首页 >出版文学> Pioneers of the Old South>第1章
  THENAVIGATIONLAWS
  BIBLIOGRAPHICALNOTE
  PIONEERSOFTHEOLDSOUTH
  CHAPTERI。THETHREESHIPSSAIL
  ElizabethofEnglanddiedin1603。TherecametotheEnglishthroneJamesStuart,KingofScotland,KingnowofEnglandandScotland。In1604atreatyofpeaceendedthelongwarwithSpain。Gonewasthesixteenthcentury;here,thoughinchildhood,wastheseventeenthcentury。
  Nowthatthewarswereover,oldcolonizationschemeswererevivedintheEnglishmind。Ofthemotives,whichinthefirstinstancehadpromptedtheseschemes,somewiththepassingoftimehadbecomeweaker,someremainedquiteasstrongasbefore。MostEnglishmenandwomenknewnowthatSpainhadclayfeet;andthatRome,thoughshemightthreaten,couldnotalwaysperformwhatshethreatened。ToabasetheprideofSpain,tomakeharborsofrefugefortheangeloftheReformation——thesewishes,thoughtheyhadnotvanished,thoughnomancouldknowhowlongthepeacewithSpainwouldlast,werelessfervidthantheyhadbeeninthedaysofDrake。
  Buttheolddesirefortraderemainedasstrongasever。ItwouldbeagreatboontohaveEnglishmarketsintheNewWorld,aswellasintheOld,towhichmerchantsmightsendtheirwares,andfromwhichmightbedrawninbulk,therawstuffsthatwereneededathome。Theideaofasurpluspopulationpersisted;Englandoffivemillionsoulsstillthoughtthatshewascrowdedandthatitwouldbewelltohavealandofyoungersons,alandofpromiseforallnotabundantlyprovidedforathome。Itweresurelywell,formerepride’ssake,tohaveduelotandpartinthegreatNewWorld!AndwealthlikethatwhichSpainhadfoundwasadazzleandalure。
  "Why,man,alltheirdripping—pansarepuregold,andallthechainswithwhichtheychainuptheirstreetsaremassygold;alltheprisonerstheytakearefetteredingold;andforrubiesanddiamondstheygoforthonholidaysandgather’embytheseashore!"Sothecomedyof"EastwardHo!"
  seenontheLondonstagein1605——"EastwardHo!"becauseyettheythoughtofAmericaasontheroadaroundtoChina。
  InthisyearCaptainGeorgeWeymouthsailedacrosstheseaandspentasummermonthinNorthVirginia——later,NewEngland。Weymouthhadpowerfulbackers,andwithhimsailedoldadventurerswhohadbeenwithRaleigh。
  CominghometoEnglandwithfiveIndiansinhiscompany,Weymouthandhisvoyagegavetopublicinteresttheneededfilliptowardsaction。HerewasthepeacewithSpain,andherewasthenewinterestinVirginia。"Goto!"
  saidMotherEngland。"Itistimetoplaceourchildrenintheworld!"
  TheoldadventurersofthedayofSirHumphreyGilberthadactedasindividuals。Soonwastocomeintheideaofcooperativeaction——theideaofthejoint—stockcompany,actingundertheopenpermissionoftheCrown,attendedbytheinterestandfavorofnumbersofthepeople,andgivingtoprivateinitiativeandpersonalambition,apublictone。SomemenofforesightwouldhavehadCrownandCountrythemselvestheadventurers,supersedinganysmallerbodies。ButforthemomentthefortunesofVirginiawerefurtheredbyagroupwithinthegreatgroup,byajoint—stockcompany,acorporation。
  In1600hadcomeintobeingtheEastIndiaCompany,prototypeofmanycompaniestofollow。Now,sixyearslater,therearoseunderoneroyalchartertwocompanies,generallyknownastheLondonandthePlymouth。Thefirstcolonyplantedbythelatterwasshort—lived。ItsletterspatentwereforNorthVirginia。Twoships,theMaryandJohnandtheGiftofGod,sailedwithoverahundredsettlers。Thesemen,reachingthecoastofwhatisnowMaine,builtafortandachurchonthebanksoftheKennebec。Thenfollowedtheusualmiseriestypicalofcolonialventure——sickness,starvation,andafreezingwinter。Withthereturnofsummertheenterprisewasabandoned。ThefoundationofNewEnglandwasdelayedawhile,herPilgrimsyetinEngland,thoughmeditatingthatfirstremovetoHolland,herMayfloweronlyashipofLondonport,staunch,butwithnofameaboveanother。
  TheLondonCompany,soontobecometheVirginiaCompany,thereforeengagesourattention。ThecharterrecitesthatSirThomasGatesandSirGeorgeSomers,Knights,RichardHakluyt,clerk,PrebendaryofWestminster,Edward—MariaWingfield,andotherknights,gentlemen,merchants,andadventurers,wish"tomakehabitation,plantation,andtodeduceacolonyofsundryofourpeopleintothatpartofAmericacommonlycalledVirginia。"ItcovenantswiththemandgivesthemforaheritageallAmericabetweenthethirty—fourthandthefortyfirstparallelsoflatitude。
  Thethirty—fourthparallelpassesthroughthemiddleofwhatisnowSouthCarolina;theforty—firstgrazesNewYork,crossesthenortherntipofNewJersey,dividesPennsylvania,andsowestwardacrosstothatPacificorSouthSeathattheagethoughtsoneartotheAtlantic。AllEnglandmighthavebeenplacedmanytimesoverinwhatwasgiventothoseknights,gentlemen,merchants,andothers。
  TheKing’schartercreatedagreatCouncilofVirginia,sittinginLondon,governingfromoverhead。Inthenewlanditselfthereshouldexistasecondandlessercouncil。ThetwocouncilshadauthoritywithintherangeofVirginianmatters,buttheCrownretainedthepowerofveto。TheCouncilinVirginiamightcoinmoneyfortradewiththeIndians,expelinvaders,importsettlers,punishilldoers,levyandcollecttaxes——shouldhave,inshort,dignityandpowerenoughforanycolony。Likewise,actingforthewhole,itmightgiveandtakeorders"todig,mineandsearchforallmannerofminesofgold,silverandcopper……tohaveandenjoy……
  yieldingtous,ourheirsandsuccessors,thefifthpartonlyofallthesamegoldandsilver,andthefifteenthpartofallthesamecopper。"
  Nowareweready——itbeingChristmas—tideoftheyear1606——togotoVirginia。RidingontheThames,beforeBlackwall,arethreeships,smallenoughinallconscience’sake,theSusanConstant,theGoodspeed,andtheDiscovery。TheAdmiralofthisfleetisChristopherNewport,anoldseamanofRaleigh’s。BartholomewGosnoldcaptainstheGoodspeed,andJohnRatcliffetheDiscovery。Thethreeshipshaveaboardtheircrewsandonehundredandtwentycolonists,allmen。TheCouncilinVirginiaisonboard,butitdoesnotyetknowitselfassuch,forthenamesofitsmembershavebeendepositedbythesuperiorhomecouncilinasealedbox,tobeopenedonlyonVirginiasoil。
  Thecolonistshavetheirpaperofinstructions。Theyshallfindoutasafeportintheentranceofanavigableriver。Theyshallbepreparedagainstsurpriseandattack。Theyshallobserve"whethertheriveronwhichyouplantdothspringoutofmountainsoroutoflakes。Ifitbeoutofanylakethepassagetotheotherseawillbethemoreeasy,andlikeenough……youshallfindsomespringwhichrunsthecontrarywaytowardtheEastIndiasea。"Theymustavoidgivingoffensetothe"naturals"——mustchooseahealthfulplacefortheirhouses—mustguardtheirshipping。TheyaretosetdowninblackandwhitefortheinformationoftheCouncilathomeallsuchmattersasdirectionsanddistances,thenatureofsoilsandforestsandthevariouscommoditiesthattheymayfind。AndnomanistoreturnfromVirginiawithoutleavefromtheCouncil,andnoneistowritehomeanydiscouragingletter。Theinstructionsend,"Lastlyandchiefly,thewaytoprosperandtoachievegoodsuccessistomakeyourselvesallofonemindforthegoodofyourcountryandyourown,andtoserveandfearGod,theGiverofallGoodness,foreveryplantationwhichourHeavenlyFatherhathnotplantedshallberootedout。"
  Nordidtheylackversestogoby,astheirenterpriseitselfdidnotlackpoetry。MichaelDraytonwroteforthem:——
  Britons,youstaytoolong,Quicklyaboardbestowyou,Andwithamerrygale,Swellyourstretchedsail,WithvowsasstrongAsthewindsthatblowyou。
