CHAPTER SIX.
Some time had elapsed since Canochet had left his new friends, promisingthat the war-hatchet should be for ever buried between his tribe and theEnglish. The settlers had begun to grow corn and tobacco, as well as toform gardens in which vegetables of all descriptions were produced. Thesurrounding natives visited them occasionally, but exhibited much wantof confidence, which it was the object of the governor to overcome. Heissued strict orders that all the Indians appearing among them should betreated with courtesy and kindness, and any chiefs coming to James Townwere invariably sent away with presents and assurances of the good-willof the colonists. Still it was a hard matter to do away with theill-feeling which existed in consequence of the hostile meetings whichhad previously occurred between the colonists and the Indians, in whichmany on both sides had been slain. At this juncture, one evening, asthe settlers were returning to their dwellings, the labours of the daybeing over, the sentry posted on the look-out tower at one of thecorners of the stockade, gave notice that an Indian in hot haste wasapproaching the town. As he came near he was recognised as an Indiannamed Pomaunkee, who had frequently been at the settlement, and whoappeared to have a friendly feeling for the whites, although manydisputes had occurred between them and his people, in which several, ofthe latter had been killed.
He brought, he said, disastrous intelligence. Captain Smith and hisfollowers had been attacked by a large body of Indians, who had murderedall but the captain, who having been overcome after a desperatestruggle, had been carried captive to Powhattan, their chief. He also,probably, Pomaunkee declared, would be put to death, unless Powhattanwould agree to receive a ransom for him.
The news, which was generally believed, created much dismay andexcitement among the colonists. Pomaunkee was conducted to thegovernor, who examined him by means of an interpreter to satisfy himselfof the truth of his report. The Indian, however, persisted in hisstatement, and at length the governor was convinced of its correctness.Those attached to Captain Smith expressed a desire to send out a partyto rescue him, and all were ready to pay any ransom demanded. Among hiswarmest friends was Master Rolfe, Lettice Audley's old admirer. He hadbeen prevented by an attack of illness from accompanying him, and wasnow most eager to set off; Vaughan, Gilbert, and Roger begged that theyalso might go. It was an opportunity not to be lost. Neither CaptainLayton nor Mistress Audley could withhold their consent. As they weregetting ready, Fenton and Oliver Dane came and offered their services;they were aware of the risk, but they could endure fatigue as well asolder men, and such danger as was to be encountered they did not dread.Gilbert was very glad to find that they were to go. As the two seamen,Tarbox and Flowers, were supposed to have some acquaintance with thenatives, they were also selected to form part of the expedition whichwas placed under Master Rolfe's command. Pomaunkee offered to act asguide; and though the governor somewhat doubted his fidelity, hisservices were accepted.
The party, thoroughly armed and confident in their numbers, set off inhigh spirits, glad to have escaped at length from the daily routine ofthe settlement. Mistress Audley, Lettice, and Cicely could not see themdepart without feeling much anxiety. Captain Layton would gladly haveaccompanied them, but a long tramp on shore did not suit his legs, heobserved; and he had moreover to look after the ship and to be ready toprotect Cicely and Mistress Audley and Lettice. The expedition had beenkept as secret as possible, that the natives might not hear of it andgive information to the neighbouring tribes.
Roger, Fenton, and Oliver had been up for some time, eager to set off,and at early dawn the whole party filed out of the town, taking a courseto the north-west. They proceeded rapidly, as it was important toescape the observation of any of the natives visiting the town who mightcarry information of their approach to Powhattan. As far as they coulddiscover, they were observed by no one, and several miles wereaccomplished without a native being met with. The country through whichthey passed was in some parts open and level, in others covered by denseforests, many of the trees being totally strange to them. They had tocross numerous limpid streams, so that they were in no want of water.Several deer started from their coverts in the forest and bounded awayover the plain, sorely tempting the travellers to follow them; butMaster Rolfe, like a wise leader, forbade his men to separate in chase,lest the natives might take occasion to attack them. Gilbert and Fentongenerally marched together and brought up the rear; it was the post ofdanger, but they were both known to be active and intelligent, and wouldkeep as bright a look-out as any of the party. As they marched on, theyheld converse together.
"What think you of our guide, Pomaunkee?" asked Gilbert; "I watched himwhen we halted for dinner, and it struck me that I had seldom seen aless attractive countenance, or one more expressive of cunning. Iexpressed my opinion to my brother Vaughan, but he replied that MasterRolfe has perfect confidence in the man, having had frequent intercoursewith him."
