Pocahontas, he thought, was as graceful as a young roe; her feet were as quick as the flames of the fire, and every now and then, from the very exuberance of her happiness, she shot an arrow over their heads into the trees beyond.  Smith could not help wondering what kind of a husband she would follow home some day.

The masque lasted an hour; all the different motions were symbolic, as Smith had learned all Indian dances were, and much of it he was able to comprehend.  In any case he would have enjoyed the masque, knowing that Pocahontas had performed it to honour her father’s guests.  When it was over, suddenly as they had come, the maidens vanished into the dark forest.

The Englishmen were not left alone, however, for during the dancing a number of braves and squaws had come to look on at the ceremony and even more at the audience.  Now Nautauquas came forward and greeted Smith.

“My father hath just returned.  He hurried back when he learned that ye were to visit him.  He hath had the guest lodge prepared and awaits your coming there.”

Powhatan greeted them when they entered the lodge, which Smith recognized at once as the one where his life had been in such jeopardy.

“Tell them they are welcome, thy comrades,” he said to Smith, “and thou, my son, art always as one of mine own people.”

They seated themselves on the mats spread for them, and the usual feasting began, the Englishmen doing more than justice to the Indian dishes.

“’Tis a strange beast and of a rare flavor withal, this raccoon,” said Waldo, “and methinks the King at Westminster hath no better trencher meat.  Hath the old savage asked of thee yet our errand, Smith?”

“An Indian never asks the errand of his guest,” he replied; “but now we have eaten it is not meet that I delay longer to tell him.”

He rose to his feet and began to speak.  Pocahontas, who had stood at the entrance looking in, now entered and sat down at her father’s feet.

“Ruler of many tribes, Werowance of the Powhatans, Wahunsunakuk, we have come to bring the greetings sent thee from across the sea by our own great werowance, James.  With the English, the Spaniards, the French and other great peoples beyond the seas, their greatest chief who rules many tribes is called a ‘king.’  He is mightier than all other werowances, hath always much riches and honour, and when the time comes that, by the death of an old king or by conquest, a new king takes his place, he is crowned.  They put a circlet upon his head and in his hand they place a staff of honour and upon his shoulders they throw royal robes, so that all who see shall know that this is the King and that all must do him fealty.  Our own King James, who hath heard of thee, and of the many tribes that are subject to thee, hath desired that thou, too, shouldst be crowned as another king, his friend, so that the English may know that he calls thee ‘brother,’ and that thine own people shall hold thee in yet greater awe.”