Thomas Wentworth Higginson, A book of American explorers

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[319] the wood, and were fallen¹ about a mile too high above the creek, where we saw three bucks; but we had rather have had one of them. We also did spring three couple of partridges: and, as we came along by the creek, we saw great flocks of wild geese and ducks; but they were very fearful of us. So we marched some while in the woods, some while on the sands, and other while in the water up to the knees, till at length we came near the ship, and then we shot off our pieces, and the long-boat came to fetch us. Master Jones and Master Carver, being on the shore with many of our people, came to meet us. And thus we came both weary and welcome home, and delivered in our corn into the store to be kept for seed; for we knew not how to come by any, and therefore were very glad, purposing, as soon as we could meet with any of the inhabitants of that place, to make them large satisfaction. This was our first discovery, whilst our shallop was in repairing.

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Iii.—The first encounter.

Wednesday, the 6th of December, 1620], we set out, being very cold and hard weather. We were a long while, after we launched from the ship, before we could get clear of a sandy point² which lay within less than a furlough of the same; in which time two were very sick, and Edward Tilley had liked to have sounded³ with cold. The gunner also was sick unto death; but hope of trucking⁴ made him to go, and so remained all