JONES [laughing]

Why, sir, everybody claims it. That's no matter. King James has proclaimed that all the land that has been settled belongs to them that has settled it; the rest is anybody's. When the company I'm taking gets their plantation settled, the Dutch can't claim the land any longer.

KIEFT

Perhaps not, but your company is not going to land on Dutch territory.

JONES

Eh?

KIEFT

You are going to lose your bearings—

JONES

Me—a sailor—lose my bearings?

KIEFT

Certainly—for one hundred pounds.

JONES

Well—

KIEFT

And you will make land far to the north of the Great North River.

JONES

I'll have to see the color of the money.

KIEFT

Is it a bargain?

JONES

Have you got the money with you?

KIEFT

I have, and on your promise, I'll pay it.

JONES

All right. I'll see that the company is landed where you wish.

KIEFT

Good!

ANNOUNCER

And so Captain Jones of the Mayflower was bribed by Dutch gold to play false with the band of Pilgrims. You know the story of the long and difficult job the Pilgrims had in getting fairly started on their voyage. The Speedwell sprang a leak, and they had to put back to Plymouth harbor where the ship was repaired. They made a second start, and again the Speedwell became unseaworthy and the captain refused to go on, so a second time the little flotilla put back to Plymouth. This time, since the season was far advanced and the Pilgrims feared that winter would be upon them before they could get established in their new home, the Speedwell was left behind, and on September 16, 1620, the Mayflower left alone for the New World. Halfway across the ocean the ship was beset by a long series of storms, so severe that it took more than two months for the ship to make the trip across the Atlantic. At last, on the morning of November 20, 1620, the ship's company were awakened by the electric cry of—

VOICE

Land—ho! Land—land—ho!

JONES [calling]

Where away?

VOICE

Two points off the starboard bow!

MOB [voices swelling up]

Land! Land! Is it really land? Captain, Captain! Have we really made land? Land? [etc.]

JONES

Aye, we've made land! Helmsman, bring the ship to bear on land, dead ahead!

VOICE

Aye, aye, sir, land dead ahead.

CARVER [coming up]

Ah, Captain Jones, at last!

JONES

Aye, at last—land ahead!

CARVER

Praise Jehovah!

ALL

Praise Jehovah! Amen! [etc.]

CARVER

Captain, tell us, is this Virginia that lies before us?

JONES

I know not; I've not yet taken our bearings.

CARVER

Do you not know where we are?

JONES

How should I? We've been tossed about in storms for a month, with no sun for days on end.

CARVER

There is sun this morning. Can you not take your bearings now?

JONES

The mate is figuring our position even now.

CARVER

Good!

VOICE

Captain Jones?

JONES

Aye, mate, have you the position?

VOICE

I made