f 
 
 Sibrarij of 
 (Il]e Unirersiti} of Hortl] (Carolina 
 
 C O L L K C TI O X O F 
 
 NORTH CAROLINIANA 
 
 K N D O W ED BY 
 
 JOHN SPRUNT HILL 
 of the class of 1889 
 
UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 00017475411 
 
 ^*5 
 
 This BOOK may be kept out TWO WEEKS 
 ONLY, and is subject to a fine of FIVE 
 CENTS a day thereafter. It was taken out on 
 Lhe day indicated below: 
 
 / 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
The 
 Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 By 
 
 Mary Virginia Wall 
 
 New York and Washington 
 
 The Neale Publishing Company 
 
 1908 
 
Copyright, 1908, by 
 Mary Virginia Wall 
 

 . TO 
 
 My Mother, Virginia 
 
 AND 
 
 My Grandmother, England 
 
THE DAUGHTER OF VIRGINIA 
 
 DARE 
 
 PRELUDE 
 
 The sunbeams were playing hide and 
 seek with the ripples aronnd the prows 
 of three small vessels lying at anchor in the 
 harbor of Portsmouth. Their decks were 
 crowded with the colonists going to seek 
 a home on the soil of Virginia. On the 
 wharf all was bustle and confusion. The 
 songs of the sailors loading the vessels 
 with the goods of the voyagers mingled with 
 the whip and snap of the sails as they were 
 given to the breeze. 
 
 At last the creaking of the capstan as 
 the anchors were hoisted on board sounded 
 the warning note of departure. Leading the 
 diminutive fleet was the good ship Admiral, 
 having as her master Simon Ferdinando. 
 Closely in her wake followed a pinnace and 
 a flyboat, and from the masthead of all 
 three fluttered the English flag. They were 
 not to leave England, however, until they 
 had stopped at two of her ports on their 
 way out. 
 
10 The Daughter of Virginia Dare. 
 
 For eight days they tarried at the Isle 
 of Wight, and two more in the harbor 
 of Plymouth. As they sailed out of 
 this quaint old harbor the balmy air of 
 May wafted the fragrant farewell of the 
 hawthorn blossoms even to the water's 
 edge. 
 
 **How hard it is to bid farewell to home 
 and friends and turn my face to this un- 
 known land/' said Eleanor Dare to herself 
 as she stood on the deck of the Admiral. 
 ** There is a strange fear welling up in my 
 heart as if some unknown shadow were 
 falling upon us. 
 
 **But I must not even breathe such a 
 thought to my husband, it would dampen 
 the hope of home and fortune which is 
 buo^dng him up. I must rather cheer and 
 encourage him ; I must hide the heart sick- 
 ness, and leave our future in the hands of 
 God.'' 
 
 Fainter and fainter grew the outlines 
 of old England's shores, until only the 
 dim bluffs of Cornwall, like a mirage, 
 lay on the horizon. As Eleanor Dare 
 strained her eyes to catch the last glimpse 
 before the curve of the earth hid them from 
 view, her husband drew her to him. 
 
 ^^Dear heart, turn your eyes to the west, 
 to home and happiness. See how the sun 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare. 11 
 
 is making a pathway of light for our ship. 
 Is it not a good omen?" 
 
 She smiled up into his face bravely and 
 was rewarded by a look of love and 
 reverence. 
 
 ^'You know, my husband, that my home 
 is in your heart." 
 
 Skirting southward for seven days the 
 little fleet came into the Bay of Portugal, 
 where they took on a supply of fresh water 
 for the long journey to the West Indies. 
 Ferdinando, the master of the Admiral, 
 gave secret orders to the captains of his 
 ship and the jDinnace to set sail at the com- 
 ing of night. No such commands reached 
 the little flyboat. Basely deserting her, the 
 Admiral turned his prows to the south- 
 west. 
 
 For two long months the frail ships 
 tossed on the troubled waters of the Atlan- 
 tic. Only the sullen swish of the waves and 
 the scream of the seagull broke in on 
 Eleanor Dare's reveries. 
 
 Fragrant June was waning, when she 
 saw the waving palms and orange groves 
 of Santa Cruz rising beyond the foam- 
 capped billows. Just before the ships 
 reached this island of gorgeous bloom from 
 the lookout at the masthead rang the cry, 
 ' ^ Sail ho ! " and, ploughing her way through 
 
12 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 the choppy sea, there came the courageous 
 little flyboat. For, undaunted by ignorance 
 of the trackless waste and by the base 
 desertion of the admiral in command, she 
 had pluckily followed her consort. 
 
 No sooner had they landed than the 
 merry laughter and joyous shouts of the 
 little children filled the air as they chased 
 the crimson and gold butterflies sipping 
 hone}^ from the orchids which hung from 
 the tall fern trees. No cares or longing 
 troubled their light hearts, but their parents 
 were eager to reach their new home, so 
 the sails were again spread. 
 
 tF tt tP 
 
 July had numbered twenty-two days 
 when the vessels came in sight of a long 
 fringe of islands guarded by dangerous 
 reefs. The white foam of the breakers 
 tossed high in the air and the moan of the 
 surf filled the children with fear. 
 
 Down rattled the anchor of the Admiral, 
 and the sails were close-furled, as the pin- 
 nace came alongside to take the colony 
 through the dangerous entry to Roanoke 
 Island. Safely passing through the hungry 
 mouth of Trinity harbor, they glided into 
 the quiet waters of the Occam. 
 
 Would the fifteen men left by Sir Richard 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 13 
 
 Greenville come to meet them? A loud 
 halloo brought back no answering hail. 
 
 ''We must search for them/^ said Gov- 
 ernor White. ''Perhaps they are farther 
 inland. ' ' 
 
 As the pinnace grounded her nose the 
 Anglican priest stepped on the land, bear- 
 ing aloft the Sign of Redemption. Around 
 his feet were grouped the children, their 
 tiny hands clasped together, and guarded 
 by a circle of kneeling men and women. 
 Deep and fervent was the thanksgiving 
 prayer, and clear and sweet came the chant 
 of the amen. 
 
 Rising from their knees they eagerly 
 explored the land around them. A living 
 landscape, vivid and beautiful, lay spread 
 before their eyes. Great yellow pines like 
 the masts of ships towered above them. 
 Cedars, the rivals of Lebanon, mingled 
 their branches with the live oak, tulip, and 
 walnut trees, while closer to mother earth 
 clung the sassafras and witch hazel. Scup- 
 pernong grapes flung their vines, loaded 
 with ripening fruit, from limb to limb of 
 the copper beeches and bathed their trailing 
 branches in the brinv waters of the Oc- 
 cam. 
 
 Dotted all around were the log-cabins 
 left by the previous settlers. Melon vines 
 
14 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 with luscious fruits festooned the windows 
 and carpeted the floors, and in their open 
 doors stood the startled deer poised for 
 flight. The gardens were overgrown in 
 weeds and fences were broken down. The 
 little children ran hither and thither chas- 
 ing the '*Lazy Lawrence'' as it danced in 
 the sun, and over all hung the langorous air 
 of July, steeped in the fragrance of blos- 
 soming jasmine and magnolia. 
 
 Soon the bright blades of the axes made 
 flashes in the sun, and down came the pine, 
 filling the air with the perfume of its 
 crushed needles. Manv another cabin was 
 added to the ''City of Raleigh." 
 
 Meanwhile, a party headed by Governor 
 White had searched the island for the miss- 
 ing men. Far in the heart of the forest 
 they came upon their bleaching skeletons, 
 and they decently interred them. 
 
 Eleanor Dare chose the cedar cabin, 
 which Lane had used, as a home for her- 
 self and her husband, and she occupied her- 
 self busily in transforming its interior into 
 a restful abiding-place; in one corner was 
 a mahogany chest with shining brass 
 handles ; over the wide fireplace hung a bit 
 of landscape of her girlhood's home; and 
 the pewter plates upon the dresser reflected 
 the dancing flames leaping up the chimney. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 15 
 
 In the center of the room stood a table of 
 English oak. 
 
 One evening the table was spread for the 
 evening meal, and now and then Eleanor 
 Dare paused at the window to watch the 
 swaying of the wonderful gray moss drap- 
 ing the mighty live-oaks. 
 
 As she bent over the fire stirring the con- 
 tents of a copper kettle hanging on the 
 crane, her husband entered and gently 
 chided her for too much exertion. 
 
 ^ ^ Come rest beside me on the settle, dear 
 heart, and let us talk of the future. Soon 
 your tender hands will have new duties to 
 perform, '' and sitting side by side they 
 talked together as the twilight shadows fell. 
 
 * * * 
 
 In the hush of the August morn, just 
 as the mocking-birds chanted ^'The Crea- 
 tion,'' a tiny babe— a babe with Eleanor's 
 eyes— nestled in the hollow of Eleanor 
 Dare's arm. Her husband bending over 
 her mingled his kisses with the Magnificat 
 breathing on her lips, and soon came the 
 women of the colony to inciuire after 
 mother and child and offer their congratu- 
 lations to the happy father. 
 
 Little children, peeping in at the door of 
 
16 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 the cabin, shyly laid their offering of red 
 clover and honeysuckle upon the sill. Many 
 were the questions they asked of the smiling 
 father of the new-born babe. 
 
 ''Is it a boy or a girl/' asked Ambrose 
 Viccars. 
 
 ''I'm glad it is a girl," said tiny Robert 
 Ellis. "There will be somebody to play 
 with me. Can she talk and eat? How soon 
 will she be able to play Puss in Corner 1 ' ' 
 
 Seven days had the little babe lain on 
 her mother's breast, and on the eighth day 
 she was to be christened. The Sunday sun 
 shed its gorgeous rays over the simple 
 church, where the priest, clad in surplice 
 and stole, awaited her coming. With the 
 babe went Manteo of the Croatans, the 
 faithful friend of the English, for he too 
 was to receive baptism as Sir Walter 
 Raleigh had commanded. 
 
 Hither had come the men of the colony 
 clad in brightly hued doublet and hose, 
 their wives and sisters wearing gowns 
 with long pointed stomachers and high 
 standing ruffs. Near the door was Win- 
 ginia and his Catawbas, their long scalp- 
 locks decorated with the feathers of the 
 eagle. Grouped around the white-robed 
 pastor stood Governor White, Roger Bailey 
 and Joyce Archer, sponsors for Manteo. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 17 
 
 Behind them was Ananias Dare holding his 
 little daughter. 
 
 Rising from his knees with the conse- 
 crated drops still glistening on his brow, 
 Manteo turned to Dare and said: 
 
 ''I too am a* follower of the God of the 
 English. The totem of His tribe is tattooed 
 on my brow. Let me hold the little pale 
 face to be received into the tribe. '^ 
 
 ^ ' Joyfully will I give her into your keep- 
 ing/' replied her father. ^^She shall be 
 as your daughter, ' ' and he placed the babe 
 in his arms. 
 
 Then came the sonorous voice of the 
 priest : 
 
 ^^ Virginia, I baptize thee in the name of 
 the Father and of the Son and of the Holv 
 
 ft/ 
 
 Ghost. We receive this child inta the con- 
 gregation of Christ 's flock, and do sign her 
 with the sign of the cross, in token that 
 hereafter she shall not be ashamed to own 
 Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under 
 His banner against sin, the world, and the 
 devil, and to continue Christ's faithful 
 soldier and servant unto her life's end. 
 Amen. ' ' 
 
 Then reverently he gave her back into 
 the Indian's keeping. 
 
 Forth stalked Manteo into the sunlight 
 with the little Virginia held close in his 
 
18 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 armSj and went straightway to the bedside 
 of Eleanor Dare. 
 
 ^^I have brought yon the little papoose. 
 The Great Spirit has bound us together, 
 and dear shall she be to Manteo as the 
 ruddy drops of his'hearf 
 
 * * * 
 
 But all was not well with the ' * City of 
 Raleigh.'' Food and supplies which the 
 country did not as yet produce were needed. 
 Some one must go back to the mother 
 country for them. When it came to select- 
 ing a proper person no one wished to go. 
 One and all they urged Grovernor \A^ite 
 to go as the one most fitting to represent 
 their needs, to take the task upon himself. 
 He too was unwilling to leave. 
 
 * ^ Men will say that with fair words I have 
 enticed you to this land, and now in your 
 need desert you and leave you to face the 
 the enmity of the Indians." 
 
 But the pleadings of the colony finally 
 prevailed, and with a heavy heart he con- 
 sented to go. 
 
 *^Keep strict watch' and ward while I 
 am gone. I do not like the sullen look of 
 Winginia and his Catawbas. It is but a 
 few weeks since George Howe's mangled 
 body was found some two miles distant. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 19 
 
 Winginia took his life in revenge of the 
 cruel treatment of Ealph Lane's men. If 
 you abandon this settlement, as we have 
 purposed doing, carve the name of your 
 destination upon a tree or post. If danger 
 threatens, place a cross above the name/' 
 
 He kissed his daughter, and taking the 
 little Virginia in his arms, gave the child 
 his blessing. 
 
 Standing on the beach with her baby at 
 her breast, Eleanor Dare waved a last f are> 
 well to the father whom she was never to 
 see again. 
 
 ^* 'TF 'fr 
 
 After a voyage beset with one accident 
 after another. Governor White arrived in 
 England, only to find himself caught in the 
 maelstrom of war. 
 
 Under Her Sovereign Majesty Elizabeth, 
 England was rising to a position where she 
 would soon be a formidable rival to the 
 countries of Europe. Her ships had pene- 
 trated to the Wliite Sea of Northern Russia ; 
 the dusky tribes of Guinea traveled many 
 miles through the tropical forests of the 
 Soudan to sell their ivory and gold to the 
 trading vessels of England. Antwerp and 
 Bruges merchants settled in London, there- 
 by transferring much of the trade of India 
 and the Far East from Flanders to Eng- 
 
20 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 land; and Sir Francis Drake had circum- 
 navigated the globe. 
 
 Not only had commercial enterprise filled 
 the coffers of Elizabeth, but the nntilled 
 recesses of men's minds were beginning to 
 flower again. 
 
 Sir Philip Sidney had enriched the world 
 with his Arcadia, and immortal sonnets. 
 Edmund Spenser was fighting out the battle 
 between good and evil in his Faerie Queen, 
 and Francis Bacon was delving into the 
 secrets of nature. 
 
 Behind the fame of commercial enter- 
 prise and the glory of the Literary Renais- 
 sance loomed the struggle with Philip of 
 Spain. He was burning with the desire to 
 crush the power of Elizabeth and to revenge 
 the death of Mary Queen of Scots. Already 
 the Spanish Armada was hovering oif the 
 coasts of England. 
 
 Sir Walter Raleigh tried ineffectually to 
 obtain ships for Governor White, and even 
 succeeded in fitting out two which were 
 later seized and impressed into service. 
 Every bark and pinnace was needed to keep 
 Philip and the Inquisition out of England. 
 No one had time to remember the colonists 
 shut away in Virginia, for all were watch- 
 ing Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter 
 Raleigh scuttle the Spanish galleons. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 21 
 
 About a month after Governor White 
 sailed away a wasting sickness broke out 
 among the colonists in Virginia. The 
 fields lay untilled and the corn and vege- 
 tables withered up under the hot breath 
 of the sun. No drop of water fell to cool 
 the parched earth; daily the store of food 
 dwindled away. 
 
 Graunt starvation stalked through the 
 island, and in his footsteps crept Winginia 
 and his Catawbas. 
 
 At length Eleanor Dare's husband fell 
 ill and lay dying. 
 
 "0 dear heart, my soul is filled with 
 anguish when I think of leaving you and 
 the child, ' ' he moaned. ^ ^ Wlio will protect 
 my defenceless ones ! Look again from the 
 window. Is there no sail in sight? Noth- 
 ing! And my strength is ebbing fast. Put 
 the little one beside me that I may kiss 
 her. ' ' 
 
 ^^My husband, let us put our trust in 
 God, and help me say, ' Though He slay me, 
 yet I will trust him. ' It will be but a little 
 while before Virginia and I will join you. 
 There is no ending to our love. Can you 
 hear me, dear one ! ' ' Then came a cry : 
 
 ^'0 my Father, the light has gone out of 
 his eyes and his lips are dumb ! ' ' 
 
 Sinking beside his body, she swooned 
 
22 
 
 The Daughter of Virginia Dare- 
 
 away, while the wonderfilled eyes of baby 
 Virginia gazed long and gravely on the 
 pallid face of her dead father. 
 
 Regaining consciousness, Eleanor feebly 
 raised herself and tried to perform the last 
 duties for her dead. Through the long 
 night that followed she watched by his side. 
 Lovingly and gently she talked to him of 
 the happy past, caressed his cold face, and 
 smoothed back the hair lying upon his brow. 
 
 ^'No priest is left, dear, to bless you as 
 you go on your long journey, but you shall 
 not lack. Faithful in life, I shall be faitli- 
 ful in death. The pitying Father will give 
 me strength for this last duty. Soon we 
 shall be together again, even as we now 
 are in spirit.'' 
 
 On the following day the body of her 
 husband was laid to rest and Eleanor, with 
 unearthly calm, read the burial service. 
 
 # 
 
 Day after day passed and few were left 
 to answer the roll call. Only one hope lay 
 between the colonists and starvation. Per- 
 haps the Croatans, their faithful friends, 
 had some corn left and would share it with 
 them. Manteo would go and ask for food. 
 
 As the sickly sun sank to rest on the 
 colonists crawled to the beach and turned 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 23 
 
 fourth day after Manteo^s departure, the 
 their faces to the south to watch for his 
 coming. 
 
 Presently his canoe rounded a bend in the 
 stream. Fear gripped their hearts as they 
 watched his bowed form. Every now and 
 then his paddle churned the water into 
 foam, and then relapsed into idleness. As 
 his canoe touched the beach they saw that 
 it was empty. 
 
 Stepping on the shore he paused before 
 them. Then fell an awful silence as they 
 looked upon his face. In that face Chris- 
 tianity and primeval passion were waging 
 deadly warfare. The zigzag lightning shot 
 from his eyes, and his voice was as the mut- 
 tering thunder dying away in the distance. 
 Finally he spoke: 
 
 "Listen, O brother of the Rising Sun, 
 
 To the woeful tale of Manteo. 
 
 Down the sparkling waters of the Occam 
 
 Leaped the bounding canoe ; 
 
 All night the paddles made music 
 
 On this side and on that ; 
 
 Joy sang in the breast of the 'real man' 
 
 As he thought of the corn for the pale face. 
 
 The smiling island of Croatan 
 
 Beckoned him onward and onward; 
 
 Nearer and nearer came Manteo 
 
 ^To the home of his tribe and his father. 
 
 Why curled not the serpent of smoke 
 
 Up from the wigwam of bark? 
 
24 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 Why came not his brethren to greet him 
 As he stepped on the sandy shore? 
 The leaping fire of fear 
 Burnt to ashes on his lips. 
 There the moccasin of Winginia 
 Had left its picture in the sand. 
 In the heart of the sheltered island 
 Lay the speechless lips of his people. 
 No more will the shout of the Croatans 
 Rock the somber leaves of the cedars. 
 Only Manteo is left as an echo 
 Of all their greatness and glory." 
 
 No moan from the colonists answered 
 the lament of Manteo. They had drunk to 
 the dregs of the cup of sorrow. Eyes in 
 which the light of hope had been frozen 
 into stony despair gazed out upon the east- 
 ern horizon, but no sail broke the blank 
 expanse of water. 
 
 * * ^ 
 
 Night had put on her robe of black vel- 
 vet and the stars had embroidered it in 
 arabesques of silver, when Eleanor Dare 
 laid her head on her pillow and drew Vir- 
 ginia to her breast. 
 
 Soon the hamlet was hushed in sleep; 
 only the booming waves and the step of 
 the starving sentinel broke the stillness. 
 Exhausted, he finally sank to the ground 
 and sleep overpowered him. 
 
 Then long shadows flitted from tree to 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 25 
 
 tree, and on the breath of the night rose 
 the death-cry of the Catawbas. Bearded 
 men fell like corn before the sickle and the 
 agonized cry of the women was crushed 
 in their throats. Flames from the burning 
 cabins threw the ghastly scene into bold 
 relief. 
 
 Eleanor's cabin was untouched as yet by 
 the flames. In its door stood Manteo, fight- 
 ing for her life and that of the child, when 
 swift as a swallow came the arrow of Win- 
 ginia and sucked the lifeblood from his 
 loval heart. 
 
 ^' Spare the squaw and her papoose," 
 said Winginia. '^They shall be slaves in 
 memory of the wrong done us in the past. 
 We will take them to Croatan, our con- 
 quered island. Bind the squaw to the live 
 oak yonder and place the papoose upon her 
 lap. We will sleep until the daylight 
 comes." 
 
 Through the rest of the night Eleanor 
 Dare worked desperately, and succeeded 
 finally in loosening the thongs enough 
 to free one hand and slightly twist her 
 body. 
 
 In the cold gray of the morning she took 
 a knife from her pocket, and low down on 
 the trunk of the oak carved the word 
 ^'Croatoan" in Eoman letters. Just as 
 
26 The Daughter of Virginia Dare. 
 
 she raised her hand to add the cross, Win- 
 ginia stood over her. 
 
 *^Hold thy hand, thou pale-face squaw! 
 Darest thou call down the anger of Okee 
 upon usT' and he sank his tomahawk into 
 
 her brain. 
 
 * * * 
 
 Then rose the wail of the only English 
 being upon American soil, the cry of the 
 little Virginia. The echoes took up the 
 sound and sent it reverberating from the 
 flowery banks of Roanoke to the ice-bound 
 shores of Nova Scotia, and from the 
 rounded tops of the Appalachians to the 
 beetling crags of the Rockies. 
 
 '^Thou too shall follow thy kindred,'' 
 said Winginia, and again the tomahawk was 
 raised aloft. 
 
 A smile broke through the April tears 
 upon the baby's cheek as she held out her 
 wasted arms to him. Slowly the tomahawk 
 sank to the ground. The angel of God 
 stayed the hand of the destroyer. Bending, 
 he lifted the baby from the groimd. 
 
 Soon the scooped paddles sent the canoes 
 swiftly down to Croatan. Only the waves 
 were left to chant a requiem over the ^ ' City 
 of the Dead." 
 
 ^* "T^ "W 
 
 Three years had passed when Governor 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare, 27 
 
 White came again to Roanoke to seek his 
 daughter and her child. As the boat 
 neared the shore he saw a colmnn of smoke 
 rising above the trees on the north end of 
 the island, some distance away from the 
 settlement of the colonists. His heart beat 
 joyfully as he pictured the meeting with 
 
 his loved ones. 
 
 4^ # # 
 
 Quickly landing, he made for the place 
 where he had seen the smoke, but no one 
 was there. A few smoldering embers (left 
 by some Indians who had fled on hearing 
 the booming of the cannon on the Admiral) 
 sputtered and fmned. 
 
 ^ ^ Sound a signal blast upon the trumpet, '"^ 
 said White to his men. 
 
 Over the stillness rang out the clarion 
 notes, but no answering shout came back. 
 
 '^Eleanor!" called her father in plead- 
 ing accents. ^^El-e-a-nor!'' answered the 
 hills in melancholv reiteration. 
 
 ^^As we tramp down to the settlement 
 we will sing some of the old English songs. 
 Perhaps they will reach their hearts.'^ 
 
 Weary and footsore they continued their 
 search, raising their voices at intervals in 
 some sweet old English song they had sung 
 in childhood. 
 
 At length they arrived at the ^^City of 
 
28 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 Raleigh." Nature, abhorring disfigure- 
 ment, had brought down sand from the 
 mainland and covered the charred remains 
 of the colonists, and had painted the ground 
 in great purple violets and crimson poppies, 
 whose roots sucked sustenance from the 
 noble and brave ones sleeping below. 
 
 Hunting for some clew, the despairing 
 father came upon the name which his 
 daughter had carved upon the oak. Stand- 
 ing in the violets above her, he deciphered 
 the word ^'Croatoan'' low down upon its 
 trunk. 
 
 ^'God be praised, they are alive!" he 
 said joyfully. '^Doubtless they have gone 
 with Manteo to his home in Croatan. On 
 the morrow we will seek them there. My 
 heart gives thanks, for no cross is carved 
 above the name. Now we must hasten to 
 embark, for the clouds are banking up and 
 foul weather will soon be upon us. ' ' 
 
 All night the storm raged, tearing the 
 anchors from their hold and beating the 
 ships out to sea. Having been unable to 
 bring casks of fresh water aboard on 
 account of the gale, and food supplies run- 
 ning low, the voyagers determined to make 
 for the island of St. John, and when prop- 
 erly provisioned, come again to Croatan. 
 
 After a perilous voyage they arrived at 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 29 
 
 the island of St. George, where the dis- 
 heartened sailors, wearied out by the loss 
 of some of their men, and lacking food, 
 refused to brave the perilous reefs around 
 Croatan again, and insisted on sailing for 
 England. AVhite's pleadings were stub- 
 bornly resisted. He was forced to give in 
 and they sailed for England. 
 
 Meanwhile, what had become of little 
 Virginia whom Winginia had taken cap- 
 tive? 
 
 Carried to conquered Croatan, she was 
 placed in the keeping of the women. What 
 a strange little one had been brought to 
 them to mother! Baby ringlets of sunny 
 brown, skin like the petals of a lily formed 
 a frame out of which looked eyes like pools 
 of water on a cloudy day when the shadows 
 drift over them. Her appealing eyes and 
 tender baby ways wound themselves around 
 the heartstrings of the squaws, and they 
 vied with each other in making dainty 
 moccasins for her little pink feet. Daily 
 she Was bathed in the cold waters of the 
 sound and her body smeared in paints and 
 ointment. Outwardly she became an Indian 
 girl, the Water Lily of the Catawbas. 
 