  Yourcoursesecurelysteer,WestandbySouthforthkeep;
  Rocks,leeshoresnorshoals,WhereEolusscowls,Youneednotfear,Soabsolutethedeep。
  AndcheerfullyatseaSuccessyoustillentice,Togetthepearlandgold,AndourstoholdVIRGINIA,Earth’sonlyparadise!……
  AndinregionsfarSuchheroesbringyeforthAsthosefromwhomwecame;
  AndplantournameUnderthatstarNotknownuntoournorth。
  SeethepartinguponThames’sside,Englishmengoing,Englishkindred,friends,andneighborscallingfarewell,wavinghatandscarf,standingbare—headedinthegraywinterweather!ToVirginia——theyaregoingtoVirginia!ThesailsaremadeupontheSusanConstant,theGoodspeed,andtheDiscovery。Thelastwherrycarriesaboardthelastadventurer。Theanchorsareweighed。Downtheriverthewindbearstheshipstowardthesea。Weatherturningagainstthem,theytastelongdelayintheDowns,butatlastareforthupontheAtlantic。HourlythedistancegrowsbetweenLondontownandtheoutgoingfolk,betweenEnglishshores。andwherethesurfbreaksonthepaleVirginianbeaches。Faraway——farawayandlongago——yettheunseen,actualcableshold,andyesterdayandtodaystandembraced,thelipsoftheThamesmeetthelipsoftheJames,andthebreathofEnglandmingleswiththebreathofAmerica。
  CHAPTERII。THEADVENTURERS
  WhatwasthisVirginiatowhichtheywerebound?Inthesixteenthandearlyseventeenthcenturiesthenamestoodforahugestretchoflittoral,runningsouthwardfromlandsoflongwintersandfur—bearinganimalstolandsofthecanebrake,thefig,themagnolia,thechameleon,andthemockingbird。Theworldhadbeencircumnavigated;Drakehadpassedupthewesterncoast——andyetcartographers,thelearned,andthosewhotookthewordfromthelearned,strangelyvisualizedtheNorthAmericanmainlandasnarrowindeed。Apparently,theyconceiveditasakindofextendedCentralAmerica。Thehugeriverspuzzledthem。Thereexistedanotionthatthesemightbeestuaries,curlingandcurvingthroughthelandfromseatosea。
  India——Cathay——spicesandwondersandOrientwealth——laybeyondtheSouthSea,andtheSouthSeawasbutafewdays’marchfromHatterasorChesapeake。TheVirginiafamiliartothemindofthetimelayextended,andshewasveryslender。Herrighthandtouchedtheeasternocean,andherlefthandtouchedthewestern。
  Contactandexperiencesoonmodifiedthisgeneralnotion。Widerknowledge,politicalandeconomicconsiderations,practicalreasonsofallkinds,drewadifferentphysicalformforoldVirginia。Beforetheseventeenthcenturyhadpassedaway,theyhadgiventohernorthernendabaptismofothernames。TothesouthshewasloppedtomaketheCarolinas。Onlytothewest,foralongtime,sheseemedtogrow,whilelikeamiragetheSouthSeaandCathayrecededintothedistance。
  Thisnarrative,movingwiththethreeshipsfromEngland,andthroughatimespanoflessthanahundredandfiftyyears,dealswitharegionofthewesternhemisphereathousandmilesinlength,severalhundredinbreadth,stretchingfromtheFloridalinetothenorthernedgeofChesapeakeBay,andfromtheAtlantictotheAppalachians。OutofthisVirginiatheregrowinsuccessiontheancientcoloniesandthemodernStatesofVirginia,Maryland,SouthandNorthCarolina,andGeorgia。
  ButformanyayearVirginiaitselfwastheonlysettlementandtheonlyname。ThisVirginiawasacountryfavoredbynature。Neithertoohotnortoocold,itwasrich—soiledandcapableofeverytemperategrowthinitssunniestaspect。Greatriversdrainedit,flowingintoagreatbay,almostasea,many—armedasBriareus,affordingsafeandshelteredharbors。
  Slowly,withbeauty,thelandmountedtothewest。Thesunsetbehindwoodedmountains,longwave—linesraisedfarbackingeologictime。Thevalleysweremanyandbeautiful,wateredbyslidingstreams。Backtotheeastagain,belowtherollingland,werefoundtheshimmeringlevels,thejewel—greenmarshes,thewide,slowwaters,andatlastupontheAtlanticshorethethunderoftherainbow—tintedsurf。Variousandpleasingwasthecountry。Springsandautumnswerelongandbalmy,thesunshonebright,therewasmuchbluesky,arichfloraaridfauna。Thereweremineralwealthandwaterpower,andbreadthanddepthforagriculture。SuchwastheVirginiabetweenthePotomacandtheDan,theChesapeakeandtheAlleghanies。
  This,andnotthegold—bedightslimneighborofCathay,wasnowthelureoftheSusanConstant,theGoodspeed,andtheDiscovery。Butthoseaboard,obsessedbySpanishAmerica,imperfectlyknowingthefeaturesanddistancesoftheorb,yetclungtotheirfirstvision。ButtheyknewtherewouldbeforestandIndians。Talesenoughhadbeentoldofboth!
  WhathastobeimagedisaforestthesizeofVirginia。Hereandthere,chieflyuponriverbanks,showsmallIndianclearings。Hereandtherearenaturalmeadows,andtowardthesaltwatergreatmarshes,thehomeofwaterfowl。Butallthesearelittleornaughtinthewhole,faintadornmentsseweduponashaggygarment,greeninsummer,flame—huedinautumn,browninwinter,greenandflower—coloredinthespring。NorwastheforesttoanyappreciableextentlikemuchVirginianforestoftoday,secondgrowth,invaded,heweddown,andrenewed,tohearagainthesoundoftheaxe,setafirebyathousandaccidents,burninguponitsownfuneralpyres,allitsprimevalglorywithered。TheforestofoldVirginiawasjocundandpowerful,eternallyyoungandeternallyold。TheforestwasDespotintheland——wasEmperorandPope。
  WiththeforestwenttheIndian。Theyhadapacttogether。TheIndianshackedoutspacefortheirvillagesoftwentyorthirtyhuts,theirmaizeandbeanfieldsandtobaccopatches。Theytooksaplingsforpolesandbarktocoverthehutsandwoodforfires。Theforestgavecanoeandbowandarrow,householdbowlsandplatters,thesidesofthedrumthatwasbeatenatfeasts。Itfurnishedtreesserviceableforshelterwhenthefoewasstalked。Itwastheirwallandroof,theirhabitat。ItwasoneoftheFourFriendsoftheIndians——theGround,theWaters,theSky,theForest。Theforestwaseverywhere,andtheIndiansdwelledintheforest。Notunnaturally,theyheldthatthisworldwastheirs。
  Uponthethreeships,sailing,sailing,movedafewmenwhocouldspeakwithauthorityoftheforestandofIndians。ChristopherNewportwasuponhisfirstvoyagetoVirginia,butheknewtheIndiesandtheSouthAmericancoast。HehadsailedandhadfoughtunderFrancisDrake。AndBartholomewGosnoldhadexploredbothforhimselfandforRaleigh。Thesetwocouldtellotherswhattolookfor。IntheircompanytherewasalsoJohnSmith。Thisgentleman,itistrue,hadnotwandered,fought,andcompanionedwithromanceinAmerica,buthehaddonesoeverywhereelse。HehadasyetnoexperiencewithIndians,buthecouldconceivethatroughexperienceswereroughexperiences,whetherinEurope,Asia,Africa,orAmerica。Andasheknewtherewasafamilylikenessamongdangeroushappenings,soalsohefoundoneamongremedies,andhehadabagfullofstoriesofstrangehappeningsandhowtheyshouldbemet。
  Theyweregoingtheold,longWestIndiessearoad。Therewastimeenoughfortalking,wondering,consideringthepast,fantasticallybuildingupthefuture。Meetingintheships’cabinsoveraletankards,pacingupanddownthesmallhigh—raisedpoop—decks,leaningidleovertheside,watchingtheswirlingdark—bluewatersorthestarsofnight,lyingidleuponthedeck,proppedbythemastwhilethetrade—windsblewandupbeyondsailandriggingcurvedthesky——theyhadtimeenoughindeedtoplanformarvels!Iftheycouldhaveseenahead,whatpicturesofthingstocometheymighthavebeheldrising,falling,meltingweintoanother!
