deerskin began again; and at the end of every sentence in his
speaking, they all assented, humming or muttering with their
mouths, and striking upon the ground with their hands. Then
they bade him with the two guns go out of the ring again; which
he did, a little way. Then they called him in again, but he
made a stand. So they called him with greater earnestness; but
he stood reeling and wavering as if he knew not whither he
should stand or fall, or which way to go. Then they called him
with exceeding great vehemency, all of them, one and another.
After a little while he turned in, staggering as he went, with
his arms stretched out, in either hand a gun. As soon as he
came in they all sang and rejoiced exceedingly a while. And
then he upon the deerskin, made another speech unto which they
all assented in a rejoicing manner. And so they ended their
business, and forthwith went to Sudbury fight. To my thinking
they went without any scruple, but that they should prosper, and
gain the victory. And they went out not so rejoicing, but they
came home with as great a victory. For they said they had
killed two captains and almost an hundred men. One Englishman
they brought along with them: and he said, it was too true, for
they had made sad work at Sudbury, as indeed it proved. Yet
they came home without that rejoicing and triumphing over their
victory which they were wont to show at other times; but rather
like dogs (as they say) which have lost their ears. Yet I could
not perceive that it was for their own loss of men. They said
they had not lost above five or six; and I missed none, except
in one wigwam. When they went, they acted as if the devil had
told them that they should gain the victory; and now they acted
as if the devil had told them they should have a fall. Whither
it were so or no, I cannot tell, but so it proved, for quickly