bert. ' ' The Amity Indians have discovered the cave . So much hath been learned, though whether the information hath been generally given out is doubtful. It does not necessarily follow that the cave means anything more than a hunter's retreat, but for our purposes it is not safe even for another twenty-four hours."* " Other considerations render the situation all the more deplorable," said Jones, " for I * See Appendix K. THE REGICIDES. 267 have heard this morning that Mr. Woodgreen hath arrived from Boston with a requisition, and is at this very moment at the house of Governor L,eete, if indeed, he be not on the way to New Haven with the governor and Brockton, in whose company he arrived." At this announcement the minister became so agitated that he rose from his chair and walked up and down the room several times. " lyeete is a traitor ! " he exclaimed finally, unable to restrain himself. "He hath sold his immortal soul for a few paltry years of earthly " But he did not finish the sen- tence. With a great effort he calmed him- self and apologized for his heated words. The discussion lasted until nearly noon without definite result. There did not seem to be a man in the colony who could be im- plicitly trusted. The reward that had been originally offered had been doubled by Gov- ernor I^eete, and was now so tempting that one's nearest neighbor might be the first to give information. Sperry had volunteered to find another cave, but that would take time ; and caves would no longer be a safe hiding- place. Were the generals connected with the cave on West Rock, there would be a thorough search all over the colony for sim- 268 THE REGICIDES. ilar hiding-places. So the cave question was ruled out. Master Davenport offered to take the men into his own house and trust to the consequences, but the others would not hear of it. Such a course would only ruin the minister, and would be of no real service to Whalley and Goffe. At half -past eleven of the clock Judge Dav- enport came in, and without knowing what was under discussion, casualty reported that Governor L,eete and a stranger had just ar- rived in town and had gone to the tavern for dinner. ' ' The governor may have knowledge of their whereabouts," said Jones, getting up. "Do you remain here and contrive what shall be done, and I shall get the generals out of the cave into the deep woods. I will return as soon as may be." Jones went to his barn and told his man to saddle a horse. While this was being done he walked down by the tavern to reconnoiter. Governor Leete and a stranger were in front of the stable giving some directions to a town officer, but Srockton was nowhere to be seen. This he considered significant. Jones returned to his own house, and was soon on his way to West Rock. He held his horse in until he THE REGICIDES. 269 was well out of the village, then put the spurs and struck into a brisk canter. When he arrived at the base of the great rock he looked up and thought he saw a human fig- ure standing on the brink looking off toward the water. He rode along the bank of the river and up into the farming district. When he came in sight of Sperry's house he thouglit he would go and take Sperry with him, but he changed his mind when he re- flected that Governor Leete might have some deeply laid scheme to carry out. He knew the governor to be astute and inclined to making surprises, and concluded that the only way of getting the two generals out of danger was to make haste. He tied his horse at the foot of the gap and climbed the rest of the way on foot. He thought he knew just where the cave was, but spent a half hour in a vain search for it. As the time slipped by he wished he had brought Sperry, but congratulated himself that if he who had been to the cave had trouble in finding it, the governor and his agents would stand a still less chance. He was smiling to himself as he imagined the governor's discomfiture, when he suddenly came out on the brink of the precipice and 270 THE REGICIDES. saw a small company of perhaps half a dozen men moving slowly down the river. This discovery made him a trifle nervous, he could not tell why, for he knew the governor had not had time to make a trip to the mountain and accomplish anything since he left him at the tavern. It was with an unusual energy, however, that he struck back into the forest and began once more to search for the cave. He soon came to a newly trodden path that led from the edge of the rock down the mountain-side, and followed it. Almost before he realized that he was on the right track he came to a thick clump of bushes that he recognized as the screen that hid the cave. He listened a moment, then pressed forward to the opening. There was no sound to be heard, and as he peered into the dark hole he could see nothing. There was a sickening sen- sation at his heart as he climbed down and entered the cave. After standing a moment lie could see quite distinctly, and what he saw cau ;ed him to sink down on a stone and cover his face with his hands. There was no human being there but himself, and the beds and cooking utensils were strewn about the floor in confusion. Near the open- THE REGICIDES. 271 ing lay an old hat that he at once recognized as Whalley's. In the meantime the interview at the par- sonage was proceeding toward a successful development. When Totnpkins saw that everything would be lost unless somebody entirely outside the old circle stepped into the gap, he proposed to receive the two men into his own house in Milford until the danger was over. " My basement," he said, " is well situated for such a purpose. I will house them there, though it is little better than a common cel- lar. I will place a pile of skins in one corner where they can sleep o' nights, and in the day time the room will look like a farm- hand's quarters. There is a cupboard in the partition that nobody would ever suspect. That will make a safe retreat in case of a search." 1 ' God will reward thee, Master Tomp- kins," said the minister, grasping his hand warmly. "Thou hast saved us for the pres- ent. It may seem to thee a little thing to do an act like this, but in so doing thou mayest entertain angels unawares. These men were once great and powerful, Master Tompkins, 272 THE REGICIDES. and in God's own good time they may again be brought forth to lead a nation to liberty." " My risk is nothing compared with thine," replied Tompkins modestly. "Give me not too much credit. My cellar is the last place an officer would think of, and thou canst warn me of any approaching danger." The minister never seemed happier or lighter of heart than at this gratifying turn of affairs. He spoke of the dangers that had been encountered and successfully met, and of the certain defeat of Governor L,eete's plans. He stepped to the window to look out at the beautiful sunshine that was flooding everything, and thought how much more there was of it than of shadow in the world. He felt so joyous that he actually broke out into an hymn of praise. He was in this mood when he saw Jones ride slowly up and dismount. He could hardly wait for the horse to be tied and the stairs to be climbed. " We are saved ! " he exclaimed, as Jones entered the study. " Let them do their best now, we are " At the sight of Jones' white face he stopped. " What's the matter ? Art thou ill ? Be THE REGICIDES. 273 well, then ; we have some good news that will cure thee ! ' ' Jones sank into a chair, and it was a full minute before he could speak. "No, no, no " he gasped, "we are not saved we are lost Whalley and Goffe have been taken ! ' ' XXVI. The minister had the power which many possess naturally, and which people who are blessed with wills can cultivate, the power of concentration. Most men would have been crushed by the blow which had so suddenly fallen. In spite of his living in constant expectation of a surprise, he was completely dazed for a time by Jones' announcement. But the man who had spent a lifetime in braving trials was not to be overcome now. He was the first to recover composure, and immediately set about to cheer his friends. "When Charles Stuart, the cause of all this trouble, was condemned, he walked to the fatal block like a conquerer. Shall we show less fortitude than he ? And shall we forget the words of divine consolation to be 274 THE REGICIDES. found on every page of the blessed Book ? If it be that our cause is lost for we are after all but soldiers ou a field of battle let us meet the end bravely and with eyes fixed upon the face of the great Commander." Master Davenport spent the rest of the day in his study. He reviewed carefully the events of his life that had led up to this crisis, and examined his own conduct to see whether he could not have acquitted himself better. When the mistress came to the door and an- nounced supper he gently excused himself, saying he felt a little disturbed and preferred to fast. Not a word did he say to his wife or son touching the catastrophe that had befal- len. In regard to the outcome he was entirely uncertain. He knew that Governor L,eete would not sacrifice him or his friends in New Haven, but he felt that Whalley and Goffe were irreparably lost. As to what trap Brockton might have laid he was not incred- ulous. He was fully aware of the fact that that enterprising individual would not hesi- tate to sell his own flesh and blood if suffi- cient gold were displayed before his greedy eyes. He sat in his study far into the night, spending the time partly in meditation and THE REGICIDES. 275 partly in silent prayer. When at last he retired for a little rest he felt that he was pre- pared for whatever the future might have in waiting. The next morning one entering the study would never have suspected the crushing blow that had so lately fallen. The minister was not half so downcast as John , who knew nothing of it, but was worrying his life out over a maiden's heart. The arrival of a box of books from London kept them both occu- pied the greater part of the forenoon. It would have been hard to tell which was the more boyish in his eagerness to pry the lid off and get at the contents. ' ' A new edition of Shakespeare ! ' ' ex- claimed Master Davenport, as he drew forth a handsome folio. " A good beginning." John looked at his father with an amused smile. He knew of some Puritan clergymen who would have hidden that volume, even from their sons, and devoured it in secret. " Milton ! " said John, making a dive at the box, while the minister turned the leaves of Shakespeare. "I wonder if he hath writ- ten anything new. Comus I/ Allegro II Penseroso Arcades Lycidas a few shorter ones. Yes, here are some new ones, but I 276 THE REGICIDES. see not the longer poem that General Goffe spoke of." " The one he calls Paradise I,ost ? It can- not be finished yet. Goffe said it was to be the work of his life. Milton writes slowly, and at a great disadvantage since he lost his sight." " What a loss that he should have given the best years of his life to the Commonwealth, leaving only a cheerless old age to write in ! " ' ' The years he spent as Latin Secretary to the Commonwealth were not thrown away. Time hath ripened his powers, and what they have lost in fire they have gained in richness and depth." 1 ' If his Paradise L,ost proves better than his shorter poems, I must have it as soon as it is out," said John, who slept with Milton under his pillow, and could repeat Comus by heart. "Here is Ben Jonson, and here is Cowley, and here is ' " Pass me Cowley," said the minister. ' ' Is it a complete edition? So it is 1656. I remember seeing his schoolboy ' ' Poetic Blos- soms," a fifteen-year-old production, long before New Haven had even been dreamed of. He is a rank royalist, and has been living in THE REGICIDES. 277 France as secretary to the queen, but I hear he is back in London since the restoration." " ' The Compleat Angler, by Izak Walton,' what can this be ? " said John, bringing out a curious looking folio. " My old friend and parishioner, Walton," replied the minister, "and hath he written a book? Sure enough. Well, it is doubt- less a good one, for I verily believe Izak is the best fisherman alive ! " ' ' And here are some volumes of your own sermons," exclaimed John, taking out a dozen or more plainly bound books. " Let me see the binding. I know too well how poor are the contents." Master Davenport examined the binding carefully, then laid that rank royalist Cowley aside, and began on the contents. He kept on reading while John emptied the box and piled the books on the study table. John then went to the barn to give some directions to the man, and when he returned the minis- ter had not moved. Taking up the volume of Shakespeare, John went and sat down by the window. In the course of an hour Mas- ter Davenport had come to the conclusion that his sermons were properly bound, and laid the book down. 278 THE REGICIDES. ' ' I would that I could have seen Shakes- peare," said John, noting his father's move- ment. ' ' Looked he anything like this por- trait ?" " I saw him but once, and it was when I was quite young. Thy grandfather took me to London one day when I was a mere lad, and we stopped at an inn I think it was called ' The Mermaid.' In the evening, after we had supped and were sitting for a little, we heard the sound of singing in the next room. Father went to the door to see what it was, then beckoned me to follow. The room was filled with people scattered about seated at round tables, and in one corner sat two men by themselves. One was dark and heavily built, and he was singing, 1 Drink to me only with thine eyes,' while the others listened. He had a sweet voice for one so coarse in appearance, and I remember distinctly how I was thrilled by the song. The one who sat opposite him at the round table was much slighter in figure, while in- clined to stoutness, and florid of complexion. He wore a small mustache and chin-beard, and was getting bald over his forehead, though he appeared not more than forty. He sat looking across the room at the ceiling THE REGICIDES. 279 while the song went on. At its close a burst of applause shook the walls, and the florid man turned to the singer and said, ' Ben Jonson, thou art the sweetest singer ever lived. I prithee sing th}' ' Lament of Narcis- sus.' 