  CertainofthemenupontheSusanConstant,theGoodspeed,andtheDiscoverystandoutclearly,etchedagainstthesky。
  ChristopherNewportmightbefortyyearsold。HehadbeenofRaleigh’scaptainsandwaschosen,averyyoungman,tobringtoEnglandfromtheIndiesthecapturedgreatcarrack,MadredeDios,ladenwithfabuloustreasure。Inall,NewportwasdestinedtomakefivevoyagestoVirginia,carryingsupplyandaid。Afterthat,hewouldpassintotheserviceoftheEastIndiaCompany,knowIndia,Java,andthePersianGulf;wouldbepraisedbythatgreatcompanyforsagacity,energy,andgoodcareofhismen。Tenyears’timefromthisfirstVirginiavoyage,andhewoulddieuponhisship,theHope,beforeBantaminJava。
  BartholomewGosnold,thecaptainoftheGoodspeed,hadsailedwiththirtyothers,fiveyearsbefore,fromDartmouthinabarknamedtheConcord。Hehadnotmadetheusuallongsweepsouthwardintotropicwaters,theretoturnandcomenorthward,buthadgone,arrowstraight,acrossthenorthAtlantic——oneofthefirstEnglishsailorstomakethedirectpassageandsave,manyawearysealeague。GosnoldandhismenhadseenCapeAnnandCapeCod,andhadbuiltuponCuttyhunk,amongtheElizabethIslands,alittlefortthatchedwithrushes。Then,hardshipsthrongingandquarrelsdeveloping,theyhadfilledtheirshipwithsassafrasandcedar,andsailedforhomeoverthesummerAtlantic,reachingEngland,with"notonecakeofbread"leftbutonly"alittlevinegar。"Gosnold,guidingtheGoodspeed,isnowmakinghislastvoyage,forheistodieinVirginiawithintheyear。
  GeorgePercy,brotheroftheEarlofNorthumberland,hasfoughtbravelyintheLowCountries。HeistostayfiveyearsinVirginia,toservethereashorttimeasGovernor,andthen,returningtoEngland,istowrite"A
  TreweRelacyion",inwhichhebegstodifferfromJohnSmith’s"GenerallHistorie。"Finally,hegoesagaintothewarsintheLowCountries,serveswithdistinction,anddies,unmarried,attheageoffifty—two。Hisportraitshowsalong,rathermelancholyface,setbetweenalacecollarandthick,darkhair。
  AQueenandaCardinal——MaryTudorandReginaldPole——hadstoodsponsorsforthefatherofEdward—MariaWingfield。Thisman,ofanancientandhonorablestock,wasolderthanmostofhisfellowadventurerstoVirginia。
  HehadfoughtinIreland,foughtintheLowCountries,hadbeenaprisonerofwar。Nowhewaspresentlytobecome"thefirstpresidentofthefirstcouncilinthefirstEnglishcolonyinAmerica。"Andthen,miseriesincreasingandwretchedmenbeingquicktoimputeevil,itwastobeheldwithotherassertionsagainsthimthathewasofaCatholicfamily,thathetraveledwithoutaBible,andprobablymeanttobetrayVirginiatotheSpaniard。Hewastobedeposedfromhispresidency,returntoEngland,andtherewriteavindication。"Ineverturnedmyfacefromdaunger,orhiddmyhandesfromlabour;sowatchfulasentinelstoodmyselftomyself。"
  WithJohnSmithhehadabitterquarrel。
  UpontheDiscoveryisonewhosignedhimself"JohnRadclyffe,comenlycalled,"andwhoisnamedintheLondonCompany’slistas"CaptainJohnSicklemore,aliasRatcliffe。"HewillhaveashortandstormyVirginianlife,andintwoyearsbedonetodeathbyIndians。JohnSmithquarreledwithhimalso。"ApoorcounterfeitedImposture!"saidSmith。GabrielArcherisalawyer,andfirstsecretaryorrecorderofthecolony。Short,too,ishislife。HisnamelivesinArcher’sHopeontheJamesRiverinVirginia。
  JohnSmithwillhavenoneofhim!GeorgeKendall’slifeismorenearlyspunthanRatcliffe’sorArcher’s。Hewillbeshotfortreasonandrebellion。
  RobertHuntisthechaplain。Besidesthosewhomthetimedubbed"gentlemen,"thereareuponthethreeshipsEnglishsailors,Englishlaborers,sixcarpenters,twobricklayers,ablacksmith,atailor,abarber,adrummer,othercraftsmen,andnondescripts。Upanddownandtoandfrotheypassintheirnarrowquarters,microscopicuponthebosomoftheocean。
  JohnSmithloomslargeamongthem。JohnSmithhasamantleofmarvelousadventure。Itseemsthathebegantomakeitwhenhewasaboy,andformanyyearsworkeduponitsteadilyuntilitwasstiffasclothofgoldandvoluminousasapuffed—outsummercloud。Somethinkthatmuchofitwassuchstuffasdreamsaremadeof。Probablysomebreadthswerethefabricofvision。Stillitseemscertainthathedidhavesomekindofanextraordinarycoatormantle。Theadventureswhichherelatesofhimselfarethoseofapaladin。Bornin1579or1580,hewasatthistimestillayoungman。ButalreadyhehadfoughtinFranceandintheNetherlands,andinTransylvaniaagainsttheTurks。Hehadknownsea—fightsandshipwrecksandhadjourneyed,withadventuresgalore,inItaly。BeforeRegal,inTransylvania,hehadchallengedthreeTurksinsuccession,unhorsedthem,andcutofftheirheads,forwhichdoughtydeedSigismund,aPrinceofTransylvania,hadgivenhimacoatofarmsshowingthreeTurks’headsinashield。Laterhehadbeentakeninbattleandsoldintoslavery,whereuponaTurkishlady,hismaster’ssister,hadlookeduponhimwithfavor。ButatlastheslewtheTurkandescaped,andafterwanderingmanydaysinmiserycameintoRussia。"Here,too,Ifound,asIhavealwaysdonewheninmisfortune,kindlyhelpfromawoman。"HewanderedonintoGermanyandthenceintoFranceandSpain。HearingofwarsinBarbary,hecrossedfromGibraltar。
  HerehemetthecaptainofaFrenchman—of—war。Onedaywhilehewaswiththismantherearoseagreatstormwhichdrovetheshipouttosea。TheywentbeforethewindtotheCanaries,andthereputthemselvestorightsandbegantochaseSpanishbarks。PresentlytheyhadagreatfightwithtwoSpanishmen—
  of—war,inwhichtheFrenchshipandSmithcameoffvictors。ReturningtoMorocco,SmithbadetheFrenchcaptaingood—byeandtookshipforEngland,andsoreachedhomein1604。Herehesoughtthecompanyoflike—mindedmen,andsocameuponthosewhohadbeentotheNewWorld——"andalltheirtalkwasofitswonders。"SoSmithjoinedtheVirginiaundertaking,andsowefindhimheadedtowardnewadventuresinthewesternworld。
  Onsailedthethreeships——littleships——sailing—shipswithalongwaytogo。
  "ThetwelfthdayofFebruaryatnightwesawablazingstarreandpresentlyastorme……Thethreeandtwentiethday[ofMarch]wefellwiththeIlandofMattaneniointheWestIndies。ThefoureandtwentiethdayweanchoredatDominico,withinfourteenedegreesoftheLine,averyfaireIland,fullofsweetandgoodsmells,inhabitedbymanySavageIndians……
  ThesixandtwentiethdaywehadsightofMarigalanta,andthenextdayweesailedwithaslackesailalongsttheIleofGuadalupa……WesailedbymanyIlands,asMounserotandanIlandcalledSaintChristopher,bothuninhabited;abouttwoaclockeintheafternooneweeanchoredattheIleofMevis。TheretheCaptainelandedallhismen……WeincampedourselvesonthisIlesixdays……Thetenthday[April]wesetsaileanddisimbogedoutoftheWestIndiesandbareourcourseNortherly……
  ThesixandtwentiethdayofAprill,aboutfoureaclockeinthemorning,weedescriedtheLandofVirginia。"*
  *Percy’s"DiscourseinPurchas,HisPilgrims,vol。IV,p。1684。