 Every year, as winter came on, the 
 
'"^O The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 Catawbas journeyed back to Dismongue- 
 peuc, their home on the mainland west of 
 the island of Roanoke. 
 
 Here and there flitted the Virginia Water 
 Lily, now watching the men burn out the 
 poj)lar logs for canoes and bend the witch 
 hazel branches into bows, now searching for 
 flint stones to be sharpened into arrow 
 heads. She talks with the birds of the for- 
 ests and with the cranes by the water 
 side. She knew the secret of the plants 
 with healing in their leaves. 
 
 Day by day her influence over the tribe 
 grew stronger. Did she possess some invis- 
 ible power! Her voice alone could soothe 
 the savage outbursts of Winginia's wrath 
 and cause him to spare the culprit. 
 
 It was written in the book of destinv 
 that she should repay the debt of life she 
 owed Winginia. 
 
 He had fallen upon the Tuscaroras, hop- 
 ing to exterminate them as he had done the 
 Croatans, but this time the fortunes of war 
 were against him. His warriors came back 
 bringing their chief grievously wounded by 
 a poisoned arrow. They laid him in his 
 house of poles and bark, and the medicine 
 men in all their hideous paint and feathers 
 came to chant their incantations. 
 
 The tender heart of the Virginia Water 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 31 
 
 Lily ached to see the stoical Wingiuia suf- 
 fer. Kneeling by his side, she bared the 
 wound, and placing her soft lips upon it, 
 sucked the poison out. Soon health and 
 strength returned to him. 
 
 Day by day she roved the forest ; but she 
 loved best the springtime when the Cataw- 
 bas went to Croatan for the herring fishing. 
 Her nimble fingers sharpened the poles 
 that were to spear the gleaming herring, or 
 fashioned the weirs of rushes to catch the 
 fish. 
 
 For hours she would sit on the beach and 
 gaze across the vast waste of waters. Then 
 a longing for something she could not 
 understand caused her breast to heave and 
 sink, but no distinct recollection of mother 
 or father remained to her. Sometimes a 
 voice crooning a few notes of melody would 
 float across her memory but it was gone in 
 an instant. 
 
 Twelve times she had seen the Indian 
 maidens hunt for the red ear amona: the 
 corn. A blush mantled her cheek when she 
 thought that at the next harvest she too 
 would join in the search. 
 
 Already the eyes of the bravest youth 
 among the warriors had marked her for 
 his own. Many a time he had given her the 
 seat next the fire when the icicles rattled 
 
32 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 on the branches of the trees, and she felt 
 that she would gladv go to the wigwam 
 of Ensinore the Swift One. 
 
 •^ tP ^r 
 
 Spring had come ! The sap was rising 
 in the veins of the trees and the blood of 
 the Indian answered the call. It was time 
 to be on the warpath. 
 
 Far away on the Powhatan River the 
 king of the Powhatans and his warriors 
 w|ere stringing their bows, sharpening their 
 arrows, and making their canoes ready for 
 a raid upon Winginia at his summer home 
 on Croatan. *• 
 
 ^^ Twenty warriors to each canoe,'' was 
 the command of Powhatan. 
 
 At lenorth all was readv. Swiftlv the 
 canoes glided down the Powhatan, out into 
 the waters of the Chesapeake, and then, 
 skirting down the coast, fell upon the 
 Catawbas. 
 
 Fiercely and long the warfare raged. 
 Finally the tribe of Powhatan gained the 
 day, and carried off the Virginia Water 
 Lily as a captive, over the dead bod}^ of 
 Ensinore. 
 
 Many of Powhatan's warriors were 
 worsted in their encounter with the Cataw- 
 bas, so they proceeded only as far as 
 Roanoke Island, where thev halted for rest. 
 
The Daughter o£ Virginia Dare 33 
 
 The breezes were soft from the ocean, 
 there were many deer in the forest, and 
 Powhatan lingered there twelve months. 
 
 As he looked upon the Virginia Water 
 Lily she was fairer than all the maidens 
 of his tribe and a fit mate for the grave 
 and stately Powhatan, then just in his man- 
 hood's prime. But no entreaties or com- 
 mands could win a smile from her, for the 
 heart of the Water Lily lay in the grave 
 of Ensinore. 
 
 As the twelfth moon rounded out its last 
 quarter the Water Lily folded up her petals 
 and sank to sleep, leaving to Powhatan a 
 little daughter. 
 
 A grave was dug under an old and 
 gnarled tree bearing the word ^^Croatoan'^ 
 carved upon its trunk, and Virginia Dare's 
 body rested beside the bones of her mother 
 Eleanor. 
 
 All the tenderness of Powhatan's nature 
 had been lavished upon the unresponsive 
 Water Lily, so the little daughter she had 
 left him became dearer to him than all of 
 his children. 
 
 ^'Call her Pocahontas," he said. '^She 
 shall be as a bright stream between two 
 hills. Nations yet unborn and strangers to 
 our tribe shall hail her as ^The Blessed 
 Pocahontas.' " 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 As night descends on the tragedy of 
 Roanoke the sun is rising on the land of 
 England. 
 
 The victory over the Spanish Armada 
 has given the English a sense of security 
 which they have never felt before. They 
 have become a composite nation, not only 
 able to defend their country in time of 
 invasion, but able to seek out Philip in his 
 Spanish home, plunder his towns and 
 ships, and also carry on the subjugation of 
 Ireland which Henry II. had begun. 
 
 The golden flower of literature has burst 
 into full bloom. Grammar schools for the 
 education of the masses are rising all over 
 the land. Universities are diligently study- 
 ing the classics of Italy and Greece. Edu- 
 cation is no more confined to the nobility, 
 and the genius of the ^^poor scholar'' is 
 giving England her greatest son, Shake- 
 speare. His wonderful mind is raising to 
 the height of splendor the English drama 
 begun by Sackville and Marlowe. Bacon 
 is proclaiming the Philosophy of Science 
 and Gilbert is investigating the mysteries of 
 electricity. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 35 
 
 Action, action is the watchword of the 
 nation. 
 
 Elizabeth's wars abroad have depleted 
 her exchequer. She must now economize 
 and wait for a more auspicious moment 
 for planting a new colony in her dominion 
 of Virginia. But the Angel of Death waits 
 at the threshold, to carry her where she ib 
 to give an account of the deeds done in the 
 body. Elizabeth— Essex— Mary, Queen of 
 Scots— what did they have to say to each 
 other when they met in the dim world of 
 spirits f Ambition, power, and the worship- 
 ing love of her people could not till the 
 hungry heart of Elizabeth, embittered by 
 the perfidy of Leicester. Lonely she lived • 
 lonely she died. ' ' 
 
 ' ' The Queen is dead, long live the King ! ' ' 
 
 James I, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, 
 sits on the throne, while Sir Walter Ealeigh 
 the ' ' shepherd of the ocean, ' ' lies a prisoner 
 m the Tower of London, spending his last 
 days m an effort for the good of mankind- 
 he is writing his History of the World. 
 
 Shadows, which the glory of Elizabeth's 
 reign had hitherto hid, are overcastino- 
 the sky of England. Thousands of dis" 
 banded soldiers are returning home from 
 the wars. The farmers have abandoned 
 agriculture and taken to sheep raising 
 
36 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 Everywhere there is distress. Is there 
 nothing for the unemployed to do! 
 
 Yes, God has opened the land of Virginia. 
 
 New hope and energy spring into life and 
 culminate in the formation of the London 
 Company for the permanent colonization of 
 Virginia, the territory between Cape Fear 
 and Maryland. 
 
 I 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 New Year's Day, 1607. The god of win- 
 ter, holding high carnival in the vaulted 
 heavens, snatched the icy stalactites from 
 his frozen caverns, and crushing them in 
 his iron grasp, hurled them down upon the 
 shivering voyagers vainly trying to make 
 headway against the storm. His bellowing 
 laugh swayed the writhing trees until they 
 clashed their branches together in unbridled 
 furv. Countless millions of snowy flowers 
 whirled and rioted in the icy blast. 
 
 Huddled in the cabins of the Susan Con- 
 stant, the God-speed, and the Discovery 
 were one hundred and eight cavaliers of 
 fortune. Not yet out of sight of the spires 
 of home, discontent was already lifting its 
 hydra-head in search of food. 
 
 ^'What fools we were ever to have lis- 
 tened to that conniving Smith,'' murmured 
 Kendall, addressing Martin standing near. 
 ^^He is already hatching plots for making 
 himself King of Virginia. Watch him 
 seated yonder studying the map of Amadas 
 and Barlow. See how he is knitting his 
 brows and gazing far in the distance as he 
 
38 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 sees in imagination his kingdom in his 
 power. I tell you, he is dangerous. Yes- 
 terday I saw him talking with that sancti- 
 monious parson Hunt. Doubtless his rev- 
 erence does not stand very well with the 
 Higher Powers, or there would be an abate- 
 ment of this cursed storm.'' 
 
 George Maria Wingfield, strolling from 
 one port-hole to another, dreaming of the 
 vast wealth which he intended to store up 
 in this new land, overheard the speech of 
 Kendall and stored it up for future use. 
 He determined, as soon as they were 
 well out to sea, that he would stir up the 
 men against Smith and see what would 
 come of it. His malignant nature could 
 not bear to hear of the success of another. 
 
 Up on the deck Bartholomew Gosnold 
 paced back and forth, unheeding the hail 
 driving against his weather-beaten counte- 
 nance. As he swept the vast rolling billows 
 with his glass, he muttered to himself, 
 ''Why couldn't they heed my advice, and 
 pursue the track which I have discovered, 
 instead of following the old route of Colum- 
 busr' 
 
 In the cabin of the Susan Constant sat 
 John Laydon, a young carpenter, with his 
 head buried in his hands. In mind he was 
 back again in a rustic cottage in Devon- 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 39 
 
 shire. Eoses clambered over it in summer 
 and the hawthorn blossoms whitened the 
 hedges enclosing it— a casket holding the 
 jewel of his heart's desire, pretty Anne 
 Burr as. 
 
 The dainty maiden has kept his honest 
 heart in a state of constant turmoil with 
 her coquettish wiles. He was never sure of 
 her, and even now knew not whether she 
 had returned his love. 
 
 Suddenly he clinched his brawny hands, 
 and a deep scowl ploughed his forehead as 
 he thought of that caititf Wingfield, whose 
 pretentious home lay only a short distance 
 from Anne's. Many a time John had 
 caught sight of him riding down the lane 
 and stopping at the gate of the cottage to 
 whisper flattering words into the shell-like 
 ears of Anne, and his honeyed words 
 had dazzled her and perhaps touched her 
 heart. 
 
 Wlien the day's work was done, John 
 had gone to see her, and as they sat upon 
 the porch with the moonlight filtering 
 through the meshes of the vines he had 
 remonstrated with her. 
 
 ^^Anne, you know that he is a gentleman, 
 and will mate with one his equal in sta- 
 tion. He is only trifling with you to pass 
 the time. Better listen to an honest man's 
 
40 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 love, who has your dearest interest at 
 heart. ' ' 
 
 Anne tossed her head, and with the wis- 
 dom inherited from Eve avoided giving a 
 decided answer. 
 
 Perhaps if John returned with wealth 
 from that distant land, she might listen to 
 his suit— mind you, perhaps. 
 
 ^^You cannot be a fine ladj, Anne. It 
 was an unfortunate dav when you took 
 service with Mistress Forrest, for although 
 she has been a kind mistress, your head has 
 been turned by the compliments of the 
 gentlemen who resort to her house. You 
 dream of fine clothes, a coach to ride in, and 
 a maid to wait upon you; but I tell you, 
 only grief will come of it. ' ' 
 
 But no pleadings of her suitor had had 
 any effect on the pretty maiden, and, sore 
 at heart, he had left her to seek his fortune 
 in the New World. What was his surprise 
 to see Wingfield among the passengers 
 when he went on board the ship. 
 
 **Ha, it is you, Laydon. Pity you could 
 not bring the pretty Anne along,'' said 
 Wingfield with a sneer. 
 
 With a fierce scowl, Laydon flung a hot 
 reply. 
 
 ** Leave her alone. Honest men do not 
 trifle with simple maidens, and if you ever 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare. 41 
 
 do her a wrong, I will throttle you even if 
 I hang for it!'' 
 
 Wingfield retorted with a contemptuous 
 laugh. 
 
 Finally the storm lulled, and the voy- 
 agers, pursuing the old track over which 
 Eleanor Dare had sailed, came to the West 
 Indies. There they landed in the bright 
 and fickle month of April, to rest their sea- 
 worn bodies and soothe their distraught 
 tempers. 
 
 Down in the hold of the God-speed lay 
 a young prisoner manacled in irons. Curly 
 brown hair waved over his forehead, long 
 mustachios adorned his upper lip and 
 eyes full of intelligence, together with 
 firmly closed lips, in the corners of which 
 lurked a smile, marked him as a man of 
 strong character. 
 
 He had been miraculously preserved by 
 Providence to be the connecting link be- 
 tween the lost ^^City of Ealeigh" and the 
 future settlement at Jamestown. 
 
 A coat of mail covered his body, fitting 
 down snugly over his Turk-like trousers 
 which were met by huge French boots, with 
 wide overturning tops, settling in deep 
 wrinkles around his ankles. No premoni- 
 tion of the part he was to play in the com- 
 ing drama of Virginia came to him as he 
 
42 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 lay and listened to the men going back- 
 ward and forward to the tropical island. 
 
 Presently John Laydon came, bringing 
 the prisoner a luscious orange and soft 
 yellow banana gathered on shore. Sitting 
 down beside Captain Smith, he peeled the 
 tempting fruit and offered it to him. 
 
 ^' Thank you, Laydon; it was very kind 
 of you to remember me. Now that we are 
 alone, I would like to ask you a question. 
 AVhat is the trouble between you and Wing- 
 tieldr' 
 
 His sympathetic tones unlocked the lips 
 of the young carpenter. He poured out the 
 recital of his wrongs at the hand of Wing- 
 field. 
 
 ^ ^ Cheer up, Laydon ; things may turn out 
 better than you dream ; but keep a watchful 
 eye upon Wingfield. If I read him truly, 
 he is not above doing you a mischief out of 
 pure malice. It is owing to his efforts that 
 I am a prisoner. He and Kendall have 
 filled the men's minds with suspicion and 
 unkindness toward me.'' 
 
 About the end of April the colonists 
 started northward along the coast of 
 Florida, where the Spaniard was disput- 
 ing the territory with the Indian, and 
 steered for the entry to Eoanoke Island. 
 But they had not reckoned on the fidelity 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 43 
 
 with which April pays her debts to May, 
 particularly on the sea. A fierce storm, 
 accompanied by its satellites of wind and 
 rain, came rushing out of the Gulf of 
 Mexico, and sent the ships speeding past 
 the '^City of Raleigh'' like helpless birds 
 scudding before the blast, into the mouth 
 of the Chesapeake Bay. 
 
 There two capes stretched out long pro- 
 tecting arms to break the fury of the sea, 
 and give the frightened voyagers time to 
 collect their scattered senses. 
 
 ''Let us call the capes Charles and 
 Henry, after our sovereign's sons," said 
 Percy. ''May they prove as protecting to 
 their subjects when they come to the throne. 
 Yonder is a point of land, too, smiling 
 friendly welcome. Let us spend the night 
 there. ' ' 
 
 This proposition met with ready assent, 
 and very soon their camp-fires were burn- 
 ing brightly, the evening meal prepared 
 and speedily devoured by the hungry colo- 
 nists, who had eaten little since the storm 
 arose. 
 
 "^Hiat a comfort it is to tread on dry 
 land once more," said Gosnold, between 
 mouthfuls of food. 
 
 "Ay, so it is," replied Martin. "Wliat 
 says this worthy company to calling this 
 
44 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 spot Point Comfort? Let's put it to vote. 
 All in favor say *aye/ those opposed ^no.' 
 The ^ ayes' have it." 
 
 *^ Master Newport, read the sealed in- 
 structions for the government of the colony 
 which were entrusted to you. Let's hear the 
 conditions under which we are now to live, ' ' 
 said George Percy. 
 
 Newport opened the sealed packet and 
 proceeded to read the laws of the London 
 Company for the new settlement. He was 
 constantly interrupted by exclamations of 
 astonishment. 
 
 ^'Captain Smith appointed a member of 
 the council I Good ! now he will have to be 
 released from imprisonment, ' ' said Percy. 
 
 ''He ought not to be allowed to have a 
 hand in the affairs of the colony; he is 
 too scheming," interjected Kendall. 
 
 ' ' No house and land for each man, and all 
 to work for the common good!" exclaimed 
 Laydon in a disappointed tone. The hope of 
 winning Anne seemed farther away than 
 ever. 
 
 The newly appointed council conferred 
 among themselves, rejected Smith as a 
 member, and appointed Wingfield presi- 
 dent. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Twenty years had the violets bloomed 
 over the grave of Eleanor Dare on the 
 island of Koanoke. In all that time the In- 
 dian had planted his corn and tobacco and 
 celebrated the harvest with feasting and 
 dancing unmolested by the white man. 
 
 Gentle May, with tender hands, was 
 removing the furry coats of the purple and 
 white hepaticas. The pink anemones, sway- 
 ing in the breeze, nodded to her as she 
 passed. Down by the pools of quiet waters 
 the beavers were building dams with their 
 racquet-shaped tails, while among the 
 rushes on the river's bank, slate-blue 
 cranes, standing on one leg, watched for the 
 unwary fish that were to make their dinner. 
 
 The rising sun sent its long slanting 
 beams to awaken the colonists to their first 
 day on Virginia's soil. Rubbing their eyes 
 and stretching their limbs, they set about 
 preparing the morning meal and getting 
 ready for the renewing of the voyage. 
 
 Leaving Point Comfort, they entered a 
 broad and pleasant stream, whose waters 
 traveled many miles before they emptied 
 
46 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 their amber flood into the Chesapeake. As 
 they sailed up the stream their muskets 
 repeatedly awoke the echoes, frightening 
 the birds from their nest-building to whirl 
 in eddying circles above the tree-tops. 
 Curious Indians, frightened by the sound, 
 watched them from behind the trunks of 
 massive trees. 
 
 Forty miles up the river they came upon 
 a peninsula jutting into deep water. Tall 
 and stately trees covered its breast, and the 
 air was filled with the fragrance of blossom- 
 ing honeysuckle and wild roses. It seemed 
 an ideal spot for a settlement. 
 
 Sailing their ships close up to the shore 
 they landed upon the ground which in time 
 to come would be the most historic spot 
 upon the whole continent of America. 
 
 ''We will call this citv Jamestown and 
 the river James, in honor of James, first 
 king of the United Kingdoms of England 
 and Scotland, '' pompously declared Wing- 
 field. ''As the weather is so pleasant, we 
 shall not need to build houses just at pres- 
 ent. Cut down some of the trees and make 
 room for your tents.'' 
 
 "Shall we not set about building a fort 
 as a protection against the savages!" in- 
 quired Smith. 
 
 "No, do as you are told. The council 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 47 
 
 and myself are able to direct affairs with- 
 out your assistance. Bid the men lay aside 
 their arms and go to work. There is no 
 need for such precaution. ' ' 
 
 Before long a city of tents spread its 
 white cones among the giant trees. A large 
 sail stretched between two drooping elms, 
 situated on a green knoll, became the church 
 where the colonists gathered daily to say 
 morning and evening prayers, led by their 
 faithful pastor, the Eeverend Eobert Hunt. 
 
 Each day the men were divided into com- 
 panies, some to cut down clapboards to load 
 the returning ships, others were busy clear- 
 ing the ground for gardens, while the rest 
 made nets to catch the fish of many kinds 
 which abounded in the stream. 
 
 Many Indians came to visit them, chief 
 of whom was the wily Opechancanough, and 
 numerous presents of bells and beads 
 gained his apparent good will. In return 
 he brought presents of corn and dried 
 venison, and gave much news of the 
 country. 
 
 ^'The river vou call James, is the Pow- 
 hatan,'' he told them. ''It was named for 
 our king, who is a great and mighty chief. 
 When this river is filled with sturgeon he 
 comes to his home far up its banks. When 
 the swans and wild geese come northward 
 
48 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 he goes to AVeriwocomoco on the Chicka- 
 hominy. ' ' 
 
 Scarcely three weeks harl passed when 
 President Wingfield ordered Captain Smith 
 and Newport to take twenty men and sail 
 up the James to discover its source. Cap- 
 tain Smith was loath to leave, for discon- 
 tent was brewing among the colonists. 
 
 AAHien delicate hands were blistered and 
 unused muscles ached with unaccustomed 
 toil, the idle among them left oif work and 
 sat down to rest, until resting became a 
 habit. The whole of the burden fell upon 
 the persevering ones, who thus had to work 
 not only for themselves, but for the lazy 
 ones also. 
 
 ^ ^ It is not fair, ' ' said John Lay don, ^ ' that 
 some should have to fish for food in the hot 
 sun, and work to load the vessels with clap- 
 boards, while others lie idle." 
 
 "We don't have to work, the common 
 storehouse will feed us,'' responded a man 
 lying among a group of idlers stretched 
 under a tree. 
 
 To all of their complaints Wingfield paid 
 no attention but spent his time in eating, 
 devising plans for gain, and plotting 
 against Captain Smith. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Where the beating heart of Virginia lies, 
 there nature has built a temple, and reared 
 seven hills as high altars to the One True 
 God. As the James, rushing swiftly down 
 its course, reaches this hallowed spot it 
 instinctively pauses and shatters its one 
 clear melody into a thousand exquisite 
 harmonies on its rocky banks of keys. 
 
 On a gently sloping hill, overshadowed 
 by huge forest trees, stood some ten or 
 twelve houses where the warriors of Pow- 
 hatan had their summer home. Somewhat 
 apart from the others was the house of 
 Powhatan, King of Virginia. Built of the 
 trunks of the cedar, and thatched with the 
 boughs of the pine, it formed a royal dwel- 
 ling place for that august chief. Nightly 
 four tall warriors stood guard around it to 
 prevent a sudden surprise from their 
 enemies who lay to the westward. 
 
 *'The pearl of Powhatan's daughters lies 
 sleeping within her shell," was the watch- 
 word passed at regular inter^^als from one 
 to the other. Dire was the vengeance of 
 Powhatan if one failed to answer the salute 
 of the other. 
 
50 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 On this bright June morning all of the 
 inhabitants of the village were abroad. The 
 little embryo warriors, clad only in their 
 copper-colored skins, waged mimic warfare 
 with one another. From the low branches 
 of the trees swung the papooses, like co- 
 coons from which the gay-colored butterflies 
 were already emerging. Over the fires hung 
 many kettles in which the patient squaws, 
 young in years but old in hardships, were 
 cooking the morning meal for their lords, 
 while near the beach, stretched at full 
 length, lay the warriors, smoking their 
 long-stemmed pipes, and discussing the 
 news which Opechancanough had brought— 
 news of the pale faces who had pitched their 
 wigwams far down on the banks of the 
 river. 
 
 Calling him to them, he was again asked 
 to recite the wonderful tale. True, they 
 had heard that many years ago there 
 had been a tribe of pale faces far down on 
 Eoanoke Island, and the Hatteras Indians 
 even now told strange tales of a pale face 
 people who had once been there, but not one 
 of Powhatan's warriors had ever seen 
 them. 
 
 Sitting down, Opechancanough again 
 recited the tale of the wonderful tribe who 
 had come amoife them. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 51 
 
 '^They wear curious mantles of many 
 eolorSj" said he, *-and one among them has 
 his body covered with a hard shining shell, 
 which doubtless the Great Spirit has given 
 him. Their canoes have great white wings, 
 and hidden in each one is an evil spirit 
 which sends forth fire and thunder. ' ' 
 
 In the midst of his story one of the war- 
 riors suddenly lifted his hand for silence, 
 and with head to one side and chin out- 
 stretched, turned his gaze upon the river. 
 The rest of the warriors followed his ex- 
 ample. Their keen ears quickly caught the 
 sound of oars beating the water with 
 measured strokes, and presently there came 
 into view a boat with twenty-two pale faces 
 in it, their gleaming muskets resting on 
 their knees. 
 
 ^^ These are the pale faces Opechan- 
 canough has told you of. Eeceive them in 
 a friendly manner, for they are mighty 
 and powerful, ' ^ said that wily chief. 
 
 As the prow of the boat touched the beach 
 all of the warriors went down to meet it. 
 Many gestures on the part of the Indians 
 gave Captain Smith and his party to under- 
 stand that they were welcome. 
 
 ^*We would speak with your great chief, '* 
 said Captain Smith, who instinctively acted 
 as spokesman for the rest of the party. 
 
52 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 *'My brother Powhatan is not here/' said 
 Opechancanough. ^^He has gone to his 
 winter home at Weriwocomoco. His chiefs 
 and myself welcome yon in his stead. 
 Opechancanough has told them of your 
 coming and the presents you bring. 
 
 Still keeping their muskets by their side, 
 the voyagers seated themselves on the beach 
 near to their boat. Then the squaws, who 
 had been curiously watching them, came 
 forward at the command of Opechan- 
 canough with food for their refreshment. 
 
 Willow baskets tilled with flat cakes made 
 of crushed acorns, buttered with deer suet, 
 were flanked by hot corn pone and hoe cake. 
 Broiled venison and sturgeon, together with 
 wine made from last year's vintage, com- 
 pleted the repast. 
 
 With right good will the hungry voyagers 
 fell to and did full justice to the food set 
 before them. 
 
 ^'Wbere is the source of this river you 
 call Powhatan?" said Captain Newport, 
 addressing Opechancanough. 
 
 ^^Far away toward the setting sun, 
 among the great mountains, it begins, and 
 gathering other streams into its embrace, 
 swells into the river gliding by," he 
 answered. 
 
