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"Can you swim?" asked Harvey. "Why, of course," said she. Presently she paused, took a few steps across a plank that led to a window, raised that, climbed in and disappeared. "Come on," she called softly. "I'll show you where to step." "Whew!" exclaimed Harvey. "This is worse than a gale in Samoset Bay." "Oh, it's lovely when you get inside," said Henry Burns "all except the rats. Come along."
This being the case, after two years of constant communication, and noting how trivial knowledge of English speech Samoset and Tisquantum had, it is easy to understand that, if Williamson had any knowledge of the native tongue, Standish would be most anxious to have the benefit of it, in this prime and all-important effort at securing a permanent alliance with the ruling sachem of the region.
What was their surprise then when one morning an Indian walked boldly into the camp and spoke to them in broken English! He told them that his name was Samoset, and that he was the Englishmen's friend. He also said he could tell them of another Indian called Squanto who could speak better English than he could.
Mark you how he chooses his words as one of some dignity himself," said Bradford softly, but the quick ears of the savage caught the substance of his words, and tapping his broad chest lightly with his fingers he proudly replied, "Samoset, sachem of Monhegan. Samoset do well to many Englishmen in his own country." "And where is Monhegan, friend Samoset?" asked Carver pleasantly.
Try him with more questions," suggested Hopkins, the other men murmuring assent, while the Indian glancing with his opaque, black eyes from one to another showed not how much he understood of what went on about him. "'In vino veritas," suggested Bradford with a smile. "Were it not well to give him something by way of welcome?" "Samoset like beer.
These poor creatures, thus infamously kidnapped, were carried to Spain, and sold as slaves for one hundred dollars each. It was in consequence of this outrage that the Pilgrims were so fiercely attacked at The First Encounter. Samoset had heard from his brethren of the forest all the incidents of this conflict.
The colonists received these natives as kindly as possible, and entertained them hospitably, but declined entering into any traffic, as it was the Sabbath. They told the Indians, however, that if they would come on any other day, they would purchase not only the furs they now had with them, but any others which they might bring. Upon this, all retired excepting Samoset.
Tisquantum goes past Dermer and Samoset and stands looking off across the harbor, deep in gloomy thought. >From out there, as darkness closes about the lonely figure on the shore, there is borne to our ears by the night wind the distant sound of voices chanting early sixteenth century music.
So did he now, and although his stern visage showed no shadow of change, he inwardly made the comment, "Hopkins's varlets, eh? Like master, like man. And Billington wait a bit, Master Poacher!" "Ah, here is our friend Samoset coming up the hill, and another with him," remarked Bradford as the little group of authorities paused at the head of the path leading to the spring and to Watson's Hill.
By one means and the other the Pilgrims presently learned that Monhegan was a large island near to the mainland in a northeasterly direction, and a great resort of fishing vessels, mostly English, with whose masters Samoset, as sachem of the Indians in those parts, had both traded and feasted, learning their language, their manners, and, what was worse, their habits of strong drink and profanity, neither of which however seemed to have taken any great hold upon him, being reserved rather as accomplishments and proofs that he too had studied men and manners.
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