  AlsogiveninBrown’s"GenesisoftheUnitedStates",vol。I,p。152。
  Duringthelongmonthsofthisvoyage,crampedinthethreeships,thesemen,mostofthemyoungandofthehot—blooded,physicallyadventuroussort,hadtimetodevelopstronglikingsanddislikings。Thehundredandtwentysplitintoopposedcamps。Theseveralgroupsnursedallmannerofjealousies。Accusationsflewbetweenlikeshuttlecocks。ThesealedboxthattheycarriedprovedamannerofAte’sapple。Allknewthatsevenonboardwerecouncilorsandrulers,withoneofthenumberPresident,buttheyknewnotwhichweretheseven。Smithsaysthatthisuncertaintywroughtmuchmischief,eachmanofnotesuggestingtohimself,"IshallbePresident——or,atleast,Councilor!"Theshipsbecamecursedwithapestoffactions。AprimequarrelarosebetweenJohnSmithandEdward—MariaWingfield,twowhosetemperamentsseemtohavebeenpolesapart。Therearosea"scandalousreport,thatSmithmeanttoreachVirginiaonlytousurptheGovernment,murdertheCouncil,andproclaimhimselfKing。Thebickeringdeepenedintoforthrightquarrel,withatlasttheexpectedexplosion。Smithwasarrested,wasputinirons,andfirstsawVirginiaasaprisoner。
  Onthetwenty—sixthdayofApril,1607,theSusanConstant,theGoodspeed,andtheDiscoveryenteredChesapeakeBay。Theycameinbetweentwocapes,andonetheynamedCapeHenryafterthethenPrinceofWales,andtheotherCapeCharlesforthatbrotherofshort—livedHenrywhowastobecomeCharlestheFirst。ByCapeHenrytheyanchored,andnumbersfromtheshipswentashore。"But,"saysGeorgePercy’sDiscourse,"wecouldfindnothingworththespeakingof,butfairemeadowsandgoodlytallTrees,withsuchFresh—watersrunningthroughthewoodsasIwasalmostravishedatthefirstsightthereof。Atnight,whenweeweregoingaboard,therecametheSavagescreepinguponallfourefromtheHillslikeBeares,withtheirBowesintheirmouths,chargedusverydesperatelyinthefaces,hurtCaptaineGabrielArcherinbothhishands,andasaylerintwoplacesofthebodyverydangerous。AftertheyhadspenttheirArrowesandfeltthesharpnesseofourshot,theyretiredintotheWoodswithagreatnoise,andsoleftus。"
  Thatverynight,bytheships’lanterns,Newport,Gosnold,andRatcliffeopenedthesealedbox。ThenamesofthecouncilorswerefoundtobeChristopherNewport,BartholomewGosnold,JohnRatcliffe,Edward—MariaWingfield,JohnMartin,JohnSmith,andGeorgeKendall,withGabrielArcherforrecorder。Fromitsownnumber,atthefirstconvenienttime,thisCouncilwastochooseitsPresident。Allthiswasnowdeclaredandpublishedtoallthecompanyupontheships。JohnSmithwasgivenhisfreedombutwasnotyetallowedplaceintheCouncil。Soclosedanexcitingday。Inthemorningtheypressedinpartiesyetfurtherintotheland,butmetnoIndians——onlycametoaplacewherethesesavageshadbeenroastingoysters。Thenextdaysawfurtherexploring。"WemarchedsomethreeorfouremilesfurtherintotheWoodswherewesawgreatsmoakesoffire。WeemarchedtothosesmoakesandfoundthattheSavageshadbeenethereburningdownethegrasse……WepassedthroughexcellentgroundfullofFlowersofdiverskindsandcolours,analasgoodlytreesasIhaveseene,ascedar,cipresseandotherkindes;goingalittlefurtherwecameintoalittleplatofgroundfulloffineandbeautifullstrawberries,fouretimesbiggerandbetterthanoursinEngland。AllthismarchwecouldneitherseeSavagenorTowne。"*
  *Percy’s"Discourse。"
  TheshipsnowstoodintothosewaterswhichwecallHamptonRoads。Findingagoodchannelandtakinghearttherefrom,theynamedahornoflandPointComfort。NowwecallitOldPointComfort。PresentlytheybegantogoupagreatriverwhichtheychristenedtheJames。ToEnglisheyesitwasariverhugelywide。Theywentslowly,withpausesandwaitingsandadventures。
  Theyconsultedtheirpaperofinstructions;theyscannedtheshoreforgoodplacesfortheirfort,fortheirtown。ItwasMay,andalltherichbankswereinbloom。Itseemedasweet—scentedworldofpromise。TheysawIndians,buthadwiththesenountowardencounters。UponthetwelfthofMaytheycametoapointoflandwhichtheynamedArcher’sHope。Landinghere,theysaw"manysquirels,conies,BlackBirdswithcrimsonwings,anddiversotherFowlesandBirdsofdiversandsundriecoloursofcrimson,watchet,Yellow,Greene,Murry,andofdiversotherhewesnaturallywithoutanyartusing……storeofTurkienestsandmanyEgges。"Theylikedthisplace,butforshoalwatertheshipscouldnotcomeneartoland。Soontheywent,eightmilesuptheriver。
  Here,uponthenorthside,thirty—oddmilesfromthemouth,theycametoacertainpeninsula,anislandathighwater。Twoorthreemileslong,lessthanamileandahalfinbreadth,atitswidestplacecomposedofmarshandwoodland,itranintotheriver,intosixfathomwater,wheretheshipsmightbemooredtothetrees。Itwasthisconvenientdeepwaterthatdeterminedmatters。HerecametoanchortheSusanConstant,theGoodspeed,andtheDiscovery。Herethecolonistswentashore。HerethemembersoftheCouncilweresworn,andforthefirstPresidentwaschosenEdward—MariaWingfield。
  Here,thefirstroamingandexcitementabated,theybegantounladetheships,andtobuildthefortandalsoboothsfortheirpresentsleeping。Achurch,too,theymusthaveatonce,andforthwithmadeitwithastretchedsailforroofandaboardbetweentwotreeswhereontorestBibleandBookofPrayer。
  Here,forthefirsttimeinallthiswilderness,rangEnglishaxeinAmericanforest,herewasEnglishlawandanEnglishtown,heresoundedEnglishspeech。Herewasplacedthegermofthatphysical,mental,and,spiritualpowerwhichiscalledtheUnitedStatesofAmerica。
  CHAPTERIII。JAMESTOWN
  Inhistorians’accountsofthefirstmonthsatJamestown,toomuch,perhaps,hasbeenmadeoffactionandquarrel。Allthiswasthere。Mensetdowninawilderness,amidVirginianheat,men,mostlyyoung,oftheactiveratherthanthereflectivetype,menuncompanionedbywomenandchildren,menbesetwithdangersandsufferingsthatweresoontotagheavilytheircourageandpatience——suchmennaturallyquarreledandmadeup,quarreledagainandagainmadeup,darklysuspectedeachtheother,astheydarklysuspectedtheforestandtheIndian;then,needoffriendshipdominating,embracedeachtheother,feltthefascinationoftheforest,andtrustedtheIndian。Howevermuchtheysuspectedrebellion,treacheries,anddesertions,theypracticedfidelities,thoughtovaryingdegrees,andtherewasineachman’sbreastmoreorlessofcourageandgoodintent。
  Theywerepronetocalloneanothervillain,butactualvillainy——saveasjealousy,suspicion,andhatredarevillainy——seemsrarelytohavebeenpresent。Evenonewhowasjudgedavillainandshot—forhisvillainyseemshardlytohavedeservedsuchfate。Jamestownpeninsulaturnedouttobefeverous;fantastichopeswerematchedbystrangefears;therewerehomesickness,incompatibilities,unfamiliarfoodandwaterandsir,classdifferencesinsmallspace,somepettytyrannies,andverycertaindangers。