 After the meal was over pipes and tobacco 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare. 53 
 
 were brought, and Indian and White man 
 smoked the pipe of peace together. 
 
 ^^Who is your king, and where is your 
 country r' asked Nantauquas, son of Pow- 
 hatan. 
 
 ^^Many days' journey across the great 
 waters lives a mighty chief called James,'' 
 replied Captain Smith. ''Thousands of 
 warriors obey his commands and speed on 
 his errands. He has sent us to seek out the 
 friendship of his brother king, Powhatan, 
 and bring him presents as tokens of his 
 love. ' ' 
 
 ''It is well," said Opechancanough. 
 "Dearlv will Powhatan love his brother 
 and his presents. ' ' 
 
 Just then came the sound of voices lifted 
 in song, broken now and then by shouts of 
 laughter. Not knowing what this might 
 portend, the white men grasped their mus- 
 kets and turned toward the direction from 
 whence came the sound. 
 
 A gently sloping, hill crowned with a 
 dense growth of sycamores, gradually thin- 
 ning out near the bottom, lay directly be- 
 hind them. 
 
 Forth from the trees on the brow came 
 a group of twelve maidens whirling and 
 bending in a sinuous circle around a young- 
 goddess in their midst. Raising their arms 
 
54 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 aloft they showered her with great white 
 daisies inset with hearts of gold, then 
 bending their knees in homage, uplifted 
 their voices in plaintive chant, while she 
 in turn bent her body in graceful salute. 
 On went the whirling dance and battle of 
 flowers, in and out among the sycamores, 
 until they reached the foot of the hill. 
 
 Then, catching sight of the stranger 
 guests, the maidens paused with uplifted 
 arms as if stiffened into stone. Opechan- 
 canough went toward them and informed 
 them of the coming of the pale faces in 
 their absence. 
 
 Quickly the links of the chain fell apart 
 and ranged themselves behind the maiden 
 who had been in the center. Like a young 
 aspen against a background of autumn- 
 tinted foliage stood Pocahontas, daughter 
 of Powhatan and Virginia Dare. All of 
 the girlish abandon with which she had 
 whirled down the hill had vanished. In 
 its place was the royal bearing of the 
 queen. 
 
 Clouds of blue-black hair swept down her 
 back, bound about the temples with a rope 
 of pearl, which reached to her waist. A 
 short skirt of soft doeskin fringed with the 
 quills of the fretful porcupine met long 
 leggins embroidered in beads of many 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 55 
 
 colors, and on her bared arms gleamed 
 burnished copper bracelets. Her rounded 
 bosom still rose and fell with the exertion 
 of the dance. 
 
 Walking slowly forward with Opechan- 
 canough by her side, and her maidens fol- 
 lowing, she now came to greet the colonists. 
 Pausing before them she closely scanned 
 their faces, and as she held out her hands 
 to Captain Smith the tender smile of 
 Virginia Dare rippled like sunshine over 
 her features. 
 
 ^^ Welcome to the home of Powhatan, 
 pale face brother. Have my people treated 
 you well, and served you with ioodV^ 
 
 ^^Well and kindly have we fared, ^' said 
 Captain Smith, * ^ and have also smoked the 
 pipe of peace. Let there be friendship 
 between your people and mine, and in token 
 of our love, receive this string of beads, 
 whose color is that of the sky.'' 
 
 Instantly Pocahontas was the child again 
 as she eagerly accepted the blue beads and 
 turned to show them to her maidens. 
 
 ^^We will also plant a sign of the love 
 there is between us.'' Turning to one of 
 his men. Captain Smith bade him bring 
 axe and spade from the boat. A young 
 aspen no higher than a man soon measured 
 its length upon the ground and was quickly 
 
56 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 stripped of its branches, one of which, with 
 the silvery grey leaves still quivering upon 
 it, he nailed across the trunk. Then a hole 
 was dug and the ''Sign*' placed within it. 
 Turning to Pocahontas, he told her that 
 she must hold it upright while the men 
 banked the earth. 
 
 With a joyous laugh she threw her arms 
 over the beams of the cross and leaned her 
 weight against the trunk. A sob rose in 
 the throat of the young soldier as he looked 
 upon the picture of savagery clinging to 
 the Hope of all the world. Surely the Holy 
 Ghost was brooding over her on that 
 Pentecost Day. 
 
 Perceiving that they could not ascend 
 the James farther on account of the cata- 
 racts, the party prepared to return home. 
 Captain Smith turned to bid good-by to 
 Pocahontas. Taking her hands in his, he 
 smiled down into her uplifted eyes. 
 
 *'Will Pocahontas be mv friend and come 
 to Jamestown to see me ? There I will show 
 her many strange things and tell her of 
 the land of the pale faces.'' 
 
 ''Pocahontas will come, and she will also 
 be your friend. Already her heart turns 
 to your people, and much she loves them." 
 
 As they sailed down the river, Captain 
 Smith said to Newport, ''Did you notice 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 57 
 
 tlie bearing of Pocahontas? No maiden 
 of our court is more queenly. She has not 
 the cunning and wily look of her people; 
 frankness and kindness sit enthroned upon 
 her brow. If it were not for the color of 
 her skin and her Indian features I could 
 almost believe she was a daughter of our 
 people. ' ' 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 Arriving at Jamestown, the exploring 
 party came upon a scene of utter confusion, 
 misery, and friglit. As they hastily landed 
 they were met by Chaplain Hunt, whose 
 sad face foreboded evil tidings. 
 
 ^'Your prophecy has come true. Smith. 
 Want of proper vigilance and the lack of a 
 fort have been our undoing. Last night 
 while all were asleep we were surprised by 
 the Indians and many of our men are dead. 
 Fear has taken hold of the others to such 
 an extent they seem paralyzed, and will 
 not stir to provide protection. All are 
 determined to leave with Captain Newport 
 for home. I hope that your coming will 
 restore their courage. ' ' 
 
 *'Why does not Wingfield compel the men 
 to go to work ! ' ' inquired Smith. 
 
 Mr. Hunt shrugged his shoulders, and 
 with a gesture of helplessness replied: 
 
 *' Wingfield, I am sorry to say, thinks 
 only of himself. He has no feeling of 
 responsibility or pity for his men. I know 
 you for a man of courage and a Christian. 
 My only hope lies in you. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 59 
 
 ^^I can do so little. Every move or sug- 
 gestion I make is looked upon with 
 suspicion and jealousy. God knows I have 
 no selfish end in view, and I can only trust 
 Him and wait." 
 
 The coming of Captain Smith, with his 
 courage and perseverance, insensibly re- 
 stored the spirits of the colonists. After 
 he had talked to them and urged them not 
 to abandon the settlement they consented 
 to try a while longer, but no sooner was 
 order restored than Wingfield and his 
 satellites set to work to breed envy and 
 suspicion of the brave soldier. 
 
 One morning after daily prayer had been 
 said, the Rev. Mr. Hunt spoke to the 
 assembled men about their jealousy and 
 suspicion of Captain Smith. 
 
 ^'My friends," said he, '^we have come 
 across to this land together, here to found 
 a home for ourselves and be a help to the 
 benighted savage. Let us put aside envy 
 and backbiting, and trust one another. 
 Each one of us has a duty to perform in 
 planting the English nation upon this soil, 
 and let us not forget the great end we have 
 in view, of bringing these poor savages 
 to love and serve their Maker. Let us treat 
 them with forbearance and patience, 
 making no retaliation for the wrong done 
 
60 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 us. We must bear in mind that Kalph 
 Lane 's men, in killing a poor savage for the 
 loss of a paltry silver cup, first taught the 
 Indian hatred for the white man. Before 
 that time all was peace and love between 
 them. They listened gladly to the story 
 of the Heavenly Father's love, and even 
 stroked their bodies with the Word of God, 
 thinking in their simple way that mere con- 
 tact would bring a blessing. But I must 
 speak to you of one other thing. 
 
 *' There is one among you, courageous 
 and God-fearing, who has your interest 
 alone at heart. In return for all his kind- 
 ness you have given him pain and heart- 
 ache. Is this the spirit of a Christian? 
 Can we teach brotherly love to the savage 
 when we lack it among ourselves? Is it 
 honest and manly treatment? I speak to 
 you as man to man. Look into your hearts 
 and see if you have done as you would be 
 done by, and then repenting of your lack 
 of charity, extend the hand of comradeship 
 to him." 
 
 As they quietly listened to the words of 
 the priest, over many faces stole a look 
 of shame and repentance; but some still 
 sat with unmoved countenances, among 
 them Wingfield and his particular friends. 
 
 Captain Newport now made ready to re- 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 61 
 
 turn to England with his shipload of clap- 
 boards hewn from the virgin forests sur- 
 rounding the settlement. The pinnace was 
 to be left behind for exploring expeditions 
 as had been commanded by the London 
 Company. 
 
 On the voyage to Virginia much of the 
 food supply had been spoilt and what was 
 left was recklessly squandered. As long 
 as the returning ships stayed the sailors 
 exchanged the food, which they had for the 
 voyage back to England, for tobacco and 
 other possessions of the settlers. 
 
 After they left it became necessary to 
 place each man on an allowance of food. 
 A half pint of wheat and barley boiled in 
 water served as a day's allowance. Presi- 
 dent Wingfield, however, had taken care 
 to provide beef, oatmeal, and sack for his 
 private use. 
 
 He now saw fit to issue orders for the 
 building of the long-needed fort, and the 
 men were put to work cutting down pali- 
 sades and bearing them to the appointed 
 place. Few of them could be prevailed 
 upon to w^ork in their weakened condition, 
 and of those who did many died from 
 exhaustion. 
 
 The provisions of Wingfield were now 
 nearly spent, and as he had no intention 
 
62 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 of sharing tlie lot of the colonists, he and 
 his friends plotted to seize the pinnace and 
 sail for the mother country. 
 
 One day John Laydon, returning from 
 work on the fort, overheard the conspir- 
 ators talking together behind a clump of 
 bushes, and he immediately reported the 
 matter to the Chaplain. 
 
 Hastily seeking out Captain Smith, Mr. 
 Hunt repeated the story told him by 
 Laydon. 
 
 ''What shall we do, Smith I At all costs 
 such an outrage mnst be prevented." 
 
 ''After evening prayer, when all of the 
 men are together, I will disclose the plot,'^ 
 replied the Captain. 
 
 Wlien the clock struck four the idle and 
 the industrious alike assembled under the 
 stretched sail. There were the unsuspect- 
 ing and the plotters sitting side by side, 
 and as the priest looked upon them he could 
 not keep the tremor out of his voice as he 
 thought of the helplessness of some and the 
 treachery of the others. When the last 
 words of the blessing had been said, Cap- 
 tain Smith arose and told them of the plot. 
 As he pictured the selfishness of Wingfield, 
 his cruel treatment, and worst of all his 
 intention of seizing the pinnace, the anger 
 of the men rose to white heat. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 63 
 
 ( i 
 
 He shall not be President any longer ! ' ' 
 cried one. Immediately the cry was taken 
 up by the others, and Wingfield cringed in 
 fear of his life. A vote was then taken to 
 elect a new President. Surely Captain 
 Smith would be chosen; but no, the seed 
 of suspicion sown by Wingfield had taken 
 root. The colonists were not yet ready 
 to trust Captain Smith. Eatcliffe, the 
 accomplice of Wingfield, was elected in his 
 stead. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 Under the new President matters went 
 from bad to worse. Fall was now approach- 
 ing and the decaying vegetation was send- 
 ing up deadly miasmas to poison the air. 
 
 ^^Food, food!'' was the daily cry of the 
 colonists. The deadly fear of Opechan- 
 canough and his men filled their dreams 
 at night with terrible crimes. Many a 
 man awoke with the cold perspiration bath- 
 ing his brow, only to find his dream come 
 true. A cry— a prayer— a silence! 
 
 Sitting idly around, they bemoaned their 
 fate and talked of the comforts they had 
 left behind. Would they had never left 
 the shores of England ! There at least they 
 might have found food. 
 
 But even as they sat and talked, a minis- 
 tering angel, sent by God, was on her way 
 to them. Sculling down the James caaie 
 Pocahontas for her first visit to Jamestown. 
 The bottom of her canoe was filled with 
 corn and wild turkeys which she was bring- 
 ing as a present to Captain Smith. Fear- 
 lessly stepping on shore, she came directly 
 toward a group of men sitting under a 
 tree. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 65 
 
 ''"Where is your chief T* she asked. 
 
 Thinking that she meant Ratcliffe, one 
 of the men hastened to call him. But when 
 he appeared the little guest shook her head 
 and said, ^'Not the one of the lowering 
 brow, but the one with the shining body.'^ 
 Then they knew she meant Captain Smith 
 and just then he appeared. Pleased 
 recognition lighted up her countenance as 
 she saw him. 
 
 ** Pocahontas has come as she promised, 
 and to show her love has brought food for 
 the great chief." 
 
 ^'Many times welcome, O Pocahontas,'' 
 he replied. ^^The Great Spirit of the pale 
 faces has moved your heart to come to our 
 aid.'' 
 
 Then he showed her the church where the 
 pale faces worshiped, and gave her pres- 
 ents of bells and beads, and she lingered a 
 long time with them and seemed loath to 
 depart. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 Fall, clad in gorgeous robes of crimson 
 and yellow, fled before the moaning chant 
 of winter as she wrapped her winding- 
 sheet of glistening snow around her skele- 
 ton form. Her biting breath had forced 
 the colonists to build log cabins for shelter. 
 E oaring fires in the great chimney places 
 gave warmth to their bodies, but could not 
 satisfy the cravings of hunger. Most of 
 their ammunition had been squandered 
 along with their provisions, and only the 
 daily visits of Pocahontas now saved them 
 from starvation. 
 
 Few among the colonists had any love 
 for Captain Smith. True, his popularity 
 had been great for a while after he had 
 forced Wingfield to abandon the pinnace a 
 second time; but it soon waned, and his 
 daj^s were made miserable with suspicion 
 and taunts. 
 
 ^^I will leave them to their fate and go 
 in search of the South Sea, which men say 
 is only two hundred miles to the west- 
 ward, '' he said to himself. 
 
 Acting upon this determination, he took 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 67 
 
 SIX men and two Indian guides, and started 
 up the James. Soon he came to the Chicka- 
 hominy, upon whose chocolate-colored 
 breast the wild geese and swans were 
 floating. 
 
 At the same time he left Jamestown an 
 Indian was traveling with all speed to carry 
 a message from Wingfield to Opechan- 
 canough. 
 
 ^'Father Smith comes your way. Kill 
 him, and twenty guns will be your reward, ' ^ 
 was the message. 
 
 Seeing a column of smoke rising from 
 among the trees, Captain Smith com- 
 manded liis men to row him ashore. Per- 
 haps there might be an Indian village 
 there, where he could learn something about 
 the route to the South Sea. Taking with 
 him the two Indian guides, he ordered the 
 others to row to the center of the stream 
 and await his coming. 
 
 Hardly had he disajDpeared when his 
 orders were disobeved. Robinson and 
 Emry refused to row back. They would 
 do some exploring on their own account. 
 
 Opechancanough had received the mes- 
 sage sent by Wingfield. As soon as 
 Captain Smith was out of sight, his men 
 pounced down upon Robinson and Emry 
 
68 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 and added their scalps to their belts. Then 
 they started in pursuit of Smith. 
 
 Not suspecting the danger dogging his 
 footsteps, Captain Smith was horrified to 
 see one of the Indians drop to the ground. 
 Catching hold of the other, he bound him in 
 front of himself, and turned to face the 
 enemy. Arrows flew like hail, wounding 
 him in the thigh. Throwing off the Indian, 
 he plunged into the stream, hoping to escape 
 his pursuers. In his disabled condition he 
 was soon captured, and taken by the gloat- 
 ing savages to Opechancanough. 
 
 Although expecting every minute to be 
 killed, he did not lose his presence of mind, 
 but began devising plans for delaying 
 death, if only for a short while. 
 
 Taking from his pocket a little ivory 
 compass, he handed it to the cunning chief. 
 
 ^^Look at this, Opechancanough. Turn 
 it about and try to touch the little moving 
 point. ' ' 
 
 Opechancanough did so, and tried to put 
 his finger upon the quivering needle, but 
 found a hard substance came between. Still 
 he could see through it, and turn it which- 
 ever way he would, the needle always swung 
 to the same spot. 
 
 A grunt expressive of admiring awe 
 burst from the chief and was echoed by his 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 69 
 
 men as they gazed in amazement upon the 
 wonderful thing. 
 
 Opechancanough and his warriors then 
 drew aside to hold a consultation as to the 
 disposal of their prisoner. At the end of 
 a few minutes four warriors came forward, 
 and seizing the prisoner bound him to a 
 tree. The rest then took their positions in 
 front of him, with arrows strung ready to 
 end his life. 
 
 Eesigning hope, and commending his 
 soul to God, the unhappy soldier awaited 
 the fatal signal from Opechancanough. 
 Just as the warriors raised their bows, the 
 chief held up the compass and they 
 unstrung their arrows. 
 
 ' ^ We will take the pale face to Powhatan ; 
 unbind him,'' said Opechancanough. 
 
 Smith, with his hands tied behind him, 
 was placed between two guards and the 
 journey to Weriwocomoco was begun. This 
 place was the chief home of Powhatan. 
 Here he had his treasure-house filled 
 with skins, copper beads, and long ropes 
 of pearls, and bows, arrows, and the 
 deadly tomahawk lay heaped together. 
 On the one side lay greed; on the other, 
 death. The whole history of his deal- 
 ings with the colony lay in those two 
 piles. 
 
70 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 When Smith arrived there he was car- 
 ried into a large room with mats of woven 
 rushes upon the floor. In the center a roar- 
 ing blaze sent its puffing breath in wreath- 
 ing clouds to form a canopy over the 
 bedstead throne placed beside it. Two hun- 
 dred warriors entered and ranged them- 
 selves in double rows around the walls. 
 From behind them peeped the squaws 
 dressed in fantastic garb. Their faces 
 and shoulders were crimsoned with the 
 juice of the pokeberry. Tufts of downy 
 heron feathers swayed above their jetty 
 locks, and strings of white beads encircled 
 their necks. 
 
 As Powhatan entered, an unearthly shout 
 split the air and sent cold shivers over the 
 prisoner. 
 
 Tall and gaunt as a blasted pine was the 
 King of Virginia. Sixty years had etched 
 their passing in numerous fine lines 
 upon his features. Crafty eyes, partially 
 obscured by half -closed lids, gave a sinister 
 look to his countenance. A magnificent 
 robe of raccoon skins covered his majestic 
 form, and the great bushy tails ringed in 
 black waved as he walked. Four youthful 
 maidens acted as his bodyguard, for the 
 decrepit chief greatly loved the young and 
 
 gay. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 71 
 
 As John Smith looked upon this living 
 piece of granite, hope died within him. 
 
 Calling around him the priests of Okee, 
 Powhatan inquired of them the will of the 
 Terrible One concerning the prisoner. 
 
 '^Let it be as Okee wills," said the King. 
 ''Bring a stone and lay his head upon it." 
 
 A huge stone was placed in front of the 
 old war-horse. Dragging Smith forward, 
 his head was laid upon its cold bosom. The 
 savage warriors, with uplifted clubs, 
 crowded around to have a share in beating 
 out his brains. 
 
 From among the women in the back- 
 ground sprang Pocahontas, and threw her- 
 self at her father's feet. 
 
 "0 Powhatan, spare the life of the 
 stranger. Beware lest you anger the Great 
 Spirit of the pale face. He is mightier than 
 the Okee of the ' real man. ' Will Powhatan 
 not listen to Pocahontas, daughter of the 
 Water Lily!" 
 
 At the sound of that loved name, Pow- 
 hatan's eyelids flickered for an instant, but 
 no sign of relenting showed upon his face. 
 
 ' ' The pale face shall die ; Powhatan has 
 spoken. ' ' 
 
 Bending her body, she clasped the head 
 of Captain Smith to her beating bosom and 
 faced her father. Then the soul of Vir- 
 
72 The Daughter of Virginia Dare, 
 
 ginia Dare battled with Powhatan for the 
 life of the captive. 
 
 *' Powhatan takes the life of the stranger ; 
 he shall also slay his best-loved daughter. 
 Pocahontas has spoken. '' 
 
 With a passionate movement she laid her 
 face against that of the prisoner, and her 
 clond of hair covered them both with its 
 dusky mantle. 
 
 For three long minutes a deathlike silence 
 hung over the crowded room. Only the 
 falling of a crackling branch sawn asunder 
 by the fiery tooth of the flame disturbed 
 the pulsating air. Powhatan moved on his 
 throne and the spell was broken. 
 
 ^^ Pocahontas has saved the pale face 
 from death. He shall be kept a prisoner 
 to make hatchets for Powhatan and beads 
 for Pocahontas. ' ' 
 
 Captain Smith was then removed to a 
 lonely house in the woods, under a guard 
 of four warriors. 
 
 Each day Pocahontas came with food for 
 the young soldier, and as he ate he told her 
 many stories of the lands across the sea. 
 
 *^To the eastward lies the land of the 
 pale faces. There they live in great houses, 
 tall as trees. Many openings for the sun- 
 light to come in are filled with a substance 
 clear as water, but hard and brittle. The 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 73 
 
 walls are hung in great pieces of cloth to 
 keep out the winter's cold. When the war- 
 riors go a-journey they ride upon a four- 
 legged animal called a horse. Also the 
 squaws and maidens cover their whole 
 bodies." 
 
 "Here and here?" said Pocahontas, 
 touching her bared breast and arms. 
 
 '^Yes," replied the courageous Captain. 
 ^ * Not even an arm can be seen. ' ' 
 
 "Tell Pocahontas what lies beyond the 
 setting sun." 
 
 "To the westward live a people whose 
 skin is much like that of Pocahontas. Per- 
 haps in the beginning of things your peo- 
 ple wandered from that land to this. There 
 they walk with their feet pressed against 
 
 ours. ' ' 
 
 Pocahontas marveled much at his won- 
 derful narratives, and the cliild's love for 
 the pale face grew in strength every day. 
 
 "O Pocahontas," came in accents trem- 
 ulous with emotion, "you have saved my 
 life and given back hope to my heart. You 
 are as dear to me as a daughter to her 
 father ; hereafter I will be your father and 
 I shall call you child. 
 
 Seizing his hands, she pressed her lips 
 upon them and her happy heart made 
 answer. 
 
74 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 ^ ^ Pocahontas is content, for then she will 
 be a child of the pale faces." 
 
 x\fter two days' imprisonment a horrible 
 figure dressed as Satan ai^peared before 
 Smith. Unearthly yells, such as lost souls 
 doubtless utter, came from the throats of 
 two hundred black figures who accompanied 
 this apparition. Powhatan and his war- 
 riors had come to see if they could make the 
 Captain tremble before the terrors of the 
 devil. 
 
 Not a muscle of Captain Smith's face 
 moved, although an icy hand gripped at his 
 heart. His composure astonished Pow- 
 hatan. Truly this was a wonderful war- 
 rior whom not even Okee could force to 
 cringe. It were better to have his friend- 
 ship than his enmity. No doubt he was an 
 oracle of the Great Spirit. 
 
 So Powhatan left otf his incantations and 
 sat down before the prisoner. He was now, 
 he said, the friend of Father Smith, whom 
 he would henceforth love as a son, and 
 would give him land over which to rule. 
 He should go back to Jamestown and send 
 him two great guns and a grindstone. 
 
 This the Captain gladly promised to do. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 In the cold light of a wintry morning 
 Smith appeared in Jamestown, escorted by 
 twelve warriors headed by Rawhunt. The 
 joyful shout of those who had stood his 
 friends warmed his heart. How sweetly 
 sound the voices of friends when one is 
 delivered from deadly peril! All came to 
 shake his hand and rejoice over him, 
 except the malicious Wingfield and the band 
 of plotters. ^Hiat evil combination of cir- 
 cumstances had brought back the main- 
 spring to set the watch to wlork again, and 
 destroy their well-laid plans for sailing for 
 home in the pinnace! Wingfield imme- 
 diately set to work again to hatch another 
 plot for getting rid of the hated Cap- 
 tain. 
 
 ^'Ratclitfe, I have thought of a plan 
 whereby we may soon put an end to this 
 doughty soldier. We will say that accord- 
 ing to the Levitical Law his life should pay 
 the forfeit for the death of Robinson and 
 Emry. ' ' 
 
 '^An excellent idea,'' returned Ratcliffe. 
 ^'I tell you, man, your brains are worth 
 
76 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 their weight in gold. We have enough men 
 on our side to condemn him. I, as gov- 
 ernor, will call the council together and 
 speedily settle matters, then we can return 
 home from this God-forsaken country.'' 
 
 So Captain Smith was again brought 
 before his judges to plead for his life. No 
 protestations of innocence were of any 
 avail, for the Jeffreys of the court had 
 already decided on his doom. Wingfield, 
 as presiding judge, rose to deliver sen- 
 tence, his evil heart gloating over each 
 word he uttered. 
 
 ^ ^ To-morrow at noon you shall be hanged 
 by the neck until dead.''.. 
 
 Lying in the wooden fort, guarded by 
 grim and vengeful men, John Smith's 
 thoughts went traveling over the years of 
 his life. Again he was a slave in the land 
 of the Turks. God had rescued him 
 through His agent, the beautiful princess. 
 Perhaps He would again send a deliverer 
 if his faith remained strong. 
 
 Before the curtains of night parted to 
 let the sun-god roll his chariot through, the 
 ship of Captain Newport came sailing up 
 the stream. It was an answer to John 
 Smith's prayers. 
 
