24 chapters
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24 chapters
1. POCAHONTAS
1. POCAHONTAS
Long, long ago, when the Indians owned the land, there lived in Virginia, near the river afterwards called the James, a little girl, the Princess Pocahontas, daughter of the great chief Powhatan. Pocahontas was her father's favorite child, and the pet of the whole tribe; even the fierce warriors loved her sunny ways. She was a child of nature, and the birds trusted her and came at her call. She knew their songs, and where they built their nests. So she roamed the woods, and learned the ways of a
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2. JOHN SMITH
2. JOHN SMITH
In far-away England was a doughty youth, John Smith, who dreamed of battle and adventure. Though but a boy, he had already fought as a soldier in the wars of France, and later in Flanders. And these two, the wild little Indian girl and the warrior boy, now so far apart, in time were to meet and become great friends. At home again in Lincolnshire after dangerous travels, the youth still longed for the strife and glory of the fray. He retired to a quiet spot in the wood, and lived in a camp of his
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3. HOW CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH WON HIS SPURS
3. HOW CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH WON HIS SPURS
He journeyed across France to join the armies fighting the Turks, but was robbed on the way by false companions, and suffered much hardship. At last he reached Marseilles, where he took ship with a party of pilgrims going to the East. A great storm arising, the pilgrims superstitiously blamed him for it, and threw him overboard. By good fortune he was able to swim to a small island, whence he was soon rescued by a Breton ship. He stayed for some time on this ship, taking part in a sea fight with
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4. STRANGE TALES OF A STRANGE PEOPLE
4. STRANGE TALES OF A STRANGE PEOPLE
Meanwhile Pocahontas, now grown to be a girl of some twelve years, often listened eagerly to the stories of the old men of her tribe, who, on these warm spring days, sat and smoked together, and told of the things they had done and seen long ago. Some remembered a white-faced people who, nearly twenty years before, had come to Roanoke Island from no one knew where,—men with yellow hair, dressed from head to foot in cumbrous garments, and bearing wonderful weapons which spat out fire, with much n
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5. THE COMING OF THE WHITE MAN
5. THE COMING OF THE WHITE MAN
And scarcely had he spoken when it seemed that his warning had come true, for runners, wildly excited, cried out that a fleet of mighty winged canoes had been seen afar on the ocean, advancing like great clouds. Then Pocahontas, with many of her people, hurried to the hills, and there, overlooking the sea, they saw in truth three strange craft slowly sailing up the bay. These were the ships from England, bringing a new colony, a band of pioneers, and adventurers in search of gold, to take posses
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6. THE LANDING OF THE COLONISTS—1607
6. THE LANDING OF THE COLONISTS—1607
That night the ships dropped anchor in the bay. On the morrow the colonists disembarked, and Captain Gosnold, their leader, claimed the land in the king's name. Among the first, as one of the Council, was Captain John Smith, who had again left home in quest of adventure and glory, this time in the new world. To the eyes of the weary travelers, after their long voyage across the sea, Virginia, on that bright April day, seemed a land of promise. With great hopes and renewed courage they set to wor
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7. THE AMBUSH
7. THE AMBUSH
Fortunately for the good of the colonists, who had completely lost heart and were anxious to give up the undertaking, Captain John Smith soon became their leader. Ever active and enterprising, he inspired the others by his example. He vigorously put things in order, and set the idlers to work to complete their half-finished houses, and to build the forts to protect them from the Indians, who now showed a warlike spirit. Next he went off to explore the country, and to trade with the natives for c
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8. BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS
8. BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS
Suddenly, in the heart of the deep woods, the stealthy redskins sprang upon him, shrieking like fierce beasts of prey. And in a moment the arrows flew thick and fast. Captain John, though taken unawares, made a brave fight, gravely wounding two of his enemies with his pistols, and protecting himself from the arrows by holding his Indian guide in front of him, as a buckler. But there were too many against him, and as he could not beat them off he tried to retreat to the boat, always shielding him
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9. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH A PRISONER
9. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH A PRISONER