'Ay, Will, thy wish shall be granted, but do thou first order a bottle of Tommy Lund's good sack, that I may wet my whis- tle,' said the singer. When we had gone to our room I asked father who the man with the blue eyes and the small chin-beard was. ' That, my son,' said he, ' is Will Shakes- peare, of the Globe Theatre, and he is one of the most dangerous men in London ! ' " "And why the most dangerous ?" queried John. 1 ' The very question I asked, ' ' replied the minister, " and my father said, ' Because he is a man of brilliant parts, who dazzles the youth of London and leads them astray. It is a crime before God,' and I remember well how vehement my father became, ' a crime before God for such a man to waste heaven- born gifts a-writing and acting plays ! Worse than that, he is a tap-room brawler, and spends his nights a-drinking sack and singing lewd songs, and associating with such low fellows as this Ben Jonson, an inspired brick- 2 So THE REGICIDES. layer, forsooth ! Let this be a lesson to thee, my son,' laying his hand on my head I can see his earnest face now, 'let this be a lesson to thee to shun these brilliant and fatal lights that lure so many poor moths to flutter around them. ' " 1 ' Think } r ou not my grandfather was a little prejudiced?" asked John, who saw Shakespeare through his writings rather than with the visual eye. "No, I think he was right," responded the minister firmly. " William Shakespeare personally was a dangerous example for the young, and he wrote much that were better left unwritten. He was a great poet, and read the human heart as no man ever had read it before ; but the pity is that so great a man could not have been wholly wise and good." ' ' I can see where the danger lies, ' ' returned John, "yet I quite fail to understand how a well-balanced mind could be otherwise than improved by a study of his writings." " True, his book is not for children or fools. Study him aright and thou wilt be a better man for it ; read him as the fool readeth, and the fool's reward followeth." The clock struck eleven, and the father THE REGICIDES. 281 and son prepared to take their usual morning walk. " I/et us go and tell Marston," said the minister, taking his hat. ' ' The sight of new books may do him good." " I fear I,' Allegro will have no charms for him," replied John. "II Penseroso might cheer him up a bit." They started out to visit Marston, but first strolled to the northward toward Sachem Woods. Master Davenport always found a long walk on a pleasant day the best antidote for depression of spirits. He never yielded to the temptation of nursing his moods, but on his darkest days lived most in the sun- light. They found Marston sitting in a cor- ner engaged in meditation. Such a sweet medley of bird songs filled the air outside that the minister had hesitated about going in lest he lose the cheering sound. Marston had stuffed his ears that the noise might not disturb his thoughts. " Are there any books that lend new aids to meditation?" asked Marston, when told of the fresh addition to the clerical library. ' ' There is much that will help us to see the bright and cheerful in life," replied the minister. 282 THE REGICIDES. " Then tell me not of it," groaned Mars- ton. " My greatest struggle is to resist a spirit of levity. I dwell too much on earthly things already. L,ead me not into a new temptation by telling me of frivolous writ- ings ! ' ' The Davenports cut short their visit and continued their walk. ' ' What a pity there was not a copy of Dante's Inferno in the box ! ' ' said John, when they were well out of the Marstonian atmos- phere. " We might have touched him with that." As they passed on through the southwest- ern portion of the village they came to a giant oak tree near a street corner. "Here," said the minister stopping and looking up into the leafy canopy, " under the spreading branches of this tree was preached the first sermon ever uttered in this part of the country." "Strange I never knew the spot," said John, examining the surroundings with in- terest. "I have often heard the incident mentioned. Sometimes I regret that you brought me not with you that I might have felt the full influence of the new experiences." "Thou wert too young, and the dangers THE REGICIDES. 283 and hardships were great for a child to bear. Many children came with us, and most of them are now lying in the little plot in the rear of the meeting-house. But the incident here is a pleasant one to look back upon now. Hope beat high in every breast on that day when we sailed into the harbor and up this creek. The next day was the Sabbath, and every man, woman and child left the water and came to this tree for worship. We all felt that a new era was dawning, and here would be demonstrated the fact that a state founded upon high principles would endure. We thought we were building upon solid rock, and little guessed that we were choosing instead the quicksand of human selfishness ! ' ' A flood of bitter recollections prevented further reminiscence, and father and son bent their steps silently homeward. As they neared the house they saw a lady in the garden with Mistress Davenport, walk- ing among the flowers. There was somewhat about her that looked familiar, but at a dis- tance they could not be certain who it was. As they drew nearer the ladies left the garden and went into the house. "Some one from the farms, no doubt," said the minister while they opened the front 284 THE REGICIDES. gate and passed in. Master Davenport went directly to his study and John to the barn to see that his horse had been properly cared for. Dinner was ready and had been waiting some time, and when the gentlemen entered the dining-room they stood face to face with Mistress Abigail Pierson. As soon as the minister recovered from his surprise he took both her hands in his. ' ' Thou art the most welcome sight these eyes have seen in many a day," he said, look- ing fondly into Abigail's upturned face. "And how came you so suddenly and unan- nounced? " ' ' My brother Abraham was called to preach in Fairtield on the morrow, and I begged him to take me on his pillion and leave me here until his return," replied Abigail. " Then may his return be long delayed," said the minister, leading her across the room to the table. John envied his father the privilege of hold- ing those sweet hands so long, but had to content himself with a simple welcome. He determined then and there, however, to estab- lish, before Abraham's return, his right to THE REGICIDES. 285 hold them as long as he pleased or find him- self condemned to everlasting misery. After dinner Abigail made a formal call on Mistress Jones, then ran across the garden to see Goody Bascombe, who held her fast as though she could never let her go. Poor Goody ! Her potent herbs that had proved a charm in so many sick rooms were power- less to check the ravages of rheumatism in a body so frail as hers, but she patiently bore every pain without a complaint. She knew that a weekly attendance at the arctic meet- ing-house during a score of winters had broken her delicate constitution, but she had no quarrel with what she considered the decrees of Providence. 1 ' My blessings are already more than I deserve," she said, while Abigail rubbed the poor aching joints. " When I think how Another suffered and died for me and all man- kind, centuries before I was born, and how little I have done to merit the sacrifice, I am willing to bear all that comes to me. " Thou wilt be better soon," said Abigail soothingly. " Doth not my rubbing ease the pain?" "Ay, and the sight of thy sweet face and the touch of thy hand do make me forget all 286 THE REGICIDES. else. Thou wilt leave behind a ray of sun- shine that the darkest night of agony cannot put out." Abigail stayed with Goody Bascombe as long as her time permitted, and after fixing the old lady's cap and readjusting the flannels about the swollen joints, she promised to come again before going home, and went away. After a brief call on Goodwife Chapman and a longer one on Hope Marston, she re- turned and spent the rest of the afternoon with Mistress Davenport. At supper time John was unusually quiet, so much so that his mother thought some- thing must be wrong with him. "A little walk might do thee good," she suggested. " Provided I were accompanied by the Mis- tress Abigail," he replied, catching at the idea. " It is ofttimes depressing to the spirits to walk alone." " Then do thou go, my daughter, and see that the boy's spirits are not allowed to get too low." The village streets were quiet save for the homeward trudge of a belated farm-hand, and the subdued discussion of the birds as they settled into their nests for the night. The THE REGICIDES. 287 master of the watch stood with his assistants on the market-place ready to move at the tap of the drum and give another night's protec- tion to the sleeping inhabitants. The sun was a half hour gone, and the mellow haze of the New England twilight was beginning to dim the familiar streets. They had not been out long before the moon showed a great yellow disc behind the eastern tree-tops, and John chose the path leading to Prospect Hill beyond the Sachem Woods. They sauntered slowly along, say- ing little, and by the time they reached the top of the hill the moon shone full on the bay. "How beautiful!" exclaimed Abigail. 4 ' Could paradise be more so ? " " Not unless thou wert there," said John, taking her unresisting hand in both his own. And standing there in the moonlight, with the stars looking down in silent benediction, and the lovely panorama spreading away at their feet, he told her of his love. When they reached home the mistress was watching anxiously at the window. "Can they have forgotten that nine o'clock means lights out in every well-ordered 288 THE REGICIDES. house?" she had said to herself, just before the truants appeared. John entered the house with the air of a conquerer, and Abigail clinging to his arm. His mopishness had vanished, and his spirits danced in his eyes as he bowed low and pre- sented Abigail. " Mother," said he, "I ween this lady is not a stranger to you, but lest there be some misunderstanding, let me introduce her as the new Mistress Davenport to be." The mistress took Abigail in her arms and kissed her over and over again, and laughed and cried until the minister came from the study to see what was the matter. " So it is over at last ! " she said, holding Abigail at arm's length and looking into her eyes. " I prithee, what is over at last ? " inquired John, wondering what his mother could mean. Then they all sat down and Mistress Dav- enport told them how she had watched the course of affairs for many months, and had sent them off together hoping the matter might be settled before Abigail returned to Branford. The minister, man-fashion, was forced to admit that such a thing never oc- THE REGICIDES. 289 curred to him, and when the mistress remind- ed him of John's odd actions, his low spirits, his absentmindedness, and his sentencing of Goodman Barnes' horse to sit in the stocks for running away, he confessed that he had attributed it all to a burdening sense of responsibility in the discharge of public duty. ' ' I fear thou hast not read thy Shakespeare aright," said John, laughing at what then appeared so ridiculous. ' ' I am getting old and stupid, more like- ly," replied Master Davenport, who was greatly pleased but could not adjust himself suddenly to the surprise. The lights burned longer than usual in the parsonage that night, and the master of the watch knocked at the door to inquire if any- body were ill, and could he render any assist- ance. John went late to his room, and he had no more than shut the door when he re- membered that he had neglected to take a final look at the horse, as was his custom be- fore retiring. ' ' My absentmindedness seems to be not yet over," he said to himself as he turned to go back. "The burden of my public du- ties ' ' And he laughed as he had not done 290 THE REGICIDES. since the shadow of a maiden's face had fal- len across his heart. When he reached the top of the stairs he met Abigail with her candle. The mistress had just preceded her across the hall. " Little sweetheart," said John, taking her in his arms and kissing her again and again, " thou hast made me very happy this day." "And I am not unhappy," she replied, hiding her face on his shoulder. Mistress Davenport drew the curtains in Abigail's room, that the light might not dis- turb her too early in the morning, and was returning as Abigail entered the door. "Why, my daughter!" she exclaimed, ' ' thy dear dress is streaked with tallow ! ' ' Abigail looked and saw the tell-tale drip- pings. ' ' I am afraid I I held not my candle steady when when John " And she blushed and turned her pretty face away. But the mistress was wise and understood. THE REGICIDES. 291 XXVII. " It was on a narrow margin," said Richard Sperry to Jones, at the close of the morning service next day. " Had I been an hour later it could not have been done." " Thou speakest in riddles," replied Jones. " Come to one side and make thyself plain if it be aught that concerneth me." ' ' There is naught to say except to tell thee how close a rub it was." "Who hath been rubbed, and what mattereth it to me how close it was ?' ' snapped Jones, who had been particularly testy since his discovery on Friday. Sperry dropped the subject and joined a group of farmers who were talking crops at the southeast corner of the meeting-house. " Somebody hath rubbed Master Jones' fur the wrong way," he said to himself. "When it gets smoothed down he may want to see me." During the afternoon service he noticed Jones looking his way two or three times with an inquiring expression in his eyes. He di- vined it to be an indication that Jones was revolving something in his mind, and conclud- ed not to be too pliant. After the benediction 292 THE REGICIDES. he walked quickly out of the meeting-house, and when Jones finally made his way out Sperry was disappearing on horseback up the street. The moment Jones saw the horse's heels flying toward Amity he felt greatly de- pressed. The more he reflected on Sperry's words the more he became convinced of their significance. His first impluse was to jump on his horse and ride out to the farms that night, but on second thought he desisted. He knew Sperry to be as proud and sensitive as himself, and did not care to be humiliated. All that night Master Jones could not sleep. He kept revolving Sperry's words in his mind. " Had I been an hour later it could not have been done " " a close rub." What could Sperry have meant ? He was not a man to speak without meaning, although it was a well-recognized character- istic of his to veil the idea he wished to convey with language that might be mislead- ing to the listener. At four in the morning Jones rose, after debating with himself all night, ordered his man to saddle a horse, and without stopping for breakfast, started for the farms at full speed. On reaching the mill he reconsidered, and thought how ridiculous Sperry would think REGICIDES. 