Soon, however, his head sank powerless on Rodolph’s knee, and the bright glance of his eye faded away, and life and motion ceased.  Was it unmanly in his master to brush a tear from his eye, as he rose from the ground, and turned away one moment from the lifeless form of his favorite?

‘I will not leave him here,’ he said.  ’The savages shall not mangle his body, as they would gladly have mangled mine.  His death has saved my life; and all that remains of him shall be carried to a place of safety, and buried beyond the reach of those who slew him.’

‘Yes,’ replied Squanto readily—­for he desired the removal of the dog from that spot, for other reasons beside the gratification of Maitland’s feelings—­’ Yes; we will carry him away, and hide him from Coubitant’s eyes.  Doubtless he will return here, as soon as all is quiet, to see the success of his murderous attempt; and when he finds the path thus stained with blood, he will be satisfied, and pursue us no further than to see whether we bury our dead companion in the forest, or bear him to his home.  We must, therefore, carry Fingal all the way to New Plymouth, lest he should follow on our trail, and discover that he has only slain a dog.’

Rodolph’s English companions concurred in this view, and willingly lent their aid to convey the body of Fingal from the place of his death.  A couple of poles were cut hastily, and a rude light litter was formed; for Squanto wished that Coubitant should find traces of such preparations, as they would help to convince him that they had thus borne away the wounded or dead form of the ambassador.

‘Now,’ said he, when all was ready, ’not another moment must be lost.  Even now the keen eye of the foe may be upon us, and our stratagem may be in vain.  Two of you must bear the litter, and must carefully place your feet in the same spot, so as to form but one track; and lead our pursuers to believe that only three men have passed along.  And there, throw that bloody handkerchief on the path, and Coubitant will take it as a trophy of success.  ‘Stay,’ he exclaimed, as Rodolph and one of his friends were about to raise the lifeless form of Fingal from the ground ‘stay one moment, and I will completely deceive that deceiver.’

He smiled as he spoke, for he felt it a pleasure and a triumph to outwit the wily Coubitant.  Then, while the body of the dog was supported, he carefully pressed his feet on the soft path, so as to leave a distinct impression, and convince any who should examine the trail that it was not the dog who had been wounded.  This cunning device he practiced again and again until they had passed through the wood, and entered the grassy meadow, where such precautions were no longer needed.  Then the party quickened their steps, and paused not again until they had struck deeply into the forest that succeeded to the undulating reach of meadowland.