summer came； some wonderful crop。
Opechancanough was a great chief； but higher than he moved Powhatan； chief
of chiefs。 This Indian was yet a stranger to the English in Virginia。 Now
John Smith was to make his acquaintance。
Werowocomoco stood upon a bluff on the north side of York River。 Here came
Smith and his captors； around them the winter woods； before them the broad
blue river。 Again the gathered Indians； men and women； again the staring；
the handling； the more or less uncomplimentary remarks； then into the
Indian ceremonial lodge he was pushed。 Here sat the chief of chiefs；
Powhatan； and he had on a robe of raccoon skins with all the tails hanging。
About him sat his chief men； and behind these were gathered women。 All were
painted； head and shoulders； all wore； bound about the head； adornments
meant to strike with beauty or with terror； all had chains of beads。 Smith
does not report what he said to Powhatan； or Powhatan to him。 He says that
the Queen of Appamatuck brought him water for his hands； and that there was
made a great feast。 When this was over； the Indians held a council。 It
ended in a death decree。 Incontinently Smith was seized； dragged to a great
stone lying before Powhatan； forced down and bound。 The Indians made ready
their clubs； meaning to batter his brains out。 Then； says Smith； occurred
the miracle。
A child of Powhatan's； a very young girl called Pocahontas； sprang from
among the women； ran to the stone； and with her own body sheltered that of
the Englishman。。。。*
* A vast amount of erudition has been expended by historical students to
establish the truth or falsity of this Pocahontas story。 The author has
refrained from entering the controversy； preferring to let the story stand
as it was told by Captain Smith in his 〃General History〃 （1624）。Editor。
What； in Powhatan's mind； of hesitation； wiliness； or good nature backed
his daughter's plea is not known。 But Smith did not have his brains beaten
out。 He was released； taken by some form of adoption into the tribe； and
set to using those same brains in the making of hatchets and ornaments。 A
few days passed and he was yet further enlarged。 Powhatan longed for two of
the great guns possessed by the white men and for a grindstone。 He would
send Smith back to Jamestown if in return he was sure of getting those
treasures。 It is to be supposed that Smith promised him guns and
grindstones as many as could be borne away。
So Werowocomoco saw him depart； twelve Indians for escort。 He had leagues
to go； a night or two to spend upon the march。 Lying in the huge winter
woods； he expected； on the whole； death before morning。 But 〃Almighty God
mollified the hearts of those sterne barbarians with compassion。〃 And so he
was restored to Jamestown； where he found more dead than when he left。 Some
there undoubtedly welcomed him as a strong man restored when there was need
of strong men。 Others； it seems； would as lief that Pocahontas had not
interfered。
The Indians did not get their guns and grindstones。 But Smith loaded a
demi…culverin with stones and fired upon a great tree； icicle…hung。 The gun
roared； the boughs broke； the ice fell rattling； the smoke spread； the
Indians cried out and cowered away。 Guns and grindstone； Smith told them；
were too violent and heavy devils for them to carry from river to river。
Instead he gave them； from the trading store； gifts enticing to the savage
eye； and not susceptible of being turned against the donors。
Here at Jamestown in midwinter were more food and less mortal sickness than
in the previous fearful summer； yet no great amount of food； and now
suffering； too； from bitter cold。 Nor had the sickness ended； nor
dissensions。 Less than fifty men were all that held together England and
Americaa frayed cord； the last strands of which might presently part 。 。 。 。
Then up the river comes Christopher Newport in the Francis and John； to be
followed some weeks later by the Phoenix。 Here is new lifestores for the
settlers and a hundred new Virginians！ How certain； at any rate； is the
exchange of talk of home and hair…raising stories of this wilderness
between the old colonists and the new！ And certain is the relief and the
renewed hopes。 Mourning turns to joy。 Even a conflagration that presently
destroys the major part of the town can not blast that felicity。
Again Newport and Smith and others went out to explore the country。 They
went over to Werowocomoco and talked with Powhatan。 He told them things
which they construed to mean that the South Sea was near at hand； and they
marked this down as good news for the home Councilstill impatient for
gold and Cathay。 On their return to Jamestown they found under way new and
stouter houses。 The Indians were again friendly； they brought venison and
turkeys and corn。 Smith says that every few days came Pocahontas and
attendant women bringing food。
Spring came again with the dogwood and the honeysuckle and the
strawberries； the gay； returning birds； the barred and striped and mottled
serpents。 The colony was one year old。 Back to England sailed the Francis