293 him for appearing before sunrise with no ostensible errand for an excuse. He knew Sperry would see through him in a minute. He halted his horse in the middle of the road and thought for a little, then turned about and galloped home. "Why art thou abroad so early?" asked Mistress Jones when he arrived at the gate. Jones looked as guilty as though he had been stealing sheep. "Only a morning ride," he replied ner- vously. "I rested not well last night, and craved a little exercise." About eight o'clock he started again, and arrived at the farms with his fur smoothed down. Sperry was at work in a field near the road, but Jones kept on, pretending not to see him. On finding that Sperry said nothing, he finally reined up to the fence and called out, " Hulloa, Sperry ! " ' ' Good morrow, Master Jones, ' ' said Sperry, keeping on at his task. " I was going by," continued Jones, " and was going to ask if I saw you if the In- dians are troubled by the swine nowadays." "I hear no complaint," replied Sperry quietly, without looking up. Jones rode on over the hill, and Sperry 294 THE REGICIDES. laughed to himself. " I wonder if it now concerneth him how close the rub was. Mayhap he will soon be back to see." In half an hour Jones rode leisurely back and dismounted. " Seeing I am here, Sperry, suppose we go over our accounts." Sperry looked up in some surprise. He saw Jones was getting desperate. "Very well," he replied, dropping his work. They went into the house, and spent an hour going over the accounts without getting any nearer to the object of the visit. Jones tried to work around to it several times, but Sperry adroitly avoided every lead. At last Jones gave up. He was getting so nervous that his hands trembled . " Sperry," he said abruptly, "what did you mean yesterday by saying, 'It was a close rub ' ? It occurs to me that you may have had something important to convey." "'A close rub'? said Sperry, squinting his eyes, and looking across the room as if trying to recall what he had said. " I don't quite get you, Master Jones." " At the meeting-house," explained Jones, feeling terribly humiliated. "You said it was ' on a narrow margin.' " THE REGICIDES. 295 Sperry scratched his head and squinted and thought a little more, then suddenly straight- ened his face out. " Oh, I remember now ! But it was nothing important. It was on my mind then that it might be of interest, but I saw at once that I was mistaken. It was really nothing at all." Poor Jones saw he must drink the bitter cup to the dregs, and he made a heroic effort. " Sperry, I was irritated, I was not myself. Forgive me, I prithee, and tell me what thou hast to say." Richard Sperry was as generous as he was proud, and his resentment vanished the moment those honest words were spoken. "I supposed, Master Jones, that my re- marks would be plain after the message I sent on Friday afternoon." ' Message ? I have received no message." " What, did not John Beasley-tell thee as I instructed him ? ' ' " I have not seen John Beasley." It was now Sperry 's turn to be surprised. ' ' I told Beasley when he finished hoeing in the garden last Friday noon to go to thy house direct and tell thee to have no fear, that whatever rumor might get abroad, all was well." 296 777 REGICIDES. "And the drunken scoundrel got sodden on his wage, and left thy message undeliver- ed !" exclaimed Jones, a great light breaking upon him. " But so sure as John Davenport is a judge, I will have him flogged until the blood runs from every vein in his vile body ! Now tell me thy stcry quickly, though I already guess it." Richard, like all the Sperrys, was a story teller par excellence, and Jones listened with rapt attention ; but it will be necessary, for certain reasons, to go back a little and allow events to speak for themselves. When Jonathan Meigs saw Brockton and a stranger ride into Guilford from the north at full gallop on Thursday and make straight for Governor I/eete's house, he concluded at once that there was trouble ahead. Nobody knew for a certainty where Brockton had been for the past month, but it had transpired somehow that he had gone to Boston to convey impor- tant information. His sudden return with a stranger in royalist dress, and their evident haste to see the governor, roused Meigs' sus- picion to such a pitch that he decided to send word to New Haven as soon as night fell. He hunted up Owanuc, the Indian, and Owanuc promised to do the errand, but his THE REGICIDES. 297 long attachment to Governor I,eete finally prevailed, and after dallying until nine o'clock he told Meigs he could not go. There was then no course left but for Meigs to take his horse and go himself. It was just ten o'clock when he rode quietly down Guilford street and took the high road. A bright moon rendered his journey more expeditious than it otherwise would have been, but as he neared New Haven he real- ized that the moon was about to prove his most serious obstacle. It was near midn : ght, and he knew he ran great risk of encounter- ing the watch. He dismounted a little out- side the village limit, fastened his horse in a thicket, and made his way cautiously in on foot. Twice he ran foul of the watch, but managed to secrete himself in time to escape observation. A full hour passed before he reached the minister's house and crept up into the shadow of the doorway. He gently rapped, but received no response. He then darted across the street to Jones' house and tried the same tactics with a similar result. He dared not knock too loudly for fear of attracting the attention of the watch. He walked around the house and made as much noise as he dared at every window within his 298 THE REGICIDES. reach. It seemed to him as though every sleeper was patiently waiting for the last trump. He went back to the minister's and tried the windows, but remembered that no one slept on the ground floor. He sat down in the garden by the fence and took account of the situation. Something must be done during the night, for his appearance in New Haven at an early hour of the morning would cause comment. Then, too, the governor and his officers might be there at daylight. There was but one thing to do, to go back and get his horse and find Richard Sperry. The day was near breaking when he arrived at the farms and roused Sperry. There was no need to fear making a noise there, and he had not been on the ground two minutes before Sperry raised a window and put out his head. It took but a sentence to make known the situation, and in a quar- ter of an hour both were crossing the valley on their way to the cave. They approached the hiding-place cautiously, and could hear the deep breathing of the sleepers as they lis- tened at the opening. "I would that we need not tell them," whispered Sperry. "General Whalley's health is shattered already, and a new anxiety THE REGICIDES. 299 may prove fatal. L,et us withdraw for a little consultation, and see what had best be done." They climbed to the top of the mountain, which was but a short way beyond the cave, and reached the summit just as the dawn was beginning to be rosy above the eastern hor- izon. "Sit thee down while we talk a little," said Sperry, as they came to a comfortable spot at the foot of a tree. "Thou must be weary without any sleep all night." 1 ' I had not paused to think of that, ' ' re- turned Meigs, who, however, gladly threw himself down on a bed of pine needles. ' ' I^et me but feel sure that nothing will go amiss, and it will be worth more than sleep." "What think you had best be done?" asked Sperry, after selecting a convenient stone to sit on. " It is plain to my mind," replied Meigs, ' ' that a definite plan of operation hath been decided upon by this time, for Brockton wore a look that betokened a fixed resolution. The presence of the stranger with him makes it appear to me as though it had been ar- ranged to take the men and deliver them over to this Englishman by a sudden move, so 300 THE REGICIDES. there would be no risk of interference until all was over. "The man is evidently Mr. Woodgreen, of whom Secretary Rawson wrote in his letter that was shown to Master Davenport," said Sperry. " If so, his coming bodes no good." ' ' It seemeth to me that there remains but one thing to do," continued Meigs. " If this hiding-place be known, there will be a descent upon it before noon, and when that time conies the cave must be empty. The only question is where the generals shall go." "I shall take them to my house," said Sperry, quietly, after reflecting a few minutes. ' ' Do you remain here at the brow of the mountain and keep a watch, and I will go and make ready for them. Should it be necessary to give warning, imitate the cawing of a crow canst thou do it ? " " Have I never hid in a cornfield with a gun?" answered Meigs, laughing. "And have I not fooled more crows than ever fooled me ? Yes, when thou hearest a whole flock of crows around thy ears, know that it was I who sent them there." Sperry slid down the side of the mountain to the cave, and found Goffe standing on a ledge just outside, watching the sunlight that THE REGICIDES. 301 was beginning to gild the tops of the opposite hills. " Hist ! " said Goffe, putting his finger on his lips. "Come to one side. I can read trouble in thy face. L,et me keep it from General Whalley if possible." They went a short distance away, and Sperry explained the situation. " Put thyself in no trap," said Goffe, when he had heard Sperry's proposition. " If we are missed here thy house will be the first place of attack. L,et us depart at once toward the north. We can keep in the woods and avoid notice." ' ' The quickest place in the world to be discovered!" exclaimed Sperry. " The In- dians spend most of their time in the woods, and while they are friendly, their tongues might wag. Keep clear of the woods, what- ever happens ! " " Thou art wiser than I in these matters," replied Goffe, "but do thou not ruin thyself to save us. L/et us rather take our chances with the red men." "That can be arranged, and safely, as I think , " said Sperry . "Get General Whalley in readiness, and when thou hearest the call of crows, leave thy cave in disorder, to indicate 202 THE REGICIDES. that it hath been abandoned, and take the path to the foot of the gap. There, by the dead oak tree, thou wilt find a couple of hoes. Take them and work across the fields, as though cultivating the crops, until thou reachest the house. If thou art pursued close- ly, work fast ; if not, the more leisurely the better. When thou arrivest I will be there and tell thee what to do." Goffe grasped the hand of his friend and wrung it. " It shall be as thou sayest," he said. " I will trust thy ingenuity to save thyself and us." There was no time to lose, and Goffe re- turned to the cave, while Sperry decended the mountain-side to the valley below. It was not until well toward noon that he saw two men slip rapidly down the mountain and work across the fields like two farm laborers. As soon as Meigs had given the alarm he retreated into the deep woods, and an hour later made his way slowly and by a rounda- bput course to Sperry's house. " I must make haste to notify Master Jones and the minister that all is well," said he, while putting the saddle on his horse. " Nay, do not waste time or prudence by THE REGICIDES. 303 stopping in town," replied Sperry. "The men are safe, and I will send a blind message to the right persons by John Beasley." He watched the horse and rider move swiftly down the road, then went into the house to look after his guests. That night he hid them in the woods back of the barn, being fearful of a sudden surprise. Together he and Goffe constructed a brush hut that was quite as comfortable as a house to sleep in, and during the time that passed between Meigs' departure and Jones' visit they had remained there in perfect safety. When Sperry had finished his narrative of the events just rehearsed, Jones rose and grasped his hand. " Sperry, thou art a noble friend," he said, showing much emotion. " I have done thee a wrong. Forgive me. God will reward thee for this faithfulness to thy trust. We supposed all was lost. I came to the mount- ain on Friday, when I learned that Governor Leete and the others were in town, and thought to warn our friends of impending danger. When I reached the cave it was de- serted, and from its appearance I concluded there had been a struggle and a capture. 304 THE REGICIDES. There have been sad times in certain quarters since that hour." ' ' But couldst thou not have seen whether the governor returned to Guilford empty handed as he came or 110 ? " "Ah, no; their plans were well laid. They came by horse, but after leaving the mountain they went direct to the water and home by a sail craft that had been held in readiness." "Afraid of a rescue ! " exclaimed Sperry. " Well, the governor slept too late that morn- ing. He was a long ways behind Meigs.who slept not at all." " Yes, but he will never sleep more until every inch of ground in this neighborhood hath been ploughed over. T'uou art lucky, Sperry, to have remained unmolested so long. Another move must be made without delay." He then related the result of the interview at the parsonage, wherein Tompkins offered to take the generals into his house at Mil- ford, and after promising to return at night- fall, he mounted his horse and left. It was a busy afternoon. After breaking the good ne\vs to Master Davenport he took another horse and rode to Milford. That night, when the moon was well up, the fugi- THE REGICIDES. 