“But there are pine trees enow,” suggested the lieutenant.

“True, good ancient,” said the leader.  “Wherefore bind the heathen crew and bestow on them a small matter of stripes apiece as earnest of our future justice.  Set some of the rogues in the stocks to rest themselves so soon as Providence shall bring us to one of our own well-ordered settlements where such accommodations may be found.  Further penalties, such as branding and cropping of ears, shall be thought of hereafter.”

“How many stripes for the priest?” inquired Ancient Palfrey.

“None as yet,” answered Endicott, bending his iron frown upon the culprit.  “It must be for the Great and General Court to determine whether stripes and long imprisonment, and other grievous penalty, may atone for his transgressions.  Let him look to himself.  For such as violate our civil order it may be permitted us to show mercy, but woe to the wretch that troubleth our religion!”

“And this dancing bear?” resumed the officer.  “Must he share the stripes of his fellows?”

“Shoot him through the head!” said the energetic Puritan.  “I suspect witchcraft in the beast.”

“Here be a couple of shining ones,” continued Peter Palfrey, pointing his weapon at the Lord and Lady of the May.  “They seem to be of high station among these misdoers.  Methinks their dignity will not be fitted with less than a double share of stripes.”

Endicott rested on his sword and closely surveyed the dress and aspect of the hapless pair.  There they stood, pale, downcast and apprehensive, yet there was an air of mutual support and of pure affection seeking aid and giving it that showed them to be man and wife with the sanction of a priest upon their love.  The youth in the peril of the moment, had dropped his gilded staff and thrown his arm about the Lady of the May, who leaned against his breast too lightly to burden him, but with weight enough to express that their destinies were linked together for good or evil.  They looked first at each other and then into the grim captain’s face.  There they stood in the first hour of wedlock, while the idle pleasures of which their companions were the emblems had given place to the sternest cares of life, personified by the dark Puritans.  But never had their youthful beauty seemed so pure and high as when its glow was chastened by adversity.

“Youth,” said Endicott, “ye stand in an evil case—­thou and thy maiden-wife.  Make ready presently, for I am minded that ye shall both have a token to remember your wedding-day.”

“Stern man,” cried the May-lord, “how can I move thee?  Were the means at hand, I would resist to the death; being powerless, I entreat.  Do with me as thou wilt, but let Edith go untouched.”

“Not so,” replied the immitigable zealot.  “We are not wont to show an idle courtesy to that sex which requireth the stricter discipline.—­What sayest thou, maid?  Shall thy silken bridegroom suffer thy share of the penalty besides his own?”