arriving unexpectedly fired upon them from the fort, killed one of their leaders, and forced them to return.

There was indeed some reason to be fainthearted. Half of the little band died during the summer, among them Bartholomew Gosnold, one of the originators of the expedition. The rest came near being starved. For a time they lived on sturgeon and shell fish; later, corn, venison and other supplies were procured from the Indians, mainly through Smith's exertions; and in autumn the rivers became covered with wild fowl, and the rich soil yielded them fruit and vegetables in abundance. These supplies and the approach of winter checked for the time all thoughts of desertion, and Smith now applied himself to explore the country of which they had taken possession. And now came the celebrated adventure that had such effect on the fortunes of the colony.

He had ascended the river Chickahominy, running into the James river from the left, some way above the settlement. When his barge could go no farther, he left her with orders to the crew not to go on shore, which they disobeyed, and being attacked by the Indians, narrowly escaped with the loss of one of their number, who is said to have been burned to death after frightful tortures. Meanwhile Smith, accompanied by two Englishmen and two Indians, made his way in a canoe to the head of the stream; there he left three men while he himself went to shoot in the marshes, guided by one of the Indians, and unaware that

wances,

three hundred warriors were in search of him under Opechancanough, one of the native kings or werowho ever showed himself a bitter enemy of the strangers. This party, directed by a fire which the two Englishmen had lit beside the canoe, came upon them sleeping and killed them both with arrows. Their Indian companion no doubt led his countryman upon the track of Smith, who soon found himself attacked by overwhelming numbers.

But he was not to be easily overcome. With his garter he tied his unwilling guide to his arm, and used him as a shield, behind which he plied his piece so well that the Indians durst not come to close quarters with him, while he himself was only slightly wounded by the arrows. Then he began to retreat towards the boat, but keeping a better eye on his enemies than on his feet, he soon slipped up to the middle into a muddy creek, from which he was unable to extricate himself. Even then, he says, the Indians were afraid to come near him, till half frozen he at last surrendered, throwing away his arms.

The Indians drew him out and took him to the fire; where, beside the dead bodies of his companions, they chafed his benumbed limbs. He had now to look forward to torture and death; but our adventurer's course of life had been such that he never failed to have his wits about him. He had already picked up something of the language of these people; and he asked to see their chief. On being introduced to Opechancanough, he presented him with a round ivory compass, covered with glass, which called forth the wonder of the

IN THE HANDS OF THE INDIANS.

66

89

savages. He next proceeded to give them a short scientific lecture, astronomical and geographical, which probably they did not understand, but which all the better answered his purpose of impressing them with his character as a mysterious medicine man. Notwithstanding, within an hour after they tied him to a tree, and as many as could stand about him prepared to shoot him; but the king holding up the compass in his hand, they all laid down their bows and arrows, and in a triumphant manner led him to Orapaks, where he was after their manner kindly feasted and well used."

He was conducted with great precautions, three strong Indians holding him fast by each arm, and six walking on each side with their arrows ready fixed in their bows. When they thus arrived at this native town, which consisted only of thirty or forty wigwams made of mats, the women and children came out to stare at him, and the warriors proceeded to exhibit their accomplishments in a fashion which they thought calculated to strike the foreigner with awe and admiration. After performing some military exercises they rushed into a ring, in the midst of which stood the chief with Smith and his guards, and began to dance round him, screeching and yelling in a style that corresponded with their fantastic appearance. Their faces were painted with a mixture of oil and red dye; they were armed with clubs and bows; their clothes were the skins of beasts; and on their heads they carried a strange gear composed of such ornaments as the dried skin of a bird with outspread