 A joyful clamor of voices mingled with 
 the barking of dogs greeted the tough old 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 77 
 
 sea captain as he made his way down the 
 ship's ladder. 
 
 ^'What is the news from home! Whom 
 have you brought over? Have you food 
 and apparel on board, and where are the 
 letters!" The questions were eager and 
 numberless. 
 
 ''One thing at a time," answered the 
 worthy old sea-dog. ''Do you expect us 
 to stand here in the freezing cold to give 
 you news! Lead the way to a fire where 
 we may thaw the marrow in our bones. 
 Gad, but you have the coldest ice-house 
 over here it has ever been mv lot to enter ! " 
 
 The whole procession then made its way 
 to the fort, as it was the largest house of 
 accommodation. Great sticks of jDitch pine 
 lighted up the interior and revealed the 
 prisoner lying in a corner. 
 
 "What is the meaning of this outrage!" 
 thundered iSTewport. "Why is Captain 
 Smith a prisoner?" 
 
 His questions were soon answered, and, 
 turning fiercely upon Ratcliffe, he hurled 
 maledictions upon him. 
 
 "Release him instantly or else some 
 other gibbering head will adorn the gal- 
 lows to-morrow! I will be answerable to 
 the London Company. ' ' 
 
 Captain Smith's guards sullenly undid 
 
78 The Daughter of Virginia Dare. 
 
 liis bonds, and he came forward to hear 
 the news from home. First he cast his 
 eyes upon the new adventurers, and he saw 
 that no liope for the settlement lay in them. 
 Soft, cushiony hands w'ere not going to 
 wield the axe and sight the gun. 
 
 Seating himself upon a rough stool 
 before the fire, the messenger from home 
 began to dole out his packet of mail. 
 
 ''Two for you, Martin, three for Rat- 
 cliffe, and one for you, WingJffeld. Looks 
 like a woman's hand and an uneducated one 
 at that. Nothing for you, Laydon, I am 
 sorry to say.'' 
 
 The fortunate ones eagerly seized their 
 letters and were soon deep in their contents. 
 Those who had received no mail clamored 
 for news. 
 
 ''Fair and softly. Give me time to get 
 my breath, and one of you men fetch me a 
 cup of sack from yonder package near the 
 door. Ah," came his voice between his 
 gulps, "how liquor warms the cockles of a 
 man's heart. Now I will begin. 
 
 ' ' First of all, the reading of the Word of 
 God"— here he lifted his hat reverently— 
 "is rapidly spreading among the poor as 
 well as the rich. Men's minds are more 
 set on serious things than in the reign of 
 our good 'Queen Bess,' God rest her soul! 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 79 
 
 The Puritan sect is making great headway, 
 but I do not like their sour looks and lank 
 hair. ' ' 
 
 ^'How are King Janies and Parliament 
 getting on!" said George Percy. '^And 
 what of my kinsman, Lord Percy!" 
 
 ''Ill, man, ill. King James is driving 
 Parliament to distraction by his forced 
 lewing of taxes and reckless expenditure 
 of money without their consent. I do not 
 know how long they will hold out. To all 
 their remonstrances he replies, 'I am King 
 by divine right, and am under no duty to 
 consult anv will but mine own.' As for 
 your kinsman, Lord Percy, he still keeps 
 Sir Walter Ealeigh company in the Tower 
 of London. All the brilliant wits of the day 
 visit them. Chief among them is Will 
 Shakespeare. That canting Scotchman 
 Carr, now Earl of Somerset, if you please, 
 has the upper hand at Court. Strange 
 rumors are afloat concerning the murder 
 of Overby. It is whispered that Carr and 
 his wife, once Lady Essex, had a hand in 
 that; and hark, a word in your ear, the 
 London Company is mightily disgruntled 
 because no gold has been sent back from 
 the colony. You gallants get to work and 
 hunt for the precious metal.'' 
 
 ' ' Put not such thoughts into their heads, ' ' 
 
80 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 interposed Captain Smith in a whisper. 
 *'I tell you there is no gold in these parts. 
 Better exhort them to set to work and put 
 this settlement on a firm basis. Just now^ 
 it is like a city built on shifting sand. Dis- 
 content and jealousy rock the government 
 like a ship in a storm. ' * 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 ''Fire, fire!'' The cry rang out over 
 the settlement. 
 
 Scurrying figures hastened from all 
 directions to the storehouse from whence 
 volumes of flame leaped in frenzy. The 
 wild wind swept the licking tongues over 
 to the fort, and explosions of gunpowder 
 shook the ground, scattering the sparks in 
 every direction. In two hours' time every 
 cabin lay a smouldering mass of spluttering 
 flames and charred embers. Poor, unfortu- 
 nate colonv! Was the relentless hand of 
 fate crushing them out with resistless 
 power! Those who make no effort to take 
 their part in the world's work she ever 
 pushes to the wall. Perhaps they were but 
 reaping as they had sown. 
 
 ''Lose not your courage, my men!" 
 pleaded Chaplain Hunt. "God has not 
 deserted us. It is but a testing sent to 
 purify our hearts. Go to work and rebuild 
 vour cabins immediatelv and He will vet 
 smile ux)on your efforts." 
 
 Wliat a noble heart lay enshrined in the 
 body of this Ambassador of God. With 
 nothing left but the clothes he wore, and his 
 
82 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 dearly loved books but blackened ashes, he 
 conld vet trust his Maker, and await with 
 loving faith the fulfibnent of His promises. 
 
 His words of encouragement found no 
 responsive echo in their hearts. They gave 
 themselves up to despair, and their utmost 
 efforts resulted only in the digging of holes 
 in the ground and covering them with pine 
 boughs as a sleeping-place. 
 
 A year has passed by, and here they are 
 in the bleak month of January without food 
 or shelter. Nothing gained and all lost 
 since they set sail from England. 
 
 The food brought over by Newport's 
 ships, together with two hundred bushels 
 of corn which he and Captain Smith had 
 gotten from Powhatan, have all gone to 
 feed the flames. A little meal doled out 
 from the ship's store is all they have. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 A white, silent world, sliimmering under 
 the brilliance of a full moon riding high in 
 the lighted heavens. The gnarled boughs 
 of twisted trees cast their inky shadows in 
 fantastic tracery over its glistening surface. 
 
 Seated around a roaring fire were some 
 ten or twelve men, wrapped in their long 
 cloaks and vainly endeavoring to warm 
 their aching limbs. Among them was 
 a newcomer, Adam Clotworthy, a rol- 
 licking blade whom no misfortune seemed 
 to chill. His great round body, cov- 
 ered with a quilted doublet of scarlet 
 cloth, rocked from side to side on legs 
 so short there seemed no room for 
 joints at the knees. Stubby black hair shot 
 out around a face in which sly humor and 
 common sense were blended together by an 
 expression of human kindness. A brown 
 eye and a blue eye, never looking in the 
 same direction, stood sentinel on either side 
 of a huge nose that had a trick of working 
 at the end when he talked. 
 
 Coming now to the side of Kendall, he 
 poked him in the ribs with his elbow. 
 
84 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 ''Draw up your long shanks a bit and 
 give a man room to sit down.'' 
 
 With a muttered growl Kendall made 
 room as Adam desired. Gathering his 
 cloak closely around him, Adam squashed 
 down upon the ground like a ripe tomato, 
 from under which two huge boots stuclv 
 out straight in front. His legs had dis- 
 appeared under his mountain of flesh. 
 
 Captain Smith could not forbear joining 
 in the shout of laughter that burst involun- 
 tarily from the rest of the company. 
 
 Not in the least disconcerted by their 
 laughter, Adam squirmed around until he 
 had made himself comfortable, and pro- 
 ceeded to open conversation with the grim 
 and scowling men around him. 
 
 ''By my faith, Martin, you look like a 
 mourner at a funeral! Take heart, man; 
 perhaps the 'Injun' lady you told me 
 about will step over to-morrow with a 
 bushel or two of corn and a brace of 
 wild turkeys. Gad, I can smell 'em roast- 
 ing now." 
 
 "Quit your talk about food, or I will 
 break every bone in your body ; that is, all 
 that haven't turned to grease," said Ken- 
 dall with a scowl. 
 
 Misery again settled upon the faces of the 
 men as thev unconsciously licked their 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare, 85 
 
 cracked lips at the mention of the savory 
 turkeys. 
 
 ^'Jealousy, man; pure jealousy is your 
 disease/^ returned Adam with a sly wink 
 of his brown eye. ''If you had more flesh 
 on that skeleton of yours you would not be 
 looking through blue spectacles, and we 
 would not be compelled to study anatomy 
 all the time. 
 
 ''I'll tell you a tale about a real fat 
 man I saw once. It happened down at the 
 'Three Swans' just at Christmas time. I 
 stopped there for dinner, and I tell you it 
 was worth eating. First there was a roast 
 pig—" 
 
 "Didn't I tell you to quit talking about 
 food!" bellowed Kendall. 
 
 ' ' Marry, man, but you are hard to please. 
 Whoever heard of a tavern without food of 
 some kind, even if it were only a posset of 
 ale, with a roasted apple bobbing around in 
 it as it simmers beside the fireplace. As I 
 was saying—" 
 
 Crack, snap ! silence. Crack, snap ! again. 
 
 Hastily jumping to their feet, with their 
 muskets ready for action, the frightened 
 men peered into the shadows. A low, gasp- 
 ing sob floated out to them. 
 
 " 'Tis Pocahontas," said Captain Smith, 
 and hastened into the shadows. He soon 
 
86 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 came into the light, half supporting her 
 almost frozen body as she stumbled into the 
 firelight. Her short deer skirt, soaked with 
 water, clanked its frozen folds together as 
 she walked, and her long black hair was 
 matted with ice. Forgotten were cold and 
 hunger as the men quickly threw their 
 cloaks upon the ground to make her a seat, 
 while George Percy wrapped his around 
 her. Captain Smith seated himself beside 
 her, and as he gently chafed her hands, 
 spoke soothing words in an endeavor to 
 check her hysterical sobs. 
 
 ^^My little child, my doe, 3^our father is 
 with you. All is well. See, your friends 
 are all around you. There now, my little 
 one, do not speak until you are warm. ' ' 
 
 Gradually the puckering lips smoothed 
 themselves into a trembling smile as he 
 wiped the tears away. For a moment Poca- 
 hontas forgot her errand in the delight of 
 being with him; but with remembrance 
 fear came rushing back, and springing to 
 her feet she gasped out : 
 
 '^Before another moon Powhatan will be 
 upon you ! Already men are on their way 
 bearing gifts. Do not be deceived. Two 
 hundred warriors are behind them armed 
 with the scalping-knife. Pocahontas has 
 traveled many miles through the snow 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 87 
 
 and waded streams to bring her father 
 warning. ' ' 
 
 ^^0 my little child, you have risked your 
 life again!'' cried Captain Smith as he 
 folded her in his embrace. 
 
 ''Pocahontas loves the pale face better 
 than life," she answered, cuddling down 
 into his arms. ''Joy sings in her heart 
 when she dreams she is a maiden of your 
 people and the daughter of her pale face 
 father. ' ' 
 
 The faces of the sternest men worked as 
 they leaned on their muskets and listened to 
 the recital of her brave deed. 
 
 "Faith,'' said Adam, "I haven't had so 
 much salt water in my eye since old Father 
 Neptune ploughed up his farm, coming 
 over. ' ' 
 
 Running their hands into their capacious 
 pockets, the men brought forth bells and 
 beads and offered them to her in token of 
 gratitude. She shook her head, and great 
 tears welled up, splashing down upon the 
 presents lying in her lap. 
 
 "Pocahontas dare not take them, 
 although she likes them much. Powhatan 
 will kill her if he learns she has given 
 warning." 
 
 "I have something she will take," said 
 Adam, drawing forth a small mirror. "I 
 
88 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 have yet to see the maiden who would not 
 look at herself every chance she got/* So 
 saying, he rocked himself forward and 
 started to lay it in her lap. 
 
 Catching sight of him for the first time, 
 she gave a shriek and buried her face in 
 Smith's breast. 
 
 ^ ^ Okee, Okee ! ' ' she wailed. 
 
 *^Now whatever do vou make of thatT* 
 exclaimed the astonished Adam. ^*Who in 
 the devil is Okee V 
 
 ' ^ That 's just what he is, the devil, ' ' said 
 Kendall, laughing grimly. ** Truly a fine 
 compliment from a primitive Eve to an 
 ardent Adam." 
 
 ^'No, no, my child. No Okee,'' said Cap- 
 tain Smith, smoothing her hair. ^^He is a 
 good kind friend and likes Pocahontas." 
 
 ** Likes," sniffed the discomfited Adam, 
 ^^I never got as far as liking. She didn't 
 give me time." 
 
 Eeluctantly putting aside Captain 
 Smith's enfolding arms, she rose to her 
 feet. 
 
 * * Pocahontas must go. Already the moon 
 is seeking her bed." 
 
 * ^ You must not go by yourself, my child, ' ' 
 remonstrated Smith. ^^If Powhatan's men 
 meet you, they will take you to him and he 
 will kill you. ' ' 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 89 
 
 ** Pocahontas is content. Has she not 
 saved her father and the pale faces? Also 
 she must go alone." 
 
 One moment she smiled upon them, and 
 the next she had gone. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 Relentless fate came yet again and blind- 
 folded the colonists with a veil of golden 
 gauze. 
 
 On a frosty morning, as one of the men 
 walked by a little stream, he saw a shining 
 substance glistening in the sand. Snatching 
 up a handful, he ran as fast as possible to 
 where George Martin was standing. 
 
 ''Look, Master Martin; see if this be not 
 goldr' 
 
 Taking the earth into his hand, the refiner 
 of precious metals examined the glistening 
 mass carefully, turning it over and over in 
 his hand. 
 
 ''Yes, it is gold," said he. 
 
 "Gold, gold!" veiled the man at the top 
 of his voice. 
 
 At the magic word every man started 
 into life, stumbling over one another in their 
 efforts to secure spade and pickaxe and 
 join the maddened crowd hastening to the 
 stream. Puffing and blowing like a seal, 
 Adam Clotworthy waddled along, bringing 
 up the rear, his spade dragging behind 
 him. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 91 
 
 Did unused muscles ache! Let them. 
 Cracked and bleeding hands smarted under 
 blisters. Who cared? Was not the precious 
 metal lying in tons before their eyes? 
 
 ^^Try and put a stop to this digging of 
 fool's gold/' begged Captain Smith of 
 Robert Hunt. 
 
 **I can do nothing while this fever rages 
 in their veins. If you look at their frenzied 
 faces and bloodshot eyes you will see that 
 my efforts would be useless. Even New- 
 port has joined in the mad rush. His boat 
 will soon be loaded, and after his departure 
 we may be able to do something." 
 
 The warm breath of spring was upon 
 them before Captain Newport sailed down 
 the stream with his valuable cargo. All of 
 the gold diggers gathered on the beach to 
 witness his departure. Here and there the 
 superstitious ones threw a few beads into 
 the water for luck, as they had seen the 
 Indians do when starting on a voyage. 
 
 After the ships had drifted out of sight, 
 Captain Smith began to urge the colonists to 
 rebuild the fort and cabins. 
 
 '^Even if the cargo turns out to be gold, 
 you cannot leave this country unless you 
 receive a special passport from King 
 James, and that no doubt will be long in 
 coming. Perhaps if you prove industrious, 
 
92 The. Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 the Company will in time give each of you 
 a house, and land to till for your own gain. 
 But until they see some fruit from you, 
 nothing will be forthcoming for your 
 benefit. ' ' 
 
 This advice seemed reasonable, and as 
 summer was now approaching and fish 
 abounded in the stream, the colonists started 
 to rebuild the fort and cabins. 
 
 John Laydon, master carpenter and 
 wood-carver, superintended the work, 
 reserving for his especial care the erection 
 of a commodious church to take the place 
 of the old affair of rough logs and reed- 
 thatched roof, the successor of the sail 
 stretched between the elms. 
 
 Choosing two fair and goodly cedars, he 
 shaped them into an altar and carved upon 
 the front a cross with a grape vine clinging 
 to it, and the fragrant incense of the cedar 
 swept upward with the prayers of the colon- 
 ists when once a month they knelt to receive 
 the Holv Communion. 
 
 The tilled fields began to show tender 
 green shoots of corn and clinging bean 
 against the rich dark loam. Gradually 
 order was emerging out of chaos under the 
 energetic supervision of Captain John 
 Smith, who set the example of industry by 
 his own hard work. 
 
CHAPTER XjX 
 
 On a briglit sunny morning in May the 
 dewdrops were still sleeping in the cups of 
 the flowers when Pocahontas arrived at 
 Jamestown. A subdued excitement sparkled 
 in her eyes and her parted lips could scarce 
 keep back the eager speech. Hastily seek- 
 ing out Captain Smith, she said, ^^Last 
 night a vision came to Pocahontas out of 
 the spirit-land. She comes to her father 
 to know its meaning.'' 
 
 Leading her to a grassy knoll beside the 
 lapping w^aters, and drawing her down 
 beside him, he replied, ''Speak on, mv 
 child. ' ' 
 
 ''Listen and Pocahontas will tell you. 
 
 *Trom the north came the maiden of darkness 
 
 Floating on shadowy pinions, 
 
 To brood over the sleeping hamlet. 
 
 Now and then the bird of ill omen 
 
 Sent its melancholy notes through the forests, 
 
 Like the plaintive wail of the dying. 
 
 On her embroidered pillow of leather. 
 
 Made soft with the breast of the heron, 
 
 Lay Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan. 
 
 Softly the spirit of slumber 
 
 Lowered the curtains of vision, 
 
 And carried her forth .to the forest. 
 
 Down where the water willow 
 
 Washes her silver laces 
 
94: The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 A brawling brook was resting 
 
 In a hollow lined with lilies. 
 
 The blue-gQmmed dragon-fly 
 
 Rippled its ]facid surface 
 
 With touches light as a zephyr. 
 
 Kneeling over its brink to gather 
 
 The rounded pink and white pebbles, 
 
 Lining its soft sandy bottom, 
 
 She saw her laughing reflection 
 
 Bending its head in sweet greeting. 
 
 A chill of fear swept over her 
 
 Like an icy blast from the north. 
 
 Gradually her picture was changing 
 
 Into some one she knew and she knew not. 
 
 The blue-black veil of her hair 
 
 Faded away like a vision in dreams. 
 
 In its place long waves of sunshine 
 
 Swept its billows o'er her shoulders. 
 
 The copper-tinted skin of her .tribe 
 
 Gave place to the hue of the lily, 
 
 And eyes, gray like the coat of the pigeon, 
 
 Pleaded tenderly for love and compassion. 
 
 'Mother,' sprung to .the lips of Pocahontas 
 
 Like an arrow shot from the bow ; 
 
 And 'Daughter,' answered the vision. 
 
 In accents as soft as music. 
 
 As the picture slowly faded 
 
 And Pocahontas raised her head, 
 
 A wide plain stretched before her 
 
 Where the forest once had stood. 
 
 And the pale-faces of your people 
 
 Were as many as the sands of the sea. 
 
 Far away where the wintry sun 
 
 Sinks into its bed to rest. 
 
 There the diminished tribes of my people 
 
 Wandered alone and forsaken." 
 
 ^' Truly a strange dream, my child," 
 Smith slowly replied. '^The Great Spirit 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 9'5 
 
 5ends me no answer. We must look to the 
 coming years for its m_eaning. Of one 
 thing I am certain, the God of tlie wliite 
 man has you in His keeping. No harm 
 shall come to Pocahontas, His ministering 
 angel. ' ' 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 In the meantime, another ship, the 
 Phoenix, arrived at Jamestown with a 
 large amount of provisions and more set- 
 tlers. Peace and prosperity sent their 
 flickering smiles to warm the hearts of all. 
 
 The honest captain of the Phoenix 
 brought with him a letter ordering Smith 
 to go again in search of the South Sea. 
 This command exactlv suited the adventur- 
 
 *'■ 
 
 ous spirit of the gallant soldier, and taking 
 with him fourteen men, among them Adam 
 Clotworthy, he started up the Chesapeake. 
 Sailing along its low shores fringed with 
 fragrant verdure, and interlaced with sil- 
 ver ribbons, where the York and Potomac 
 pour in their waters, they met with many 
 adventures. Far up its waters they jour- 
 neyed until the mouth of the Susquehanna 
 was reached. Then turning southward 
 again, they entered a wide basin where in 
 time to come ships from many foreign 
 lands would disgorge their load of human 
 freight, gathered at every port beyond the 
 seas. Golden-haired, ruddy-cheeked giants 
 of the Norseland would tower above the 
 dark-eyed, small-statured sons of Italy. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 97 
 
 Fair Baltimore— set as a glowing ruby 
 between the diamonds of the North and 
 the opals of the South. 
 
 Journeying up the Potomac, they came 
 upon Japazaws, a werowance of Powhatan. 
 Just as the sun was lighting up the horizon, 
 Captain Smith moored his barge and 
 stepped ashore. Before even greeting the 
 chief, he and his men knelt for morning 
 prayer, then rising to their feet joined in 
 the second canticle. Instantly the crowd of 
 dusky savages turned as one man to greet 
 the rising sun, and a ''fearful song" to 
 Aurora blended its wail with the Te Deum 
 chanted to the Trinity. After this ''fear- 
 some chant" had ended, Japazaws made a 
 ring of dried tobacco upon the ground 
 into which the braves cast pieces of copper, 
 at the same time prostrating themselves 
 upon the ground. 
 
 Bidding good-by to Japazaws, our party 
 sailed down to the York River, and leis- 
 urely ascending its broad waters, came into 
 the Pamunkey. 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 Black billows of rolling clouds, their 
 ragged edges gold-rimined by the full- 
 orbed moon, raced with mighty speed 
 across the heavens. Hidden in a mass of 
 dense trees whose matted branches were 
 interwoven with tangled vines stood the 
 temple of Okee. The rank vegetation 
 exhaled poisonous vapors which were 
 absorbed by the stagnant waters of the 
 slimy marsh, and wild yells of demons 
 came in weird and faint echoes to the ears 
 of the English voyagers on the banks of 
 the Pamunkey. 
 
 ' ^ Now what on earth can that be T ' cried 
 Adam. ''Surely all the angels of Satan 
 must be in that swamp." 
 
 ''We will reconnoiter, ' ' said Smith. 
 
 "Have you gone daft, man! Do you 
 want them to seize you by the hair and bear 
 you otf to toast on a pitchfork?" 
 
 "You should not be afraid of your 
 familiar friends," returned the Captain, 
 his brown eyes twinkling. "Pocahontas 
 said you were the chief of the terrible tribe. 
 Who will go with me to reconnoiter?" he 
 added. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 99 
 
 ^'I will go/' spoke up Adam, ^'I might 
 just as well be scalped there as here,'' 
 
 -'I thought yon were afraid!" taunted 
 a fellow voyager. 
 
 ^^I am safer with Smith than with you. 
 He is worth all the rest of the colony put 
 together. ' ' 
 
 '^Now listen to my instructions, men," 
 said the Captain. ^ ' If any danger threatens 
 us, I will cry ^ Saint George,' and do four 
 of you fellows come to our aid, while the 
 rest stand ready to push off the boat. ' ' 
 
 Armed with their muskets and powder- 
 horns. Captain Smith and Adam Clot- 
 worthy started on their perilous adventure 
 through the dark swamp. Knowledge of 
 danger was to Captain Smith like the 
 scent of battle to the pawing war-horse. 
 His spirits rose at every step. Not so the 
 worthy Adam; his courage drained down 
 to his toes as he stumbled along over 
 deceitful hillocks showing dimly under the 
 fitful light of the moon. Choosing an emi- 
 nence covered with lush grass, he stepped 
 upon it. Immediately it gave away and 
 he slid down into a pool filled with black, 
 slimy ooze. 
 
 ''They have got me!" he wailed under 
 his breath. ''I can feel their icy claws 
 upon my feet. Lord have mercy upon my 
 
100 The Daughter of Virginia Dare. 
 
 sinful soul! Don't let the devil have me! 
 You know I am not fit to die. Only let me 
 get out and I swear T will never utter 
 another oath, and I will go to church regu- 
 larly every day. Indeed I will !' ' 
 
 Captain Smith caught him by the 
 shoulders just under the arms, and bracing 
 himself against a tree, gave a mighty jerk. 
 Forth came the bedraggled Adam, smeared 
 in slime up to his breast. The ludicrous 
 sight filled the Captain with, silent mirth 
 as he plodded along beside him and lis- 
 tened to the slimy water slushing in his 
 boots at every step. 
 
 After an hour of arduous toil they came 
 out upon firm ground. There before them 
 rose the temple. Trees planted thickly 
 together formed the walls; their branches 
 twisted and matted together, the roof. 
 Countless passion-flowers crept in and out 
 among the trunks, and spread their purple 
 flowers in a thick coverlet over the entire 
 structure. A yellow glare from pitch-pine 
 torches within gleamed through the many 
 crevices, like millions of fireflies. 
 
 Adam would not stir a step until with 
 much labor he had gotten off his boots and 
 emptied out the mud and slime. 
 
 Not an Indian was to be seen as they 
 stole toward the house, and, avoiding the 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 101 
 
 door, made for an oi^ening in tlie wall 
 through which a broad beam of light 
 streamed out. This opening was so large 
 that both Smith and Adam could gain a 
 clear view of the interior without being 
 seen themselves. 
 
