Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/182

168 of the male inhabitants had gathered to greet them. The sun was yet but a scant five hours above the horizon, but the heat  was already intolerable and the rocky slope  shimmered and glared as the naked strangers  drew near. All were young men and all were armed and painted most hideously. One, of the three the more heavy of build, carried  upon his back a bundle wrapped in rush matting. His companions, taller and slimmer, bore only their weapons and food pouches. Woosonametipom, attended by several of his counselors, and himself decked in his “royalty” of embroidered blanket and wampum  head-dress and girdle, awaited the visitors at the gate. When the strangers were a dozen paces distant they paused and gave salutation. The Wachoosetts returned it, whereupon one of the strangers stepped forward and spoke at length, addressing his remarks  to the sachem, but seeming to include all his  hearers. He was listened to in absolute silence. David, pressing toward the gate behind the throng of young men and old, women and children, who had gathered just  inside it, understood enough of the brave’s  talk to know that he was but declaiming the  usual message of greeting from one chief to