"I agree with you," answered Fenton. "I too watched him when he did notobserve me; and it will be well to keep a look-out on him, though wemust take care not to let him discover that he is suspected."
Evening was now approaching, when Rolfe, who had a soldier's eye, waslooking out for a fit place for encamping. At a little distance heespied a rocky knoll rising out of the plain, with a stream flowinground its base on all sides. He at once saw that it would be a goodspot for camping and might serve at some future time for theestablishment of a fort. Pomaunkee, however, to whom he pointed it out,urged that they should continue on a mile or two farther, observing thatthe forest would afford greater shelter and warmth during the night, andthat he would conduct then to a more fitting spot on the bank of ariver.
"I am very sure that your proposal, Rolfe, is the best," observedGilbert, who overheard the Indian's remark; "we shall be the better fora cooler air at night, and moreover free from mosquitos on the top ofthe knoll. Allow Fenton and me to explore it, and we will quickly bringyou word whether it is likely to prove as suitable for encamping as yousuppose."
Rolfe having consented to this, Gilbert and Fenton set off. Theyquickly came to the conclusion that a better place for camping at nightin an enemy's country could not be found, as, with proper vigilance,they were not likely to be surprised; and, if attacked, could easilydefend themselves against vastly superior numbers, especially if theyhad time to erect stockades at the more assailable points. The river,which flowed round three sides, was too deep to be forded; while roughrocks, a dozen or more feet in perpendicular height, formed the greaterportion of the remaining side. They hurried back with this information,and, encountering Vaughan, who had come to meet them, persuaded him toinduce Rolfe to act as he proposed, in opposition to the Indian'ssuggestions. Pomaunkee could scarcely conceal his annoyance; he,however, being unable to offer any further reason for proceeding, wascompelled to follow the commander. Preparations for camping were soonmade: some brushwood at the foot of the knoll was cut down to supplyfuel. Gilbert, whose suspicions of Pomaunkee were increased by theopposition he had offered to the selection of the place, suggested thatsome stout stakes should be cut, and fixed on the side of the hill wherethe slope, being less abrupt than in other places, might be more easilymounted.
While these arrangements were being made, Gilbert and Fenton, who hadbeen, according to their intention, watching Pomaunkee, saw him descendthe hill and go in the direction of the forest. In a short time theylost sight of him among the trees.
"We ought not to have allowed him to go," observed Gilbert; "and evennow I would advise Rolfe to send some men after him to bring him back,in case he may purpose to desert us altogether."
"The sooner we do so, then, the better," said Fenton; and together theywent to Rolfe, who was at the time on the other side of the hill, andtold him what they had observed.
"The Indian, I know, is faithful," he answered; "and I cannot supposethat he has any intention of playing us false."
Vaughan, however, agreed with Gilbert, and at length persuaded Rolfe to
send Tarbox and Flowers, with two other men, to follow the Indian and tobring him back, should it appear that he was deserting them. Meantime,the fires were lighted, pots were put on to boil, huts formed withboughs were set up to serve as a shelter from the night air, and allother arrangements for the night encampment were made. It was nearlydark when Tarbox and the other men with him returned, stating that theyhad once caught sight of Pomaunkee in the distance, but before theycould get up to him he had disappeared, and that after having searchedin vain, they had judged it time to return.
"His disappearance without telling me of his intention, lookssuspicious," observed Rolfe, "and I thank you, Gilbert and Fenton, forthe warning you gave me. He may intend treachery, or he may simply havegrown weary of guiding us, and, Indian fashion, have gone off withoutthinking it necessary to tell us of his intention. In either case, wewill strengthen the camp as far as time will allow."
"For my part, I am glad to be rid of him," observed Gilbert; "and, aidedby our compass, we can find our way without his guidance."
Supper was over; the watch was set, the officers were seated round theircamp-fire, discussing how they should proceed on reaching Powhattan'svillage on the morrow, when the sentry gave notice that an Indian wasapproaching from the side of the forest.
"After all, we have wronged Pomaunkee, and he is returning," observedRolfe.
"Not so certain of that," remarked Vaughan, who had now begun toentertain the same opinion of the Indian as his brother; "he may havebeen absent on an errand not tending to our advantage, and it will bewell, if we do not hold him in durance, that we watch him even morenarrowly than before."