305 tives were quietly conve) 7 ed to the cellar of Master Tompkins. There, as the diary of Goffe recordeth, they remained for many weary months without ever daring to venture outside, even into the orchard, so close was the watch set by the machinery of the law. XXIX. John's new experience came near making him a poet. During the remaining weeks of summer and through the autumn he made frequent trips to Branford, always carrying a copy of Milton or Shakespeare, which he and Abigail would read together in some shady bower or sitting on the rocks by the water's edge. When public duties or the inclem- ency of the weather prevented these excur- sions, he would improve odd moments by scribbling off haphazard rhymes, which he would send by the first horseman that went to Branford. These were mostly careless efforts, breathing the depth of his love and his utter loneliness, or picturing the idyllic future of which they both talked when together and dreamed when apart. Sometimes he sounded a true poetic note, and could we find the 36 THE REGICIDES. precious bundle which Abigail sacredly kept through the happy j^ears that followed, we would be startled now and then by a flash of real genius from among the yellow and tat- tered papers. But three specimens have come down to us, and one of them shall be inserted here. It is impossible . to give the circumstances under which it was written, but it is perhaps safe to assume that it was during the long winter that followed, when, as we have it from a relia- ble source, the young people were separated for a time, and the roads were completely blocked with snow for several weeks. SNOW BOUND. Captive maiden, when the snow Melts and makes the brooklets flow ; When the zephyrs soft and shy Fan the woodland footpaths dry ; When the passion of the sun Virgin love of buds hath won ; When the bxirsting bud hath spent All its wealth of hidden scent ; When the flowers fade and die, And the leaves unnoticed lie ; When your snow-bound heart relents, Then the winds shall bear me hence! THE REGICIDES. 37 Miss Nancy Pierson had manifested a peculiar hostility toward Abigail ever since the engagement had been announced. Wheth- er it was from a spirit of jealousy that one so staid and desirable as herself should be left, while a young and impulsive girl, whom even she with all her rigid piety could not manage, was taken, we do not know. Master Pier- son had felt the discordant note in his family life, and while he respected Miss Nancy for her various frigid merits, he had not made her his confidante when John had asked per- mission to pay court to Abigail. So when the disclosure was made without warning one summer evening, Miss Nancy received a blow from which she apparently never recov- ered. From that time 011 she took no pains to conceal her hatred of Abigail, and late in the fall a conference of ministers was held. The result was that Abigail was to spend an- other winter at the New Haven parsonage. So delighted was John at the prospect that he sat down and wrote a poem extolling the vir- tues of the Branford spinster. The long winter that followed was one of almost unalloyed happiness at the parsonage. The snow-falls were even heavier than usual, and the cutting winds sometimes beat about 308 THE REGICIDES. the house with great fury ; but the more vio- lently the storms raged without, the more cheerfully blazed the fireplaces within. With Abigail living under his father's roof, John enjoyed a state of mind that was proof against all adversity, atmospheric and other- wise . One evening in December, when all were sitting by the fire, Mistress Davenport spoke out suddenly. "There are merry times in old England this night," she said, turning toward her husband. ' ' Hast thou entirely forgotten the old days?" The minister evidently did not catch her meaning. "Ay, the logs burn brightly in many a happy home over there, I doubt not," he replied, looking abstractedly into his own fire. " The Yule-logs never burn otherwise than bright!}''," observed the mistress. Master Davenport now began to show more interest. v " What time in the month are we at ? " he asked, looking at his wife. "As I reckon the days, this is Christmas Eve," she replied, and there seemed to be a shade of pensiveness in her tone. " Remem- THE REGICIDES. 309 ber you not that you once saw a maiden whom 3'ou fancied at a Yule-tide festival, and how you led her under the mistletoe in spite of her coyness, and how there, with a laugh- ing roomful looking on, you " ' ' Hush ! you forget the children are pres- ent," interrupted the minister, with a humorous gesture of deprecation. "I prithee go on, mother," said John. " This is rare entertainment. We Puritans know naught of Christmas celebrations ex- cept by tradition. And who could this coy maiden have been? " The mistress had but just begun to tell of the old-time festivities, when there came a knock at the door, and Master and Mistress Jones appeared for a call. "Some other evening we must have it," said John, while the visitors were being ush- ered in. "We must know more about that coy maiden, and what became of her." "Thy mother is growing childish," said the minister, but Abigail noticed that as he passed toward the door to welcome the guests, he laid his hand caressingly on the mistress* shoulder. During the evening the conversation be- came reminiscent, but it utterly failed to turn 310 THE REGICIDES. into the Yule-tide channel, as Abigail wished it might. It seemed to her a pity that so fine an institution could not be brought with them into the new world, but then she remembered that Christmas was a relic of popery, and that with Puritans it must forever remain merely a fireside tradi- tion. " When wilt thou build thy house, John?" asked Master Jones, when the subject of town improvements had been hit upon. ' ' I have already built many castles in the air, ' ' replied John laughing, ' ' and have little prospect of erecting more substantial houses at present." " Better lay thy plans," suggested the min- ister. " A wedding journey to a new house maketh glad the heart of a bride." At first John took the suggestion lightly, but when he saw how it delighted Abigail he came to regard it more seriously, and before the winter had passed it had been definitely settled that as soon as the spring became suf- ficiently advanced, ground should be broken for a new house. THE REGICIDES. 311 XXX. As a foil to the roseate anticipations of the young people came the sad condition of little Hope Marston. The fireless meeting-house, relentless as fate, had done its cruel work. At first the cough, which had entirely dis- appeared in the summer months, began to be heard during the long services. It did not seem serious then, but as the weather grew colder it became more marked, and toward the close of February there was a vacant seat in the meeting-house, and Hope took to her bed. Marston would have compelled her continued attendance had not sheer weakness prevent- ed. As it was, the child was little fit to raise her hand, yet she lay day after day in a cheer- less corner, and between the spasms of cough- ing that threatened to rack the frail body past recovery, would by suggestion and direction help her father in the care of the house. The Marstons had lived for several years without a woman's care, except a neighborly office on stated days to do washing and special cooking. This was part of his contract as schoolmaster, and was considered equivalent to the later custom of ' ' boarding around. ' ' 312 THE REGICIDES. It was an arrangement of some peculiarities in that it developed a system of rotary house- keeping, and brought a different woman into the house each week. The dreariness of such a scheme in its effect upon a sensitive child can be easily imagined. It took all the home flavor out of life, and made it a constant dwelling among strangers. But Marston gloried in it. The more discomfort and the more mortification of the flesh, the better his chances of salvation. The miracle of it all was that Hope sur- vived the winter. There were days when it seemed that each must be the last, but still she held on, and as the spring opened and the warm sunshine came in at her window she seemed to rally and take on new strength. Abigail was of course a daily visitor during all this time, and had it not been for her loving attentions there is little chance that the invalid would have seen the spring sun- shine. These visits were the bright hours of the long and weary days, and Hope looked forward to them with a wistfulness that was pathetic. One day a bird jumped from the apple tree to the window-sill, hopped about from one end to the other, cocked his head to one side and looked in, as much as to say, THE REGICIDES. 313 " I wish thou wert as care-free and happy as I," then flew away. Hope asked Abigail to put a few crumbs out to coax him back, and the next day he brought his mate. So every time Abigail came she would bring crumbs and lay on the sill, and after she had gone Hope would lie for hours and watch the birds come and go. When the flowers began to put out their blossoms, the little stand by her bedside was never without them. Master Jones had occa- sion to go to the farms every day, and brought hepaticas from the foot of the gap during their brief season. John never went to the woods without bringing anemones, and the blue-and-white innocence from the pastures. Twice he went, as soon as the snow had gone, to the Amity hills for trailing arbutus. But Hope was growing weaker, and by the time the apple blossoms came she had scarcely enough strength to lift her hand to receive the wealth of them that was daily brought. Marston realized that the end was drawing near, and spared no efforts to prepare his daughter for the great change. He spent many hours in questioning her on matters of doctrine, and reading treatises to her on sal- vation and eternal damnation. It mattered 314 THE REGICIDES. not that the child shuddered, and sometimes gave a cry of agony while he pictured, as only a Calvinist fanatic could, the endless tor- ments of Hell. "And can they never get out?" groaned Hope one morning, when he had been describ- ing the tortures of a lost soul with peculiar vividness. "Never!" declared Marston solemnly, ' ' and their state is rendered more terrible from hearing the songs of the saints over- head, and witnessing from below the joys to which they can never attain." One June day Master Davenport came in earlier than usual, and Hope turned to him with a piteous look. She trusted her father in all things, but it did not seem to her that the future could be as black as he had painted it. He might after all be mistaken, but from the decision of the minister she felt there could be no appeal. " Nay, my child," said Master Davenport, soothingly, taking her hand in his. "Fret not thyself needlessly. Our Father in heaven loveth His children even as an earthly father loveth his. We are all great sinners, but He sent His only Son to die that we might escape the penalty of our sins. That Savior took all THE REGICIDES. 315 our iniquities upon Himself, and bore the full burden, that such as thou art need not worry." The frightened look passed from Hope's face as the minister spoke. " But father saith we are born in sin, and that unless we be born again we cannot es- cape that horrible place ! " "Ay, little one, he speaketh the truth ; but think not too much of thy sins. Be penitent, and pray for forgiveness, and all thy trans- gressions will be remembered no more." A great peace stole over the soul of the dy- ing child, and the tears began to flow down her face. She lay for some time holding tightly to Master Davenport's hand, as though she felt that safety lay in its grasp. Then she turned quickly and said, " Wilt thou stay near me until until I go, or send the Mis- tress Abigail to take thy place ? I do not feel afraid when thou art near." " Yes, my daughter, I will be with thee as much as may be, and will send the young mistress. But knew you not that her father was ill and required her nursing ? ' ' "Nay, I had heard it not. Then do not send her. I will not be afraid if thou wilt 316 THE REGICIDES. say to me often that my soul will not be tor- mented." " Think no more of that," said the minis- ter, seeing how firm a hold Marston's teach- ings had taken upon the child. "Think only of divine love, and of the blood that was shed for the remission of sins, and pray that thou rnayest have strength for thy remaining days. The mistress will come a little later. Master Pierson, though ill, is fast getting well , and he will insist on her coming when I tell him." " How good to be among the elect, like you and father and Master Pierson," said Hope, after remaining quiet for a few minutes. ' ' Father saith that none but the elect are saved. It must be good to lie down to sleep every night and never dread to for fear of waking up in a lake of burning brimstone ! ' ' And she covered her eyes as if to shut out a vision that had haunted her ever since she could remember. "Talk not so," said Master Davenport. "We know not ^who are the elect. They were chosen from the foundation of the world, and are likelier to be such as thou art than many who wear the sacred robes." Marston came into the room, and his THE REGICIDES. 317 daughter shuddered involuntarily. Not t!:at she disliked to see him, but he brought with him a suggestion of future punishment that was painful. The minister saw it and called him outside. "Hast thou found her mind prepared?" asked Marston, when he had closed the door behind them. " I would to God, Master Marston, that I were as sure of heaven as she ! ' ' exclaimed the minister, with marked feeling. " Say no more to her, but leave her entirely to her thoughts. I assure thee she is better so." " It shall be as thou sayest," replied Marston. ' ' I will pray with her occasionally, and merely exhort her to remember thy injunctions." ' ' Pray in the secret of thy closet, and dis- turb her not, or all I have said may be turned from her mind. Promise me this, and thy recollections of her shall be sweet when she is gone." Master Davenpott looked sternly into Marston' s eyes as he said this, and Marston promised. When the minister returned to where Hope lay, she had apparently fallen asleep. He stood watching her for a few minutes. A 3i8 THE XEGICIDES. smile played about her mouth for an instant, and she opened her e) r es. "Oh, I thought mother had come to take me away with her," she said. "Artthou sure she is not here ? ' ' ' ' Ay, thy guardian angel watcheth over thee. Art thou not happy ? " " Yes, I am not afraid to die, for I know she is waiting. How beautiful she is ! I would that I might go now, were it not that I must leave father alone. Thou wilt be kind to him, I know, Master Davenport? " "Yes, my child." " So few seem to love him, yet he hath always been good and kind to me. He hath had many troubles, and mother hath not been here to care for him. How sweet her face is ! She looked at me as she used to when she held me in her arms and called me her poor darling. Why should she call me that, Mas- ter Davenport? " "Alas, I know not." " Was it because she knew she must leave me behind, and she going to such a beautiful place?" " Perchance." " I heard her tell father when she lay dying to teach me the right way, that I might come THE REGICIDES. 