and John and the Phoenix； carrying home Edward…Maria Wingfield； who has
wearied of Virginia and will return no more。
What rests certain and praiseworthy in Smith is his thoroughness and daring
in exploration。 This summer he went with fourteen others down the river in
an open boat； and so across the great bay； wide as a sea； to what is yet
called the Eastern Shore； the counties now of Accomac and Northampton。
Rounding Cape Charles these indefatigable explorers came upon islets beaten
by the Atlantic surf。 These they named Smith's Islands。 Landing upon the
main shore； they met 〃grimme and stout〃 savages； who took them to the King
of Accomac； and him they found civil enough。 This side of the great bay；
with every creek and inlet； Smith examined and set down upon the map he was
making。 Even if he could find no gold for the Council at home； at least he
would know what places were suited for 〃harbours and habitations。〃 Soon a
great storm came up； and they landed again； met yet other Indians； went
farther； and were in straits for fresh water。 The weather became worse；
they were in danger of shipwreckhad to bail the boat continually。 Indians
gathered upon the shore and discharged flights of arrows； but were
dispersed by a volley from the muskets。 The bread the English had with them
went bad。 Wind and weather were adverse； three or four of the fifteen fell
ill； but recovered。 The weather improved； they came to the seven…mile…wide
mouth of 〃Patawomeck〃the Potomac。 They turned their boat up this vast
stream。 For a long time they saw upon the woody banks no savages。 Then
without warning they came upon ambuscades of great numbers 〃so strangely
painted； grimed and disguised； shouting； yelling and crying； as we rather
supposed them so many divils。〃 Smith； in midstream； ordered musket…fire；
and the balls went grazing over the water； and the terrible sound echoed
through the woods。 The savages threw down their bows and arrows and made
signs of friendliness。 The English went ashore； hostages were exchanged；
and a kind of amicableness ensued。 After such sylvan entertainment Smith
and his men returned to the boat。 The oars dipped and rose； the bright
water broke from them； and these Englishmen in Old Virginia proceeded up
the Potomac。 Could they have seencould they but have seen before them； on
the north bank； rising； like the unsubstantial fabric of a dream； there
above the trees； a vast； white Capitol shining in the sunlight！
Far up the river； they noticed that the sand on the shore gleamed with
yellow spangles。 They looked and saw high rocks； and they thought that from
these the rain had washed the glittering dust。 Gold？ Harbors they had
foundbut what of gold？ What； even； of Cathay？
Going down stream； they sought again those friendly Indians。 Did they know
gold or silver？ The Indians looked wise； nodded heads； and took the
visitors up a little tributary river to a rocky hill in which 〃with shells
and hatchets〃 they had opened as it were a mine。 Here they gathered a
mineral which； when powdered； they sprinkled over themselves and their
idols 〃making them；〃 says the relation； 〃like blackamoors dusted over with
silver。〃 The white men filled their boat with as much of this ore as they
could carry。 High were their hopes over it； but when it was subsequently
sent to London and assayed； it was found to be worthless。
The fifteen now started homeward； out of Potomac and down the westward side
of Chesapeake。 In their travels they saw； besides the Indians； all manner
of four…footed Virginians。 Bears rolled their bulk through these forests；
deer went whither they would。 The explorers might meet foxes and
catamounts； otter； beaver and marten； raccoon and opossum； wolf and Indian
dog。 Winged Virginians made the forests vocal。 The owl hooted at night； and
the whippoorwill called in the twilight。 The streams were filled with fish。
Coming to the mouth of the Rappahannock； the travelers' boat grounded upon
sand； with the tide at ebb。 Awaiting the water that should lift them off；
the fifteen began with their swords to spear the fish among the reeds。
Smith had the ill luck to encounter a sting…ray； and received its barbed
weapon through his wrist。 There set in a great swelling and torment which
made him fear that death was at hand。 He ordered his funeral and a grave to
be dug on a neighboring islet。 Yet by degrees he grew better and so out of
torment； and withal so hungry that he longed for supper； whereupon； with a
light heart； he had his late enemy the sting…ray cooked and ate him。 They
then named the place Sting…ray Island and； the tide serving； got off the
sand…bar and down the bay； and so came home to Jamestown； having been gone
seven weeks。
Like Ulysses； Smith refuses to rust in inaction。 A few days； and away he is
again； first up to Rappahannock； and then across the bay。 On this journey
he and his men come up with the giant Susquehannocks； who are not
Algonquins but Iroquois。 After many hazards in which the forest and the
savage play their part； Smith and his band again return to Jamestown。 In
all this adventuring they ha