“Since ’tis so thou hast decided, Captain,” answered Dickon.

“I’m for or against, as thou wilt,” said Hugh, “but I’d been glad hadst thou chosen to fight instead o’ to kiss.”

And Hob, who had not spoken a word of his own invention up to now, spake solemnly: 

“I’ll not blab.  Captain, how near thou wast to the fightin’.”

When they got back to the site of the future Jamestown Smith, who had made up his mind to do what seemed to him right no matter what reception his advice received, told President Wingfield of the hidden bowman and warned him of the danger to those who might straggle away from their companions.  But the members of the Council, whether they would be beholden to Smith not even for advice, or whether the friendly attitude of the Indians at first which was now just beginning to change, influenced them, refused to believe that the savages intended to molest them and refused to admit the necessity of putting up a palisade or taking other precautions against them.

Each day the work of clearing the ground and of setting up the tents proceeded apparently more rapidly than the day before, as the results were more visible.  Every one was so wearied with the cramped life aboard ship for so many weeks that he was glad to stretch himself on the earth or on improvised beds.  Smith, to give an example to some of the gentlemen who stood with folded arms looking on while the mechanics worked, swung axe and wielded hammer lustily.  Yet he was very unhappy at the manner in which he was still treated and he eagerly seized an opportunity to leave the island.

With Captain Newport and twenty others, he set out in one of the ships’ boats to explore the upper part of the river.  They were absent a number of days, after having ascended the James as far as the great falls near the Powhata, a Powhatan village near the site of the present city of Richmond.  Then they returned to Jamestown.

On their arrival they were greeted with the grave news that during their absence the Indians had killed a boy and wounded seventeen of the colonists.  A shot fired from one of the ships had luckily so terrified the savages that they made off for the woods.  Now the Council was forced to recognize the need of some protection and ordered every one to stop work on everything else until a strong palisade and a rough fort had been built.

It was now June.  Suddenly, to the astonishment of all, the Indians approached and made signs that they desired to enter into amicable relations with the white men.  They jumped out from their boats and fingered the clothes of the colonists, their guns and their food, showing great curiosity at everything.  The next day, perhaps because the Council had seen the folly of their suspicions or had realized the value of Smith’s military experience and knowledge, the state of his semi-imprisonment, which had lasted since the early part of the voyage, was put an end to.  Now that all seemed peaceful, from without and within, as a sign of gratitude and of their brotherly feelings towards each other, all the colonists partook of the Communion together, kneeling in the temporary shed covered with a piece of sail-cloth which served as a church.