Smith tugged at his beard with both hands, smiling, and his audience burst out laughing.  They could appreciate a joke, it seemed, and he was glad to see that their temper to him was friendly, for the moment at least.  One of the older men pointed to the pocket in his jerkin and asked what he had in it.  Compass and watch were gone, but Smith delved into its depths in hopes of finding something he had forgotten which might interest them.  He brought out a pencil and a small note-book.  He wrote a few words and handed them to Pocahontas, saying: 

“These are medicine marks.  If one should carry them to Jamestown they would speak to my people there and they would hear what I say at Werowocomoco.”

Pocahontas shook her head as did those to whom she passed the leaf.  The stranger might do many wonderful things, but this claim passed the bounds of even the greatest shaman’s power.

Smith, however, determined to keep her thinking of the possibility of his return to Jamestown, continued: 

“It is possible for me, in truth.  Princess, and if thou would’st accompany me thither I could show thee stranger marvels still.”

“Nay,” she cried angrily, “thou shalt never go there.  Thou art mine to do as I will.  Is it not so?” she appealed to those about her.

They all shouted affirmation, confirming Smith’s belief that his fate had been placed in a girl’s hands.  It was not the first time such a thing had happened to him; once before in his life a woman had been his gaoler, and he again made up his mind to bide his time.  He answered the numerous questions put to him as best he could, about the number of days he had been with the Pamunkeys, his capture, and why he had separated from his fellows.  In turn he questioned them about their harvests, the time and method of planting and the moon of the ripening of the maize; but the Indians showed plainly that they liked better to ask than to answer.

As the day advanced the crowd began to dwindle.  The captive would not fail to be there whenever they desired to observe him and there was hunting to be done and cooking, and already some of the boys had strolled off to play their ever-fascinating game of tossing plumstones into the air.  At last only Pocahontas was left with the prisoner.

Smith glanced about to see what the chances of escape might be should he make a sudden dash, but the sight of some braves at a lodge not more than a hundred feet away busied in sharpening arrowheads made him settle down again.

“Tell me, White Chief,” said Pocahontas as she lighted a pipe she had filled with tobacco and gave it now to Smith, “tell me about thyself and thy people.  Are ye in truth like unto us; do ye die as we do or can your medicine preserve you forever like Okee?  Canst thou change thyself into an animal at will?  If so, I fain would know how to do it, too.”