 As Adam opened his mouth to utter a 
 groan of horror, Smith clapped his hand 
 upon it and whispered, ^'Do you want to 
 be scalped? Keep still if you value your 
 life. ' ' 
 
 Such an awful picture they had never 
 looked upon before. Here in the midst of 
 the American wilderness was Dante's 
 Inferno. At the end of the temple opposite 
 the door, high up on a framework of reeds, 
 lay the shriveled remains of past kings and 
 priests. The bodies were painted and 
 decorated in a fearful manner, their claw- 
 like fingers still grasping the bow and 
 arrow. At their feet crouched the stutfed 
 bodies of favorite hounds. Occupying the 
 center of the room was the image of Okee, 
 his frightful face painted in red and black 
 stripes. Eopes of pearls as large as peas 
 hung around his neck, and from the crown 
 of his head stood up a tuft of eagle feathers 
 dyed green and red. His staring eyes, en- 
 closed in broad white circles, gazed unwink- 
 ingly upon the priests surrounding him. 
 
102 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 Their naked bodies, clothed only in an 
 apron of skin, were painted red and black 
 in imitation of the god. Writhing green 
 snakes, hanging in holes bored in their 
 ears, hit viciously with arrow-head tongues 
 at their foaming lips as they whirled in the 
 devil's dance. 
 
 Rattling pebbles shut up in conch shells, 
 together with the hollow boom of mem- 
 brane stretched over gourds, added their 
 deafening din to the confusion. 
 
 In the background knelt the squaws with 
 buckhorns bound to their heads. Their sobs 
 and lamentations rose to shrieks as the 
 frenzied warriors, black as midnight, tore 
 the suckling babes from their clinging 
 arms to offer them in sacrifice to Okee. 
 
 ''Let me get behind you. Smith, for 
 mercy's sake! I see a howling devil glar- 
 ing right in this direction. Your armor 
 will blunt his arrows before they get 
 around to me, ' ' whispered the irrepressible 
 Adam. 
 
 Again the whirling dance and sacrifice 
 went on until the exhausted madmen fell 
 to the ground. In the lull that ensued, 
 Powhatan, seated near hig departed ances- 
 tors, raised his hand for silence. 
 
 ''The priests of Okee crave another 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 103 
 
 offering, else the Terrible One will send 
 the warriors when they die to Popagosso 
 under the fiery sun, burning low in the 
 west. The pale face has come among us, 
 taken our lands, and killed our warriors. 
 Okee demands the blood of the white cap- 
 tive at our hands." 
 
 Captain Smith's hair stood on end with 
 horror, for he realized that the little white 
 boy, given by Newport to Powhatan, was 
 to be the propitiatory victim. The Cap- 
 tain's mind traveled like lightning over 
 various plans for the release of the 
 child. 
 
 While Powhatan was speaking, Poca- 
 hontas, sick with the sight of flowing blood, 
 crept noiselessly out. Would not the Great 
 Spirit of the pale face send succor to the 
 unfortunate boy, soon to be slaughtered? 
 she wondered. She would pray to Him. 
 Perhaps He might heed the prayer of an 
 Indian maiden. Her ^^father" had said 
 the Great Spirit could do all things. 
 
 Kneeling down and clasping her hands 
 as she had seen Captain Smith do, she 
 lifted pleading accents to the God of the 
 Indian and the white man. 
 
 "0 Great Spirit of my ^father,' let not 
 Powhatan take the life of the little pale 
 face brother. Pocahontas will give in 
 
104 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 return the blue beads her 'father' gave 
 her. ' ' 
 
 '' Pocahontas," whispered Smith, '*it is 
 I, your father. Do as I bid you and the 
 boy will be saved." Then he rapidly 
 whispered directions in her ear. 
 
 '^ Pocahontas understands and obeys. 
 My father will not hurt Powhatan and her 
 people?" 
 
 ''No, Powhatan and your jDeople shall 
 live," he answered; but to himself he mut- 
 tered, "If it were not for the women and 
 children, I could murder every fiend." 
 
 Looking now through the crack, he saw 
 the lad dragged forth toward the priests. 
 His cries for mercy were met by the taunt- 
 ing "Ohe, Ohe," of his tormentors. No 
 time was to be lost. Turning to Adam he 
 said, ' ' Give me your podwer-horn. ' ' 
 
 "Take heed what you do. Smith," 
 implored Adam, his teeth clashing together 
 like castanets, and the knob on his nose 
 working like a pig's snout with excite- 
 ment. 
 
 "Keep still, and hand me your horn. 
 Stir not from this spot, no matter wliat 
 happens." So saying. Captain Smith and 
 Pocahontas disappeared, leaving Adam 
 alone. Now and then curiosity over- 
 powered fear, and he would look again 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 105 
 
 through the crack, only to fall back and 
 begin petitions for deliverance. 
 
 Kunning around to a spot in full view of 
 the door, Captain Smith emptied the 
 powder in Adam's horn into a piece of 
 clay pipe lying near. Then inserting a 
 lighted fuse, he took to his heels. Fleeing 
 around the corner he ran full tilt into the 
 unconscious Adam, with his eye glued to 
 the crack, and both rolled to the ground. 
 Not knowing what had assaulted him, 
 Adam let out a yell that would have 
 wakened the dead kings lying in state, had 
 it not been drowned in the explosion of the 
 gunpowder. 
 
 A roar of thunder split the air, followed 
 by blinding flashes of flame. For a moment 
 a deathly silence hung over the Indians, 
 then shrieks and yells burst from the 
 painted demons. Pandemonium reigned as 
 they fled from the temple. Leading the 
 vanguard was Powhatan, clinging to a 
 litter borne on the shoulders of four 
 warriors who sped away in the dark- 
 ness. 
 
 In the midst of the confusion, Pocahontas 
 snatched the white boy up and made for the 
 place where Captain Smith was vainly try- 
 ing to pacify the terrified Adam, who was 
 now wallowing on the ground. 
 
106 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 ^^Stop your howls, or I will leave you 
 to the mercy of the Indians! Get up, we 
 have not a moment to lose. Pocahontas is 
 here with the bov. We must hasten to the 
 boat for our lives.'' 
 
 Leading the way as guide, with the boy 
 clasped in her strong young arms, Poca- 
 hontas plunged into the swamp. Over 
 morass, through matted vines, she went 
 with unerring instinct, followed by Smith, 
 trundlino^ the unwieldv form of Adam 
 before him. Down into a hole went Adam 
 for the second time, leaving a boot as a 
 memento of the adventure. As he hobbled 
 painfully along, sick with misery and fear, 
 his strength gave out, and with a moan 
 he pitched forward. Losing no time in an 
 examination of the unfortunate man. Smith 
 merely rolled him over, and catching him 
 in the back of his collar, dragged him along 
 in his flight. 
 
 He heaved a sigh of thankfulness as he 
 saw the boat through an opening in the 
 trees. ^^ Saint George!" he shouted, and 
 the men on the beach ran forward to meet 
 him. Picking up the body of Adam as if 
 he were a log of wood, they sped to the 
 boat and dumped him in. Pocahontas 
 placed the boy in Smith's arms and 
 vanished. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 107 
 
 '^Eow for vour lives, men! Death lies 
 in the swamp," urged Smith. 
 
 Bending to their oars, they sent the ])oat 
 plunging down the stream in reckless 
 haste, nor did thev cease to row until the 
 broad York was left behind, and the prow 
 of their barge dipped its nose in the salty 
 waters of the Chesapeake. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 Drifting down the Chesapeake at night! 
 AVhat exquisite beauties of earth and sky 
 wrapped the weary voyagers in their 
 embrace, soothing their aching bodies and 
 exhausted nerves! Drifting on the moon- 
 kissed ripples, into the waves of liquid sil- 
 ver slowly changing into gold under the 
 alchemy of the rising sun! In the open 
 glades, stretching away into forests still 
 draped in the morning mists, antlered 
 monarchs of the wilderness led the herd of 
 doe and bounding fawn to the pools of 
 fresh water for their morning bath. 
 
 As the barge swung around into the 
 James that morning, the voyagers descried 
 the flag of Saint G-eorge, bidding defiance 
 to the Indian as it fluttered in the sum- 
 mer's breeze from the mast of a ship just 
 ahead. 
 
 ^'Look, there is Newport come again,'' 
 said Captain Smith. *' Rouse up, Adam; 
 the danger is long past." 
 
 Uttering a hollow groan, Adam raised 
 himself from the bottom of the boat where 
 he had lain since the mad race down the 
 Pamunkey. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 109 
 
 ''Lord, but I am thankful to see civiliza- 
 tion again! If I am forgiven for this 
 exploit, I will never be caught among those 
 devils again; and if I only had a cup of 
 sack, I swear I would feel like a human 
 being once more. '^ 
 
 "How about those vows vou made never 
 to swear again, when you fell into that 
 hole!" inquired Smith. 
 
 "There were reservations, man; mental 
 reservations. I took care to put them in,'^ 
 said the now courageous Adam. 
 
 With swift strokes they came alongside 
 the English ship and hailed her, and as she 
 slowed down, Captain Newport came to the 
 side and called out to Smith: 
 
 "I have something on board that will 
 delight your eyes. A fair gentlewoman. 
 Mistress Forrest, and her maid, Anne 
 Burras. ' ' 
 
 With courtesies and smiles, the lady and 
 her maid came forward to acknowledge the 
 greeting of the voyagers. 
 
 "Beside such a pleasant sight, madam, 
 the whole of His Majesty's dominions in 
 this land pale into insignificance, ' ' said 
 Captain Smith, sweeping his soft hat 
 almost to the bottom of the boat as he stood 
 to greet her. 
 
 Then gaily proceeding up the stream, the 
 
110 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 barge leadingj they came to anchor at 
 Jamestown. 
 
 AVhere were all the settlers who should 
 have been upon the beach to greet them? 
 Hardly a dozen could be seen strolling 
 around idly or lolling under the trees. 
 
 "AVhere are all the men?" was Smith's 
 first greeting. 
 
 ^'Tliey are at work in the woods, build- 
 ing a palace fit for the habitation of the 
 President of this magnificent settlement,'* 
 ironicallv answered Percy. 
 
 Meantime, Wingfield had caught sight 
 of Mrs. Forrest and her maid. ' ' Shade of 
 Henry VIII., I do believe it is the wilful 
 Anne ! ' ' Hastening forward, his plumed 
 hat swept the ground as he bent to Mrs. 
 Forrest. Not quite so low was its sweep 
 to Anne, but there was enough gallantry 
 in his action, and admiration in his eye, 
 to set the foolish little maid's heart to 
 fluttering. Not only in our day do maidens 
 dream of being elevated to rank above the 
 station in which they are born. 
 
 ''Anne," said Mrs. Forrest sharply, not- 
 ing the confusion of her maid, and having 
 no mind to encourage this unequal flirta- 
 tion, "look to the bales in which my gowns 
 are packed, and have a care for the packet 
 containing my ruifs." 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 111 
 
 With a slight toss of her curly chestnut 
 head, Anne obeyed the bidding of her 
 mistress. 
 
 The most commodious cabin was set 
 apart for Mrs. Forrest and her husband, 
 and during the ensuing days that thrifty 
 lady speedily had her lares and penates 
 safely housed. 
 
 It was a touching sight to see the home- 
 longing in the eyes of the men as they 
 passed her open door. No matter in what 
 direction they were bound, their path 
 always lay directly past her door and win- 
 dow^, where they could see the dainty 
 Anne standing before the spinning-wheel, 
 or bending over the fire tasting the con- 
 tents of some savory mass bubbling and 
 singing upon the crane. 
 
 Captain Smith had lost no time in seek- 
 ing out the men engaged in building Rat- 
 cliffe's house in the woods, under the direc- 
 tion of Laydon. Adam Clotworthy had 
 alreadv arrived there. 
 
 Toiling under the weight of huge logs 
 and straining to lift them into position had 
 worked the men up into mutiny. Mutter- 
 ings of strange torments in the way of 
 revenge were whispered from one to 
 another. Adam, who had no liking for 
 Eatclitfe, egged them on. 
 
112 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 ''You fellows might just as well be slaves 
 in Africa, toiling and moiling for some 
 wooly-headed chief. Why not choose a 
 President for yourselves? I have the very 
 man in my eye.'' Then he launched into 
 a description of Smith's exploits on the Pa- 
 munkey, embellishing the tale with such 
 wonders as would have put Don Quixote to 
 the blush. ''I can tell you a few little 
 tricks, I learned up there, of dealing with a 
 traitor, that are uncommon good." 
 
 This recital acted as a lighted fuse to the 
 guni30wder of their feelings, and the 
 explosion took place just as Smith arrived. 
 Throwing down axes, hammers, chisels and 
 spades, they gave themselves up to fierce 
 anger against Eatcliffe. 
 
 When he judged the moment to be ready, 
 Adam threw up his hat and yelled, 
 ''Smith! Smith for President!" The cry, 
 was taken up on every side as they moved 
 in a body back to the settlement, carrying 
 Smith in their midst. 
 
 So dark were their scowling looks, and so 
 fierce their gestures, that Eatcliffe made 
 haste to scuttle aboard Newport's ship 
 and place himself behind the protection of 
 the guns. A vote was then taken, and by 
 an overwhelming majority Captain Smith 
 was elected President of the colony. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 113 
 
 As soon as the excitement quieted down 
 a bit, Captain Smith drew John Laydon 
 aside. 
 
 ^'Did you know a Mistress Forrest has 
 arrived with Newport, bringing a maid 
 called Anne Burras with herf he said. 
 
 ^^Anne here?'' John replied in bewilder- 
 ment. 
 
 "Yes, I suspect it is that bewitching 
 damsel. Have an eye upon Wingfield. 
 AVatch over her whenever possible. ' ' 
 
 "With his heart palpitating between love 
 and fear of his reception, the young car- 
 penter hastened to the cabin of Mrs. For- 
 rest, where he found Anne looking through 
 the window at the excited men and wonder- 
 ing what the trouble was. 
 
 "Anne, Anne!" he cried, his rugged face 
 beautiful with the strength of his great 
 love. 
 
 "Good-day to you, Master John Lay- 
 don," responded Anne, eyeing with dis- 
 favor his coarse woolen jerkin and rough, 
 toil-worn hands. 
 
 "Is that all you have to say to me, Anne 
 after our long separation?" he pleaded, a 
 hurt look creeping into his eyes. "My girl, 
 I have dreamed of you day and night out 
 here under the stars and glare of the sun. 
 At first I longed to have you with me; but 
 
lltt The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 when cold and starvation killed off our 
 men, and many died at the hands of the 
 savage, I thanked God you were safe in 
 England. ' ' . 
 
 ^*You do me too much honor, Master 
 Lay don," replied the damsel, imitating in 
 manner and gesture the carriage of her 
 mistress. 
 
 '' 'Master Laydon, Master Laydon,' '' 
 echoed the indignant John. "Your tone 
 smacks too much of the fine lady, child." 
 Then changing his tone to one of per- 
 suasion, he drew nearer and attempted to 
 take her hand. "It used to be 'John' and 
 'Anne," when we strolled through the lanes 
 at home." Snatching away her hand, and 
 drawing her little body up, Anne scorn- 
 fully replied: 
 
 "A child does many things which it 
 leaves off when it comes to know better. I 
 must bid you good-by, as my time is of 
 too much importance to idle it away." 
 
 Turning away with a haughty inclina- 
 tion of her head, she went into another 
 room and made straight for a window 
 where she could see the disconsolate John 
 moving away. 
 
 Her eyes sparkled with, excitement. It 
 was truly delightful to have a handsome 
 gentleman like Wingfield paying her com- 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 115 
 
 pliments, and at tke same time the despair- 
 ing John was not to be despised. He served 
 as a somber background to her glowing 
 dreams. 
 
 As the summer ripened, many stealthy 
 meetings with Wingfield, filled with com- 
 pliments and airy nothings, alluring as a 
 mirage and as tangible as a will-o-the-wisp, 
 kept the ambitious maiden's heart in a 
 turmoil of excitement. That accomplished 
 flatterer was too skilful a navigator to 
 run his ship upon the rocks of definite 
 words, although keeping in full sight of 
 the green fields of her untutored heart. 
 His jDleasurable enjoyment in balking John 
 changed into pure malice as the weeks 
 drifted by. Everywhere he turned, the 
 stern watchful eyes of the carpenter were 
 upon him, and he often found him dogging 
 his footsteps. This unceasing shadowing 
 irritated the cowardly Wingfield. ^'If he 
 keeps up this espionage on my movements, 
 I will rid the colony of him,'' he would 
 mutter to himself. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 Adam Clotwortliy had watched the grow- 
 ing drama with Laydon, Wingfield, and 
 Anne in the title roles, with keen interest. 
 
 '^Sail in, sail in, John, and take the ship 
 by storm. I tell you a maiden likes a man 
 who overcomes obstacles, instead of pot- 
 tering around, mooning like a calf. You 
 leave her too much alone, and it is no tell- 
 ing what fancies she will get into her giddy 
 pate. ' ' 
 
 ^^I am not going to furnish food for her 
 mirth with Wingfield,^' answered John 
 angrily, recollecting the previous attempts 
 to see her which had been met by a drastic 
 snubbing. "I shall guard her in every 
 way I can, but I have made the last 
 advances I intend to.'' 
 
 ^^John, you are what I call a simon-pure 
 fooL'' 
 
 '^Fool or no fool, I am a man.'' And 
 with that unanswerable argument Laydon 
 walked away. 
 
 Turning over various plans in his head 
 whereby he might help John, Adam was 
 startled as the shadow of Wingtield fell 
 in front of him. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 117 
 
 ^^Take your hulking carcass out of the 
 path of a gentleman/^ said Wingfield to 
 Adam. 
 
 * ' Gentleman ! ' ' inquired Adam. ^ ^ Where 
 is he? I do not see him.'' 
 
 ^ ' Do you dare to insult your betters, you 
 base-born cub?" 
 
 ^ ^ Base-born ! ' ' yelled Adam. ^ ' My ances- 
 tors come from better stock than yours, 
 seeing they were honest men." 
 
 ** Honest men! ^^ly, you cannot look 
 an honest man in the face." 
 
 ^'I will tell you how that happened," 
 replied Adam, restored to good humor by 
 the thrust he had given Wingfield. 
 ^'Originally both eyes looked in the same 
 direction, but whenever I was talking to 
 an honest man I had to keep one eye upon 
 the rogue. The strain was too much and 
 they parted company. The blue eye, being 
 the keener, I keep fixed on rogues, and if 
 you observe closely, you will see that my 
 brown eye is looking up the stream. I leave 
 you to guess the direction of the blue one. 
 I'll tell you something else. If you do not 
 keep your paw out of a certain little mat- 
 ter we both know of, John Laydon will 
 send you to feed the fishes." 
 
 Ripping out his sword, Wingfield made 
 a thrust at Adam. Laydon, who had just 
 
118 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 come up behind, caught the sword as it 
 descended, and wrenching it out of his 
 hand, hurled it into the bushes. Without 
 further parley, he fell upon Wingfield and 
 pounded him unmercifully. The ex-Presi- 
 dent's rage made him forget the social dis- 
 tance between the carpenter and the 
 gentleman, and he gave blow for blow in 
 return. Adam, watching every advantage, 
 and with head lowered, charged upon 
 Wingfield from behind like a battering- 
 ram. 
 
 The noise and scuffle brought President 
 Smith hurriedly to the spot. 
 
 ' ' Stop ! ' ' I command you, ' ' he thundered. 
 
 The enraged combatants sullenly parted, 
 and Wingfield began a tirade of abuse 
 against low-born scullions who presumed 
 to strike a gentleman. 
 
 ^ ' It is no use for you to talk to me, Wing- 
 field. I know you and haven't forgotten 
 the message you sent Opechancanough. 
 Better look to yourself or else you will 
 find that a dungeon in England is much 
 worse than a residence here.'' 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 Pocahontas, having heard of the arrival 
 of the white squaw's at Jamestown, soon 
 came to see them for herself. Seeking out 
 Smith as usual, she plied him with ques- 
 tions concerning them. 
 
 '^Pocahontas wants to see the white 
 
 ? J 
 
 squaws. 
 
 ''So you shall, my child,'' replied her 
 "father.'' Taking her hy the hand he led 
 her to the cabin of Mrs. Forrest. ' ' This is 
 my little Indian maid, madam, of whom you 
 have heard me speak." 
 
 Motherly Mrs. Forrest tried by signs to 
 make her understand that she was glad to 
 see her. Helped out by Pocahontas's 
 imperfect English and Smith's interpreta- 
 tions, the conversation proceeded to the 
 mutual satisfaction of both. 
 
 "Here is a maiden of the pale faces, my 
 child," said Captain Smith as Anne came 
 tripping up with rutfs in her hands, fresh 
 from the clear starching. "Well, Mistress 
 Anne, how is your health this bright morn- 
 ing!" said Smith, at the same time tilting 
 the winsome little face upward with his 
 finger. 
 
120 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 Instantly the fires of jealousy blazed in 
 the eyes of Pocahontas, and she stamped 
 her foot upon the ground. 
 
 ^^Why, my child, what means this 
 unseemly behavior T' exclaimed Smith. 
 *^Come, show your kindly smile to the 
 white maiden. '^ 
 
 ^^ Pocahontas likes not— she hates— she 
 will kill!" exclaimed the Indian maid, her 
 voice rising in frenzy at every breath. 
 
 '^Mind her not, Anne, it is but the jeal- 
 ousy of a child. 
 
 ^^My little one, your father is yours, he 
 belongs to you," he soothingly said, draw- 
 ing the trembling Pocahontas into his 
 encircling arms and feeling her beating 
 heart fluttering like a caged bird. 
 
 With much coaxing she consented to 
 smile upon Mrs. Forrest, but any advance 
 upon the part of Anne was met by a fierce 
 scowl. Poor Indian maid! Her loving 
 heart could not bear the pain of seeing her 
 hero give even a fleeting caress to another. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 The sultry August sun was slowly dying 
 in the west as Anne Burras, standing 
 before her small mirror, gave the finishing 
 touches to her toilet. When the stars came 
 out she would slip down to the ill-fated 
 gold stream to meet Wingfield. 
 
 Her mistress came in and noted the 
 preparations, glancing at the chain of gold 
 around her neck. 
 
 ^'^^lere got you that chain, Anner^ 
 
 ^'It was given me by Mistress Hardcastle 
 when she stayed at your house last winter. ' ' 
 
 ^'She never was noted for sense,'* 
 replied her mistress. '* Servants have no 
 business decked in jewelry. It does not 
 become their station." 
 
 Pursing up her pretty lips, Anne made a 
 grimace at the back of her unconscious 
 mistress. 
 
 '^Go and attend to the setting of the 
 table for supper, while I look out wool for 
 the carding, to-morrow," continued Mrs. 
 Forrest. 
 
 After the supper dishes had been cleared 
 away and the twilight crept over the set- 
 tlement, Anne stole out to meet Wingfield. 
 
122 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 Gliding from tree to tree, she came upon 
 him standing by the stream which emptied 
 its rills into the James. 
 
 How handsome he was, she thought, in 
 his rich doublet and sad-colored cloak. 
 And how well the stiff ruff set off his 
 pointed chin and Vandyke beard. Stealing, 
 softly up, she touched him upon the arm. 
 
 With a muttered oath he turned upon 
 her. '^Oh, it is you, Anne," he said in a 
 relieved voice. ^^How pretty you look 
 to-night. If you only wore a velvet gown 
 and lace ruff, with a high hat and plume, 
 you could rival any lady at the Court of 
 King James.'' 
 
 Poor Anne looked down upon her short 
 stuff petticoat and clumsy shoes, and tears 
 of mortification rose to her eyes and 
 brimmed over upon her cheeks. 
 
 ^ ' Cheer up, my pretty one ! Who knows 
 what the future may hold for you? I can 
 see you in a fine house with a maid to wait 
 upon you, and these little hands will be soft 
 and white again," he whispered, drawing 
 her into his arms. 
 
 Adam had followed Anne, like a hunter 
 stalking the deer. After seeing her meeting 
 with Wingfield, he lumbered back for 
 La^^don. 
 
 ^'John, they are at it again, down by 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 123 
 
 the gold stream. That pretty fool will get 
 herself into trouble." 
 
 Hastening to the spot with Adam in tow, 
 Laydon crept behind a tree, and with- 
 out an atom of shame listened to the 
 conversation. 
 
 ^^How would you like to see the wonder- 
 ful city of Rome and sail upon the Mediter- 
 ranean?" Wingtield was saying. Her reply 
 was inaudible. 
 
 "You must not ask me when, my pretty 
 one ; leave that to me. ' ' 
 
 Stepping from behind the tree, Laydon 
 placed himself in front of the couple. 
 
 ' ' Take vour villainous arms from around 
 her, you cowardly caitiff!" 
 
 "Out of my way, you sawyer of wood!" 
 replied Wingfield. 
 
 "Do you intend to marry her!" 
 demanded Lavdon. 
 
 "Marry her?" retorted the irate Wing- 
 field, his pride stung at the thought and his 
 conceit blinding his caution. "Do you sup- 
 pose a gentleman of my station would 
 marry a servant-girl, no matter how pretty 
 the little fool was?" 
 
 Laydon sprang at his throat, his hot 
 heart thirsting for blood. Then ensued a 
 iierce struggle as the powerful arms of the 
 carpenter gripped the body of his adver- 
 
124 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 sary and gradually forced liim backward 
 toward the river. But Wingfield had 
 learned a trick in wrestling when a boy in 
 England that stood him in good stead now. 
 With a sudden twist of his foot he sent 
 Laydon sprawling upon the ground, his 
 head striking a log in his fall. Then pounc- 
 ing upon the unconscious form, he heaved 
 it into the water. 
 
 ''Murder, murder!" yelled Adam at the 
 top of his voice. He had taken good care 
 not to utter a sound so long as he thought 
 Laydon had the better of it and was forcing 
 Wingfield backward toward the river. 
 
 The colonists, hearing his yells, and 
 thinking that one of the dreaded attacks of 
 the Indians was in progress, poured from 
 the cabins, loading their muskets on the 
 run. 
 