  Theworstsummerheatwasnotyet,andthefortwasbuilding。Treesmustbefelled,cabinsraised,afieldclearedforplanting,fishingandhuntingcarriedon。Andsomelading,somefirstfruits,mustgobackintheships。
  Nogoldorrubiesbeingasyetfound,theywouldsendinsteadcedarandsassafras——hardworkenough,thereatJamestown,intheVirginianlow—country,withMaywarmasnorthernmidsummer,andalltheairchargedwithvaporfromtheheatedriver,withexhalationsfromtherankforest,fromthemanymarshes。
  "Thefirstnightofourlanding,aboutmidnight,"saysGeorgePercyinhis"Discourse","therecamesomeSavagessaylingclosetoourquarter;
  presentlytherewasanalarmgiven;uponthatthesavagesranaway……
  NotlongaftertherecametwoSavagesthatseemedtobeCommanders,bravelydressed,withCrownesofcolouredhaireupontheirheads,whichcameasMessengersfromtheWerowanceofPaspihe,tellingusthattheirWerowancewascommingandwouldbemerrywithuswithafatDeere。TheeighteenthdaytheWerowanceofPaspihecamehimselfetoourquarter,withonehundredSavagesarmedwhichguardedhiminverywarlikemannerwithBowesandArrowes。"Somemisunderstandingarose。"TheWerowance,[seeing]ustaketoourarmes,wentsuddenlyawaywithallhiscompanyingreatanger。"ThenineteenthdayPercywithseveralothersgoingintothewoodsbackofthepeninsulametwithanarrowpathtracedthroughtheforest。Pursuingit,theycametoanIndianvillage。"WeStayedthereawhileandhadofthemstrawberriesandotherthinges……OneoftheSavagesbroughtusonthewaytotheWoodsidewheretherewasaGardenofTobaccoandotherfruitsandherbes;hegatheredTobaccoanddistributedtoeveryoneofus,soweedeparted。"
  Itisevidentthatneitherraceyetknewifitwastobewarorpeace。Whatthewhitemanthoughtandcametothinkoftheredmanhasbeensetdownoftenenough;thereisscantiertestimonyastowhatwastheredman’sopinionofthewhiteman。Hereimaginationmustbecalledupon。
  Newport’sinstructionsfromtheLondonCouncilincludedexplorationbeforeheshouldleavethecolonistsandbringthethreeshipsbacktoEngland。
  Now,withthepinnaceandascoreofmen,amongwhomwasJohnSmith,hewentsixtymilesuptherivertowheretheflowisbrokenbyaworldofbouldersandislets,tothehillscrownedtodaybyRichmond,capitalofVirginia。ThefirstadventurerscalledtheserapidandwhirlingwaterstheFallsoftheFarreWest。Totheirnotiontheymustlieatleasthalf—wayacrossthebreadthofAmerica。MisledbyIndianstories,theybelievedandwrotethatfiveorsixdays’marchfromtheFallsoftheFarreWest,eventhroughthethickforest,wouldbringthemtotheSouthSea。TheFallsoftheFarreWest,whereatRichmondtheJamesgoeswitharoaringsoundaroundtree—crownedislet——itisstrangetothinkthattheyoncemarkedourfrontier!Howthatfrontierhasbeenpushedwestwardisaromanceindeed。
  Andstill,today,itisbutafiveorsixdays’journeytothatSouthSeasoughtbythoseearlyVirginians。Theonlyconditionforusisthatweshallboardatrain。Tomorrow,withtheairship,theSouthSeamaycomeneareryet!
  TheIndiansofthispartoftheearthwereofthegreatAlgonquinfamily,andthetribeswithwhichthecolonistshadnowtodoweredrawn,probablybyapolitybasedonbloodties,intoalooseconfederationwithinthelargermass。Newportwas"toldthatthenameoftheriverwasPowhatan,thenameofthechiefPowhatan,andthenameofthepeoplePowhatans。ButitseemedthatthechiefPowhatanwasnotatthisvillagebutatanotherandalargerplacenamedWerowocomoco,onasecondgreatriverinthebackcountrytothenorthandeastofJamestown。Newportandhismenwere"wellentreated"bytheIndians。"Butyet,"saysPercy,"theSavagesmurmuredatourplantingintheCountrie。"
  Thepartydidnottarryuptheriver。Backcametheirboatthroughthebrightweather,betweentheverdurousbanks,allgreenandflower—tintedsavewheremightbeseenthebrownofIndianclearingswithbark—coveredhutsandthin,up—curlingbluesmoke。BeforethemoncemoreroseJamestown,palisadednow,andridingbeforeitthethreeships。AndheretherebarkedanEnglishdog,andherewereEnglishmentowelcomeEnglishmen。Bothpartieshadnewstotell,butthetownhadmost。Onthe26thofMay,IndianshadmadeanattackfourhundredofthemwiththeWerowanceofPaspihe。OneEnglishmanhadbeenkilled,anumberwounded。FouroftheCouncilhadeachmanhiswound。
  NewportmustnowliftanchorandsailawaytoEngland。HeleftatJamestownafort"havingthreeBulwarkesateverycornerlikeahalfeMoone,andfoureorfivepiecesofArtilleriemountedinthem,"astreetortwoofreed—thatchedcabins,achurchtomatch,astorehouse,amarket—placeanddrillground,andaboutallastoutpalisadewithagateupontheriverside。Heleftcornsownandspringinghigh,andsomefoodinthestorehouse。AndheleftahundredEnglishmenwhohadnowtastedofthecountryfareandmightreasonablyfearnoworsechancethanhadyetbefallen。Newportpromisedtoreturnintwentyweekswithfullsupplies。
  JohnSmithsaysthathisenemies,chiefamongstwhomwasWingfield,wouldhavesenthimwithNewporttoEngland,theretostandtrialforattemptedmutiny,whereuponhedemandedatrialinVirginia,andgotitandwasfullycleared。HenowtakeshisplaceintheCouncil,beforetimedeniedhim。HehasgoodwordsonlyforRobertHunt,thechaplain,who,hesays,wentfromonetotheotherwiththebestofcounsel。Weretheynotallhereinthewildernesstogether,withthesavageshoveringaboutthemlikethePhilistinesabouttheJewsofold?HowshouldtheEnglishlive,unlessamongthemselvestheylivedinamity?Soforthemomentfactionswerereconciled,andallwenttochurchtopartakeoftheHolyCommunion。
  Newportsailed,havingintheholdsofhisshipssassafrasandvaluablewoodsbutnogoldtomeettheLondonCouncil’shopes,noranycertainnewsoftheSouthSea。InduetimehereachedEngland,andinduetimeheturnedandcameagaintoVirginia。Butlongwasthesailingtoandfrobetween`totedaughtercountryandthemothercountryandtheladingandunladingateithershore。ItwassevenmonthsbeforeNewportcameagain。
  Whilehesails,andwhileEngland—in—Americawatchesforhimlongingly,lookforamomentattheattitudeofSpain,fallingoldintheprocessionofworld—powers,butyetwithgripandcunningleft。SpainmislikedthatEnglishNewWorldventure。Shewishedtokeeptheseseasforherown;only,withwaningenergies,shecouldnotalwaysenforcewhatsheconceivedtobeherright。Bynowtherewasseentobemuchclayindeedintheimage。
  PhiliptheSecondwasdead;andPhiliptheThird,anindolentking,livedintheEscurial。
