very awkwardly placed, no doubt, between two fires, and anxious to get away; Opechancanough pressing upon him within treating and fighting distance, unwilling to provoke the pistol, but resolved that the Captain shall not get away. It is difficult to say how long this curious sort of strife could have been maintained, and what would have been its final issue, had not a mishap befallen our adventurer, against which he had made no provision, Retreating still, with face averted from the path which he treads, he walks suddenly into a morass, into which he drags perforce his unwilling companion. This morass alone had protected nim from assault in the rear. But he was too busy with his foes in front to think of any other danger, and, up to his waist in bog,he cannot extricate himself without assistThe hope of escape is at an end. He flings away his pistols, and makes signs of submission; and he who has tasted of the perils of Turkish bondage will now have an opportunity of comparing it with that of the Apalachian.

ance.

CHAPTER V.

THE misfortune of Smith seems to have been due entirely to the misconduct of his followers, whom he had left behind him in the canoe and barge. Had they not in both cases disobeyed his orders, neither they nor himself would have suffered harm. But, scarcely had he gone from sight, when the people in the barge determined to enjoy their freedom on the land. They, too, in all probability, had some vague notions of coming upon the great river leading from the northeast into the South Sea-the vain desire, built upon gross ignorance, which possessed many of the adventurers in that age; or, seeing at a distance some headland of shining earth, they had brighter fancies. of gold and silver ore to be gathered by the bucket. With vague appetites like these, or possibly only with the boyish desire to run and leap among the seemingly quiet woods, they drew nigh to the shore in their barge, and leaving her to the care of fortune, straggled off into the forests. They had not gone far, when they were surprised by Opechancanough, with three hundred warriors. They succeeded in escaping to the barge, and in saving her, though not without great difficulty. One of their number, George Cassen, fell into the hands of the savages, and was made to suffer the miserable penalty of death for all the rest. In the hope to save his life, the captive revealed the secret of Smith's progress into the interior. The secret obtained, the poor wretch was despatched by the most cruel tortures-dismembered limb by limb, and cast into the fire. After this, Opechancanough hurried upon the trail of our adventurer. The men left in the

canoe were equally remiss of duty with those in the barge but paid more heavily for their error. They, too, had left the vessel, had gone ashore, built a fire, and were shot to death while they slept before it. Every step which Smith had taken was then followed, until he fell into the bog, and into their hands. The treacherous morass which enmeshed him, seems to have been one of the numerous swamps from which the river takes its rise. He had, therefore, involuntarily pushed the exploring survey much more deeply than was at all needful in discovering its sources. But he had been no such easy victim as his besotted followers-three of them had he slain in the struggle, and "divers others had he gall'd." His skill and valor, while compelling their fears, commanded their respect and admiration.

These he was careful not to forfeit. Drawn from the morass, cold and nearly frozen, he showed no signs of fear, and behaved with the most intrepid spirit. Brought before Opechancanough, he presented him with the pocketcompass with which he travelled, and showed him the uses of the instrument. Great was the marvel at the play of the needle, which he could see through the glass, but never touch; and when Smith proceeded to explain to him, by mingled sign and speech, its wonderful properties-how it would follow sun, moon, and stars,—indicate his route on earth, and guide him to realms, and continents, and seas, of which our savages now heard for the first time, they were struck with amazement and silent wonder. This toy amused them for an hour, and when it ceased to do so, they fastened the captive to a tree, grouped themselves around him, and placing each an arrow on his bow, they prepared to shoot him. It is probable this was only an experiment upon his courage. He was a Captain-a Werowance or Chief--of whom much curi

osity was entertained, and from whom much ransom might be expected. At a signal from their king, their weapons. were dropped, and leading him to the fire-where he beheld the body of one of his men, Thomas Emry, stuck full of arrows-they suffered him to warm himself, chafed his limbs, which were nearly frozen, gave him food, and treated him with kindness. He had occasion to remark, that though they fed him bountifully, not one of them would eat with him;—a forbearance which reminds us of the reluctance of the Arabs and other Eastern nations to partake of food with those to whom they intend evil.

He was reserved to grace the triumph of Opech; acanough. This sagacious savage was the King or Chi f of Pamunkee—is styled one of the brethren of Powha.an; but subsequent narratives-for he made a figure in after events not less distinguished than that of Powhatan-represent him not to have been considered by the Indians a relative of Powhatan in any degree. Indeed, they describe him as being a foreigner, the Prince of a distant people in the southwest, who was adopted into the nation; probably having been taken from his own while yet in his infancy.* He was a man of large stature, of noble presence and extraordinary parts, and a dignity of thought and carriage which might honor the highest places of Christian civilisation. His treatment of Smith while his captive, making due allowance for his own wild training, was creditable to his delicacy and humanity. That his captive should minister to his triumph, was due to the customs of his country; and the practice does not seem to have discredited any of the Roman conquerors. It has policy for its justi

* See Beverley, Hist. Va., 51, 52; and Burke (Hist. Va.), vol. iii. pages 57-8-9, for an interesting account of the capture of this chief tain, under the English colonial administration of Sir W. Berkeley and of his brutal assassination while in captivity.

fication, and infuses courage into a people, and strengthens and confirms their patriotism.

The procession which conducted Smith through the Indian towns, was one of rude state and ceremonial. He himself was guarded on either side by a sturdy savage, who kept fast hold upon his wrist. Opechancanough moved midway in the column, and the guns, swords, and pistols, which had been taken, were borne before him. Their approach to a settlement or hamlet was distinguished by the wild songs and dances of the warriors,—their yells of death and victory first bringing out the women and children to behold their spectacle of triumph.

His first resting place in this humiliating progress was at Orapakes, where he was taken to a house and closely guarded by eight warriors. Here he was so well fed, with venison, and other food, that he began to be troubled with misgivings that their purpose was to fatten him for the table. To go to a feast, not to eat but to be eaten, was an event in prospect, not more agreeable to Smith than to Polonius. But this fear was only momentary, and proved to have been groundless. It does not appear anywhere that the North American savage was a cannibal At Orapakes one of the Indians to whom Smith had made some small present when he first came to Virginia, remembered the gift with gratitude, and brought him his gown, which he seems to have discarded when first assailed by his captors. The gift was a grateful one, as the weather was intensely cold, and his condition was one to demand every possible consolation.

Some delay was made at Orapakes. It was one of the favorite residences of Powhatan, and here it may have been expected to meet him. It is probable that his captors waited here for instructions from their emperor. 'This detention increased the intimacy between Smith and the