"Let us, at all events, learn what he has to say for himself," observedGilbert, rising, Vaughan and Fenton accompanied him. The Indianascended the hill, and the sentry, believing him to be their guide,allowed him to pass without challenge. As he got within the ruddy glareof the fire, instead of the forbidding countenance of Pomaunkee, the farmore pleasant features of the Monacan chief, Canochet, were brought intoview. Vaughan and Gilbert greeted him warmly.
"I am thankful that I have arrived in time to warn you of intendedtreachery," said the chief. "He who undertook to be your guide, hasformed a plot for your destruction. I gained a knowledge of hisintentions, and instantly followed on your trail to warn you. Onpassing through the forest, I found that you had come hither, and wasfollowing you when I caught sight of the traitor. I tracked him,unseen, till I found he had joined a large body of his tribe, who arelying in ambush about a mile from this. On discovering them, I had nodoubt that he intended to betray you into their hands. As I thoughtthat even now he might hope to attack you unawares, I hastened to bringyou warning, that you might be prepared, should he attempt to surpriseyou. I myself would remain, but my single arm could not avail you much,and I should render you more aid by returning to my people, who, thoughthey are still at a distance, I may yet bring up in time to assist you."
Rolfe, on hearing this, thanking Canochet for the warning he had given,begged him to hasten on his tribe, though he doubted not that he couldhold out against any number of savages Pomaunkee might collect to attackhim.
"You call them savages," observed Canochet; "but remember, except thatthey do not possess firearms, they are as brave and warlike as you are;and as they know the country and are full of cunning, they are not to bedespised. Take my advice: do not be tempted to quit your presentposition till I return with my people. Depend on it, it will be theirendeavour to draw you away, so that they may attack you when you areencamping in the forest or open ground."
"Your advice seems good, my friend," answered Rolfe; "but suppose youare delayed? We shall starve here, unless we can procure food."
"Trust to my return before that time arrives," answered Canochet; "Iwill endeavour to supply your wants. I must no longer delay, as everymoment is precious. It is my belief that you will be attacked thisnight, so be on the watch. However hard pressed by numbers, do notyield."
"You may depend on our holding out to the last," answered Rolfe; and theIndian, without further remark, descended the hill, making his way downamong the rocks, so that, had any one been watching at a distance, hecould not have been discovered. Almost before he had reached the bottomof the hill he had disappeared, and even Gilbert's keen eyes could notdetect him as he rapidly penetrated into the forest.
"If Canochet has spoken the truth, we have had a narrow escape,"observed Vaughan. "We shall do well to take his advice and to remainhere, whether we are attacked or not, till his return."
To the wisdom of this, Rolfe and Roger Layton agreed, eager as they wereto hasten to the rescue of Captain Smith. Having completed theirfortifications as far as their materials would permit, six of theirparty were told off to keep watch, while the rest lay down to sleep.
Roger took command of the first watch, for he suspected that the Indianswould attack them during the early part of the night. On going round tothe sentries, he found them standing upright, their figures clearlydiscernible against the sky to any one approaching on the plain below.Pointing out to them the danger to which they thus exposed themselves,he directed them to crouch down, so that an enemy might have no mark atwhich to aim.
"I fear, sir, that some of our fellows may be apt to fall asleep,"observed Ben Tarbox, who was one of those in the first watch.
"Do not trouble yourselves about that," answered Roger; "I will takegood care that they keep awake. If any one of you catch sight of amoving object, do not fire till you hail, and then, if you get noanswer, take good aim, and do not throw a shot away."
The men promised obedience. There was little chance, while Roger Laytonwas on watch, of the fort being surprised. The first watch went bywithout the slightest sound being heard, or an object seen outside thecamp. The second was drawing to a close, when Ben Tarbox exclaimed:"Who goes there? Stand up like a man, or I'll fire at you!" His shoutcaused all the sleepers to raise their heads. The shot which followedmade them seize their weapons and start to their feet! Scarcely had thesound of the shot died away, when the most terrific cries and shrieksrent the night air, followed by a flight of arrows which whistled overthe heads of the garrison as they hurried to the stockades, and ahundred dark forms showed themselves endeavouring to make their way amidthe rocks up the hill.
"Let each of you take good aim," cried Roger, "and load and fire as fastas you can."