  PedrodeZunigaistheSpanishAmbassadortotheEnglishCourt。HehasordersfromPhiliptokeephiminformed,andthishedoes,andfromtimetotimesuggestsremedies。HewritesofNewportandtheFirstSupply。"Sire……CaptainNewportmakeshastetoreturnwithsomepeople——andtherehavecombinedmerchantsandotherpersonswhodesiretoestablishthemselvesthere;becauseitappearstothemthemostsuitableplacethattheyhavediscoveredforprivateeringandmakingattacksuponthemerchantfleetsofYourMajesty。YourMajestywillcommandtoseewhethertheywillbeallowedtoremainthere……Theyareinagreatstateofexcitementaboutthatplace,andverymuchafraidlestYourMajestyshoulddrivethemoutofit……Andtherearesomany……whospeakalreadyofsendingpeopletothatcountry,thatitisadvisablenottobetooslow;becausetheywillsoonbefoundtherewithlargenumbersofpeople。"*InSpaintheCouncilofStatetakesactionuponZuniga’scommunicationsandclosesareporttotheKingwiththesewords:"TheactualtakingpossessionwillbetodriveoutofVirginiaallwhoaretherenow,beforetheyarereenforced,and……itwillbewelltoissueordersthatthesmallfleetstationedtothewindward,whichforsomanyyearshasbeeninstateofpreparation,shouldbeinstantlymadereadyandforthwithproceedtodriveoutallwhoarenowinVirginia,sincetheirsmallnumberswillmakethisaneasytask,andthiswillsufficetopreventthemfromagaincomingtothatplace。"
  UponthisismadeaRoyalnote:"Letsuchmeasuresbetakeninthisbusinessasmaynowandhereafterappearproper。"
  *Brown’s"GenesisoftheUnitedStates",vol。1,pp。116—118。
  Itwouldseemthattherewascauseindeedforwatchingdowntheriverbythatsmall,smalltownthatwasalloftheUnitedStates!ButtherefollowsaSpanishmemorandum。"Thedrivingout……bythefleetstationedtothewindwardwillbepostponedforalongtimebecausedelaywillbecausedbygettingitready。"*Delayfolloweddelay,andoldSpain——conquistadorSpain——grewolder,andthespeechonJamestownIslandisstillEnglish。
  *Op。cit。,vol。1,p。127。
  ChristopherNewportwasgone;noships——thelastrefuges,thelastpossibilitiesforhometurning,shouldtheearthgrowtoohardandtheskytooblack——rodeupontheriverbeforethefort。Herewasthesummerheat。A
  heavybreathrosefromimmemorialmarshes,fromtheancientflooroftheforest。Whencloudsgatheredandstormsburst,theyamazedtheheartwiththeirfearfulthunderingsandlightnings。Thecolonistshadnowell,butdrankfromtheriver,andatneitherhighnorlowtidefoundthewaterwholesome。Whiletheshipswereheretheyhadhelpofshipstores,butnowtheymustsubsistuponthegrainthattheyhadinthestorehouse,nowscantandpoorenough。Theymightfishandhunt,butagainstsuchresourcesstoodfeverandinexperienceandweakness,andinthewoodsthelurkingsavages。
  Theheatgrewgreater,thewaterworse,thefoodless。Sicknessbegan。Workbecametoil。Menpinedfromhomesickness,then,comingtogether,quarreledwithaweakviolence,thendroppedawayagainintocornersandsatlistlesslywithhangingheads。
  "ThesixthofAugusttherediedJohnAsbieofthebloodieFlixe。TheninthdaydiedGeorgeFlowreoftheswelling。ThetenthdaydiedWilliamBrustergentleman,ofawoundgivenbytheSavages……ThefourteenthdayJeromeAlikock,Ancient,diedofawound,thesamedayFrancisMid—winter,EdwardMoris,Corporall,diedsuddenly。ThefifteenthdaytheirdiedEdwardBrowneandStephenGalthrope。ThesixteenthdaytheirdiedThomasGowergentleman。
  TheseventeenthdaytheirdiedThomasMounslie。TheeighteenthdaytheerdiedRobertPenningtonandJohnMartinegentlemen。ThenineteenthdaydiedDruePiggasegentleman。
  "ThetwoandtwentiethdayofAugusttherediedCaptainBartholomewGosnoldoneofourCouncell,hewashonourablyburiedhavingalltheOrdnanceintheFortshotoff,withmanyvolliesofsmallshot……
  "ThefoureandtwentiethdaydiedEdwardHarringtonandGeorgeWalkerandwereburiedthesameday。ThesixandtwentiethdaydiedKenelmeThrogmortine。ThesevenandtwentiethdaydiedWilliamRoods。TheeightandtwentiethdaydiedThomasStoodie,CapeMerchant。ThefourthdayofSeptemberdiedThomasJacob,Sergeant。ThefifthdaytherediedBenjaminBeast……"*
  *Percy’s"Discourse。"
  Extrememiserymakesmenblind,unjust,andweakofjudgment。Herewasgrosswretchedness,andthecolonistsproceededtoblameAandBandC,lostalltogetherinthewilderness。Itwasthiscouncilororthatcouncilor,thisambitiousoneorthatone,thisorthatalmostcertainlyascertainedtraitor!Wantingtostealthepinnace,theonecraftleftbyNewport,wantingtostealawayinthepinnaceandleavethemass——smallenoughmassnow!——withoutboatorraftorstrawtoclingto,madethefavoriteaccusation。Uponthiscount,earlyinSeptember,Wingfieldwasdeposedfromthepresidency。Ratcliffesucceededhim,butpresentlyRatcliffefarednobetter。Onecouncilorfaredworse,forGeorgeKendall,accusedofplottingmutinyandpinnacestealing,wasgiventrial,foundguilty,andshot。
  "Theeighteenthday[ofSeptember]diedoneEllisKinistone……ThesamedayatnightdiedoneRichardSimmons。ThenineteenthdaytherediedoneThomasMouton……"
  Whatwenton,inVirginia,intheIndianmind,canonlybeconjectured。Aslittleasthewhitemindcoulditforeseethetrendofeventsortheultimateoutcomeofpresentpolicy。Therewasexhibitedasee—sawpolicy,orperhapsnopolicyatall,onlytheemotionalfitasitcamehotorcold。
  Thefriendlyacttroduponthehostile,thehostileuponthefriendly。
  Throughthemiserablesummerthehostilewasuppermost;thenwiththeautumnappearedthefriendlymood,fortunateenoughfor"themostfeeblewretches"atJamestown。Indianscameladenwithmaizeandvenison。Theheatwasathingofthepast;coolandbracingweatherappeared;andwithitgreatflocksofwildfowl,"swans,geese,ducksandcranes。"Faminevanished,sicknessdecreased。Thedeadweredead。OfthehundredandfourpersonsleftbyNewportlessthanfiftyhadsurvived。Butthesemaybethoughtofasindeedseasoned。
  CHAPTERIV。JOHNSMITH
  Withthecoolweatherbeganactiveexploration,theobjectinchiefthegatheringfromtheIndians,bypersuasionortradeorshowofforce,foodfortheapproachingwinter。HereJohnSmithstepsforwardasleader。
  Therebeginsastringofadventuresofthathardyandromanticindividual。
  HowmuchinSmith’sextantnarrationsisexaggeration,howmuchisdispossessionofothers’meritsinfavorofhisown,itisdifficultnowtosay。*Athingthatonelittlelikesishispersistentdepreciationofhisfellows。ThereisbutoneNobleAdventurer,andthatoneisJohnSmith。Ontheotherhandevidentenougharehiscourageandinitiative,hisingenuity,andhisrough,practicalsagacity。Letustakehimatsomethinglessthanhisownvaluation,butyetasvaluableenough。Asforhisadventures,realorfictitious,onemayseeinthemepitomizedtheadventuresofmanyandmanymen,English,French,Spanish,Dutch,blazersofthematerialpathforthepresentcivilization。
  *ThosewhowouldstrikeJohnSmithfromthelistofhistorianswillcommendtheauthor’scautiontothereaderbeforesheletstheCaptaintellhisowntale。WhateverSmithmaynothavebeen,hewascertainlyaconsummateraconteur。Hebelongswiththerenownedstory—tellersoftheworld,ifnotwiththeveraciouschroniclers。——Editor。