 ''Wingfield has murdered Laydon!'' 
 cried Adam to the foremost runners. "He 
 jjitched him just there in the stream.'' 
 
 Throwing aside their muskets, they 
 waded in, and lifting Laydon from the 
 shallow beach water bore him to the shore. 
 While they were trying every means to 
 restore life. President Smith came up and 
 demanded the cause of the commotion. 
 Adam, who had witnessed the whole affair, 
 quickly put him in possession of the facts, 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 125 
 
 ' * Wingfield, you are a prisoner, and shall 
 leave for England to-morrow on the return- 
 ing shi]3. It is such as you who bring dis- 
 grace upon the colony, ' ' said the President. 
 '^Let his example be a warning to you, 
 men. As I deal with him, so will I deal 
 with you. ' ' 
 
 Kneeling beside Laydon, he put his ear 
 against his breast. 
 
 ''Take him up, men. He is alive. His 
 heart is beating. Why, who is thisf he 
 cried, gazing in astonishment upon the 
 crouching form of Anne, speechless with 
 horror at the scene she had witnessed. 
 "Can it be possible that Anne Burras is 
 mixed up in this disgrace? How will your 
 honest mother and father feel when they 
 hear of your conduct? Fetch Mrs. Forrest 
 here, Martin.'' 
 
 Panting with haste, the worthy lady 
 answered the summons of Captain Smith. 
 He told her briefly of the trouble. 
 
 "You good-for-nothing baggage! You 
 hussy! Bread and water shall be your por- 
 tion until I hear from your parents ! " So 
 saying, the irate lady caught hold of the 
 girl, and dragged her off to the cabin. Ar- 
 riving there, she locked the unhappy Anne 
 in her room. "You will stay there, miss, 
 for a week, and meditate on your folly. ' ' 
 
12G The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 Throwing herself upon her bed, the 
 miserable girl gave way to a passionate 
 outburst of tears. Through the ensuing 
 week her mistress came three times a day 
 with food and drink. The harsh threat of 
 bread and water was not carried out bj^ 
 Mrs. Forrest. After her anger wore off, 
 pity for the misguided girl crept into her 
 heart, and she began to make excuses to 
 herself for Anne, and even defended her 
 against the just indignation of Mr. Forrest. 
 
 ^'You know, Tom, 'tis all that villain's 
 fault, ' ' argued Mrs. Forrest, with feminine 
 consistency piling the entire blame upon 
 Wingfield. ^'x\nne is barely more than a 
 child, no wonder her sillv head was turned 
 by the flattery of a fine gentleman. Her 
 betters have fallen into that trap more than 
 once before. And you know, Tom," she 
 continued, as she heaped his breakfast 
 plate with broiled fish, fresh from the glow- 
 ing coals, ^'we w^ere young ourselves not so 
 many years ago, so don't be so hard upon 
 the lassie," and the girlish light of court- 
 ship's days beamed again in her eyes as 
 she drew" back his head and touched his 
 cheek with soft kisses. 
 
 "Ah, you are at your old tricks of 
 wheedling again," replied her husband, all 
 the w^hile delighting in her caresses. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 "We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; 
 In feelings, not in figures on a dial." 
 
 sang a poet, and so it was with Anne. 
 Mortified pride and love of flattery were 
 washed away in copious tears, and then the 
 stings of remorseful conscience completed 
 the good work. Her vanity crumbled into 
 ashes, leaving only scars upon her heart, 
 which was really pure and good at bottom. 
 
 At the end of that long week— made up 
 as it seemed to Anne of hundreds of years 
 — Mrs. Forrest came into the room, care- 
 fully shielding the lighted candle with her 
 hand against the draft. Placing the can- 
 dle upon the chest of drawers, she sat 
 down beside the girl, huddled up in a chair 
 with her face bowed upon her knees. 
 
 ^'I brou^'ht vou awav from vour mother, 
 Anne, and the responsibility of your wel- 
 fare lies heavy upon my heart. Your con- 
 duct since coming here has grieved me 
 sorely, but I still believe you are a good 
 girl, and I hope this affair will be a lesson 
 to you. If you live long enough, my child, 
 you will learn that the love of a good man, 
 no matter how humble his station, is of 
 
128 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 priceless value. It is no more to be com- 
 pared to the idle words of a brainless fop 
 than a diamond is to a bit of glass,'' she 
 continued, waxing eloquent as her emo- 
 tions arose. ''Come now, my child, is not 
 your heart sore when you think of your 
 mother ? ' ' 
 
 ''Oh, more than I can tell you," cried 
 Anne, throwing herself on her knees and 
 burying her face in her mistress's lap. 
 "Indeed I did not mean to do wrong, I was 
 only thoughtless." 
 
 "I believe you, Anne," replied Mrs. 
 Forrest, smoothing the girl's disheveled 
 curls, "and in the future I know you will 
 be all that John Laydon could desire." 
 
 "He will never forgive me, he is so 
 proud," sobbed Anne. 
 
 "Compel his admiration by your con- 
 duct, and love will have its way again. 
 True love, my child, forgives many a deep 
 wound inflicted bv the hand of those that 
 are dearest. Now you must go to bed, and 
 let this coming Sunday be the beginning of 
 your new life." And then the repentant 
 maiden, soothed and comforted, was tucked 
 into bed by the kindly ministrations of a 
 heart that understood and pitied. 
 
 In the days that followed, a changed 
 Anne could be seen going about her house- 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 129 
 
 hold duties. Her sad face and down-east 
 eyes tugged strongly at the heartstrings of 
 the now recovered John as he sat among the 
 men in church. 
 
 He tried to steel his heart against her. 
 ^^No," he said to himself, '^I am not going 
 to be fooled by her again. She can go her 
 way, and I will go mine. ' ' 
 
 Nevertheless, his eyes constantly wan- 
 dered over to where she sat with bent head 
 over her prayer-book. 
 
 At the close of the morning prayer, good 
 Chaplain Hunt stood forth, and in simple 
 words told the touching story of the love 
 and forgiveness of the Incarnate God, and 
 then went on to speak of charity, the love 
 that covers all things. 
 
 Two large tears rolled down Anne's 
 cheeks as she listened. The shining drops 
 caught the wandering eye of John, and for 
 some reason he found it hard to swallow 
 the lump in his throat. ^^All sham, done 
 for effect !'' he angrily muttered. 
 
 Coming out of church, he was joined by 
 Adam Clotworthy. ^^Look here, John, 
 haven't you punished that poor girl long 
 enough! You haven't spoken to her since 
 August, and now 'tis the first of October. 
 If you do not do something soon, I'll marry 
 her myself. ' ' 
 
130 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 ^^A pretty bridegroom yon would make, 
 with a body like a hogshead set on 
 skewers ! * ^ 
 
 ^^That makes no difference when a girl 
 comes to her senses as Anne has. She 
 knows now how to value an honest man's 
 affections. His looks play but a small part. 
 I saw her looking at yon when we were 
 coming out, and if you could have seen that 
 look you would go straight to her, unless 
 3^ou have a block of stone for a heart. ' ' 
 
 John had seen the look, but he did not 
 enlighten Adam. 
 
 After the midday meal, John, too rest- 
 less to stay indoors, strolled forth into the 
 hazy sunshine, trying to still the hungry 
 longing at his heart. 
 
 Back of Mrs. Forrest's cabin a drooping 
 elm threw its shadow over the brown grass 
 and plumy golden-rod beneath. On a lit- 
 tle cushion of rootlets sat Anne, resting her 
 cheek on her hand and gazing away over 
 the James. She was so deeply absorbed in 
 thought, that the crackling of dried twigs 
 under John's feet did not disturb her. 
 
 ''Anne, are you sorrj^l" * 
 
 With a start she looked up at him. No 
 answer came from her lips. Lower and 
 lower bent her head over her hands as she 
 twisted and untwisted her fingers in an 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare '131 
 
 effort at self-control. The sunshine, shim- 
 mering through the trees, sought out the 
 gold in the chestnut curl?; escaping from 
 beneath her cap. 
 
 ^'You have not answered me, Anne." 
 
 Sob after sob shook her little body, but 
 no words came. The sight was too much 
 for eJohn, who had all a man's horror of 
 tears. Sitting down beside her, he took 
 one of her little hands in his ; it no longer 
 resisted his pressure. 
 
 '^Will the words not come! Then, little 
 one, if you really care, put your head here 
 on mv heart." 
 
 With an impulsive movement Anne 
 buried her head in his breast, and as she 
 wept away the follies of childhood, her 
 woman's heart acknowledged its love. 
 
 '^How long are you going to keep me 
 waiting, Anne?" 
 
 ''T\nienever you want me, John, I will 
 come. ' ' 
 
 ''I want you now, my little one. And, 
 Anne, I will try to give you all the pretty 
 things I can get by honest toil." 
 
 ''Don't, John; don't. I do not want 
 them," she cried, her heart stung by his 
 loving words. "I only want you, John; 
 I desire nothing else." 
 
 ''Tom," cried Mrs. Forrest to her hus- 
 
132 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 band, ^^come here quickly. Look through 
 the window. Is it not a pretty sight! The 
 Lord has answered my prayer.^' 
 
 Looking out, he saw John Laydon under 
 the trees, holding Anne in his arms. 
 
 ^^Come away," said his wife, taking him 
 by the sleeve; ^^ 'tis too sacred a scene for 
 us to look upon. ' ' 
 
 It took but a few weeks for Anne to be 
 ready for John, for an elaborate trousseau 
 was not necessary. Mrs. Forrest, true to 
 her feminine instincts, delighted in sorting 
 out linen from her store as a wedding pres- 
 ent for the happy couple. 
 
 On a lovely autumn day, when the haze 
 of the Indian-summer cast its dreamy spell 
 over the little church, John and Anne took 
 each other for better or worse, as long as 
 life should last. 
 
 Adam acted as master of ceremonies, 
 marshaling in the Indians invited to the 
 first marriage in Virginia. Standing by 
 Captain Smith, and as close to the bridal 
 couple as possible, was Pocahontas, her 
 curious eyes watching every movement 
 made by Mr. Hunt and the wedding party. 
 When John placed the simple gold band 
 upon the finger of Anne, the Indian maid 
 held out her left hand to Captain Smith, 
 and with a humoring smile he made an 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 133 
 
 imaginary circlet around the marriage 
 finger. 
 
 As soon as the ceremony was completed 
 she stepped up to Anne and held out a 
 bundle of soft doeskins. 
 
 ^^ Pocahontas likes the white squaw now. 
 White squaw has warrior of her own. ' ' 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 
 So much time had been lost in the build- 
 ing of Ratcliffe's house, during which work 
 the men had been forced to leave off the 
 tilling of the garden to hew and build, that 
 little corn had been planted, and as usual 
 the Indian was depended upon for supplies. 
 
 An unlooked-for obstacle presented itself. 
 The cunning Powhatan refused to barter 
 corn for beads and trinkets. He was ris- 
 ing rapidly to the highwater mark in the 
 art of finance. The unwise gifts of New- 
 port had opened his eyes to the possibili- 
 ties of commerce. Guns, swords, and 
 hatchets were now the only recognized 
 moneys for which a bushel of corn could be 
 bought. 
 
 Food must be had, but President Smith 
 had no mind to give into the Indians ' hands 
 the instruments of death. Instead, he 
 seized the corn at the muzzle of the gun, 
 and when that failed, Indian villages went 
 up in flames. Of course these summary 
 proceedings widened the gap between 
 Indian and white man. Constantly some 
 man's scalp went to add luster to the name 
 of a brave. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 135 
 
 Smith not only procured food, but forced 
 the colonists to work. A new fort was 
 erected, new settlements established along 
 the James, and the ground tilled as spring 
 came on, and seed planted for the next 
 year's harvest. 
 
 Meanwhile, the London Company at 
 home was listening to the lies of Wingfield 
 and Ratcliffe. President Smith, they 
 claimed, was entirelv to blame for the con- 
 dition of the settlement; he had upset all 
 law and order, and seized the presidency; 
 his wanton cruelty to the savage was with- 
 out excuse, besides, he had not found the 
 South Sea and Raleigh's lost colony— and 
 there was no one to tell that the unconscious 
 Pocahontas held in her life the answer to 
 their search. 
 
 The existing state of affairs must be 
 altered, so the learned Company appointed 
 a governor to take the place of Smith and 
 rule with militarv law. A fleet of nine ves- 
 sels, with men, women and children, should 
 be sent as soon as possible with provisions, 
 and all needful supplies. Captain Smith 
 and his thirty true men were to be sent 
 home. Truly a munificent reward for brave 
 effort and patient endurance ! 
 
 Meanwhile President Smith, unconscious 
 of coming disgrace, was away on a forag- 
 
136 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 ing expedition. On the return journey, 
 being tired and worn out with toil, he lay 
 down in the bottom of the boat and went 
 to sleep. 
 
 A little spark, as tiny as a pea, floated 
 from a pipe and settled on the powder 
 pouch suspended from his belt. 
 
 Dreamless slumber— a plunging and ris- 
 ing of the boat— liquid fire ! 
 
 The unfortunate Captain, screaming with 
 pain, threw himself into the water. His 
 horrified men could scarcely master his 
 struggles as they pulled him aboard and 
 rapidly rowed for home. No doctor skilled 
 in burns was there to tend him; onlv the 
 clumsy fingers of men applied the soothing 
 oil and lint to his burnt body. 
 
 The news of his accident was carried by 
 lurking Indians to Powhatan and came to 
 the ears of Pocahontas. Her ^ ^father'' 
 hurt— wounded ! The words beat upon her 
 dazed brain like the strokes of a lash. 
 
 She must go to him. Let Powhatan kill 
 if he would. Speeding under cover of 
 night, with soothing ointments known to 
 her tribe, she came to Jamestown. 
 
 ^^Mv father, my father! Pocahontas 
 wants her father." 
 
 Tenderly and gently Mr. Hunt led her 
 to the bedside of John Smith. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 137 
 
 ''Has my little child come to see her 
 father r' said the sick President. ''He has 
 missed his little one. She has not come to 
 see him lately.'' 
 
 "Powhatan not let Pocahontas come. 
 She has herbs to make her father well." 
 
 Turning to Mr. Hunt she said, "Yon ask 
 Great Spirit to make Pocahontas's father 
 well, Pocahontas give many gifts in 
 return. ' ' 
 
 "I have already done so, my child. The 
 Great Spirit does not need to be bought 
 with gifts. He loves your father more than 
 even you do." 
 
 But she shook her head in unbelief of 
 this last assertion. 
 
 Finding that his wounds were of too seri- 
 ous a nature for simple remedies. Smith 
 determined to return home on Captain 
 Argall's ship, now lying at her moorings 
 in the harbor. 
 
 Pocahontas was kneeling by his side 
 when he told her of his coming departure. 
 Locking her hands together, she bowed her 
 head upon them and abandoned herself to 
 grief. 
 
 ' ' Do not grieve so, my child ; your father 
 will still love you. If I get well, doubtless 
 I shall come back to you, or perhaps you 
 may come across the sea to me. Then I can 
 
138 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 show you all the wonderful things I have 
 told you of. Dry your tears, little one, they 
 hurt me." 
 
 Passing her hands across her eyes, she 
 brushed away the tears. 
 
 • 
 
 '^Pocahontas will do nothing to hurt her 
 father. See, the smile has chased the tears 
 
 away. ' ' 
 
 When the day came for his departure a 
 stretcher was prepared by his sorrowing 
 friends and he was placed upon it. 
 
 ''Let Pocahontas hold his head once 
 more," she pleaded, and the men let her 
 have her desire. His friends took up the 
 stretcher and the little procession moved 
 toward the ship, Pocahontas holding the 
 head of the sick man in her arms. She fol- 
 lowed them into the cabin and knelt in her 
 accustomed place by his side. Drawing her 
 head down, he pressed a fatherly kiss uj)on 
 her brow and bade her leave him. 
 
 Standing on the beach she watched the 
 receding ship as long as it could be seen, 
 and again did Eleanor Dare's soul bid 
 good-by to a loved one. In her grand- 
 daughter's heart love had taken the form 
 of hero worship. The lovely jacqueminot 
 bud Was just beginning to unfold under the 
 kisses of the sun, when fate snatched the 
 burning rays away. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 139 
 
 Turning to lier canoe, rocking idly on 
 the water, she sprang in and sailed away, 
 not to revisit Jamestown again for three 
 long years. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 After the departure of Captain Smith 
 the colony went back to its old habits of 
 laziness and mutiny. In August four of 
 the nine vessels sent out from England 
 arrived with the dreaded plague on board. 
 Then did death outstrip the Indian. Fever- 
 stricken victims by the hundred lay dead 
 and dying, and the bodies of the dead were 
 dug up and eaten by the starving. 
 
 Captain George Percy, ill and feeble, 
 tried vainly to stem the rising tide of 
 disaster, but no mortal hand could prevent 
 the Starving Time setting its fangs in the 
 bodies of the remaining colonists. "When 
 the wrecked voyagers who had been on the 
 ill-fated Sea Venture arrived from the 
 island of Bermuda there were only sixty 
 gaunt, wild-eyed settlers to greet them. 
 Among these living skeletons were George 
 Percy, John Laydon, his wife Anne, and 
 Adam Clotworthy. 
 
 Desolation and death, famine and plague ! 
 No heart was courageous enough to brave 
 them. 
 
 *^Home! Take us home from this place 
 of pestilence," begged the stricken ones. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 141 
 
 ^*Not one happy day have we ever enjoyed 
 here. ' ' 
 
 Brave Admiral Somers listened to their 
 pleadings. Jamestown was to be abandoned 
 to its savage owners again. Not a tear was 
 shed as they sailed away from the ruinous 
 settlement. 
 
 ^^Home to England, where I can see 
 again the brimming cups of sack and 
 haunch of roasted beef/' came in a low 
 whisper from the emaciated Adam, lying 
 upon the deck of the Patience. ^^ John, do 
 you think I will ever live to get there ? ' ' 
 
 They had proceeded but a few miles down 
 the James when they were met by a boat 
 rowed at full speed. 
 
 "Stop, turn back! Lord De La Warre, 
 Governor of Jamestown, is lying at Point 
 Comfort, and commands your return,'* 
 cried Captain Brewster. "He has full 
 store of provisions and all things need- 
 ful. ' ' 
 
 Reader, have you ever passed through 
 some ordeal that racked the body and unbal- 
 anced the mind until it was like a loosened 
 rock clinging to the side of a toppling 
 crag? Have you ever been delivered from 
 this ghastly position, only to find your- 
 self plunged into the blackness of some 
 unfathomable abyss I Then you can under- 
 
142 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 stand the feelings of these niiserahle 
 wretches on this June day in the year 1610. 
 They were forced to return to Jamestown, 
 for military law ruled and a life could be 
 easily taken. 
 
 Back to the dismantled fort, to rotting 
 cabins and filthy streets, they sorrowfully 
 went. The cannon were dug up from near 
 the gate of the palisade and some prepara- 
 tion hastily made for the reception of the 
 Governor, who arrived on Sunday. 
 
 Under his strict though kindly rule they 
 repaired the cabins, built more, and refur- 
 nished the church with cedar pews, ebony 
 altar, and font. The streets were cleaned, 
 the gardens cleared, and comfort reigned 
 once more. Sunshine again shone out 
 among the fast fleeting clouds, but a small 
 cloud, no bigger than a man's hand, still 
 hung low down on the horizon. 
 
 The untiring efforts of the Governor 
 received a sudden check. Sickness racked 
 his frame— sickness that would not loose 
 its hold. Back to England went Lord De 
 La Warre, leaving George Percy again in 
 charge. 
 
 Up rose the small cloud on the horizon 
 with lightning speed, and swelled in volume 
 as it came. Anarchy, mutiny, murder by 
 the savages once more held full sway. Then 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 143 
 
 came Captain Argall, a second Ratcliffe, 
 and added to the trouble. After a year of 
 mntiny under his governorship, Governor 
 Dale ari'ived to take the hehn of state. 
 
 The storm was over. Its last rugged 
 edges were swept away under the rigid 
 rule of tliis stern old Governor. Each day 
 he presided over the court to mete out pun- 
 ishment for the infraction of his laws. 
 
 "This man, your excellency, was caught 
 railing against your commands," said a 
 soldier who did police duty. 
 
 ''Take him to the smith v and bore a 
 
 ft/ 
 
 hole in his tdngue. That will silence him 
 for a while, ' ' ordered the Governor. 
 
 "Charles Anderson says he is not 
 religiously inclined and refuses to go to 
 church, your worship." 
 
 "Bread and water and daily whipping 
 until he is in a proper frame of mind," 
 ordered the Governor. 
 
 "Say, John," said Adam Clotworthy, 
 meeting Laydon on the street, "things 
 begin to wear as fair a look as they do in 
 old England. Yesterday I was over to Mas- 
 ter John Eolfe's plantation at Varina. He 
 has started to grow tobacco on a large scale. 
 I wouldn't be surprised if it does not 
 become our staple commodity, now that 
 Governor Dale has abolished the common 
 
144 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 storehouse and given every man a house 
 and land that he can call his own." 
 
 ^ ' He has solved the problem of the settle- 
 ment of Jamestown, ' ' said Lay don. ^ ^ Even 
 those who were the ringleaders in mutiny 
 have settled down into sober and indus- 
 trious farmers. Give a man some object 
 in life and the good will surely come upper- 
 most. You know James Hutchinson, the 
 wildest rake in the colony? I came by his 
 bit of land just now and saw him weeding 
 his cotton patch. Well, I must be moving. 
 I have to hill up my corn. I hope to get 
 at least fifty good bushels this year." 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 Far away on the Potomac, where the 
 steamers now toll their bells in passing, 
 Pocahontas had lived for the last three 
 years, in the wigwam of Japazaws. 
 
 Roaming by the river's bank she lived 
 over again the happy days when she had 
 called Smith ^'father" and he had called 
 her ^^ child." What had become of him— 
 was he still living? she wondered. She 
 would ask Powhatan to send some one to 
 England to find out, for she could not bear 
 to go to Jamestown and miss him at every 
 turn. 
 
 Looking down the river she descried a 
 ship approaching, filled with white men. 
 Calling Japazaws, and pointing to the ship, 
 she said, '^Pocahontas will not see the pale- 
 faces now. Her heart is sorrowful, for 
 there is no friendship between us. Pow- 
 hatan does not heed the pleadings of his 
 best-loved daughter." 
 
 Hastening down to the shore, Japazaws 
 welcomed with loud shouts of joy Captain 
 Argall and his crew. 
 
 '^ Japazaws is greatly honored by your 
 coming. Opechancanough has told him of 
 the presents you bestow. Everything in his 
 
 10 
 
146 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 poor village is at your command." And he 
 bade his squaw bring refreshments for his 
 guests and tobacco for their pipes. 
 
 Pocahontas, who had disappeared, heard 
 the echo of their voices and found herself 
 unable to keep away. Perhaps they could 
 tell her something of her ''father." She 
 must find out. Coming forward, she added 
 her welcome to that of the Indians. 
 
 "Pocahontas once loved your people and 
 came to Jamestown to visit them." 
 
 ''I have heard many kind things of her 
 whom the pale-faces call the 'Blessed Poca- 
 hontas,' " Argall replied. 
 
 "Has the chief with the shining body 
 returned?" she inquired. 
 
 "No, he is dead," replied Argall, who 
 was of the nature that does not mind tell- 
 ing a wanton lie. 
 
 She turned sorrowfully away. All links 
 with the happy past were broken. There 
 was no one at Jamestown now who would 
 love her as her "father" had done. It 
 would only bring pain to visit there again. 
 
 While Argall was talking with Poca- 
 hontas a happy inspiration seized him. He 
 would take her, by force if necessary, to 
 Jamestown as a hostage of peace between 
 Powhatan and the settlers. Fame would 
 come to him and no doubt he would be 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 147 
 
 rewarded. Nothing could be better, he 
 thought, and he immediately set to 
 work on the well-known greed of Japa- 
 zaws to gain his end. 
 
 ^ ' Come down to the ship, Japazaws ; I 
 have something to show yon.'^ 
 
 When they arrived there he brought 
 forth a kettle, and placing it before the 
 longing eyes of the Indian, said, '*Look at 
 this copper kettle; see how it shines and 
 glistens. Only great kings use them— not 
 even Powhatan has one like it.'' 
 
 ^'How many bushels of corn does the 
 white chief want!" 
 
 '^Not one bushel shall it cost you," 
 replied Argall. ' ^ Only a little thing, a very 
 little thing, I ask in return." 
 
 ''What does the great chief desire?" 
 inquired the crafty Japazaws. 
 
 ''Bring Pocahontas as a captive to my 
 ship to-morrow and the kettle is yours. 
 Also I will bestow many presents of guns 
 and hatchets when next you visit James- 
 town. ' ' 
 
 "Japazaws dare not. Powhatan would 
 kill," said Japazaws. 
 
 "He need never know. Tell him that I 
 took her and then turned the great guns of 
 my ship upon you. ' ' 
 
 "It is enough. Japazaws will do it to 
 
148 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 show his love for the white man. Forget 
 not the copper kettle/' 
 
 Back went Japazaws and told his wife 
 of his bargain, but she was very unwilling 
 to betray Pocahontas. 
 
 ''Japazaws will beat hard if the squaw 
 not obey.'' At that threat she quailed and 
 consented to aid him. 
 
 The next day she told Pocahontas that 
 she and her husband were going on board 
 the white man's ship and wanted her to go, 
 too. There would be no danger, she said. 
 The pale faces were friends. All would be 
 well. 
 
 Captain Argall received them with a 
 great show of friendship and spread a feast 
 in their honor. English food that they had 
 never tasted was placed before them. 
 
 ''Taste of this, Japazaws," said Argall, 
 handing a dish of veal sweetbread to him. 
 