319 to her one day. He hath tried to do so, think you not ? ' ' " I believe he hath done his best, my child. But much talking will tire thee. L,ie quiet now, and listen to the bird singing in the apple tree, while I go and pluck thee a rose." Master Davenport went out, but it was to hide his tears that Hope might not see them. He knew not which were the happier, Hope Marston or himself ; but there was a feeling of joy in his soul that he had not known for many a day. When he had composed him- self, he picked a rose from the bush that Abi- gail had set by the garden wall the year be- fore, and returned to the sick room. " That little bird must know how much I love to hear him," said Hope. " He comes there every day and keeps me company. How pretty ! Are there many out by the wall?" " Ay, the bush droops with the weight of blossoms. Will I raise thee up so thou canst see? " 4 ' If it would not be a trouble." The minister lifted her to a sitting position, and she looked out. " Thou art very kind to me," she said, as 320 THE REGICIDES. he laid her down again. " Do I not trouble thee too much? " " No, my daughter, but I must leave thee now for a little. Try if thou canst not get some sleep, and I will return in an hour." " I thank thee, and will be patient," said Hope, and wondering at her own peace of mind, she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Master Davenport had scarcely passed out of sight when Martha Malbon came up with a handful of roses. She saw no one about, and stole into Hope's room. Seeing her asleep, she left them on the stand where she would see them on waking. As she was leav- ing the front steps she met Marston coming around the house. " What hast thou done, strange girl ? " he demanded sternly. " Only put a few flowers where she could find them," replied Martha, half terrified. "Take them away!" ordered Marston. "Her mind shall not be seduced by the devil in the shape of a flower. Go and get them!" " But she loves them so !" pleaded Martha. " Take them away, I say ! " cried Marston angrily, and the girl went back and brought the roses out. THE REGICIDES. 321 " Bring them here ! " he commanded. Martha handed them to him, and he threw them on the ground and stamped on them as though they had been vipers. " Go, and come not here again ! " he cried, working himself into a passion, and the demented girl crept away. " That girl is possessed of a devil ! " said Marston to himself after she had gone. ' ' They never whipped it out of her. ' ' The minister had hoped to find Abigail at the parsonage, but concluded that Master Pierson's condition was not yet such as to warrant her leaving. He told his wife and son that the end might come at any time, and asked them to walk over to Marston's with him. He desired John to look after the schoolmaster, for he feared an insane frenzy might seize him at a critical time. Marston was pacing to and fro in the yard when they arrived. He said Hope had not yet waked. Master Davenport and the mis- tress went in, and their footfalls caused the the sleeper to move slightly. They tiptoed softly to the bedside and listened to the breathing, which seemed to be growing short. One of Hope's hands lay outside the coverlet, and the minister touched it. Without speak- 322 THE REGICIDES. ing he went for Marston and John. Both came and stood at the foot of the bed. There seemed to be some indications of an approach- ing struggle, and the minister took the little white hands in his as he bent over the bed. The eyes remained closed, but the lips moved as if trying to speak, and he bent lower. "The waters are deep," Hope whispered, ' ' and I see mother standing on the other side. Let me hold thy hand while I step across." And with her hand laid trustingly in his she crossed the dark river. As soon as it was over, John quietly left the room and sought the outside air. A feeling of faintness had come over him, and his emo- tions were so violent that he wished to be alone. He went to the barn and saddled his horse, and in a few moments was riding at full gallop toward Branford. When he ar- rived at the parsonage, Master Pierson was sitting propped up with pillows in the yard, but Abigail had gone to Saybrook with Abra- ham. John announced Hope's death, and risked permission to write a note to Abigail. 'Master Pierson invited him to use the study, but thought it took him a long time. In fact it was nearly sundown when John reappeared THE REGICIDES. 323 with a sealed packet in his hand, which he requested might be given to Abigail, and hastened away. The minister noticed when he had gone that the packet was tear-stained. "His eyes looked red, as though he had been weeping," he said to Abigail when she returned. " The child, I believe, was a great pet of his." Abigail took John's letter to her room and read it through her tears. This is what he had written : THE SICK CHILD. In a low brown cottage the sick child lay, (But the beautiful sunshine warmed it all) The little bird sang in the tree all day, And the roses bloomed by the garden wall. No lily was paler or sweeter fair Than the babyish face so wan and small, As the beautiful sunshine kissed her hair, And the roses bloomed by the garden wall. It was long ago in a sad sweet May That the mother answered the Master's call ; Now the child was lonely the long, long day, Though the roses bloomed by the garden wall. She sometimes thought of the far off land Where the mother yearned for the helpless call ; Where the streets were covered with golden sand, And the roses bloomed by the garden wall. 324 THE REGICIDES. But the days would come and the days would go, And the breast would heave and the tears would fall O heavy the weight of this childish woe, While the roses bloomed by the garden wall ! ***# In the darkened room where the sick child lay Iso glimmer of sunshine kisses the pall ; But the little bird sings in the tree all day, And the roses bloom by the garden wall. The next morning Marston went to the shed in the rear of the house, selected a wide board, and made a rough coffin. He then notified Mistress Davenport that he was ready, and she went over and laid the little body in the box that Marston had made. This being done he took a shovel from the shed, and without saying a word went to the graveyard back of the meeting-house. In the course of an hour he had dug an irregular hole large enough to admit Hope's coffin, and returned to the house. There was nobody around, and he went to the room where the body lay. The lid stood by the side of the table on which the coffin had been laid, and Marston took it and put it in its place. Then he went to the shed for hammer and nails. In a mo- ment he came back, fitted the lid squarely IT WAS JONATHAN MARSTON SOBBING" p. 325 THE REGICIDES. 325 along the edges, and nailed it down. The perspiration stood out on his face, and he took his handkerchief and wiped it away. Never a tear had he shed in all this time. After resting a little, Marston threw off his coat, lifted the coffin in his arms, and carried it to the graveyard. In half an hour his work was done, and he returned to his childless home. He sat in his room the rest of the day, utterly refusing the minister's invitation to sup. No one else went to see him. No friend clasped his hand in sympathy. He was as much alone as though he had been the onl}- man on earth. Master Davenport had a sick call to make that evening a mile out of the village, and on his late return a sound in the rear of the meeting-house attracted his attention. It was something unusual, and he drew near to listen. It was Jonathan Marston sobbing on Hope's grave. 326 THE REGICIDES. XXXI. Brockton the vigilant always slept with one eye open, and when that eye became tired he would shut it and open the other. For a whole year he watched and waited and cogi- tated. Everybody else said the generals had left the colony, that it was ridiculous to think otherwise after all that had happened. But Brockton had been fooled once, and was not of those who can see only what lies on the surface. He weighed the situation carefully, and concluded that their last disappearance was only to seek a securer hiding-place. He saw what his adversaries in this game of hide-and-seek too clearly realized that there was nowhere else for them to go. And if they were still within the limits of the colony he felt confident of his ability to locate them in time. After conducting his operations for several months by openly questioning those liable to possess information, he suddenly changed his tactics and pretended not to be searching for the fugitives at all. He took pains to attend all the town meetings and general trainings, and loudly protest that the generals had THE REGICIDES. 327 finally gone away. He specially cultivated tavern loungers, and by dogmatic assertion strove to draw out an opposition sentiment. This course patiently persevered in finally began to bear fruit. Old Gaffer Simpson, who seldom left the taproom of the Guilford tavern, except to eat and sleep, and who cher- ished an especial dislike toward the consta- ble, one evening let drop a hint that the fug- itives were in the vicinity of Milford. That was as far as he could be induced to go. Brockton tried every means to make the old man say something more definite by ridicul- ing the idea, but Gaffer could be mysterious on occasion as well as Brockton, and he pos- itively insisted upon being so now. Instead of yielding up more hints, he railed Brockton on his failure to find the generals, with all England at his back, and by his keen prods, managed to get the wary constable consider- ably riled. When Brockton saw no hope of further success with Gaffer, he revolved the solitary hint in his mind for a few days, and ended his deliberations by going to Milford and loafing about the tavern. He kept this up a week without result, then took to strolling about the village, ostensibly to do a bit of 328 THE REGICIDES. electioneering. This brought him in the course of time in contact with every man in Milford, but he found no one ready to oppose his theory that the fugitives had departed. He several times took occasion to mention Gaffer Simpson's hint, at the same time scouting the idea, but could get no further light. He was about to give up the quest when a farm-hand by the name of Gansby came to the tavern and whispered in his ear that for a proper consideration he would tell where he thought the men were hidden. Brockton's emotions at that moment gave him some trouble, but with a calmness that surprised him he laughed in the man's face. All his arts were unavailing, however, to get another step in that direction. ' ' Money first, business afterwards," said Gansby. Brockton went home and laid the matter before Governor lyeete. The governor flatly refused to have anything to do with it. He said the whole thing had brought him noth- ing but vexation and enemies, and he had had quite enough. And so it came to pass that Brockton sad- dled his horse one fine September morning, and pulled the left rein for Boston. In the meantime John's new house was THE REGICIDES. 329 receiving final touches, and in a few weeks was to be ready. The sound of hammers, usually annoying to Abigail, was now sweet music to her ears. In fact there had not been a step in the progress of building that she had not followed with interest. The raising, in particular, was a thing that had fascinated her. Half the men in town drop- ping their work to come and put her house together in an afternoon made her feel that each one was John's personal friend. It is quite certain that as she stood behind a rude bench serving refreshments and exchanging compliments when the raising was over, every unmarried man present wished he were Judge Davenport. When all had eaten and drunk, and John was called upon for the inevitable New England "raising speech," she felt scared. She had never heard him do a thing like that, and somehow thought he would either break down entirely or flounder about without getting anywhere in particular. But John had expected it, and had his im- promptu ready. When they returned home she threw her arms around his neck and said he was the most eloquent man in New Haven Colony, and John after reflecting a little 33 THE REGICIDES. thought she might be right, but told her not to say anything about it outside. The marriage was set for a day in the late fall. Abigail found both delight and fatigue in the preparations, for the house was large, and everything was to be new. John was so taken up with his judicial duties, which car- ried him into most of the colonial towns, that the time arrived almost before he could real- ize it. ' ' There must be plenty of wooden trench- ers," he said to Abigail on the morning of the wedding day, as they were kindling a fire on one of the hearths. " A new house is sel- dom without guests." " The kettle shall alwa} r s be hanging on the crane," replied Abigail, smiling, " and I hope the guests will be many. Thou wilt be lonesome, I fear, with none but me for com- pany." John responded by putting his arms about her and saying various ridiculous things. ' ' Then perhaps we had best not welcome the guests," said Abigail, trying to disengage herself. " No, sweetheart, let everybody come, for I want all the world to see my little wife." " How they will pity thee ! " THE REGICIDES. 33 * " Forbear, cr I will stop thy pretty mouth with a kiss ! " " I will not forbear, and thou canst not carry out thy threat ! " cried Abigail, starting to run around the chimney. But John was fleet as well as strong. On their way back to the parsonage they met three horsemen moving slowly up the street. John paid no particular attention at first, but Abigail recognized Brockton, and then he noticed that the others were Kellond and Kirke. "What can they be doing here?" ex- claimed Abigail, catching John's arm, and looking back at the men. "They bode no good thing," he replied, shutting his teeth tightly ; and as soon as he reached home he told the minister. As for the horsemen, they were in high spirits. Brockton grinned when he saw the dismay their appearance had caused. ' ' There will be longer faces hereabout ere the morrow," he chuckled. "We have waited long, but our time hath come ! " " ' The viligant man shall be rewarded,' as the proverb saith," observed Kirke. "Dost thou mean diligent or vigilant?" 