were in the bay, working along a reef, fishing for supper. We had caught a boatload of bass and gray snapper to smoke. Also four tunny that must have weighed six hundred pounds between them.
Admiral Somers kept on fishing when the cannon went off. But Tom Barlow pulled in his line, took up the oars, and began to row toward the governor's camp. The admiral kept his line in the water and
acted as if the only thing on his mind was fishing. I knew better.
Close to dusk, after a hard row, two boats from our camp edged up on shore some distance from the governor's camp. The weapons Pearepoint had managed to bring were hidden under a blanket of palmetto leaves, and the boats were put in the charge of one of his men.
Governor Gates was waiting for us in front of the stocks he had ordered on the day we came to the island. In the stocks, his hands and his bushy head thrust out through the holes, languished Henry Paine. Paine, one of the stalwart young gentlemen, was the governor's trusted guard. But unknown to the governor he was in league with Francis Pearepoint. Apparently he had been in the stocks the previous night and kept awake since, for his eyes were red and half-closed.
The governor gave our party a searching glance to make sure, no doubt, that none of our men was armed. He then turned to Henry Paine.
"Is it true," he shouted, "that last night when called upon to take your watch, you hurled insults upon the captain of the guards, struck him on the head with your fist, and took yourself off, scoffing at the double watch I had ordered?"
Henry Paine opened his eyes but did not answer.
"Furthermore, when told that if word of your behavior ever reached my ears it might mean your life,
you brazenly replied, 'The governor has no authority to justify upon anyone an action of that nature. Therefore, let the governor kiss ...' 'kiss my ...' 'my foot.' Or some such insulting remark."
Henry Paine was obviously surprised at the governor's violent tone. "I don't recall such words. I never intended.... There must be a mistake."
"The mistake is yours, Mr. Paine. And for it you shall pay."
"But, sir, I have paid enough already," Paine said.
He glanced at Pearepoint. I was sure that the two had made a pact, that Paine had deliberately provoked a fight with the governor, and at this moment, armed with an excuse and according to plan, Pearepoint and his men were to attack Sir Thomas and set up their own government.
Pearepoint coldly returned his glance. He did not move. Why I am not sure. Was it because the governor, suspecting a plot, had placed two of his cannons and four of his cannoneers on either side of the stocks, and stood with a solid wall of cedar trees at his back? Surprised by this, had Pearepoint decided to put off his attack until a more favorable time? It seemed likely.
"You shall pay dearly," the governor said. "You shall pay with your life."
A cry went up from Mistress Horton and others, for Henry Paine was well liked in the camp. But the governor called for a ladder, which was set up under a tree.
Paine tried to squirm out of the holes that held
him. Failing this, he leveled his gaze upon Pearepoint, saw no hope there, and began to talk to the governor, admitting his guilt and asking for mercy.
The governor turned his back. He ordered a noose and saw that it was attended properly, with a double bend and a sailor's knot, to a stout branch.
Paine studied the noose, which was moving about in the evening wind, frowned, and said, "Since I am a gentleman, I own the privileges thereof and demand that I be shot instead of hanged like a commoner."
"Your demand is granted," the governor said. "And may God forgive you, as I willingly do."
The sun went down as these words were spoken. Our group left and climbed into the boats. We had not gone far when I heard two shots. Wisps of smoke drifted up through the palmetto trees.
Pearepoint shook a fist at tie camp, at the settlers who were now cheering the governor. "We'll
Admiral Somers kept on fishing when the cannon went off. But Tom Barlow pulled in his line, took up the oars, and began to row toward the governor's camp. The admiral kept his line in the water and
acted as if the only thing on his mind was fishing. I knew better.
Close to dusk, after a hard row, two boats from our camp edged up on shore some distance from the governor's camp. The weapons Pearepoint had managed to bring were hidden under a blanket of palmetto leaves, and the boats were put in the charge of one of his men.
Governor Gates was waiting for us in front of the stocks he had ordered on the day we came to the island. In the stocks, his hands and his bushy head thrust out through the holes, languished Henry Paine. Paine, one of the stalwart young gentlemen, was the governor's trusted guard. But unknown to the governor he was in league with Francis Pearepoint. Apparently he had been in the stocks the previous night and kept awake since, for his eyes were red and half-closed.
The governor gave our party a searching glance to make sure, no doubt, that none of our men was armed. He then turned to Henry Paine.
"Is it true," he shouted, "that last night when called upon to take your watch, you hurled insults upon the captain of the guards, struck him on the head with your fist, and took yourself off, scoffing at the double watch I had ordered?"
Henry Paine opened his eyes but did not answer.
"Furthermore, when told that if word of your behavior ever reached my ears it might mean your life,
you brazenly replied, 'The governor has no authority to justify upon anyone an action of that nature. Therefore, let the governor kiss ...' 'kiss my ...' 'my foot.' Or some such insulting remark."
Henry Paine was obviously surprised at the governor's violent tone. "I don't recall such words. I never intended.... There must be a mistake."
"The mistake is yours, Mr. Paine. And for it you shall pay."
"But, sir, I have paid enough already," Paine said.
He glanced at Pearepoint. I was sure that the two had made a pact, that Paine had deliberately provoked a fight with the governor, and at this moment, armed with an excuse and according to plan, Pearepoint and his men were to attack Sir Thomas and set up their own government.
Pearepoint coldly returned his glance. He did not move. Why I am not sure. Was it because the governor, suspecting a plot, had placed two of his cannons and four of his cannoneers on either side of the stocks, and stood with a solid wall of cedar trees at his back? Surprised by this, had Pearepoint decided to put off his attack until a more favorable time? It seemed likely.
"You shall pay dearly," the governor said. "You shall pay with your life."
A cry went up from Mistress Horton and others, for Henry Paine was well liked in the camp. But the governor called for a ladder, which was set up under a tree.
Paine tried to squirm out of the holes that held
him. Failing this, he leveled his gaze upon Pearepoint, saw no hope there, and began to talk to the governor, admitting his guilt and asking for mercy.
The governor turned his back. He ordered a noose and saw that it was attended properly, with a double bend and a sailor's knot, to a stout branch.
Paine studied the noose, which was moving about in the evening wind, frowned, and said, "Since I am a gentleman, I own the privileges thereof and demand that I be shot instead of hanged like a commoner."
"Your demand is granted," the governor said. "And may God forgive you, as I willingly do."
The sun went down as these words were spoken. Our group left and climbed into the boats. We had not gone far when I heard two shots. Wisps of smoke drifted up through the palmetto trees.
Pearepoint shook a fist at tie camp, at the settlers who were now cheering the governor. "We'll
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