4.  Not long after this, Captain Smith was left wounded on the field of battle,—­was taken prisoner by the Turks,—­and sent as a slave to a noble lady in the interior of the country.

5.  He could speak Italian well, and his fair mistress was very fond of that language.  She listened to accounts of his bravery, his adventures, and his misfortunes, with deepening interest; and finally sent him to her brother, a powerful bashaw, with a request that he should be treated with much kindness.

6.  The proud officer was angry that his sister should trouble herself about a vile European slave; and, instead of attending to her request, he caused him to be loaded with irons, and abused in the most shameful manner.

7.  During the long and tedious period of his slavery, he suffered as much as it is possible for man to endure; but at length he killed his tyrannical master, and, with great peril, escaped through the deserts into Russia.

8.  His romantic genius would not long allow him to remain easy.  He could not be happy unless he was engaged in daring and adventurous actions.  He no sooner heard of an expedition to Virginia, under the command of Christopher Newport, than he resolved to join it.

9.  He arrived in this country with the first emigrants, who settled in Jamestown, April 26, 1607.  It is said this infant settlement must have perished, had it not been for the courage and ingenuity of Captain Smith.

[Illustration]

10.  Once they were all nearly dying with hunger, and the savages utterly refused to sell them any food.  In this extremity, Smith stole the Indian idol, Okee, which was made of skins stuffed with moss, and would not return it until the Indians sold them as much corn as they wanted.

LESSON LI.

The same subject, continued.

1.  The colony were once in imminent danger of losing their brave and intelligent friend.  While exploring the source of the Chickahominy river, he imprudently left his companions, and, while alone, was seen and pursued by a party of savages.  He retreated fighting, killed three Indians with his own hand, and probably would have regained his boat in safety, had he not accidentally plunged into a miry hole, from which he could not extricate himself.

2.  By this accident, he was taken prisoner; and the Indians would have tortured him, and put him to death, according to their cruel customs, had not his ever-ready wit come to his aid.

3.  He showed them a small ivory compass, which he had with him, and, by signs, explained many wonderful things to them, till his enemies were inspired with a most profound respect, and resolved not to kill the extraordinary man without consulting their chief.

4.  He was, accordingly, brought into the presence of the king, Powhatan, who received him in a robe of raccoon skins, and seated on a kind of throne, with two beautiful young daughters at his side.  After a long consultation, he was condemned to die.