himself beset by these barbarians; but the imminent danger to which he was exposed, only animated him to more heroism, and he determined to die with a resistance worthy his former reputation for courage. So warmly did he receive the attack of his savage enemies with his musquet, that he laid six of them dead on the spot, and wounded several' others. A panic seized the whole; none dared advance; and Smith keeping the Indians thus at bay, endeavoured to gain his canoe. But unacquainted with the nature of the soil, he, in his retreat, got into a morass, from which finding it was impossible to extricate himself, he threw away his arms, and made signs that he had surrendered.

When Smith was dragged from the morass, he asked for the Chief of the party, and being shewn Opechancanough, he presented him with a round. ivory double compass dial, which our adventurer had taken with him to determine the course of the river. The savage was astonished at the playing of the fly and needle, which he could see so plainly, and yet not touch, because of the glass that covered them. But when Smith explained by it the roundness of the earth, the skies, the sphere of the sun, moon and stars, with other doctrines unknown to them, the whole party greatly marvelled.

For some time the compass excited the wonder of the Indians, but it subsided with its novelty; and there appeared to be a profound consultation

among

these barbarians respecting the manner in which they should dispose of their prisoner. After much vehement debate, they tied him up to a tree, and assembled in order to shoot him; but just as an archer was drawing his bow-string, Opechancanough held up the compass, and with the same smile of fondness that a child bestows on his rattle, suspended by his command the arm of the executioner.

Opechancanough was a person of distinction. He was brother to Powhatan, a powerful king of Pamunkey, whose will was a law among his numerous subjects. To Powhatan he had formed the resolution of delivering his prisoner, but first he wished to lead him in show and triumph about the country. For this purpose they bent their course again for Orapakes, lying on the upper part of Chickahoniny swamp, from whence they had come. The Indians, in their march, drew themselves up in a file, and Opechancanough walked in the centre, having the English swords and musquets carried before him. Smith followed the Chief, led by a couple of Indians, holding him fast by each arm; and on either side went six in file, with their arrows cautiously notched.

When the Indians had arrived within hearing of the town, they set up different cries to give their countrymen notice of the event of their expedition. They uttered six dismal yells to announce that six of their party had been slain

and sent forth one war-hoop, to proclaim that they had brought home a prisoner.

The yell of these Indians resembled the sound of Whoo, whoo, whoop, which was continued in a long shrill tone till their breath was exhausted, when they suddenly paused with a horrid shout. The war-hoop was a cry yet louder, which they modulated into notes, by placing the hand before the mouth. They could be both very distinctly

heard at a considerable distance.

It was evening when the Indians approached the town of Orapakes with their prisoner. The moon was walking in brightness, the fire-fly was on the wing, and the melancholy note of the Muckawiss* was heard from the woods.

The whole village came out to learn the particulars of what they had only heard in general terms; and now a widow was to be seen mourning her husband, a mistress bewailing her lover, and children crying for their fathers.

But unspeakable was the astonishment of the women and children on beholding the prisoner, who was so unlike any human being they had ever before seen. They gazed with speechless wonder at him; some clasping their hands in dumb admiration; some contrasting the redness of their own colour with the whiteness of his; and others unbuttoning his clothes and buttoning them again with a loud laugh.

Whip-poor-will.

The men, however, betrayed, or affected to betray, no emotions of surprise. The old people. sat with stoical composure in separate circles on the ground, smoking their calumets by moon-, light, and conversing with profound gravity; while the young fellows pursued the exercises that engaged them, shooting arrows at a mark, throwing the hatchet, wrestling, and running. All the domestic drudgery devolved on the woOf these some were busied in splitting wood, some bearing logs from the forest, and some kindling fires.

men.

When the wonder produced among the women by the novelty of Smith's appearance had subsided, they all joined in a yo-hab, or huzza, which was not deficient in harmony. An elder then rose and harangued the female multitude. The object of his speech was to enjoin them to satiate their revenge on the back of the prisoner, who was sentenced to run the gauntlet, for the War Captains whom he had slain. The women then provided themselves with twigs, and having drawn themselves up in two lines, Smith was stripped, and compelled to run the gauntlet through the crowd.

Cruelty was succeeded by kindness. A repast of Indian corn was placed before him, on which having fed, half a dozen of the prettiest sqaws in the village, who had washed and adorned themselves with much coquetry, were presented to the stranger, for him to select a mistress. But Smith,

1

whose back still smarted under the lashes they had so prodigally bestowed upon him, felt very little disposed for dalliance; and he turned away unmoved by their seducing attitudes.

It is not to be supposed that the slumbers of Smith were very soft; but, however he might have been inclined to sleep, the horrid noises that prevailed through the night, in the village would have rendered it impracticable; for the relations of those whom he had slain never remitted their yells; but when one was exhausted, another prolonged the clamour.

Smith passed the night in the wigwam of Opechancanough, and here he was witness to the mode of carrying on an Indian intrigue. When Opechancanough and his family were snoring on the ground, a young Indian stole softly through the door, walking on his hands and feet, somewhat after the manner of a bear. Smith, who was not ignorant of the implacable resentment of the Indian character, was led to suppose it was some assassin coming to revenge the death of a relation, and seizing a tomahawk which lay on the ground, he prepared to resist the murderer; but, he soon discovered that a softer passion than restimulated this nocturnal visiter. The Indian gently approached the embers of the fire which was not quite extinguished, and, lighting a splinter of wood, advanced with great caution towards a young squaw, who was reposing in the wig

venge