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sun was still above the hills when Pikot bade farewell to David beyond the little pond  that lay somewhat more than a mile from his  home. The Indian would have gone farther, but David protested against it.

When David reached the house, he learned the news that had come that day from Boston by travelers who had stopped on their  way to Dedham. Two days before Poggapanossoo, otherwise known as Tobias, and Mattashinnamy had been hanged at Plymouth. These were two of the three Indians who had been convicted of killing Sassamon the year before, and Tobias was one of King Philip’s counselors. The third Indian under sentence had, it seemed, been reprieved, though the Dedham men did not  know for what cause. David’s father took a gloomy view of the affair.

“’Twere better had they let them lie in jail for a while longer,” he said, “for their  execution is likely to prove the last straw to Philip, who has long been seeking a nail