NEWPORT at length took his departure, to the relief of some and disquiet of other parties. Smith, in his shallop, accompanied him to the mouth of the Chesapeake. A parting gift for the voyager came from Powhatan, in the shape of twenty fat turkeys, for which, however, he claimed as many swords, by way of remembrance and consideration. This demand Newport imprudently complied with. Powhatan soon discovered the superior value of the English weapon to his own, and this knowledge was the source of much evil to the colonists at a later period. Newport fairly at sea, Smith returned to Jamestown, stopping for a brief period on his way at the territories of the king of Nansemond, who had been hitherto hostile, and making a treaty with him. The prospect at Jamestown was little encouraging. The hamlet was in great part in ruins, and the coercive mind of Smith was not in the ascendant. The president, Radcliffe and Captain Martin, supported by a strong and wily faction, carried things after their own fashion. The public stores were withheld from public use, and made the subject of private barter for the benefit of these parties. They used the common stock as if it were so much personal revenue. Doubtless, if there had been any prospect of success in opposition, Smith was the man to have tried his strength against these profligates. We have seen sufficient proof of his resolute will and fierce determination to effect the right, whenever the probabilities were at all favorable to his endeavors. But he had also the admirable judgment which declares the proper time to strike; and yielding the

struggle for the present, he contented himself, supported by Mr. Scrivener and others, in amending the evils of the existing government so far as lay in his power. With the approach of spring, he took charge of the corn-fields, prepared them, and set a crop. This done he applied himself to the rebuilding of the town, restoring first the church, the storehouses and the fortifications. While thus engaged, the colony was excited anew by the arrival of the Phoenix, a barque commanded by Captain Nelson, which had been separated from Newport in a storm, driven to the West Indies, and given up for lost. This vessel brought supplies of provisions for six months, and, an acquisition equally important, an addition to the force of the colony of no less than one hundred and twenty persons. It is to be remembered, however, that the disproportion of gentlemen to workingmen, which had always been a source of discomfort to Smith, was again unprofitably large, "This happy arrival of Maister Nelson in the Phoenix, having been then about three months missing, did so lavish us with exceeding joy, that now we thought ourselves as our harts could wish, both with a competent number of men, as also for all other needful provisions," and it encouraged Smith to plan a journey of exploration into the surrounding country. The Monacans, into whose weakness Powhatan was willing to spy, previous to any attempt upon their territories, were objects of great curiosity to our English, and seventy men being selected for the purpose, Smith proceeded to train them for the adventure; in six or seven days' practice, teaching them "to march, fight and scirmish in the woods, their willing mindes to this action so quickened their understanding in this exercise, as in all judgments wee were able to fight with Powhatan's whole force." Here our hero was at home. His mind resumed its ancient vivacity in this military em

ploy. Already had he prepared his plans of progressassigned the proper defences to the fort, arranged for hist supplies of food on the march, and put all things in order to his purpose, when circumstances, perverse men, and perverse fortune, combined to defeat the scheme. and scruples beset the president and others in council. Such a progress would be an indiscretion, would be an encroachment upon the rights of Newport to whom only the right to prosecute such discoveries belonged. These scruples and objections discouraged Nelson, who was to have assisted in the expedition with certain volunteer marines, and he withdrew from the adventure. The enterprise miscarried in spite of all the hopes and energies of our Captain; and instead of going upon the conquest of Monacan, he was compelled to remain at the fort, contending with the follies of the council on the one hand, and the Indians of Powhatan on the other. Smith was for filling the Phoenix with cedar on her return voyage, while Captain Martin "was opposite to anything, but onely to fraught this ship with his phantasticall gold ;" and though the more sensible suggestion prevailed, yet it called for all the resolution and diligence of Smith, seconded by Nelson, Scrivener, and others, to carry their object, and to make the lading of a commodity, which we are told "was a present despatch"-of ready sale" than either with durt, or the hopes and reports of an uncertaine discovery (the gold mine), which he woulde performe when they hadde less charge and more leisure.”

While our Captain was thus busy in freighting the Phoenix, and rebuilding the settlement, a surprising change took place in the behavior of the Indians. This capricious people, late so friendly, began to show themselves troublesome at first, and finally hostile. The first signs of this change took place in consequence of a disappoint

ment of Powhatan. Finding it so easy to procure English swords from Newport in exchange for the fat turkeys of Werowocomoco, he tried Smith in the same manner; sending him twenty of these fowls, and demanding certain weapons for them in exchange. But Smith was not the man to respect the error of Newport. He paid for the turkeys in any coin but that which the savage chief desired. Powhatan had set his heart upon these weapons and his people, whether positively instructed, or simply anxious to serve their master in a manner that would please him, undertook by twenty characteristic devices to obtain them. First they resorted to simple thieving, a method which seems to have been practised more or less by every primitive people from the beginning of time. They were frequent visitors at Jamestown, and bore away with them whatever they could secrete. Impunity made. them bolder. The tools of the workmen disappeared, and the same thief who had been caught one day in the act, was neither afraid nor ashamed to make the same attempt the next. What they steal, says Smith, "their king receiveth." This high sanction increased their audacity. Too closely watched for their wonted sleight of hand, they grew bold to take by violence what they could not obtain by skill. "By ambuscadoes at our very ports, they would take them perforce, surprise us at worke, or any way; which was so long permitted, they became so insolent there was no rule; the command from England was so strait not to offend them, as our authoritie-bearers (keeping their houses*) would rather be anytning than peacebreakers This charitable humor prevailed, till well it chanced they meddled with Captaine Smith, who, without farther deliberation, gave them such an encounter” as soon

* In safety themselves.

brought a remedy for the mischief. Two swords hav g been stolen, he caught the offender and clapt him in the bilboes When let out he disappeared for a time, but soon returned with three others armed with wooden swords. Smith ordered them to depart, but, flourishing their swords. in his face, they bade him defiance. Without waiting for them to strike, our ready soldier answered their flourish with a blow. This the others offered to revenge, but Smith fell upon them, and, smiting hip and thigh, drove them from the premises. Then getting together half a dozen soldiers, without asking or waiting for orders, he sallied forth, and drove their lurking parties entirely from the island.

This decision produced for the time an excellent effect. The Indians became modest and conciliatory. The King of Nansemond, who lived thirty miles from the settlement, sent back a hatchet that had been stolen; and such Indians as had been employed upon the wears (fish traps) of the English, but had temporarily abandoned them for the more honorable business of stealing, voluntarily came back, made their submission, and resumed their labors. But the caprice of the savages would not allow them to remain pacific long. They soon put themselves in suspicious attitudes, and renewed their peculations. One of them having stolen a hatchet, and being pursued by Scrivener, drew his arrow to the head upon him; and two of them, well armed and painted for war, made an attempt upon Smith, "circling about mee, as though they would have clubbed me like a hare ;" but lacking boldness, they suf fered him to reach the fort in safety. Followed by these and several others within the enclosure, and proceeding to offer violence, Smith had the ports closed, and took them into custody. Sixteen or eighteen were seized in this manner. This brought them to a parley. Ambassa