33 2 THE REGICIDES. inquired Brockton, with something of a sneer at Kirke'smispronounciation. " I mean what I say, sir, and I will thank thee not to correct thy betters," returned Kirke, turning his attention to Kellond. Brockton remained quiet, but consoled him- self with the thought that if his associates became too overbearing he had the means wherewith to bring them to terms. As soon as they reached the outskirts of Milford they hunted up Gansby. Brockton called him one side and announced that his companions were special messengers of the king, and that they were ready to receive his information. " Very well," said Gansby, " I am ready." " Give us thy information, and thou shalt be well paid," continued Brockton. " Thou art coming close to the person of the king in this matter." Gansby grinned. " Takest thou me for a fool ? Look I like one who would make thy fortune first, and then find myself still a beggar? Where is thy purse ? ' ' " I give thee my word as a man of honor that thou shalt be well treated for this," urged Brockton. " But what assurance have THE REGICIDES, 333 we that thy knowledge is anything but an idle guess that will lead us into folly ? " Gansby started to walk away, but Brock- ton caught him by the arm. "Tell me what thou knowest, and thou shalt have ten pounds in good red gold before thou stirrest," pleaded Brockton, still keep- ing his hold. ' ' Thou must be either a fool or a damned rascal!" exclaimed Gansby, shaking his arm free. " What dost thou want, to buy my knowings for ten pounds and sell 'em for five hundred ? If so, thou hast put thy salt on the wrong bird's tail ! " " I meant not that," said Brockton meekly, though there was a wonderful lack of sin- cerity in his tone. "Thou meanest naught else, or I'm a green idiot!" retorted Gansby. "Tell me, what reward hath the king offered ? " ' ' Two hundred pounds to the one that gives information that leads to their capture, but that information must be sound. That sum of money is not to be thrown away on guesswork." ' ' And how much dost thou and the others get ? ' ' asked Gansby, the greed showing in his eyes. 334 THE REGICIDES. " That niattereth not to thee," replieu Brockton. "The sum named is too much for the little trouble thou hast taken ! ' ' Gansby was as cool and calculating as Brockton, and as little likely to be thrown off his guard. "Hast thou the money with thee?" he asked finally. " My friends have the gold ready." " Then it is mine ! " cried Gansby. "Since thou wert here I have made good my sus- picions. In half an hour I can show thee where the men are hidden ! ' ' Brockton gave a start. This positive state- ment was almost too much for him. " If thou art lying well, perchance thoti knowest the result of giving false information to the king's officers." Gansby grinned, and this reassured Brock- ton. He went back to where Kellond and Kirke stood waiting, and made known the result of the interview. Then Gansby was brought before them and carefully cross- examined. After two hours' parleying, it was agreed to give the sum of two hundred pounds in gold into the hand of Gansby, and that he was to remain in their company until the proof was secured. In case his informa- THE REGICIDES. 335 tion turned out to be worthless, he was to con- sider himself under arrest and the gold for- feited. This point being reached, Gansby had no trouble in satisfying them, by means of several reliable witnesses, that the generals were hiding in the cellar of Master Tomp- kins' house. They moved cautiously, how- ever, and were at pains to do all their investi- gating in a private room of the tavern, and none of it in words above a whisper. Kellond wanted to take a look at the premises, but both Kirke and Brockton advised against it, lest some hint be given of their intentions. " Thou art right," said Kellond, on reflec- tion. " Now for the warrant, and the game will be bagged ! Thou and I, Kirke, must ride back to Guilford for that. The governor wouldn't issue the papers until we could show him we were not on a wild goose chase ! Well, if we are not solid this time he can call us wild geese and be damned ! Have a sharp eye, Brockton, about this Thumpkins' house, or whatever his name is, and keep this clod- hopper with thee. If he gets away with that two hundred pounds, thou forfeitest thy share, and the blame for all this trouble will be on thy head besides." "Fear not," returned Brockton. "No 336 THE REGICIDES, man ever got away from me yet when once I got hold of his collar. I^ook thee here, Gansby, wilt thou behave like a decent fel- low, or must I knock thee down a few times and tread on thee first ? ' ' " Oh, cool thy tongue ! " retorted Gansby. " There is naught to fear from me. I went not into this to play the sneak." "Here," said Kirke, taking a pistol from his waist and handing it over to Brockton, "this is no time to dally. Take this, and if yon clod maketh a move to run away, blow out what few brains he hath, and thou wilt be justified." Brockton examined the firearm and gave Gansby a meaning glance. The laborer grinned, and all seemed satisfied. Then they went to the stable. While the horses were being saddled, Kirke stood guard over Gansby, and Kellond took Brockton aside. "We wished not to mention our pl-n before this fool, lest he finally betray us," said Kellond. " We go now to Guilford for the governor's warrant. He will grant it when he hears what we have to say. By nine o'clock to-night we will return with two extra men whom the governor shall select, and proceed at once to surround this Slump- THE REGICIDES. 337 kin house. The rest will be easy. Now do thou station thyself with this fellow near to the premises, where thou canst see who comes or goes. If any leave, follow and use thy wits. Above all, see that thou art not played false by the laborer." Brockton and Gansby kept their watch on the house from a neighboring garden, and their task was the more easily performed as there was a full moon. For four hours they sat cramped up behind a stone wall, and never moved except to go to the tavern once to get a warming beverage. Brockton had some scruples about this, but the Tompkins house had been dark for more than an hour, and no sound or movement had been observed during the evening that was at all out of the ordinary. They were not gone above ten minutes, and when they returned everything appeared as before. At a little past nine o'clock the click of horse-shoes was heard in the distance upon the high road, and soon four horsemen came riding up at full gallop. " Is all well ? " inquired Kellond, as soon as he had dismounted. "All is well," whispered Brockton. 4 'Is the clod faithful?" 338 THE REGICIDES. "Ay, as I am ; and there hath not been a stir in the house in two hours." " Is not that suspicious? " said Kirke,who knew little of the local customs. " Nay, these people always go to bed with the chickens, and are up with the chickens in the morning." 1 ' The stingy beggars are afraid of burning candles ' ' ' said Kirke. ' ' Now let us move quickly. Kellond hath the warrant in his pocket. These worthy fellows who came with us will stand one at the back door and the other at the north window. Do thou, Brockton, take Gansby and guard the south window. Kellond and I will cover the front door and arouse this most excellent Master Bumpkins, whose head will look so pretty roll- ing in a basket with the other two." When all had taken their places Kellond Avaited a minute, then gave a mighty knock ( .. the door. " Halloa there, within ! " he shouted at the top of his voice. "Open, I command thee, in the king's name ! " After keeping this up for some time he succeeded in bringing Master Tompkins, par- tially dressed, to the door with a candle. " What dost thou want, my good masters, THE REGICIDES. 339 at this time of the night?" he inquired, blinking his eyes as if trying to take in the unusual situation. ' ' We want two men whom thou hast con- cealed in thy cellar, fugitives from England, and the sooner thou conductest us to them the better for thy rascally pate." Tompkins looked first at one and then at the other. " Thou must be mistaken," he said mildly. " By what authority dost thou disturb my household, when honest business can be done as well in the daytime ? " ' ' By authority of the governor of the col- ony, Master William L,eete," replied Kellond, drawing the warrant from an inner pocket and displaying it. "Now stand aside and allow us to pass." The two pushed by the bewildered Tomp- kins, and so excited were those who had been stationed outside, that they all came trooping after. ' ' Show us the cellar stairs ! ' ' thundered Kellond. Tompkins showed some reluctance, but led them to the cellar door and opened it. " Hold thy candle steady now, and precede us." 340 THE REGICIDES. Brockton always maintained until his dying day, that as Tompkins started to go down the stairs, his teeth chattered and the candle shook in his hands. After reaching the bottom they saw in one corner a pile of skins, and on approaching closer discerned the uncovered heads of two men next the wall. "Ah, we have them now!" exclaimed Kellond fiercely. " Seize the regicides ! " And Brockton and the two GuiKordites secured the sleeper? as they lay. XXXII. At two o'clock in the afternoon John and Abigail walked over to the house of Master Gilbert, and before him, as a magistrate of the colony, entered into a civil contract of marriage.* When they returned to the par- sonage, Abigail was unusually demure and quiet, but the mistress thought John a trifle more hilarious than became a Puritan and r judge. He played all sorts of undignified pranks, and ended by lifting Abigail up and standing her on a high stool, and insisting on * See Appendix I.. THE REGICIDES. 34* his mother falling down and paying homage to the new queen. Abigail protested, and jumped off the stool. " What would the people of this town think if they saw thee ! " she exclaimed. " Thou shalt not be allowed at the house-warming to-night unless thou behavest better than this." " This is but practice," replied John, set- ting the stool on the table. " In the evening, when all the guests have arrived, I intend to put the new mistress on the table in the big room, and make every man, woman and child present bow the knee to her." "Imagine Abraham!" said Abigail, laughing, and turning to Mistress Davenport: ' ' Must we not go and help arrange for the house-warming ? The guests are to come at six o'clock." " Nay, Mistress Jones and half a dozen others are looking after that. Give thyself no care. But I must go over soon and take the Turkey carpet for the parlor table. Thou mayest come too, and look on." "And I will be useful, too. Let me have something to carry and arrange. Also give John something heavy to carry, that he may quit his antics." 342 THE REGICIDES. The new house was full of bustle and prep- aration when they arrived. The hearths were already blazing, for the weather was crisp, and candles set in every room ready to be lighted. In the kitchen the great brick oven was near to bursting with savory things, and Mistress Jones was flitting here and there superintending the setting of the long tables. She stopped to welcome the bride and groom, then led Abigail to the oven and opened the iron door. A steaming odor of baking meats whiffed out into their faces. 4 ' Think you there is enough for all ? " in- quired the new housewife, stepping back, while Mistress Jones shut the door. ' ' The guests will be many." " Plenty and more," replied the mistress. 4 ' John hath burdened the pantry shelves un- til they fairly groan from the weight. Thou hast married a good provider. ' ' They went all over the house, even to the garret and cellar, saying how strange it all seemed. 4< I am only fearing," said Abigail, when they were standing at the top of the broad staircase, "that I shall wake bye and bye and find it all a dream. And then how sad it will be! " THE REGICIDES. 343 " No, little sweetheart, it is not a dream," replied John, putting an arm around her waist and drawing her to him. "I have been rubbing my eyes and pinching myself all the afternoon, and am now fully satisfied that we are awake." Abigail looked up into his face in a way that made John mentally return thanks that the situation were real beyond any possibility of mistake. They entered the spinning-room, which Abigail had not seen, promising to avoid it until this time. Right in front of the door stood a new reel and spindle, and about the room were arranged some of the wheels she, as a child, had seen her mother use. The sudden sight of them caused her to turn to a window while she choked down a little sob that tried to struggle up into her throat. "Thou wert very good," she said, when she had recovered herself. "And how was it all done without my knowing it ? " " Thy father suggested it, and we had thee busy elsewhere when they came." When the inspection was finally over and they had returned to the parsonage, they found Master Pierson and Abraham in the sitting-room with the minister. 344 THE REGICIDES. "And where is Cousin Nancy?" asked Abigail, when she had welcomed her father and brother. "She feeleth not well," replied Master Pierson, avoiding his daughter's eyes. "Thy brother urged her to come, but she would not, saying the chilly air and the sleeping between strange sheets might aggravate her. But how is thy new house ? Remember, we have not seen it since the roof was on." " Oh, it is the loveliest house ever was ! " replied Abigail enthusiastically. " Thou meanest it is to thee the loveliest," corrected her father gently. " Well, may it always seem so ! " After visiting a little while, Abigail went to her room to dress. With the mistress' help the ordeal was gone through in so rea- sonable a time, that, should it be mentioned, there would be doubts raised in some quarters as to the accuracy of this history. And no such suspicion must be allowed to even whis- per. " Behold the wedding gown ! " exclaimed John, surveying with delighted eyes the vision of loveliness that finally appeared at the foot of the stairs. " Why couldst thou not have worn it when we went to Master THE REGICIDES. 