  InDecember,ratherautumnthanwinterinthisregion,hestartswiththeshallopandahandfulofmenupatributaryriverthattheyhavelearnedtocalltheChickahominy。Heisgoingforcorn,butthereisalsoanideathathemayhearnewsofthatwished—forSouthSea。
  TheChickahominyproveditselfawonderlandofswampandtree—chokedstreams。SomewhereupitschequeredreachesSmithlefttheshallopwithmentoguardit,and,takingtwoofthepartywithtwoIndianguides,wentoninacanoeupanarrowerway。PresentlythoseleftwiththeboatincautiouslygoashoreandareattackedbyIndians。Oneistaken,tortured,andslain。Theothersgetbacktotheirboatandsoaway,downtheChickahominyandintothenowsomewhatfamiliarJames。ButSmithwithhistwomen,RobinsonandEmry,arenowaloneinthewilderness,upamongnarrowwaters,brownmarshes,fallenandobstructingtreetrunks。Nowcomethemen—huntingIndians—theKingofPamaunck,saysSmith,withtwohundredbowmen。RobinsonandEmryareshotfullofarrows。Smithiswounded,butwithhismusketdetersthefoe,killingseveralofthesavages。Hiseyesuponthem,hestepsbackward,hopinghemaybeatthemofftillheshallrecovertheshallop,butmeetswiththeillchanceofaboggyandicystreamintowhichhestumbles,andhereistaken。
  Seehimnowbefore"Opechancanough,KingofPamaunck!"Savagesandproceduresofthemorecivilizedwithsavageshave,theworldover,afamilyresemblance。Likemanyamanbeforehimandafter,Smithcastsaboutforapropitiatorywonder。Hehaswithhim,sofortunately,"aroundivorydouble—compassdial。"This,withagenialmanner,hewouldpresenttoOpechancanough。Thesavagesgaze,cannottouchthroughtheglassthemovingneedle,grunttheiradmiration。Smithproceeds,withgesturesandwhatIndianwordsheknows,todeliverascientificlecture。Talkingisbestanyhow,willgivethemlesstimeinwhichtothinkofthosemenheshot。Hetellsthemthattheworldisround,anddiscoursesaboutthesunandmoonandstarsandthealternationofdayandnight。Hespeakswitheloquenceofthenationsoftheearth,ofwhitemen,yellowmen,blackmen,andredmen,ofhisowncountryanditsgrandeurs,andwouldexplainantipodes。
  Apparentlyalliswastebreathandofnoavail,forinanhourseehimboundtoatree,asturdyfigureofaman,beardedandmoustached,withahighforehead,cladinshirtandjerkinandbreechesandhosenandshoon,allbythistime,wemaybesure,profoundlyinneedofrepair。ThetreeandSmithareringedbyIndians,eachofwhomhasanarrowfittedtohisbow。Almostonecanhearaknellringingintheforest!ButOpechancanough,movedbythecompass,orwillingtohearmoreofseventeenth—centuryscience,raiseshisarmandstopstheexecution。UnbindingSmith,theytakehimwiththemasatrophy。PresentlyallreachtheirtownofOrapaks。
  Herehewaskindlytreated。HesawIndiandances,heardIndianorations。
  Thewomenandchildrenpressedabouthimandadmiredhimgreatly。Breadandvenisonweregivenhiminsuchquantitythathefearedthattheymeanttofattenandeathim。Itis,moreover,dangeroustobeconsideredpowerfulwhereoneisscarcelyso。AyoungIndianlaymortallyill,andtheytookSmithtohimanddemandedthatforthwithhebecured。Ifthewhitemancouldkill——howtheywerenotabletoseehecouldlikewisedoubtlessrestorelife。ButtheIndianpresentlydied。Hisfather,cryingoutinfury,felluponthestrangerwhocouldhavedonesomuchandwouldnot!Herealsocoolnesssavedthewhiteman。
  Smithwasnowledintriumphfromtowntotownthroughthewinterwoods。
  TheJameswasbehindhim,theChickahominyalso;hewasuponnewgreatrivers,thePamunkeyandtheRappahannock。Allthevillagesweremuchalike,alikethestillwoods,theserepatchesfromwhichthecornhadbeentaken,thebear,thedeer,thefoxes,theturkeysthatweremetwith,thecountlesswildfowl。Everywherewerethesamecurious,crowdingsavages,thefires,therusticcookery,thecoveringskinsofdeerandfoxandotter,theoratory,theceremonialdances,themanipulationsofmedicinemenorpriests——theselast,totheEnglishmen,pure"devilswithantiquetricks。"Dayswereconsumedinthisgoingfromplacetoplace。Atonepointwasproducedabagofgunpowder,gainedinsomewayfromJamestown。Itwasbeingkeptwithcaretogointotheearthinthespringandproduce,whensummercame,somewonderfulcrop。
  Opechancanoughwasagreatchief,buthigherthanhemovedPowhatan,chiefofchiefs。ThisIndianwasyetastrangertotheEnglishinVirginia。NowJohnSmithwastomakehisacquaintance。
  WerowocomocostooduponabluffonthenorthsideofYorkRiver。HerecameSmithandhiscaptors,aroundthemthewinterwoods,beforethemthebroadblueriver。AgainthegatheredIndians,menandwomen,againthestaring,thehandling,themoreorlessuncomplimentaryremarks;thenintotheIndianceremoniallodgehewaspushed。Heresatthechiefofchiefs,Powhatan,andhehadonarobeofraccoonskinswithallthetailshanging。
  Abouthimsathischiefmen,andbehindtheseweregatheredwomen。Allwerepainted,headandshoulders;allwore,boundaboutthehead,adornmentsmeanttostrikewithbeautyorwithterror;allhadchainsofbeads。SmithdoesnotreportwhathesaidtoPowhatan,orPowhatantohim。HesaysthattheQueenofAppamatuckbroughthimwaterforhishands,andthattherewasmadeagreatfeast。Whenthiswasover,theIndiansheldacouncil。Itendedinadeathdecree。IncontinentlySmithwasseized,draggedtoagreatstonelyingbeforePowhatan,forceddownandbound。TheIndiansmadereadytheirclubs;meaningtobatterhisbrainsout。Then,saysSmith,occurredthemiracle。
  AchildofPowhatan’s,averyyounggirlcalledPocahontas,sprangfromamongthewomen,rantothestone,andwithherownbodyshelteredthatoftheEnglishman……*
  *AvastamountoferuditionhasbeenexpendedbyhistoricalstudentstoestablishthetruthorfalsityofthisPocahontasstory。Theauthorhasrefrainedfromenteringthecontroversy,preferringtoletthestorystandasitwastoldbyCaptainSmithinhis"GeneralHistory"(1624)。——Editor。
  What,inPowhatan’smind,ofhesitation,wiliness,orgoodnaturebackedhisdaughter’spleaisnotknown。ButSmithdidnothavehisbrainsbeatenout。Hewasreleased,takenbysomeformofadoptionintothetribe,andsettousingthosesamebrainsinthemakingofhatchetsandornaments。A
  fewdayspassedandhewasyetfurtherenlarged。Powhatanlongedfortwoofthegreatgunspossessedbythewhitemenandforagrindstone。HewouldsendSmithbacktoJamestownifinreturnhewassureofgettingthosetreasures。ItistobesupposedthatSmithpromisedhimgunsandgrindstonesasmanyascouldbeborneaway。
  SoWerowocomocosawhimdepart,twelveIndiansforescort。Hehadleaguestogo,anightortwotospenduponthemarch。Lyinginthehugewinterwoods,heexpected,onthewhole,deathbeforemorning。But"AlmightyGodmollifiedtheheartsofthosesternebarbarianswithcompassion。"AndsohewasrestoredtoJamestown,wherehefoundmoredeadthanwhenheleft。Somethereundoubtedlywelcomedhimasastrongmanrestoredwhentherewasneedofstrongmen。Others,itseems,wouldasliefthatPocahontashadnotinterfered。
