There was little talk while the feasting continued.  Pocahontas, who did not eat, lost no motion of the stranger’s.

“At least,” she thought, “he lives by food as we do.”  And she watched to see whether he would entangle his meat in his beard.

At last every one had eaten his fill and the dogs snarled and fought over the scraps until they were driven from the lodge.  Then Powhatan began to question his prisoner.

“Art thou a king?”

“Nay, lord,” replied the Englishman when he had comprehended the question; “I but serve one who ruleth over many thousand braves.”

“Why didst thou leave him?”

Smith was about to answer that they sought new land to increase his sovereign’s dominions, but he realized that this was not a favorable moment for such a statement.

“We set forth to humble the enemies of our king, the Spaniards,” he replied, and in this he was not telling an untruth, because the colonization in Virginia had for one of its aims the destruction of Spanish settlements in the New World.

“And why did ye come ashore on my land and build yourselves lodges on my island?”

“Because we were weary of much buffeting by the waves and in need of fresh food.”

For a moment at least Powhatan seemed content with this explanation.  His curiosity in regard to the habits of these strangers was almost as keen as that of his daughter.

“Tell me of thy ways,” he commanded.  “Why dost thou wear such garments?  Why hast thou hair upon thy mouth?  Worship ye an Okee?  How mighty are thy medicine-men?  And how canst thou build such great canoes with wings?”

Smith endeavored to satisfy him.  He dilated upon the power of King James, though in his mind that sovereign could not be compared for regal dignity to this savage; the bravery of the colonists, the wonder of silken garments and jewels worn by the men and women of his land.  And remembering his duty as a Christian, he tried to explain the mysteries of the Christian faith to this heathen, but he found his vocabulary unequal to this demand.  He could see that he was making an impression on his listeners; the greater their awe for his powers, the more chance that they might be afraid to injure him.  Opechanchanough spoke to his brother, telling him of the watch and compass.  Powhatan seized them eagerly, turned them over and over and held them to his ear, listening while Smith explained their use.

“I would fain know of those strange reeds ye carry that bear death within them,” commanded the werowance again.  “By what magic are ye served?  Could not one of our shamans or our braves make it obey him also?”

[Illustration:  “LET US BE FRIENDS AND ALLIES, OH POWHATAN”]

Smith was aware that the Indians’ fear of the white man’s guns was the colony’s greatest protection.  So he answered: 

“If my lord will come to Jamestown, as we call the island, since we know not by what name ye call it, he himself shall see guns as much greater than this one at my side,” and he pointed to his pistol, “as thou art greater than lesser werowances.”