345 Gilbert's? Ah, sly maiden, I know why! Thou wert afraid it might cause a duel between the magistrate and a certain John Davenport." "That would never do," put in Mistress Davenport. "The gown is for the house- warming, and not for the contract." "But would it not have looked well?" said Abigail, her eyes sparkling with pleasure. " Ay," said John, looking on with admira- tion, " but it is better that thou didst not \vear it ; I could not have forborne to embrace thee, even on the street." "John, thou wert ever given to nonsense," chided his mother. ' ' How can ever thy tongue be kept in harness while trying cases of serious import ? ' ' "Unlike some judges, I utter all my non- sense off the bench," replied the jurist gravely. They formed a little procession and walked over to the new house, John and Abigail going before, then the minister and Master Pierson, while the mistress and Abraham came after. The guests began to come early, and by half-past six the generous rooms were filled. The new host and hostess stood near the 34 6 THE REGICIDES. center of the big room, and received their friends. It seemed as though there could not have been so many people in the town, and Abigail was proud to see how highly J^hn was respected, and how sincere were the con- gratulations and good wishes that were bestowed. " Master Jones hath made no complaint against John Beasley, I hear," said Richard Sperry, when for a moment the big room was free of guests. " And I am glad to know it. Beasley hath a sad infirmity, and it is for stronger men not to regard him too harshly." "Thou art right, Master Sperry," replied John. "I advised him to let the matter drop. We are apt to measure the faults of others by the annoyance they cause ourselves. No man can rightfully judge another until he can look into his heart and see what prompt- ings lie there. Master Jones is generous, but he is greatly aggravated, and naturally so." Fresh arrivals came in at the door and pressed forward to pay their compliments, and Sperry sought the minister. "Ay, there is danger in Milford this night!" said Master Davenport, when they had gone together to an upper room. " This Brockton fellow hath brought the Englishmen THE REGICIDES. 347 back, and all three hounds are on the scent. Tompkins hath had fair notice that there was mischief in the wind ever since Brockton hung about the town so long a-prying." ' ' Tompkins told me yesterday," said Sperry, " that since Brockton had disappeared he had knowledge of his going to Boston, and so was ready to act the minute he reappeared. Whether he knoweth of their sudden advent this afternoon, I can not learn. Brockton is crafty, and may know more than appears." "It hath been arranged, as thou knowest, that the generals shall go to Hadley, and they were to start this very night." "Nay, Tompkins said not so, yet I saw him but for an instant. And where may Hadley be?" "On the extreme northwestern frontier of Massachusetts. Master Russell, the most excellent minister of the place, hath agreed to receive them into his house until all this trouble bloweth over. It is safer than remain- ing here, after all that hath occurred, but rny fear now is that they will be taken unawares before they can get started." " I pray not, and I rejoice for thy sake that this change hath been made. It will free thee from all danger as well as them." 348 THE REGICIDES, "Ah, but it is not over yet. We may be overwhelmed at any moment. We can only be prepared for what cometh, be it good or ill. But say naught of this to my son. His happiness must not be marred by apprehen- sion. I assured him this afternoon may God forgive me that the coming of these men really meant no ill to us." When they descended the staircase the guests were moving toward the great kitchen, and already most of the chairs were filled. The sitting-room, too, had been provided with improvised tables, and soon half the people were seated. Then Master Pierson stood in the doorway between the two rooms, with arms extended, and invoked the divine bless- ing on all present. As soon as he had done the clatter of tongues began, while the trenchers were being filled and passed. John and Abigail sat at the middle of the main table in the kitchen, a picture of perfect domestic content. Now and then a satisfied guest would arise from his place and seek the company in the other rooms, hinting to the first one he met that there was a vacant seat. Upstairs the games had already com- menced, games that brought rosy-faced young people together in proper and becoming atti- THE REGICIDES. 349 tudes. The "filthy dalliance" of such as "Copenhagen" and "The Needle's Eye" was sternly prohibited. In the kitchen, as soon as the feast was over, the gurgle of the flip-iron began to be heard, and the hearts of men were made exceeding glad at the sound thereof. But all things must end, especially Puritan house-warmings. By half-past nine every guest had passed again iu review through the big room, and shaken hands with a very genial host and a very gracious young hostess. When the last one was gone and the front door was closed and barred, John turned to his bride. "At last, little sweetheart ! " he said, hold- ing her at arm's length and looking fondly into her eyes. "And art thou happy ? " " Oh, John, thou knowest that I am," she replied, letting him draw her to his side, and laying her head on his shoulder. They went hand in hand over the house and blew out the candles. Then, while Abi- gail went to take a last peep into the kitchen, John drew an arm-chair in front of the fire in the big room and sat down. When Abigail came back she seated herself on an arm of the chair, resting an elbow on his shoulder. 350 THE REGICIDES. " Our own fireside, little wife," said John, taking her hand and bringing her arm abont his neck. The logs had nearly burned out. A sud- den tumbling of the last stick started a little blaze that threw curious shadows on the wall, but that soon died away ; and together they sat looking at the whitening embers.* XXXIII. Master Davenport left the scene of festivfty at an early hour. John's happiness had roused two opposite and conflicting emotions in his breast. One was of joy over the mar- riage of his only son to the one whom he would himself have named ; the other was caused by a reminder that age was rapidly stealing upon him, and that his life work was nearly done. He felt an unusual weariness upon him, and as soon as he reached home he went to his study and dropped into a chair. A low fire was smoldering on the hearth, and as he sat there and gazed at the dying embers his sadness was increased. Perhaps they suggested something about the *See Appendix M. THE REGICIDES. 351 close of life, when the embers of hope, ambi- tion and futile effort are ready to fall and turn to ashes. But if a dying fire is prone to cause serious moods, it has also the power to charm away sadness, and smooth the wrin- kles from the face of care. The minister's thoughts became retrospec- tive. They traveled rapidly backward over the events of his life, which then seemed so short and incomplete ! In a few minutes he had dropped into an easy slumber, and his head had fallen a little to one side, resting upon his hand. The mistress came and looked in at the door, but seeing him asleep went away. He had scarcely lost consciousness when he was dreaming of his boyhood in England, joyous and exuberant, full of ambition to accomplish some great work. His dream moved over his school and college days, his early marriage, and his success as a young preacher in L,ondon. Then there rose before him the picture of a famous trial, the trial of a king by his own subjects for high crimes and misdemeanors. He saw the great hall of William Rufus at Westminster filled with earnest and determined men. At one end sat a bench of some eighty commissioners 352 THE REGICIDES. appointed by parliament to sit in judgment upon the prisoner ; at the other end a crowd of spectators and halberdiers ; and in the center a king, noble in feature and bearing, a faithful husband and affectionate father, but perfidious, reckless and tyrannical in public life a king brought to bay after a contest of arms by a long-suffering and outraged people. He saw the commissioners in consultation at the close of the trial, and heard the solemn decree pronounced, that Charles Stuart, king of England, an enemy of his people, was guilty of the crimes charged against him, and must die in the public street by the axe of the common executioner. He saw stern- browed men come forward and sign their names to the death-warrant, bluff Oliver Cromwell among the first, then his cousin, Edward Whalley, and his friend and coun- sellor, William Goffe. He saw a decade of civil and religious freedom following, with these men standing high in the councils of the nation. Then the death of Cromwell, the recovery of the throne by the Stuarts, and the imprisonment and execution of those Puritan commissioners who did not flee. He was suddenly roused by Mistress Dav- enport gently touching him on the shoulder. THE REGICIDES. 353 She whispered a few hurried words in his ear, and in a minute he was thoroughly awake. " Draw the curtains, and then bring him here," said the minister, " and see that the outside doors are barred." As he stopped to smother a slight blaze that had burst out in one corner of the fire- place, his hand seemed a trifle unsteady. It may have been from the sudden waking, or possibly from a peculiar foreboding. The mistress had been startled by the sound of a galloping horse and a sudden stopping in front of the door, but Master Davenport had not heard it. He was not surprised, however, to see the excited and almost breathless Jona- than Meigs stand before him in the dim light of the glowing coals. " Tell me the worst, Meigs," said the min- ister. " It will scarcely be news. I arn pre- pared." " There is no mistake this time ; would to God there might be!" said Meigs, taking hold of a chair while he panted for breath. " I have within an hour seen them led away in chains by the Englishmen chained like felons!" " Sit thee down and tell me about it. But 354 THE REGICIDES. first say if there be still any hope for their escape." " None ! none ! It is too late ! The Eng- lishmen are riding on horseback with drawn pistols, and the generals are guarded on foot by Brockton and two men from Guilford. All are heavily armed, and are as good as an army against anything we might do ! " The minister gave a groan, and stood for a moment with his hands covering his face. " Go on, I prithee," he said at length, sit- ting down opposite Meigs, "and spare no detail. We may yet discover a flaw in their plans." "O that we might!" exclaimed Meigs despondently. " But these jackals are keen, and have laid their trap too cunningly to admit of hope. I^et us rather pray heaven for the souls of our friends, and for the safety of good Master Tompkins." " How came you to be a witness to this ? " inquired Master Davenport, as Meigs seemed-, too much wrapped in gloomy forebodings to continue. " When Brockton reappeared in Guilford with these Englishmen, I knew at once that something was afoot. I saw that they made a short stop at Governor Leete's, and then THE REGICTDES. 355 left at full gallop for the westward. It so chanced that I had an appointment with the governor that very hour, and as soon as they were gone I made bold to ask if aught had happened concerning the fugitive judges, it being well understood that they were long since out of the colony. The governor was very frank with me. ' Meigs,' he said, ' Brockton thinks he hath located them and can give them a surprise. I told him and the two messengers that they could not have my warrant until I had positive evidence ; that these men one of them perhaps the ablest general living were not to be caught like rabbits, as they had more than once proved ; that when they could bring me something more tangible than guesswork I would see about it. And I will say this to thee, Meigs,' and the governor looked very serious when he said this ' if my duty could be done consistently with it, I would rather see these men go free than otherwise. As William I^eete I would do anything I could to protect them ; as governor of this colony I must issue a warrant for their arrest on good and sufficient evidence.' " I went about my business heav)' in heart, for I knew Brockton to be no fool, and sur- 35 6 THE REGICIDES. mised that he knew himself to be on a sure trail. I tried hard to contrive some way to save our friends, but seemed to be as helpless as a child. At sundown I beheld the two Englishmen ride into the governor's door- yard, their horses covered with foam and themselves brown with the dust of the road. In a quarter of an hour they were off again, with fresh horses, in the direction whence they had come. From their faces I saw that they had secured what they desired. I saw, too, that they wore the expression that men wear when they are hunting human prey to the death, and know there is no chance for escape. I went to Governor I^eete and told him my fears. ' Thou art right, Meigs,' he said. ' They have found the generals, and have my warrant in their pocket. No power on earth can now prevent its execution.' " I know not why I did it, but I took my horse and galloped after the king's messen- gers, knowing full well that I could do no good. They had a half hour's start, and it was already dark, with the moon not yet up. I thought to stop and tell thee as I rode through the town, but when I saw thy son's house ablaze with good cheer and festivity, I said to myself, ' Jonathan Meigs, this is a THE REGICIDES. 357 serious world at best ; put not thy foot over the threshold of a new house to convey ill tidings.' " So I rode on to Milford, scarce knowing why, and arrived at the stockade just as the generals were being led out. A crowd had followed as far as the gate, and I hoped to see them attempt a rescue, but nobody moved that way ; and after watching the procession move down the road toward Guilford, I took a short path back through the woods by the moonlight." " And how did the generals bear up under their misfortune ? " asked the minister, deeply touched by the hopeless devotion of Meigs. " Scarcely as I would have expected, but their long confinement and troubles may have made them weak. They kept protest- ing that they were not Whalley and Goffe at all, that they never signed the death-warrant of Charles the First, and had not commanded regiments in Cromwell's army. At these protestations the Englishmen swore, and called them damned cowards, and when the men tried to get away Brockton and the two that were with him beat them over the head with their cudgels." A low scream in the hall below brought the 358 THE REGICIDES. minister to his feet, and nearly overturning the table on his way he rushed down stairs. The mistress stood leaning against the staircase, and her candle lay overturned and still burn- ing on the floor where she had dropped it. ' ' What is the matter, mother ? Art thou ill?" asked Master Davenport, picking up the candle and looking into her white face. She tried to speak, but could only gasp a single word. " Ghosts -ghosts -ghosts ! " "Mother, thou art ill," said the minister tenderly. "Let me lead thee to thy room." "Oh -Oh -Oh-, how horrible! Whalley and Goffe have been killed and their spirits are knocking at the door ! I opened it and saw them. Oh, take me away quick, before they knock gain ! ' ' Master Davenport took in the situation in- stantly. " They have escaped, and are outside," he hurriedly said to Meigs, who was coming down the stairs. " Unbar the door and admit them, while I take the mistress to another room." When he returned the three men stood in the hall, and the bar had been replaced on the door. The minister extended both his THE REGICIDES. 