The order was obeyed; the officers, who had also firearms, setting theexample. The Indians, who had expected to surprise the white-faces,found themselves exposed to a blaze of fire from the whole side of thehill, up which they were attempting to climb. Still, urged on by theirleaders, they mounted higher and higher, in spite of the many who fell,till they reached the stockades. Some of the more daring, attempting tohack at the English with their tomahawks, were pierced with pikes andswords wielded by the stout aims of Rolfe, Roger Layton, the Audleys,and Fenton; while their men kept firing away as rapidly as they couldreload their weapons. The Indians fought bravely, but unprepared for sodetermined a resistance, they at length gave way, and retreated, onedriving back the other down the hill. Some were hurled over the rocksby the victorious garrison, who, led by Roger, sprang out beyond thestockades, and in another minute not a living Indian remained on thehill.
"Hurrah, lads! we've beaten them!" shouted Ben Tarbox, giving a heartyhurrah, such as he would have raised on seeing the flag of an enemy comedown in a battle at sea.
"Let no one go beyond the stockades," cried Rolfe, "we know not whattrick they may play us; let us not lose the advantage we have gained."
He spoke in good time, for Roger and Gilbert were on the point ofrushing down the hill in pursuit of the flying enemy. The wild uproarwhich had lately reigned suddenly ceased; not a sound was heard--even ifany of the wounded Indians lived, they did not give vent to theirsufferings by uttering a single groan; and, as far as the garrison coulddiscover, the whole body of their foes had retreated to a distance. Theyoung leaders of the English, aware of th
e cunning of the Indians, werenot to be deceived; every man continued at his post, watching all sidesof the hill beneath them on which the attack had been made, as well asthe others round which the river flowed. Gilbert and Fenton had gone toa rock overhanging the stream, a few bushes growing amid the crevices ofwhich afforded them shelter. Thence they could look down into the darkwater almost directly below them. Their muskets rested on the rock, soas to command the passage; the only sound heard was the occasional cryof some night-bird, which came from the neighbouring forest. HarryRolfe, Vaughan, and Roger continued moving round the hill, to be surethat the sentries were keeping a vigilant watch. They knew that theenemy they had to deal with was not to be despised. Although there wasno moon, the stars shone down from a cloudless sky, casting a faintlight over the plain. Two hours had gone by; the third was drawing on;Gilbert and Fenton occasionally exchanged a few words in a low whisper,to assist in keeping each other awake. At length Gilbert was lookingout directly ahead of him, when he caught sight, amid the tall grass, ofan object slowly approaching. It seemed at that distance like a hugeserpent making its way towards the river; now it stopped, and the grassalmost hid it from view; now it advanced, getting nearer and nearer theriver. Gilbert, afraid to speak, touched Fenton's arm, and pointed itout to him.
"Is it a panther?" asked Fenton.
"No," answered Gilbert; "that is the head of a band of Indians; I cantrace them following one after the other. Wait till their leaderreaches the bank; I will aim at him, and you take the second. Theirintention is to swim across and attack us unawares; if they persevere,we will raise a shout which will quickly bring our comrades to opposethem."
Whether or not Gilbert's voice reached the keen ears of the Indians itwas difficult to say. The dark line remained perfectly quiet, and healmost fancied that he must have been mistaken. At length, however, itagain moved on, and he could distinguish the form of an Indian crawlingalong the ground, followed closely by another advancing in the samemanner. The first reached the bank, when, without even raising himself,he glided down it, and, sinking noiselessly into the water, began toswim across. The next followed in the same manner.
"Now," whispered Gilbert; and aiming at the swimmer, he fired. Fentondid the same. A cry rang through the night air: it was the death-shriekof the second Indian. The first disappeared, and Gilbert concluded thathe had sunk, shot through the head, beneath the surface. Rolfe, withVaughan and Roger, came hurrying to the spot, followed by several othermen. Gilbert, pointing to the opposite bank, exclaimed, "There theyare!" A volley was fired. Whether or not any of the Indians were hit,it was impossible to say; probably, finding themselves discovered, theyhad dispersed on all sides, and crouching down beneath the grass, fledto a distance.
"We have foiled them again!" exclaimed Gilbert, exultingly; "they willnot venture another night attack, I've a notion."
"We must not trust to that," observed Rolfe; "they are as persevering asthey are cunning, and, though defeated half a dozen times, they may hopeto succeed on the seventh. That was but a small party who have just nowretreated, and it may be that the main body are watching theiropportunity to attack us on the other side."
"I believe that you are right," said Vaughan; "we must make up our mindsto keep on the watch till daylight, for even now the enemy may belurking round us, though we cannot see them."
Vaughan, while speaking, was standing up on the higher part of theknoll, whence he could view the plain on every side.
"If there should be any Indians near, you are affording them a goodmark, brother," exclaimed Gilbert. Just as he spoke an arrow whistledthrough the air close to Vaughan's head and flew completely over theknoll. It was evidently shot by a person at the base, close down to theriver.