  TheIndiansdidnotgettheirgunsandgrindstones。ButSmithloadedademi—culverinwithstonesandfireduponagreattree,icicle—hung。Thegunroared,theboughsbroke,theicefellrattling,thesmokespread,theIndianscriedoutandcoweredaway。Gunsandgrindstone,Smithtoldthem,weretooviolentandheavydevilsforthemtocarryfromrivertoriver。
  Insteadhegavethem,fromthetradingstore,giftsenticingtothesavageeye,andnotsusceptibleofbeingturnedagainstthedonors。
  HereatJamestowninmidwinterweremorefoodandlessmortalsicknessthaninthepreviousfearfulsummer,yetnogreatamountoffood,andnowsuffering,too,frombittercold。Norhadthesicknessended,nordissensions。LessthanfiftymenwereallthatheldtogetherEnglandandAmerica——afrayedcord,thelaststrandsofwhichmightpresentlypart……
  ThenuptherivercomesChristopherNewportintheFrancisandJohn,tobefollowedsomeweekslaterbythePhoenix。Hereisnewlife——storesforthesettlersandahundrednewVirginians!Howcertain,atanyrate,istheexchangeoftalkofhomeandhair—raisingstoriesofthiswildernessbetweentheoldcolonistsandthenew!Andcertainisthereliefandtherenewedhopes。Mourningturnstojoy。Evenaconflagrationthatpresentlydestroysthemajorpartofthetowncannotblastthatfelicity。
  AgainNewportandSmithandotherswentouttoexplorethecountry。TheywentovertoWerowocomocoandtalkedwithPowhatan。HetoldthemthingswhichtheyconstruedtomeanthattheSouthSeawasnearathand,andtheymarkedthisdownasgoodnewsforthehomeCouncil——stillimpatientforgoldandCathay。OntheirreturntoJamestowntheyfoundunderwaynewandstouterhouses。TheIndianswereagainfriendly;theybroughtvenisonandturkeysandcorn。SmithsaysthateveryfewdayscamePocahontasandattendantwomenbringingfood。
  Springcameagainwiththedogwoodandthehoneysuckleandthestrawberries,thegay,returningbirds,thebarredandstripedandmottledserpents。Thecolonywasoneyearold。BacktoEnglandsailedtheFrancisandJohnandthePhoenix,carryinghomeEdward—MariaWingfield,whohasweariedofVirginiaandwillreturnnomore。
  WhatrestscertainandpraiseworthyinSmithishisthoroughnessanddaringinexploration。Thissummerhewentwithfourteenothersdowntheriverinanopenboat,andsoacrossthegreatbay,wideasasea,towhatisyetcalledtheEasternShore,thecountiesnowofAccomacandNorthampton。
  RoundingCapeCharlestheseindefatigableexplorerscameuponisletsbeatenbytheAtlanticsurf。ThesetheynamedSmith’sIslands。Landinguponthemainshore,theymet"grimmeandstout"savages,whotookthemtotheKingofAccomac,andhimtheyfoundcivilenough。Thissideofthegreatbay,witheverycreekandinlet,Smithexaminedandsetdownuponthemaphewasmaking。EvenifhecouldfindnogoldfortheCouncilathome,atleasthewouldknowwhatplacesweresuitedfor"harboursandhabitations。"Soonagreatstormcameup,andtheylandedagain,metyetotherIndians,wentfarther,andwereinstraitsforfreshwater。Theweatherbecameworse;
  theywereindangerofshipwreck——hadtobailtheboatcontinually。Indiansgatheredupontheshoreanddischargedflightsofarrows,butweredispersedbyavolleyfromthemuskets。ThebreadtheEnglishhadwiththemwentbad。Windandweatherwereadverse;threeorfourofthefifteenfellill,butrecovered。Theweatherimproved;theycametotheseven—mile—widemouthof"Patawomeck"——thePotomac。Theyturnedtheirboatupthisvaststream。Foralongtimetheysawuponthewoodybanksnosavages。Thenwithoutwarningtheycameuponambuscadesofgreatnumbers"sostrangelypainted,grimedanddisguised,shouting,yellingandcrying,aswerathersupposedthemsomanydivils。"Smith,inmidstream,orderedmusket—fire,andtheballswentgrazingoverthewater,andtheterriblesoundechoedthroughthewoods。Thesavagesthrewdowntheirbowsandarrowsandmadesignsoffriendliness。TheEnglishwentashore,hostageswereexchanged,andakindofamicablenessensued。AftersuchsylvanentertainmentSmithandhismenreturnedtotheboat。Theoarsdippedandrose,thebrightwaterbrokefromthem;andtheseEnglishmeninOldVirginiaproceededupthePotomac。Couldtheyhaveseen——couldtheybuthaveseenbeforethem,onthenorthbank,rising,liketheunsubstantialfabricofadream,thereabovethetrees,avast,whiteCapitolshininginthesunlight!
  Faruptheriver,theynoticedthatthesandontheshoregleamedwithyellowspangles。Theylookedandsawhighrocks,andtheythoughtthatfromthesetherainhadwashedtheglitteringdust。Gold?Harborstheyhadfound——butwhatofgold?What,even,ofCathay?
  Goingdownstream,theysoughtagainthosefriendlyIndians。Didtheyknowgoldorsilver?TheIndianslookedwise,noddedheads,andtookthevisitorsupalittletributaryrivertoarockyhillinwhich"withshellsandhatchets"theyhadopenedasitwereamine。Heretheygatheredamineralwhich,whenpowdered,theysprinkledoverthemselvesandtheiridols"makingthem,"saystherelation,"likeblackamoorsdustedoverwithsilver。"Thewhitemenfilledtheirboatwithasmuchofthisoreastheycouldcarry。Highweretheirhopesoverit,butwhenitwassubsequentlysenttoLondonandassayed,itwasfoundtobeworthless。
  Thefifteennowstartedhomeward,outofPotomacanddownthewestwardsideofChesapeake。Intheirtravelstheysaw,besidestheIndians,allmanneroffour—footedVirginians。Bearsrolledtheirbulkthroughtheseforests;
  deerwentwhithertheywould。Theexplorersmightmeetfoxesandcatamounts,otter,beaverandmarten,raccoonandopossum,wolfandIndiandog。WingedVirginiansmadetheforestsvocal。Theowlhootedatnight,andthewhippoorwillcalledinthetwilight。Thestreamswerefilledwithfish。
  ComingtothemouthoftheRappahannock,thetravelers’boatgroundeduponsand,withthetideatebb。Awaitingthewaterthatshouldliftthemoff,thefifteenbeganwiththeirswordstospearthefishamongthereeds。
  Smithhadtheilllucktoencounterasting—ray,andreceiveditsbarbedweaponthroughhiswrist。Theresetinagreatswellingandtormentwhichmadehimfearthatdeathwasathand。Heorderedhisfuneralandagravetobedugonaneighboringislet。Yetbydegreeshegrewbetterandsooutoftorment,andwithalsohungrythathelongedforsupper,whereupon,withalightheart,hehadhislateenemythesting—raycookedandatehim。TheythennamedtheplaceSting—rayIslandand,thetideserving,gotoffthesand—baranddownthebay,andsocamehometoJamestown,havingbeengonesevenweeks。
  LikeUlysses,Smithrefusestorustininaction。Afewdays,andawayheisagain,firstuptoRappahannock,andthenacrossthebay。OnthisjourneyheandhismencomeupwiththegiantSusquehannocks,whoarenotAlgonquinsbutIroquois。Aftermanyhazardsinwhichtheforestandthesavageplaytheirpart,SmithandhisbandagainreturntoJamestown。Inallthisadventuringtheyhavegainedmuchknowledgeofthecountryanditsinhabitants——butyetnogold,andnofurthernewsoftheSouthSeaoroffarCathay。