 Japazaws took a huge mouthful, rolled 
 it around once or twice, and then s]Dit it out 
 upon the floor. "Ugh! Bad mush!" 
 exclaimed the disgusted chief. 
 
 After the repast was over Argall enticed 
 Pocahontas into the gun-room to look at 
 the wonderful cannon. Wbile she was mar- 
 veling at the great guns he said, "You are 
 to go with me to Jamestown as a hostage 
 for your people. There will be peace with 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 149 
 
 Powhatan, and the murder of our people 
 will cease/' 
 
 A long heart-broken wail floated over the 
 water. In came running Japazaws and his 
 squaw to learn the cause of her sorrow. 
 
 ''Japazaws take Pocahontas back. The 
 white chief would make her a captive," 
 cried the unhappy girl. 
 
 ''I will turn the great guns on his wig- 
 wams and kill his people if he carries you 
 away/' said Argall. 
 
 All the while Japazaws was making the 
 welkin ring with howls. ''How is Japa- 
 zaws to answer to Powhatan ? " he yelled, at 
 the same time treading hard on the pet 
 corn of Argall to remind him of the copper 
 kettle. 
 
 As ArgalPs ship moored at the landing 
 at Jamestown many of the settlers came 
 down to meet him and hear of his 
 adventures. 
 
 "^Tiom think you I have brought back 
 with me, as a captive!" cried Argall 
 pompously. 
 
 "Not Powhatan?" exclaimed Laydon. 
 
 "Pshaw! might as well try to put salt 
 on a snipe's tail as catch that old rat. But 
 I have the next best thing— Pocahontas, his 
 daughter." Then he narrated the manner 
 of her capture. 
 
150 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 ^^How could vou have the heart to do 
 itr' said a woman standing by. 
 
 ^'I can do anything that will redound to 
 my own personal gain/' replied Argall. 
 
 ^^You men are ever hunting down some 
 poor female/' remarked the wife of a set- 
 tler, who had recently bought her for forty 
 pounds of tobacco. 
 
 ^^I take notice that they are very careful 
 to be caught," returned Argall. ^'I will 
 now fetch the captive from the gun-room. ' ' 
 
 Disappearing within the ship, he pres- 
 ently came out leading a maiden, slow of 
 gait and with bowed head. 
 
 ''Welcome back to Jamestown, Poca- 
 hontas, friend of the English, ' ' cried Adam 
 Clotworthy, who still retained vivid remem- 
 brances of her bount>^ 
 
 Throwing back her head she faced the 
 group of colonists, and in accents of 
 blended scorn and pain poured forth the 
 recital of her wrongs : 
 
 "What is this you do to Pocahontas, daughter of 
 
 Powhatan ? 
 Where is the memory of her kindness? 
 When starvation slayed your people and sickness 
 Laid them low, many times she came with food. 
 When Powhatan plotted destruction, through sleet 
 And storm she came, braving her father's anger, 
 Because of the love she bore you. 
 Now Pocahontas is taken from her people and 
 Walks a stranger among you." 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 151 
 
 Then from among the men stepped fair- 
 haired, blue-eyed young Rolfe and in low 
 accents tried to comfort her. 
 
 ^^Do not be so sorrowful, maiden. We 
 will be as kindred to you. John Rolfe will 
 be your brother and protect you with his 
 life. ' ' 
 
 ^'Let her come to me," said the matron, 
 Anne Laydon. She needs a woman's care. 
 She shall live with me and I will befriend 
 her." And putting her arm around the 
 waist of the Indian maiden she led her to 
 her cabin. 
 
 John Laydon had steadily prospered, and 
 as the first fruits of his gain he erected a 
 pleasant house for Anne. Furniture from 
 the mother country was brought over, a 
 piece at a time, for his cherished wife. 
 Now he welcomed the poor little captive in 
 friendlv words. 
 
 ''John Laydon has not forgotten the 
 kindness of Pocahontas in the vears 
 that are past. She is welcome to his 
 house. ' ' 
 
 ''Pocahontas shall share the room with 
 my baby girl. Will she not love the little 
 papoose!" said Anne. 
 
 The Indian maid, who loved everjiihing 
 that was small and helpless, went down on 
 her knees beside the cradle to caress the 
 
152 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 pink toes and kiss the dimpled hands of the 
 little two-year-old baby. In a few days the 
 little one could be seen holding on by the 
 fringe on Pocahontas 's skirt as she toddled 
 after her. 
 
 Under the capable supervision of the 
 vouns: matron Pocahontas commenced to 
 learn the art of housekeeping. Following 
 Anne, who flitted from one spot to another 
 like a humming-bird, she learned to manage 
 the spinning-wheel and loom. Various tiny 
 garments for the baby daughter of her 
 benefactress were made by Pocahontas, 
 whose skilful fingers soon learned the use 
 of the steel needle. Always some bright 
 bit of Indian decoration could be found 
 on them. She made dainty moccasins, 
 embroidered in beads of many colors, for 
 the tiny feet. 
 
 At first her Indian blood chafed against 
 the narrow confines of Jamestown, shut up 
 within the palisades ; but after a while other 
 forces began to work within her, and 
 she became more reconciled as the year 
 drifted bv. 
 
 Eolfe's pity and sympathy for her made 
 him seek her society frequently. He con- 
 ceived the idea of instructing her in the 
 Christian religion, and teaching her how to 
 read and speak the English language with 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 153 
 
 fluency. She constantly reminded him of a 
 slender lily, swaying in the breeze, and 
 when alone with her he always called her 
 Lily. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 A mellow afternoon in October. The 
 purple clusters of grapes peep invitingly 
 out from among the dark green leaves, and 
 the invitation is eagerly accepted by the 
 honey- and bumble-bees. Their droning 
 hum fills the drowsy air with booming 
 music. 
 
 Down to a favorite nook by the side of 
 the church strolled John Rolfe and Poca- 
 hontas for the daily lesson. 
 
 ''Tell Pocahontas again of the Son of 
 the Great Spirit." 
 
 In fervent, glowing words he repeated 
 the story of the sacrifice of the Incarnate 
 Son of God. Springing to her feet and 
 throwing up her arms she cried, *^ Poca- 
 hontas loves the Royal Christ,'' then 
 falling to her knees she faltered out, ''Poca- 
 hontas would serve Him as the pale 
 faces do.'' 
 
 A deep joy filled the heart of the young 
 teacher. One more soul for the angels to 
 sing over. 
 
 There was great rejoicing among the 
 colonists when tlie}^ heard that Pocahontas 
 was to be baptized, and Anne Laydon 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 155 
 
 elected herself as one of her god-mothers. 
 When it came to choosing a god-father, 
 Pocahontas settled the matter by saying, 
 "Adam be god-father— Pocahontas hurt 
 Adam— called him Okee. Pocahontas 
 sorry. ' ' 
 
 Those who assembled to witness Poca- 
 hontas the Indian maid changed into 
 Rebecca the Christian conld not hear the 
 echo of the priest's voice which more than 
 twenty years before had baptized her 
 mother, Virginia Dare, on Eoanoke Island. 
 The echo was there, nevertheless. 
 
 tF tP "vP 
 
 Lingering fall paled slowly into the drab- 
 hued tints of winter. Brown stalks of dead 
 nettles stood stiffly up in soldierly array 
 from the dry stubble around their feet. 
 Somber cedars added a mournful note to 
 the cheerless scene around the churchyard. 
 Back and forth paced Rolfe muffled in his 
 cloak, with a soft dark hat pulled low over 
 his brow. The depressing note sounded by 
 winter found a ready echo within his heart, 
 a heart compounded of a curious mingling 
 of Puritan and Cavalier. 
 
 In teaching Pocahontas to speak the Eng- 
 lish language he had unwittingly learned 
 another language himself— the hitherto 
 
156 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 unknown language of love. His uncertain 
 steps carried him past the grave where the 
 wife who had forsaken all to follow him 
 across to Virginia rested. Thoughts of her 
 and his early life in England rose up like 
 an accusing voice to confront the love he 
 was nurturing in his heart. 
 
 ^Vhy had it been their misfortune that 
 their lands stepped together in old Eng- 
 land? Why were they betrothed in child- 
 hood, when neither knew what the future 
 might bring forth? Why had he weakly 
 yielded to the will of his father? Then he 
 did not care, no love had been between him 
 and the woman lying there ; here an accus 
 ing voice made itself heard— alas, she had 
 cared. Looks and loving attentions ranged 
 themselves in a phantom picture to testify 
 to her love. 
 
 He remembered his disapproval of the 
 pretty colors she had worn to try to make 
 herself comely in his eyes. Her face did 
 not possess the alluring attraction of 
 beautiful features, and was only re- 
 deemed from plainness by the change- 
 ful expression, indexing faithfully the 
 varying emotions of the heart. How 
 plain she had seemed when at his 
 command she dressed in sober gray, and 
 tight bands of straw-colored hair lay where 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 157 
 
 the fluffy curls had strayed. In those days 
 he had not thought it beseeming a godly 
 matron to use the crisping pins or deck the 
 sinful body in gay-colored robes. 
 
 A wave of pity for her, born of his 
 love for another, swept over him at the 
 remembrance of her words at the birth of 
 their little daughter on the island of Ber- 
 muda. 
 
 ^^I would that it had been a boy, John. 
 Then perhaps you might have learned to 
 love the mother. ' ' 
 
 No words of tender assurance and com- 
 fort had come to his lips ; there was nothing 
 in his heart to prompt them. His answer 
 had been another blow to her hungry 
 heart. 
 
 *^We must make the best of it, wife,'' 
 he had replied, as he gravely kissed her 
 brow, ignoring her loving lips. 
 
 Then the little Bermuda died on the 
 voyage from the island to Virginia, and the 
 mother followed soon after they reached 
 Jamestown. The learned doctor spoke 
 wisely of a frail constitution, worn out by 
 the hardships of the voyage and wreck of 
 the ship. The wise Hippocrates might have 
 been mistaken— perhaps her heart had died 
 for lack of nourishment. He paused beside 
 the long grave, and resting his hand upon 
 
158 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 the marble cross, held cominiinion with his 
 unloved dead. 
 
 '^"Wife, yon koow what it is to love, to 
 feel the heart he-at to siitTocation in the 
 presence of the beloved. It was not my 
 fault that I could not give you what you 
 craved. Love will not go or come at the 
 bidding of the will. In the clearer light in 
 wMcli you live let your pity and compas- 
 sion cover my sins of neglect. ' ' 
 
 A sense of comfort stole over him which 
 he interpreted as forgiveness from the 
 spirit dwelling where there is no marrying 
 or giving in marriage. He felt free to 
 think of his love for Pocahontas. 
 
 Hardly had he settled this matter with 
 his conscience than Pride awoke and 
 demanded a hearing. Many were the weary 
 battles he fought with it. AVhat would his 
 equals think of a marriage between him and 
 the Indian maiden! He felt a just pride 
 in his honorable line of ancestry. Would 
 he be stooping to a mesalliance? There 
 were fair ladies in England whom he could 
 wed, for he had much influence to back him. 
 They would bring name and fortune to add 
 to his. 
 
 ^'Pocahontas is a princess, daughter 
 of the King of Virginia,'' whispered 
 Inclination. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 159 
 
 '^True," retorted Pride, ^'but can an 
 Indian princess match with the house of 
 Rolf e ? ' '' 
 
 Through the rest of tiie winter Inclina- 
 tion and Pride wrestled for the mastery, 
 using- the mind and body of Rolfe as a 
 battleground. When spring came Pride 
 gathered its forces and took a determined 
 stand for its last great effort. Both in 
 front and on the flank it brought up over- 
 whelming arguments and charged down 
 upon Rolfe as he sat under a copper beech, 
 alone with his thoughts. 
 
 ^'Listen to the contemptuous comments 
 of the council and the grieved reproaches 
 of vour relations at home, ' ' exhorted Pride. 
 ''Hear them saying, 'Who w^ould have 
 thought that the stately and dignified Rolfe 
 could have stooped to mingle his proud 
 blood with that of a savage, when he could 
 have wedded with some gifted lady of Eng- 
 land!' Think of the example set the men 
 of the colony. They will think that with 
 such an illustrious precedent any Indian 
 woman will be a fit mate. No need to wait 
 for the coming of damsels from the mother 
 country. Families of Indian squaws and 
 half-breeds will be the fashion in Virginia.'' 
 
 But Inclination brought the thousand 
 calls of birds, and flowers with love-tipped 
 
160 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 darts to withstand the shock of the armies 
 of Pride. Far awav in the distance sounded 
 the sweet call of the partridge to its mate; 
 flocks of pigeons sailing overhead settled 
 down on the eaves of the cabins to prune 
 their silver breasts and lean their heads 
 confidingly together; up in the tree above, 
 a mocking-bird sang a love song of sur- 
 passing beauty to the coy mate brooding on 
 a branch below, and its liquid notes, filled 
 with passionate sweetness drawn from the 
 deep w^ells of the heart, swept the routed 
 ranks of Pride from the hard-fought field, 
 leaving Inclination victor. 
 
 Throwing back his head, Rolfe cried 
 aloud to the silence surrounding him: 
 
 ^ ^ Let the world say what it will, I do not 
 care ! I have my own life to lead, and will 
 not bow to the dictates of any human 
 being.'' Over his countenance flashed a 
 look of exultation. ^^I love her! Love her! 
 Love her! She shall be mine that I may 
 drink of her sweetness. ' ' 
 
 The slowly dying sun, resting on a bank 
 of lurid clouds, blazed up once more to 
 welcome the new disciple of the god of love. 
 
 ^ ^ Come, Lily, ' ' said Eolf e on the ensuing 
 morning, ^^let us take the canoe and go 
 over to the pond where the lilies are in 
 bloom.'' 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 161 
 
 As long as they were in sight of the 
 palisades surrounding the settlement he 
 rowed with strong vigorous strokes, but 
 when the winding of the shore hid them 
 from view he ceased and let the boat drift 
 idly that he might feast his eyes on the 
 glowing beauty of Pocahontas, who with 
 half averted face was trailing a slender 
 hand through the amber water. How 
 exquisite was the line of beauty sweeping 
 from the nape of her neck along the grace- 
 ful curve of the spine! What could rival 
 the pomegranate flower upon her cheek? 
 
 ' ' Fool, fool, ' ' muttered Eolf e inwardly to 
 himself, ^'to weigh for one single moment 
 love for that flower with cold critical 
 Pride. '^ 
 
 Picking up the paddles again, he sent 
 the canoe into a shadowed pond filled with 
 water-lilies, and canox3ied in green foliage 
 picked out in golden sunbeams. Close by 
 the bank the water-lilies grew thickest. 
 There he rested again, while Pocahontas 
 filled her lap with the blossoms. Gathering 
 two or three, she held them off at arm's 
 length to admire their beauty, bestowing 
 on them a loving glance that gave a jealous 
 pang to Rolfe. A green and gold humming- 
 bird darted down on gauzy wings to sip the 
 honey glittering like dewdrops within their 
 
162 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 powdered stamens. Pocahontas held her- 
 self motionless, hardly breathing lest the 
 tiny sprite should dart away. A faint 
 tremor of her arm, and lo, it was gone. 
 
 Leaning forWard and fixing his burning 
 gaze upon her, Eolf e said : 
 
 ^'Lily does not look at John as she used 
 to do. Her eyes hide aw'ay under the 
 fringed lashes. Is she angry with him?" 
 
 ^ ' Pocahontas could not be angry with her 
 friend," she murmured, busying herself 
 with the lilies lying in her lap. 
 
 ^ ^ Will Lilv care when John leaves James- 
 town, and goes to England, never to 
 return ? ' ' 
 
 "John leave Pocahontas alone?" gasped 
 the fear-stricken girl, clutching at her 
 breast and scattering the lilies in every 
 direction. 
 
 His answer w^as written in her working 
 features and heaving bosom. 
 
 "Nay, Lily, John did not mean it; he 
 was onlv tr^dng to see if vou cared as he 
 did," he exclaimed, springing to her side 
 and crushing the lily petals under foot in' 
 his haste to reach her. 
 
 Drawing her to his breast, he pressed his 
 cheek against her hair. "John loves you 
 better than life. Will you come to his 
 cabin and be his dearly loved wife?" 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 163 
 
 For a few moments she lav on his breast 
 as if stunned, without power to move or 
 speak. In one hrief instant he has stabbed 
 her with pain and offered her his love. 
 
 ''Lily has not answered John." 
 
 Eaising her head she said with a mourn- 
 ful smile, ''Pocahontas was exceeding sor- 
 rowful when her 'father' went away, but 
 no knife pierced her heart as it did just 
 now. ' ' She stroked his cheek with a caress- 
 ing" hand, and outlining his lix)s with a 
 dainty forefinger continued, "Let these 
 lips say again, 'John will not leave Poca- 
 hontas alone.' She will fade away as the 
 flowers do when the frost spirit lays his 
 black hand upon them. ' ' 
 
 "John could not leave his treasure 
 alone," he replied, crushing her to his 
 breast and covering her face and hands 
 with passionate kisses. "My heart's dar- 
 ling, John could not live unless he could see 
 the light in these dear eyes. Thus and thus 
 he loves them," imprinting a kiss on each. 
 Bending back her head, his lips sought 
 in a long clinging pressure the cupid's kiss 
 nestling in the hollow of her throat. "Now 
 let my darling say she loves John better 
 than all else in the world. ' ' 
 
 Leaning over the boat as far as his 
 jealous arm would let her, she gathered a 
 
164 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 tightly closed bud, a half-open one and a 
 full-blown lily. Laying them on her lap, 
 she said in a low sweet voice: 
 
 ^'Pocahontas will give John his answer 
 in the language of the lily. Many moons 
 ago— ah, so many moons it seems to the 
 lily— a tightly closed bud slumbered upon 
 its bed of green leaves, not knowing or car- 
 ing for the world -beyond. One morning a 
 sunbeam came from the east and showered 
 its smile upon her. New throbs of life 
 pulsated in her heart as she rocked upon 
 the ripples. Under its sunny smile the 
 green mantle parted and showed the white 
 satin petals beneath. She called the sun- 
 beam ' father. ' A dark cloud arose and hid 
 the sunbeam, leaving the half-awakened 
 lily to breast the storm of sorrow and 
 loneliness. Eude hands tore her from her 
 resting-place to plant in strange waters. 
 Longing for the father sunbeam beat the 
 lily downward on its red brown stem. Then 
 came another sunbeam and sent its cheer- 
 ing warmth straight to the heart of the 
 lily. Stronger and stronger grew the sun- 
 beam as the day grew older. Light, hope, 
 and joy thrust apart the green mantle and 
 trembling petals, laying bare the quivering 
 golden heart wide open to the sun. Has 
 Pocahontas answered Johnf 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 165 
 
 Bowing his head upon his breast, he mur- 
 mured, "0 God, I am not worthy of the 
 great love of two such woman hearts.'' 
 
 Love had taught him how to measure the 
 rich gift of his dead wife's heart. 
 
 It was with great reluctance that he left 
 this earthlv Eden to row back to James- 
 town. He must write to Governor Dale and 
 obtain his consent to his marriage with 
 Pocahontas, now the Christian maid 
 Rebecca. 
 
 Much to his surprise, a speedy answer 
 giving consent to the nuptials came from 
 the bluff Governor. An early day was 
 appointed for the wedding and an in\dta- 
 tion sent to Powhatan. 
 
 That grim old veteran had been filled 
 with rage when he learned of his daughter 's 
 capture by Argall. Messengers sent to bar- 
 ter for her ransom had been chased from 
 his doors. Nevertheless, during her two 
 years of captivity the murder of the colo- 
 nists ceased. Security and peace had been 
 brought to the settlement by the ^^ Blessed 
 Pocahontas." 
 
 Rallying his fast-failing powers, he now 
 attempted a dignified oration in which he 
 gave his consent to Pocahontas 's marriage, 
 but ere he reached its end, love for the long- 
 absent daughter and the loneliness of old 
 
1G6 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 age, shattered his feeble attempt at dignity. 
 His voice trailed away in a plaintive lament. 
 
 ^'Powhatan is old, his davs are few. Let 
 there be peace between the real man and 
 the pale-face. Opechancanough shall come 
 with Nantaquas, bearing wedding garments 
 for Pocahontas and presents for the new 
 son, Eolfe.'' Raising his palsied hands, 
 only to let them fall helplessly into his lap 
 again, he murnmred in a far-away voice, 
 ''Powhatan is wearv— the warriors are call- 
 ing to him from the liappy hunting-grounds. 
 Let the pale faces depart. ' ' 
 
 On the appointed day Anne Laydon, 
 resplendent in matronly dignity, dressed the 
 bride in the Indian costume which she was 
 to wear for the last time. 
 
 A mantle of pigeon feathers, gleaming 
 in iridescent colors against a shimmering 
 gray background, covered a fawn-colored 
 skirt embroidered in ruby-colored beads. 
 Her flowing black hair was held in place 
 by the rope of pearls she wore when first 
 she met CajDtain Smith. 
 
 The interior of the church had been 
 decorated with great branches of laurel and 
 trailing honeysuckle. Fragrant water lilies 
 were banked upon the altar. 
 
 Up the aisle stalked Opej;iehanganough 
 and Nantaquas, son of Pocahontas, both 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 167 
 
 decorated in all the glory of the Indian 
 brave. Faces and arms were tatooed in 
 birds and reptiles to do honor to the mar- 
 riage of the Pearl of the Powhatans. 
 
 As Rolfe placed the plain gold band 
 upon her finger he felt her hand tremble 
 and pressed it to give her courage. Did she 
 feel the imaginary circlet which long ago 
 Smith had traced upon her finger? 
 
 ' ' I pronounce you man and wife. Whom- 
 soever God has joined together, let no man 
 put asunder," said the priest. As he 
 ceased a quivering shaft of sunlight poured 
 through the altar window, wrapping the 
 kneeling couple in a shimmering veil of 
 gold. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 For two years Pocahontas had kept 
 sweet the ingle-nook at Varina for her hus- 
 band. Then she was crowned with the dia- 
 dem of motherhood. A baby boy came to 
 weld into an indissoluble bond their loving 
 hearts. 
 
 When night stole over the plantation and 
 the tallow candles were lit in the sconces 
 Rolfe would sit by the fire puffing clouds 
 of smoke from a curiously carved pipe pre- 
 sented by Nantaquas, and plan for the edu- 
 cation of the little son lying asleep in the 
 cradle which Pocahontas kept in motion 
 with her foot while she sewed on tiny baby 
 garments. 
 
 ^^Lily, we will take him to England and 
 place him at Cambridge. There he will 
 grow into a famous man, and by and by 
 take a wife as his father did before him." 
 
 With a jealous movement she bent over 
 the sleeping babe, as if to protect him from 
 unknown dangers. 
 
 '^Nay, John, Pocahontas will not give her 
 son to any maiden. He is her own, and she 
 will not let him go from her across the 
 seas.'' 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 169 
 
 i( 
 
 Ah, Lily, you are like all mothers, 
 jealous of every maiden as soon as a son 
 is born to her," he laughingly replied. *^I 
 would not separate you from our boy, he 
 needs his mother too much. Whenever he 
 goes, you shall accompany him. Your 
 kindness to the colonists, when they were in 
 suffering, has long ago reached England. 
 All London rinsrs with vour fame and thev 
 long to see you. Wealth has come to me 
 through my tobacco plantation, and my 
 darling shall have rich robes of gorgeous 
 hues to enhance her loveliness and vie with 
 the jewels glistening in her hair.'' 
 
 Then a slender form, gowned in sober 
 gray, with smooth bands of light hair under 
 a plain cap, flitted before his vision. With 
 a frown of impatience he quickly banished 
 the unwelcome vision. 
 
 The words spoken half in jest, half in 
 earnest by Eolfe, came true. One day he 
 came running into the cabin waving a let- 
 ter in his hand. 
 
 ^^Lily, I have just received this let- 
 ter commanding me to bring the Lady 
 Rebecca''— bowing low to her as he spoke 
 — ^Ho England, along with her attendants. 
 She is to be presented at court under the 
 chaperonage of Lady De La Warre, and 
 will be the guest of the London Company. 
 
170 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 What has my lady to say to her humble 
 husband concerning her preparations for 
 departure?'' 
 
 ''The will of John is the will of Poca- 
 hontas/' answered the obedient wife. 
 
 "Then, sweet one, we must make all 
 haste possible, as we travel with Governor 
 Dale a week hence. The plantation must 
 be left in charge of my man Hunter, and 
 we will get Mistress Laydon to come over 
 now and then to look after your goods and 
 chattels so that your housewifely heart 
 may be at rest. I shall be glad to see old 
 England again, and proud to show my 
 darling to my relations over there." 
 
 Busy was the week that followed, both 
 for Eolfe and Pocahontas; he making 
 arrangements for a long absence and she 
 putting in order the dearly loved home. 
 
 All Jamestown was agog w'ith the news 
 of Pocahontas's presentation at court. A 
 halo of new interest surrounded her. 
 
 Elding home from the fields late one 
 evening, Eolfe saw Adam Clotworthy lean- 
 ing against the gate. 
 
 ' ' Ha, Adam ; I am riglit glad to see you. 
 Have you come to take a look at the boy?" 
 
 ''Yes, Master Eolfe, and I find that it is 
 harder to part with him than I thought. 
 You know he has been dear to me ever 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 171 
 
 since his birth. I feel as if I owned some 
 part of him, seeing that madam, his mother, 
 was so gracious as to choose me for her 
 god-father. I came to ask if you would 
 not take me to England as your serving- 
 man, and a sort of under-nurse to the boy. ' ' 
 
 ^'Well, Adam, I will take you. Your 
 devotion to the boy weighs heavily in your 
 favor. ' ' 
 
 ^' Thank you, Master Rolfe, you will 
 never have cause to repent of your kind- 
 ness as long as the boy is above ground. ' ' 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 Mad merry Yule-tide was in full posses- 
 sion of London as the coach containing the 
 Lady Rebecca and her j)arty posted up from 
 Plymouth. 
 