359 hands which were warmly grasped by the visitors. " Thank God that you are safe !" he ex- claimed fervently. " Come to the study and rest yourselves ! ' ' " It can only be for a moment," said Goffe, as they filed upstairs. ' ' The hour is late, and we must be many miles from here before dawn. General Whalley is not strong, and we will need to travel moderately. We can tarry but to say farewell, and ask God's blessing upon thee for thy great kindness to us." They all sat down before the study fireplace, and Whalley sighed like one whose burden is heavy. "Thy reward shall be great in heaven, if not here," he said wearily. "I/et us think not of rewards, but rather rejoice that thou art free ! " said the minister. " But for the providence of God we would not be at this moment," continued Goffe. ' ' As thou knowest, we had planned to start for Hadley by the moon to-night, and when we were ready, with our feet almost upon the threshold, Master Tompkins discovered that a watch had been set upon the house. We then thought a trap had been set, and a little 360 THE REGICIDES. investigation showed that it was so. We remained in readiness, however, and after two hours' waiting the watch left us uncovered for a brief time to seek the tavern for warmth or liquor, I know not what and in the interval we slipped out into the woods." Meigs nearly fell from his chair when Goffe had finished. He put his hand to his head, and seemed to be in doubt about his own sanity. He stared at Goffe as if to make sure which had really gone daft. The min- ister looked first at one and then the other, wondering if he had understood Goffe aright. " We intend to reach Hadley in a week," said Goffe, continuing, " by traveling nights and resting in seclusion by day. It hath been arranged so that good friends will expect us along the way and make provision for our entertainment." "There is some misunderstanding," said the minister abruptly. " Our friend Meigs hath been telling of seeing thee led away in chains toward Guilford by Brockton and the two messengers." "Then Tompkins is safe!" exclaimed Goffe, a bright light coming into his eyes. " His ready wit hath saved him." Meigs groaned. He now felt sure that THE REGICIDES. 361 somebody had gone insane. His only ques- tion was as to the identity of the subject. "As we were about to leave," continued Goffe, "it occurred to me that Tompkins was in great danger by reason of the watch being set upon the house, and we begged him to put his two farm-hands to sleep in our places as soon as we were away. This he agreed to do, and as the men were father and son, and not greatly apart from us in age, the deception could be made complete if managed well." The fog in Meigs' brain began to drift away. He soon found tongue to relate what he had seen, and the generals laughed heart- ily at what had seemed like their cowardly behavior. " Those officers had never seen us," said Whalley, " and the ruse proved easy. I am truly sorry for the poor fellows whose heads are being thumped in place of ours." " Perhaps they will feel compensated by being accused of great deeds," replied the minister. " Leete will order them released when he sees the mistake." " We must now depart," said Goffe, rising. " The dawn will be with us ere we are ready for it. We hope the day will soon come 362 THE REGICIDES. when England will again be free of tyrants, and we can return to serve our dear country once more. For the present we can only serve her by waiting in patience until God's own good time cometh. Fare ye well, my dear friends, and may we soon meet under brighter skies ! " Master Davenport stood in the shadow of his doorway and watched the two figures move slowly up the street. At the first cor- ner they turned and disappeared. Ar.d so went out from his life these actors in the great historical tragedy, one to die in Hadley a decade later, the other to vanish thereafter leaving no trace behind in the records of men. The hoped-for dawn of a brighter day never came to them. "Thou earnest with a heavy heart," said the minister, turning to Meigs, " but thou canst take a light one home with thee." They stood for a moment looking up the street, each struggling with an emotion too deep for words. "And I hope, Master Davenport," replied Meigs at length, " that thy cares may now be lighter. Thou hast borne a heavy burden these many months, and all thy friends have trembled for thee." WE HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINING ANGtLS UNAWARES" p. 363 THE REGICIDES. 363 1 ' A good soldier never complains that the fighting is hot or the danger great," returned the other smiling. " Do not forget the men thou hast seen this night, two men who dared to take a t}'rant though he were a king by the throat, and set millions of oppressed people free. Strange things happen in this world, Meigs. A few short years ago they weie commanding the armies and sitting in the councils of a great nation ; to-night they go up yonder street as hunted fugitives, to hide like wild animals when the light of another day cometh. This colony hath been enter- taining angels unawares ! " The men wrung each other's hand, and a moment later Meigs had mounted his forgot- ten and shivering horse and started for home. The minister returned to his study and sat down. The night was deepening. A pass- ing footstep told of the faithful watch going his rounds through the town, but that gave him no fear. He knew that his friends were safe. " It is better to be right than mighty," he said to himself at length, as he reached down to stir the dying embers. THE END. APPENDIX. NOTE A. Page 50. This extract is from a pub- lished volume of sermons printed by Mr. Davenport in 1661. The exact date of its delivery is unknown, but the fact that it was uttered in connection with the visit of the "regicides " is well established. NOTE B. Page 79. It was the custom of the min- ister to invert the hour-glass as a signal to his con- gregation that the sermon could be ended soon, an hour having been thus far consumed in its delivery. If the audience appeared to be still interested, or looked capable of enduring more, the dispensing of Calvinistic doctrine continued. If certain of the " pillars " looked bored or tired, the hint was taken and the discourse wound up. NOTE C. Page 106. The Tobacco Law was suffi- ciently unique to bear quotation: "It is ordered that no tobacco shall be taken in the streets, yards, or aboute the houses in any plantation or farme in this jurisdiction, or without dores neere or aboute the towne, or in the meeting-house, or body of the trayne souldiors, or any other place where they may doe mischief thereby, under the penalty of six pence a pipe or a time, wch is to goe to him that informes or prosecuts, wch if refused is to be re- couered by distress, in wch case if there be differ- rence, it may be issued wthout a couit by any mag- ii. APPENDIX. istrate, or where there is no magistrate by any deputie or constable ; but if he be a poor seruant and hath not to paye, and his master will not paye for him, he shall then be punished by sitting in the stocks one houre." From an Act passed by the General Court, May 30, 1655. NOTE D. Page 121. The trial and conviction of Martha Malbon is no fiction, though its place here is an anachronism as to time. The exact date came a few years earlier, so that it has become nec- essary, for the purposes of this story, to have Mar- tha tried by the judges of the period of which we are writing, except that her father, who took part in her trial and voted for her conviction, is substi- tuted in place of one of the contemporary judges. The judgment of the court, as it appears on the Colonial Records, is as follows: "Martha Malbon, for consenting to goe in the night to the farmes wth Will Harding to a venison feast, for stealing things fro her parents, and yielding to filthy dalliance wth said Harding, was whipped." The term "filthy dalliance" was used to describe any relation of the sexes beyond ordinary conversation not coming within the family circle. Taking hold of hands, caresses of any sort, kissing and embracing, were deemed to be filthy dalliance. Mr. Malbon finally returned to England. NOTE E. Page 169. Goody Godman had a full and fair trial, at which much ridiculous testimony was adduced ; but unlike the Salem judges and, it must be confessed, some Connecticut judges the New Haven court held that while witchcraft, if APPENDIX. iii. found, was punishable by death, the evidence must be as clear and convincing as in any other case. The following is the law upon which Goody's trial was based : "If any person be a Witch, he or she shall be put to death, according to Exod. xxii : 18; Levit. xx : 27 ; Deut. xviii: 10, u." For a full report of the trial see the Colonial Rec- ords. NOTE F. Page 175. The incidents and much of the dialogue used in this chapter are taken from the report made by Kellond and Kirke after their return to Massachusetts. NOTE F-a. Page 177. At a General Court for New Haven, May 22, 1654, " The towne was informed that there was some notion againe on foote concern- ing the setting vp of a Colledg here at Newhaven, Well, if attayned, will in all likelyhood prove verey beneficiall to this place, but now it is ouley ppounded to knowe the townes minde and whether they are willing to further the worke by bearing a meet pportion of the charge of the jurisdiction, vpou the pposal thereof, shall see cause to carry it on. No man objected, but all seemed willing, pvided that the paye wch they can raise here will doe it." The next year at a General Court, May 21, 1655, the subject was " revived, & in some respects this seemes to be a season, some disturbanc being at prsent at the colledg in ye Bay,* and it is now intended to be ppounded to the gen : court ; there- fore this towne may declare what they will doe by way of incouragmt for ye same, and it would be * Harvard. iy. APPENDIX. well if they herein giue a good example to ye other townes in ye jurisdiction, being free in so good a worke. Mr. Dauenport and Mr. Hooke were both present vpon this occasion and spake much to incourag the worke," and a committee was appoin- ted " to goe to the seuerall planters in this towne and take from them what they will freely giue to this worke." Colonial Records. On the 4th of April, 1660, Mr. Davenport pre- sented a " memordum," setting forth the desirabil- ity of establishing a college at New Haven. The matter was taken into consideration but no imme- diate action taken. NOTE G. Page 178. The laws quoted in this appendix are fair examples. The Whipping Law is perhaps as good an illustration as can be given to show the intent with which they were framed : "Stiipes, or whipping, is a correction fit, and proper in some cases (Prov. xix : 29; xxvi : 3.), where the offense is accompanied with childish, or brutish folly, with rude filthiness, or with stubborn inso- lency, with bestly cruelty, or with idle vagrancy, or for faults of like nature. But when stripes are due : It is Ordered, That not above forty stripes shall be inflicted at one time. Deut xxv : 3." The law that all liquor casks should be of the London standard was based upon Deut. xxv : 15 ; Mic. vi : 10. NOTE H. Page 225. Goffe's diary says they stayed two nights at a place called Hatchet Har- bour, while a cave or hole in the side of the hill was being prepared to receive them. The time is here extended to a week for narrative purposes- APPENDIX. v. NOTE I. Page 226. "Harrison was the first to suffer. He was drawn on a hurdle a sort of rude sledge or drag to Charing Cross, in sight of White- hall, where the king had been beheaded. On his way a voice cried out in derision, ' Where is your good old cause now?' 'Here it is,' replied the undaunted man, placing his hand on his breast, 'and I am going to seal it with my blood.' On reaching the gallows he was hanged by the neck, but cut down alive ; next, he was cut open, his bowels torn out and thrown into the fire ; then his body was chopped into four quarters, and his still palpi- tating heart held up to the view of the crowd. " From " The Three Judges," By I. P. Warren. Note J. Page 229. " Three persons only appear to hare known of this retreat, Mr. Jones, Mr. Sperry, and a man named Burrill, who seems to have been a fellow-laborer of Sperry on the farm. Thither the judges repaired on the I5th. Their supplies were furnished by Mr. Jones, through the medium of Sperry, their food being sent to them daily from the farm-house. Sometimes the latter carried it himself, at others he dispatched it, tied up in a cloth, by one of his boys, with orders to lay it on a certain stump, and there leave it ; and when the boy went at night for the vessels, he always found them emptied of their contents, and brought them home. The lad wondered at this, and inquired of his father what it meant, for he saw nobody. The latter told him it was for some persons at work in the woods ; nor was it till long afterward that any one knew who these ' persons ' were." Warren. vi. APPENDIX. Note K. Page 266. " Some Indians, in their hunting discovered the cave with the bed ; and the report being spread abroad, it was not safe to remain near it." General Goffe's Diary. Note l-i. Page 340. The Marriage Laws of the colony required the service to be performed by a civil magistrate. Note M. Page 350. Col. Abraham Davenport, a grandson of John and Abigail, was a member of the State Council of Connecticut at the time of the famous Dark Day, May 19, 1780. There was much alarm felt, and many feared that the Judgment Day was at hand. In the midst of the excitement a motion was made to adjourn, when Col. Davenport calmly rose and said, " I am against an adjourn- ment. The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for an ad- journment ; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish, therefore, that the candles may be brought, and we proceed to business." Whittier has made the incident the subject of a well-known poem. Col. Davenport was named from Abigail's brother, Abraham Pierson, who became the first president of Yale College. Abigail's tomb may be seen in the crypt under the Center Church, New Haven. 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