‘We will remain,’ said Mooanam, ’and to-morrow some of your people shall go with us to our lakes, and fish in our canoes.  The clouds are rising, and we shall, perhaps, have even better success than we have met with today.  But tell me, my white brother,’ he continued—­while he looked inquiringly at Bradford—­’tell me why your village is deserted this evening, and why no sounds of labor met our ears as we passed through the silent street?  This is not the white men’s day of rest; and the white men do not leave their work to sleep or dance, as the red men too often do.  Why, then, are you and your people—­even your squaws and your little ones—­assembled here today, and what caused that joyful song that died away as we came to the foot hill?’

‘We have spent the day in fasting and prayer,’ replied the President.  ’We know that our Great Father has sent this long drought upon us, to chasten us for our sins:  and we have met to humble ourselves before Him, and implore Him to send us the fruitful showers from heaven, before our crops are altogether withered in the ground.  He alone can command the clouds to drop fatness; and when He sees that His punishment has done its appointed work, He surely will take it away.  Even now, while we were making our prayers and supplications unto Him, and confessing our sins, He has sent a token that He has heard our cry, and will grant our request.  Look at those clouds that are rising over the western hills, and gradually spreading like a curtain across the sky.  For six weary weeks those clouds have been withheld, and we have been humbled; and, at times, our faith has well nigh failed.  But the faithfulness of our God never fails; and now we are confident that, ere long, His blessing will descend upon us.’

Mooanam made no reply; but he gazed intently on the gathering clouds, and then looked searchingly into Bradford’s fine expressive countenance, as if to be assured that he had heard and understood aright.  Squanto stood beside him; and his aid had been several times required by both parties, in order to the carrying out the above discourse:  and now the Sachem drew him aside, and conversed earnestly with him in a low voice.  He was making him repeat, in his own tongue, the words of the white man; and Bradford heard him say to the interpreter, as he turned away to rejoin him, ’Now we shall see whether the Great Spirit really hears the prayers of the white men.’

The President understood this remark, and fervently he lifted up his own heart to the Lord, and prayed that the hopes of His suffering and trusting people might now be fulfilled; not only for their own relief, but also that the minds of the dark heathen might be impressed, and that they might see and feel the power and the goodness of the Christians’ covenant God.

While Mooanam and the Governor were engaged in conversation, the assembly had dispersed to their own homes; each family carrying with them their respective portion of the food so liberally offered by their Indian friends, and eager to partake of the first plentiful meal that they had enjoyed for several weeks; The hope of coming rain also cheered the hearts of the Pilgrims; and there was joy and gratitude throughout the village that evening.