 Rolfe eagerly pointed out to Pocahontas 
 the various places of interest as they came 
 into South Wark. 
 
 ^'Here on our left, sweetheart, is Erber 
 House, once the home of Sir Francis 
 Drake. See that round tower lying to the 
 west of it I That is Paris Garden, where 
 the common folk resort to witness the bear- 
 baiting. Yonder to the northeast rises the 
 Tower of London. Long ago its walls 
 resounded with mirth and feasting, now it 
 is a gloomy prison house. Now turn your 
 dear eyes to the northwest, here, in this 
 direction. That pile of buildings is White- 
 hall, where King James holds court. Inigo 
 Jones, the famous architect, is building a 
 magnificent banqueting hall there for the 
 sovereign, and— Why, what is the matter 
 now! Our coach has come to a standstill,'^ 
 he said abruptly. 
 
 Putting his head out of the window, 
 Rolfe saw a crowd of revelers dressed in 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 173 
 
 fantastic garb surging around the six white 
 horses drawing the coach. The oaths of 
 the postilion were met by the jeers of the 
 mob swinging upon the bridle reins. 
 
 ^^Make way for the Lady Eebecca of 
 Virginia, you scum of South Wark. She 
 is the King's guest!" shouted the angry 
 jehu. 
 
 '^Is that the commodity you carry? Up, 
 my merry men, let's have a look at her," 
 exclaimed the ringleader. 
 
 Up on the wheels scrambled three or four 
 adventurous spirits, to peer through the 
 coach windows at the famous Indian 
 princess. 
 
 '^She is fairly well-favored, saving her 
 copper skin," sang out the Lord of 
 Misrule. 
 
 The sound of his voice attracted the atten- 
 tion of Adam, seated beside the postilion. 
 
 ''By my soul, 'tis scatterbrain Jack 
 Saunders. Halloa there! Jack, don't you 
 remember vour old comrade?" 
 
 ''Father Christmas! If 'tis not bottle- 
 nose Adam Clotworthy. I would know your 
 ill-favored visage in Africa. Say, man, 
 how did you escape the scalping-knife, and 
 what has become of the Falstatf paunch 
 vou carried about?" 
 
 My own prowess kept off the savages," 
 
 i I 
 
174 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 replied Adam. ^^As to my paimch, I had 
 to consume my own fat during the Starving 
 Time, like the bears over yonder do in win- 
 ter. Say, lad, I thought you had been 
 buried long ago by your ranting spouse, 
 Meg. Her temper must have improved 
 vastlv to allow vou to go junketing around 
 like this." 
 
 Jack scratched his shock head, and whis- 
 pered with a sly wink, *'She thinks I am 
 down at Deptf ord, looking after repairs on 
 old Sir Francis Drake's ship. Come down, 
 Adam, and have a cup of ale for the sake 
 of old times. We will go to the tavern hard 
 by and make a roaring night of it. ' ' 
 
 Adam shook his head and drew himself 
 up proudly. ^'I cannot. Jack, I am body- 
 servant to Master John Rolfe, husband of 
 the Lady Rebecca. Besides, there is a little 
 lad in there whom I love as if he were mine 
 own. I have to keep straight for his sake. ' ' 
 
 ^AHiile this conversation was taking place, 
 and the revelers were still tormenting the 
 driver, a band of London apprentices, with 
 clubs in their hands and flat caps on their 
 heads, were coming at a swinging pace 
 across London Bridge, from the north side 
 of the Thames. On perceiving the revelers 
 blocking the way, they raised the cry of 
 ** Clubs, clubs!" and bore down upon the 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 175 
 
 mummers. Swingiug their cudgels right 
 and left upon the heads of the luckless 
 maskers, they quickly cut a wide path for 
 the coach. 
 
 Down upon the plunging horses came 
 the long curling whip of the postilion. 
 Smarting under the stinging lash, they 
 plunged forward under the gateway of 
 London Bridge, surmounted by a row of 
 ghastly heads set on pikes; and sweeping 
 forward across the bridge, swerved to the 
 left, rattled down the street echoing with 
 the postilion's horn, and drew up with a 
 flourish before the Mermaid Inn. 
 
 Out came the obsequious host with many 
 bows to greet them. ^'Why, Master Rolfe, 
 you are a sight to gladden the heart. And 
 this is the Lady Rebecca, your wife? I 
 need not tell you, honored madam, that all 
 London welcomes you." 
 
 '^Yes," said Eolfe, ''we have just had 
 a sample of their good will on South Wark 
 side of the Thames." 
 
 "The Ladv De La Warre was here a 
 week ago come Tuesday, to engage rooms 
 for your party. Master Rolfe. They are 
 in readiness and I will conduct you to 
 them," said the landlord. 
 
 LTp a crooked stairway went Pocahontas, 
 followed bj' her party, to a suite of rooms 
 
176 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 overlooking the Thames. Wreaths of holly 
 and mistletoe hung from the ceiling and 
 twined around portraits of King James 
 and Queen Elizabeth. Through the dia- 
 mond-paned window could be seen the ship- 
 ping plying back and forth upon the 
 river. 
 
 While our friends were seated at break- 
 fast the next morning a servant appeared 
 with the information that Lady De La 
 Warre waited below to pay a visit to the 
 Lady Eebecca. 
 
 Rolfe hastened down to conduct this lady 
 to the presence of his wife. In came the 
 stately dame, rustling in violet silk and 
 Flanders lace. 
 
 ^'Welcome to London, Lady Eebecca/^ 
 she said. ^^My husband has often told me 
 of your many kindnesses to our colony in 
 Virginia. I feel that we are already 
 acquaint. ' ' 
 
 Both ladies curtsied low to each other, 
 each taking note of the other's appearance 
 in the meanwhile. 
 
 When they w'ere seated Lady De La 
 AVarre said to Pocahontas, ''It will give 
 me much pleasure to present you at court. 
 I have many skilled needlewomen waiting 
 to provide you with a suitable robe." 
 
 Pocahontas thanks Lady De La Warre 
 
 ( ( 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 177 
 
 for her kind interest. She is happy to be 
 in the land of the pale-faces/' 
 
 ^^You must come and be my guest until 
 after your appearance at court. My lord 
 seconds the invitation and sends greetings. 
 He is away now with the King, who is hunt- 
 ing at Theobalds. '^ 
 
 *' Please convey our sincere respects to 
 your noble lord, my lady. Your kind invi- 
 tation we gladly accept,'' replied Rolfe, 
 answering for his wife. 
 
 ^'Now I must take my departure," said 
 Lady De La Warre, rising. ^^I will send 
 my coach for you to-morrow. 
 
 12 
 
 :j 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 Under the kindlv tuition of the nohle 
 lady Pocahontas learned the court manner 
 of curtsying before the King, and how to 
 manage the yards of train to her robe. She 
 was never tired of fingering its glossy folds, 
 but the stiff stays of the bodice were almost 
 unbearable to the slender frame that knew 
 no restraint but that of nature's making. 
 With Indian stoicism, she set herself to 
 endure civilization's instruments of torture, 
 so great was her desire to be in all things 
 an English woman. 
 
 All the trepidation of a first appearance 
 at court was felt by Lady De La Warre 
 alone. Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan, 
 felt no fear in the presence of her equals. 
 
 On the day of presentation Pocahontas, 
 accompanied by Lady De La Warre and 
 her attendants, entered a gaily decorated 
 barge that was to bear them to the palace 
 of the king. From the mouth of the gilded 
 swan at the prow, streamers of red and 
 blue swept upwards to the swelling sail 
 emblazoned with the coat-of-arms of Lord 
 De La Warre. Under the dipping oars of 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 179 
 
 the bargemen they sailed westward to 
 Whitehall at Charing Cross. 
 
 Up its broad landins: stairs, past the 
 great entrance leading into the surround- 
 ing park, they came to a halt in a lofty 
 antechamber reserved for the fair ladies 
 who were to make their initial bow to 
 royalty. 
 
 Arriving late, they found the Presence 
 Chamber already thrown open and filled 
 by those whose titles allowed a near 
 approach to the throne. Regal duchesses, 
 robed in velvets and satins as varied as 
 the tints of the rainbow, glittering in jewels 
 and coronets of golden strawberry leaves, 
 together with ladies of lesser degree, 
 ranged themselves in order of precedence 
 on both sides of a red velvet pathway lead- 
 ing to the foot of the throne. 
 
 Mingling with them were the Knights of 
 the Bath, arrayed in robes of crimson 
 tatfeta lined with white sarcenet, holding in 
 their hands ^^soft white hats, whose long 
 curling white plumes tapped -against their 
 white boots." 
 
 Beside the massive throne, studded with 
 diamonds, surrounded by sapphires, rubies 
 and pearls, that glittered like the sun among 
 the stars, stood Francis Bacon, Lord Chan- 
 cellor of England. Near him was Abbot, 
 
180 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, clad in his 
 episcopal robes. 
 
 A sudden hush fell over the assemblage. 
 The King was entering. Preceded by the 
 attendants of his household, holding in their 
 hands their wands of of&ce, came James, 
 leaning on the arm of the Duke of Bucking- 
 ham, his latest favorite. The handsome 
 face and magnificently attired person of the 
 Duke was in startling contrast to the soiled 
 brown velvet dress, buttoned awry, of the 
 monarch. 
 
 What a spectre of a king ! Eolling eyes, 
 slobbering mouth, ricketty legs upholding 
 a body padded until it resembled a swollen 
 frog. Not one trace of the fascinating 
 beauty of his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, 
 had descended to him. 
 
 To his left walked grave and stately 
 Prince Charles, clothed in white velvet. 
 Then followed Queen Anne in blue velvet 
 and ermine attended by her ladies-in- 
 waiting. 
 
 When their majesties were seated and 
 their attendants took up their positions 
 behind them. Maxwell, Lord Chamberlain, 
 began to announce the names of those wbo 
 were to bear the gaze of royalty. 
 
 Titled beauties of England and Scotland 
 were alternatelv announced by the tactful 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 181 
 
 Maxwell, ever keeping in mind the ancient 
 jealousy of the two nations. The King, out 
 of the kindness of his heart, took especial 
 notice of each one. 
 
 ^'The Princess Rebecca, daughter of 
 Powhatan, King of Virginia!'' cried Max- 
 well in a loud voice. 
 
 Up the velvet aisle came Pocahontas with 
 the gliding step of her savage ancestry. 
 But gone was the wild careless grace of 
 the wilderness. Every inch a queen she 
 moved. Words expressive of admiration 
 and wonder were whispered on every side. 
 
 Her bosom and arms were covered in a 
 flowing robe of yellow satin. Upon its bro- 
 caded surface the Fleur de Lis of France 
 cast lights and shadows, and its long- 
 pointed bodice was thickly sown with tur- 
 quoise and pearls. Above it rose a fluted 
 ruff of Mechlin lace. Three crimson plumes 
 were fastened by a diamond brooch among 
 the raven locks of her hair. 
 
 She sank gracefully down at the foot of 
 the throne. 
 
 ^'You are verra welcome to our court, 
 Princess," said James. **Mony a tale of 
 your kindness to our colony have we heard. 
 We expect you at the banquet to be given 
 presently, where we shall have much to ask 
 you about vour kinsman." 
 
182 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 The levee being over, King James and his 
 Queen led the way to the banqueting hall, 
 followed by those invited to dine in the 
 royal presence. 
 
 Their majesties seated themselves upon 
 chairs of state, chairs upholstered in orange 
 silk. From a crown above them hung a 
 purple canopy embroidered in roses, sham- 
 rocks, and thistles. 
 
 Pocahontas was marshaled by the Earl 
 of Pembroke to a low stool to the left of 
 Queen Anne, and somewhat below the royal 
 table raised upon a dais. 
 
 Her uneasy eyes traveled down the long 
 table in the middle of the hall, in search 
 of her husband. He caught her look and 
 smiled reassuringly. She breathed easily 
 again. John was there, now she could enjoy 
 to the full all the magnificence surround- 
 ing her. 
 
 Behind a railing that ran around two 
 sides of the room were a crowd of humble 
 citizens, come to view their sovereign 
 as he feasted. Among them was Adam, 
 watching intently the honors paid to Poca- 
 hontas. 
 
 ^ ' Truly this is a queersome world. There 
 sits a savage from the wilds feasting with 
 the King, and poor Adam Clotworthy, a 
 citizen of London, has to stand with the 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 183 
 
 gaping crowd behind the railing. But she 
 is a jewel, God bless her. Adam has not 
 fallen so low as to envy her good fortune. ' ^ 
 Something to this effect were the rumina- 
 tions of Adam as he leaned against a 
 balustrade to enjoy the scene. 
 
 The walls of the hall were hung in tapes- 
 tries of gold and purple silk garnished with 
 pearls and amethysts. In a gallery oppo- 
 site the chairs of state musicians were 
 playing Christmas ditties to aid the diges- 
 tion of the courtly guests seated at the long 
 table extending the entire length of the hall. 
 Movable buffets, holding gold and silver 
 plate, stood near the King's dais. His table 
 was set with rich gold plate once the 
 property of the House of Burgundy. 
 Agate cups held sparkling wine from the 
 vinevards of Bordeaux. From the door 
 leading to the buttery issued the Lord 
 Chamberlain, followed by a host of servants 
 bearing both delicate and substantial viands 
 to tickle the palates of the diners. 
 
 ^^My Lord of Suffolk, fill the cup given 
 us by the Constable of Castile and present 
 it to the Princess Rebecca. We drink her 
 health," said James. 
 
 Filling a dragon-shaped goblet of crystal 
 and gold with sparkling wine, the Lord of 
 Suffolk presented it to Pocahontas, who 
 
184 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 drank in acknowledgment of the good- 
 natured monarch's toast. 
 
 Leaning across his Queen, James said 
 to Pocahontas, ^'Your roval father hath 
 used the scalping-knife somewhat freely 
 upon our liege subjects, we have heard.'' 
 
 ^^ Powhatan worships Okee. He bends 
 not the knee to the Eoyal Christ. When 
 Warriors offend, he kills. Therefore he is 
 feared, not loved, ' ' she answered, sadly, un- 
 conscious of the irony of her reply. 
 
 ^'She has you there. Cousin," laughed 
 the jester, Archie Armstrong, shaking his 
 hooded head until the bells jangled. 
 '* According to our copper-colored relative, 
 a Christian prince should not deprive his 
 loving siibjects of breath whereby they may 
 abuse him. Therefore, your reign has been 
 a failure, as many heads on London Bridge 
 can testify. Shut up the Tower— banish 
 the hangman— give yourself over to hawk- 
 ing, and place the reins of government in 
 my hands." 
 
 *^Ay, and a likely time they wad have of 
 it, I warrant, you auld rattlepated loon!" 
 retorted the King. 
 
 The boar's head has been consumed; the 
 jeweled fan of the peacock trails low in the 
 dust; huge pastries washed down by the 
 flowing bowl ; tables are cleared away, 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 185 
 
 pages run hither and thither carrying silver 
 basins in which the guests lave their hands 
 and dry them upon linen towels from the 
 looms of Belfast. The King is now ready 
 to be amused. 
 
 Lords and ladies take their places for the 
 ancient sword dance, and glide to the stir- 
 ring measures of the minstrels. Back and 
 forth tread the gay participants in the 
 stately dance. Now the lovely maidens 
 form in a flowery line and pass under the 
 arch of clashing swords of the cavaliers. 
 
 ^ ^ By my saul, a braw sight, if 'twere not 
 for the glittering steel," exclaimed James, 
 turning away his shrinking gaze from the 
 up-lifted swords. ''Now my bonnie lads 
 and lassies, let us to the cards. Come, my 
 Lord Chamberlain, and you my Lord 
 Suffolk, your loving father will try his luck 
 at primero with you.'' 
 
 Catching hold of a page flitting by, he 
 said, "Go yonder to Sir Walter Raleigh, 
 and say that the King desires his com- 
 l^any. " Then turning to the two lords 
 continued, "We will celebrate his libera- 
 tion from our not too hospitable Tower." 
 
 Rattling dice, clinking glasses, merry 
 music, laughter and jest closed the memor- 
 able day of Pocahontas's presentation at 
 court. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 Pocahontas was sitting at the latticed 
 window of her apartment at the Mermaid 
 Inn, striving to pierce the thick yellow fog 
 hanging over the river. Down upon the 
 narrow street lighted torches flared wildly 
 in the hands of linkboys conducting some 
 lady^s sedan chair to its destination in the 
 closing evening. Rolfe was playing hide 
 and seek among the chairs and tables with 
 his little son. The room was in shadow 
 except for the ruddy firelight dancing on 
 the walls. 
 
 A low knock sounded upon the paneled 
 door. Putting down the boy, whom he had 
 just caught, Rolfe went to see who it was. 
 
 ^'Is the Ladv Rebecca at homeT' 
 inquired a deep manly voice. ^'If so, may 
 an old friend present himself 1 ' ' 
 
 ^'The Lady Rebecca will be glad to see 
 any one who calls himself friend," replied 
 Rolfe. ^^May I inquire the name of the 
 guest r ' ' 
 
 "Captain John Smith, who knew her in 
 Jamestown. ' ' 
 
 Flinging wide the door, Rolfe bade him 
 enter, and turning to Pocahontas said, 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 187 
 
 ^^Wife, a friend of long ago comes to see 
 you. ' ' 
 
 Pocahontas turned from the window, her 
 eyes filled with the outside gloom. At first 
 she could not see the visitor. 
 
 ^'Have I had the misfortune to pass from 
 your memory, madam T' said Captain 
 Smith advancing into the firelight. 
 
 A tremulous cry rang through the room 
 "My father! My father!" and covering 
 her face with her hands, she tottered into 
 a chair. A long silence— broken only by 
 the boy prattling to a King Charles spaniel 
 —held Smith and Rolfe spellbound. 
 Finally she raised her head and gazed long 
 on the face of Smith; then coming up to 
 him she said in loving accents, ''Pocahon- 
 tas has her father again, and is his child 
 once more." 
 
 ''Nay, Lady Rebecca, I am of too humble 
 a station to presume to be on familiar 
 terms with a princess. You must not call 
 me father, and I am not permitted to call 
 you child." 
 
 "You did promise Powhatan wbat was 
 yours should be his, and he the like to you; 
 you called him father being in his land a 
 stranger, and by the same reason, so must 
 I do you," she answered. 
 
 You are well aware of the suspicious 
 
 ( i 
 
188 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 jealousy of the King and Queen, ^' said 
 Smith to Rolfe. ''Try to make her under- 
 stand the situation." 
 
 Eolfe endeavored to explain the rigid 
 decorum of the King's court to her; 
 besides, for reasons of his own, he was not 
 anxious to have the friendship renewed. 
 
 Unaccustomed to obey the whims of any 
 monarch, except those of her father, her 
 eyes blazed and her features contracted. 
 Smith instinctively stepped back. Before 
 him stood not the gentle Pocahontas, but 
 the savage Powhatan. 
 
 Then she spoke in a deep voice of scorn- 
 ful anger. ^^Were you not afraid to come 
 into my father's country and cause fear in 
 him and all his people but me; and fear 
 you I shall call you father!" Then stamp- 
 ing her foot she cried, ^'I tell you I will, 
 and you shall call me child, and so I will 
 be forever and ever your country-woman. ' ' 
 Her voice broke as she added, ^'They did 
 tell us always you were dead, and I knew 
 no other till I came to PhTnouth ; yet Pow- 
 hatan did commend Vetamatominakin te 
 seek you and know the truth, because your 
 countrymen will lie much. ' ' 
 
 Smith gently put her oif with veiled 
 words and turned the conversation to a less 
 painful theme. 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 189* 
 
 "How is my father Powhatan, and what 
 has become of Opechancanough ?' ' 
 
 Picking up the little boy, he petted and 
 fondled him, while Pocahontas gave news 
 of her tribe. Seeing his tender attentions 
 to her boy, she calmed down into the gentle 
 frank maiden he had known so well. 
 
 After an hour's conversation he took his 
 departure, evading deftly a promise to come 
 again, for he had marked the look in Rolf e 's 
 eyes when Pocahontas had called him 
 father. 
 
 As he walked away he said to himself, 
 ^ ^ I must not endanger their wedded bliss ' ' ; 
 then bitterly, '^Jealousy and suspicion dog 
 my lonely footsteps and will follow me to 
 the grave." 
 
CliAPTEK XVlli 
 
 A year of court life, filled with a contin- 
 ual • round of hunting, masques, theater- 
 going and dancing, failed to dim the 
 brightness of the wild rose of the west. 
 Enjoying what was noble and pure with 
 the unspoiled freshness of a child, the Lady 
 Rebecca's eyes passed unseeingly over the 
 coarse and degraded elements mingling 
 with the good. 
 
 Letters from Virginia caused Rolfe to 
 feel some uneasiness regarding the affairs 
 of his plantation. He must return home 
 without delay. No more following of the 
 hounds in the vast glades of Saint James's 
 Park, or in the spring, floating down to 
 Greenwich through a cloud of swans. 
 Pocahontas must sail for home to take up 
 again plantation life at Varina, with its 
 round of duties and simple pleasures. 
 
 Sailing down the Thames to Gravesend, 
 she looked back with fond regret upon the 
 scenes which imagination already began to 
 paint in rose-colored hues. 
 
 When thev arrived at Gravesend at the 
 mouth of the Thames Rolfe noticed that 
 Pocahontas looked weary and jaded. A 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 191 
 
 hectic flush mantled her cheek and her 
 hands were cold as ice. 
 
 ''What ails my darling 1" he inquired 
 anxiously. 
 
 ''Pocahontas's head is heavy and her 
 body is cold," she languidly replied. 
 
 A doctor was hastily summoned. He bled 
 her profusely, but all to no avail. She grew 
 weaker every hour. Delirium set in. She 
 was back in Virginia again, roving the 
 forests, visiting Jamestown, strolling with 
 Smith beside the river or sitting in her 
 cabin playing with her baby boy. 
 
 On the third day she fell into a deep 
 slumber, which was but the forerunner of 
 the long sleep on which she was entering. 
 
 "Surely she will be better when she 
 awakens,'' said Rolfe to the physician. All 
 day he had sat by her side holding her hand 
 or bathing her brow. 
 
 "I dare not deceive you. Master Eolfe. 
 She is sinking rapidly. She will awaken to 
 consciousness but it will be but the flaring 
 of the candle, now burnt low in the socket. ' ' 
 
 Late in the afternoon she opened her 
 eyes, and feeling for her husband's hand, 
 whispered, "John, where are you! It is 
 so dark— the cold water is lapping on my 
 feet. ' ' 
 
 ' ' Tell her, Master Eolfe. She must know 
 
192 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 her condition," said the rector of Saint 
 George ^s, who was standing at the foot of 
 the bed. 
 
 ^^I cannot," said Rolfe, his voice break- 
 ing into hoarse sobs as he flung himself 
 down beside the bed. 
 
 Bending over her, the priest gently told 
 her of her approaching end. 
 
 ''John, John, must Pocahontas leave you 
 and the boy'/ It is so hard to part, John." 
 
 ''0 my darling, I cannot give you up!" 
 cried Kolfe, kissing her brow, damp with 
 the dews of death. 
 
 But womanlike, she put aside her pain 
 to comfort her stricken husband. 
 
 ' ' It is the will of the Eoyal Christ, John. 
 Pocahontas is not afraid. He will comfort 
 you and care for my babe. Does He not 
 carry the little lambs in His bosom? Now 
 let the kind priest give us the Body and 
 Blood of the Lord." 
 
 She lay silent for a while, exliausted by 
 the effort to follow the priest through the 
 Communion Service. Then she said, ' ' Sing 
 about the birthnight of the Son of God, 
 John. Pocahontas can hear the angels^ 
 wings. ' ' 
 
 Rolfe attempted to sing the ancient hjTQn, 
 but could not go on. 
 
 ''Then Pocahontas will sing for John." 
 
The Daughter of Virginia Dare 19*3 
 
 Gathering her fast ebbing strength with 
 a mighty effort, her voice rang clear and 
 sweet through the twilight. Strong and 
 exultant came the last verse : 
 
 "For lo! the days are hastening on, 
 
 By prophets seen of old, 
 When with the evercircling years 
 
 Shall come the time foretold, 
 When the new heaven and earth shall own 
 
 The Prince of Peace their King, 
 And the whole world send back the song 
 
 Which now the angels sing." 
 
 And the **Amen" at its close, begun on 
 earth and ending in heaven, swept across 
 the glassy sea and broke in melting sweet- 
 ness at the feet of the Lamb of God. 
 
 Through the bitter winds of March 
 passed the funeral procession, clad in 
 trappings of woe, to Saint George's 
 Church. The burial psalms were chanted, 
 the prayer of committal said. All that was 
 mortal of Pocahontas, daughter of Powha- 
 tan, King of Virginia, was laid to rest in 
 the rector 's vault underneath the chancel. 
 
 The broad leaves of the church door 
 swung to behind the departing mourners. 
 The pulsating silence of the ages settled 
 down upon the chancel. 
 
 Suddenly and noiselessly the nave filled 
 with floating white-robed angels, the ever- 
 
194 The Daughter of Virginia Dare 
 
 present congregation of ministering spirits. 
 Gabriel, Announcer of Tidings, stood 
 before the altar and in a voice of heavenly 
 music, heard only by immortal ears, pro- 
 claimed the glad tidings : 
 
 '^The Spirit of Virginia Bare has 
 Returned to the Land of Her Fathers!** 
 
I