At first they decided to kill him at once, then some thought it better to lead him to their village, that the whole tribe might rejoice in the triumph. But, as one of the Indians shot by the Captain had in the meantime died, the more impatient clamored for speedy vengeance. So they bound him to a tree to use as a target. Now, as the arrows began to strike dangerously near, Captain John, ever quick-witted and resourceful, brought forth his pocket compass and showed the Indians the dancing needle;
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10. THE DANCE OF VICTORY
10. THE DANCE OF VICTORY
They carried their prisoner from village to village, while at every moment he looked for death, until at last they came to their great town, Werowacomo, where king Powhatan lived. And here they celebrated their victory by savage pomps and conjurations. They tied the Captain to the ceremonial stake, then, all painted and decorated in their fiercest and most hideous war paint and trappings, they danced their wild dance of triumph. Shouting and jumping, they brandished their war clubs in his face,
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11-12. POCAHONTAS SAVES CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH'S LIFE
11-12. POCAHONTAS SAVES CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH'S LIFE
At last, after long deliberation, the Indians decided that, since he had killed one of their tribe, Captain John must die, for this was their law. So they dragged him, bound, before the great chief Powhatan, who sat in mighty state surrounded by his warriors. They stretched the prisoner on the ground with his head on a large stone, to beat out his brains with their cruel clubs. And it seemed as though at last the gallant Captain's time had come. But just as the Indian brave was about to strike,
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13. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AGAIN FREE
13. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AGAIN FREE
Now, after much feasting, and with savage rite and ceremony, Powhatan adopted the Captain into the tribe, and made him a chief, and told him that he might come and go in safety, as one of them; then gave him guides to take him back to Jamestown, that the red man and the white should henceforth be friends, since Pocahontas willed it so. And Captain John thanked the maiden for the great service she had done him, and, like a gallant knight of old, bent his knee and kissed her hand as he bade her go
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14. POCAHONTAS BRINGS FOOD TO THE COLONISTS
14. POCAHONTAS BRINGS FOOD TO THE COLONISTS
Later, when the settlers were in sore straits for food, for they were improvident, and managed badly, Pocahontas, always generous and friendly, learning of their needs, came with her brother Nantaquaus and her Indians bringing corn, and kept them from starving, while their own was growing. Captain John in return gave her beads and trinkets to deck herself, and called her his child, and a firm friendship grew between them. Often she came and went, bringing peace and welcome food, quite at home in
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15. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH GOES IN SEARCH OF CORN
15. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH GOES IN SEARCH OF CORN
This pleasant state, however, did not last, for, as the settlers became more firmly fixed in the land, the Indians, fickle and changeable, grew jealous and resented their intrusion, and refused to sell corn, hoping by this means to force them away. Once when Captain John Smith was compelled to go to them in search of food in the dead of winter, and to break his way through the ice of the frozen river, they received him coldly, with lowering looks, and only Pocahontas bade him welcome. Finally Po
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16. POCAHONTAS'S WARNING
16. POCAHONTAS'S WARNING
To carry out his plan the crafty chief proposed to the Captain that, as now they were all friends, he and his party should leave their weapons in the boat. He hoped thus to attack the white men while they were unarmed. But Captain John was too cautious a soldier to agree to this, and answered that, since, as Powhatan had well said, they were all friends, there could be no harm in keeping their guns with them, as the settlers considered them a part of their dress. Then Powhatan planned to surpris
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17. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH SAILS FOR ENGLAND
17. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH SAILS FOR ENGLAND
Always watchful and brave, Captain John Smith worked zealously to make the colony a success. One day, while returning from treating with the Indians for a new and better site for Jamestown, he was seriously injured by the accidental explosion of a bag of gunpowder in his boat. His clothes were set on fire and he had to throw himself into the river to escape being burned to death. His wounds were so grievous that he could no longer govern the colony, and was forced to sail for England, in a ship
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18. POCAHONTAS IS CAPTURED BY ARGALL