"I thought that I had killed the Indian," exclaimed Gilbert, "but hemust have found his way to the shore. If we are quick about it, weshall take him prisoner--who will follow me?"
"I will! and I will!" cried Fenton and Tarbox, leaping down the hill.
"Stay, stay," exclaimed Rolfe, "there may be others lurking near."
Gilbert and his companions did not hear him, and in an instant hadreached the bank of the river at the spot from whence they supposed theIndian had shot his arrow. They searched around, however, on everyside, but could find no one. Rolfe, still fearing for their safety,again more peremptorily summoned them back. They returned muchdisappointed at not having made the capture they expected. It wasscarcely possible, they thought, that the Indian could have crossed theriver, and if so, he must still be lurking concealed beneath a rock orbush on the side of the hill, and might at any moment appear among them,and strike a blow in revenge for those whom they had killed. To escapethis fate, Rolfe ordered the men to stand with their swords drawn andtheir eyes on every side. Thus a single Indian had the power of keepingthe whole camp awake and wearing out their strength.
It still wanted nearly an hour to dawn, and before that time they mightbe engaged in a more desperate conflict than the first. They could onlyhope that Canochet would soon arrive to their relief. They would notfear to encounter ten times as many as themselves in the open groundduring the day, but it would be madness to attempt to march through thecountry when they would be certain to be attacked at night byoverwhelming numbers. With grateful hearts they welcomed the appearanceof the dawn, which as it rapidly increased exposed to their view thesurrounding country and the hill-side, on which lay the bodies of fourIndians, who had been shot dead during the attack. On the opposite sideof the river they discovered the body of the native shot by Fenton; noneof the bodies, however, as far as could be judged from their costume,appeared to be those of chiefs.
As soon as it was broad daylight, Rolfe allowed Gilbert and those whohad accompanied him at night to continue their search for the Indian whohad shot his arrow at Vaughan. He could nowhere, however, be found, andthey concluded therefore that he must have floated down the river, andlanded at some distance from the hill. Not wishing to allow the deadbodies of the Indians to remain near them, they were dragged to the bankand allowed to float down with the current.
As their provisions were running short, they anxiously looked out forthe arrival of Canochet, who, they hoped, would ere this have come totheir assistance. Something, they concluded, therefore, had detainedhim. The fire was now lighted, and they cooked their morning meal.
"Should the chief not soon appear, I propose that we set out withoutwaiting for him," said Roger; "not finding us at the fort, he willfollow in our trail, and after the lessons we have given the Indians,they are not likely again to attack us."
Rolfe and Vaughan, however, thought it would be more prudent to remainwhere they were.
"Provided we had food, I should agree with you," answered Roger, "butstarvation is a tough foe to fight against, and for my part I wouldrather face a whole host of Indians."
Still, as Canochet might certainly be expected in the course of the day,Rolfe was not moved from his purpose. The party did not fail to keep abright look-out from their hill; chafing, however, at the delay to whichthey were subjected. Gilbert and Fenton especially, with most of themen, were eager to go on. Their last piece of venison was consumed, andthey were growing very hungry. As the two young men were seatedtogether on the top of a rock whence they could look out round them onevery side, Fenton exclaimed, "See, see, Gilbert! yonder is a deer--shejust showed her head from behind that thicket on the borders of theforest--there is some sweet grass there probably on which she isbrowsing. If we could steal up from to leeward, we might get closeenough to shoot her before she discovers us."
Gilbert looked in the direction Fenton pointed, and he too seeing thedeer, agreed that the opportunity of obtaining a supply of venison wasnot to be lost. Slipping down from the rock, they made their way roundthe base of the hill till they reached a spot directly to leeward of thethicket near which they had seen the deer browsing. From thence theyadvanced cautiously amid the high rocks and bushes till they got closeto the forest, beli
eving every instant that they should see the animalbefore them.
"She must have gone round to the other side," observed Fenton; and theycrawled on further. On looking back, Roger observed that they werealmost out of sight of the hill. Still, eager to get the deer, theywent further on, when they again caught sight of the head and shouldersof the animal, grazing not where they expected, but a considerabledistance off in the forest. They might hit the creature, but shouldthey miss, it would certainly be lost to them; they therefore determinedto get nearer. At last, Gilbert was rising to his feet to fire, when heheard Fenton utter a cry; bitterly had they cause to regret their follyin having quitted the shelter of the fort.