18. POCAHONTAS IS CAPTURED BY ARGALL
From this day, having lost their leader, things went badly with the Jamestown colonists, for the dissatisfied Indians, no longer fearing the heavy hand of Captain John Smith, attacked the settlers, and caused them serious losses. And Pocahontas came no more, but waited for his coming again, and waited in vain. So time passed, and at last she heard that he was dead, for this was the rumor in the land. And she grieved deeply, and sat often alone thinking of him, for she had grown to love her warri
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19. THE MARRIAGE OF POCAHONTAS
19. THE MARRIAGE OF POCAHONTAS
She was never allowed to go back to her people, though Nantaquaus came often to see her at Jamestown. And here she grew to be a woman, and learned the ways of the English women, and dressed as they did. At last a young Englishman, John Rolfe, captivated by her dark beauty and gentle ways, wooed the Indian maid, and as years had passed since Captain John had gone away, and she had long since thought him dead, she listened to Rolfe, and consented to marry him, that peace might reign between her pe
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20. THE LANDING OF POCAHONTAS IN ENGLAND
20. THE LANDING OF POCAHONTAS IN ENGLAND
After this the colony prospered. Pocahontas became contented with her life in the town. And in time a son was born to her. Later, Rolfe, with his wife and child, sailed to visit England. Pocahontas marveled much at the extent of the great sea, and the many ships upon its waves. When they arrived at Plymouth the governor of the town came down to bid the Indian Princess welcome to England. With her, as attendant, went Uttamatomakkin, a shrewd old chief, who, in his war feathers and Indian robes, a
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21-22. POCAHONTAS AT THE COURT OF JAMES THE FIRST
21-22. POCAHONTAS AT THE COURT OF JAMES THE FIRST
Pocahontas's stay in England became almost a triumphal march. Everywhere she was received with great honor as a foreign Princess, and entertained with banquets and receptions, and taken to the theatres to see the plays. Finally she was presented at court by Lord and Lady Delaware, and formally welcomed with great pomp and ceremony by King James and his queen, surrounded by their following of lords and ladies, all arrayed in their rich costumes of state. And none of the haughty ladies was prouder
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23. THE MEETING OF POCAHONTAS AND CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH
23. THE MEETING OF POCAHONTAS AND CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH
And now Captain John Smith, who, during all this time, had been on long voyages of exploration and adventure, hearing that Pocahontas had come to England, remembered the old times and all that the little Indian maid had done for him, and so, attended by some friends, he went down to Branford to greet her. When Pocahontas saw him a flood of recollection overcame her, and she was greatly moved. She turned from him, hiding her face in her hand, and for a long time could not speak. At last she said,
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24. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH GOES TO SEA AGAIN
24. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH GOES TO SEA AGAIN
After this meeting Captain John became more restless than ever, and soon set sail again. And when alone upon the deck of his ship he thought often of the Virginia colony for which he had toiled, and risked so much, and of Pocahontas, and of her help in his time of need. No doubt he saw again before him the little Indian girl who had saved his life, and the maid who brought him succor, and, when the time came, saved him once more by her warning. And his heart was warmed with gratitude, and he wis
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25. POCAHONTAS LONGS FOR HOME
25. POCAHONTAS LONGS FOR HOME
When Captain John had gone, the thoughts of Pocahontas more than ever turned toward home, and she wearied of the crowded English land, and longed for her native forests again. Daily she gazed from her window toward the west, where lay Virginia, and her early life. And she pined, and thought much of the old days in her native wilds, when into her sunny life came the golden-haired stranger, with his people, and of the great changes that had befallen her and her race through that coming. She often
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26. THE END OF THE STORY OF POCAHONTAS
26. THE END OF THE STORY OF POCAHONTAS
Though the ship lay ready in the offing, and the sailors had come to convey them on board, and though at last Pocahontas had turned her face toward home, alas! it was not to be. A sudden weakness overcame her, and gently, looking toward the setting sun and Virginia, she quietly fell asleep,—to rest forever in a foreign land. From her son, who years after returned to the land of his birth, many proud families still trace their descent. As long as Virginia lives her name will be dear to that state
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