But “those furies,” as Smith calls West and his associates, refused to move to Powhatan or to accept these conditions.  They contemned his authority, expecting all the time the new commission, and, regarding all the Monacans’ country as full of gold, determined that no one should interfere with them in the possession of it.  Smith, however, was not intimidated from landing and attempting to quell their mutiny.  In his “General Historie” it is written “I doe more than wonder to think how onely with five men he either durst or would adventure as he did (knowing how greedy they were of his bloud) to come amongst them.”  He landed and ordered the arrest of the chief disturbers, but the crowd hustled him off.  He seized one of their boats and escaped to the ship which contained the provision.  Fortunately the sailors were friendly and saved his life, and a considerable number of the better sort, seeing the malice of Ratcliffe and Archer, took Smith’s part.

Out of the occurrences at this new settlement grew many of the charges which were preferred against Smith.  According to the “General Historie” the company of Ratcliffe and Archer was a disorderly rabble, constantly tormenting the Indians, stealing their corn, robbing their gardens, beating them, and breaking into their houses and taking them prisoners.  The Indians daily complained to the President that these “protectors” he had given them were worse enemies than the Monacans, and desired his pardon if they defended themselves, since he could not punish their tormentors.  They even proposed to fight for him against them.  Smith says that after spending nine days in trying to restrain them, and showing them how they deceived themselves with “great guilded hopes of the South Sea Mines,” he abandoned them to their folly and set sail for Jamestown.

No sooner was he under way than the savages attacked the fort, slew many of the whites who were outside, rescued their friends who were prisoners, and thoroughly terrified the garrison.  Smith’s ship happening to go aground half a league below, they sent off to him, and were glad to submit on any terms to his mercy.  He “put by the heels” six or seven of the chief offenders, and transferred the colony to Powhatan, where were a fort capable of defense against all the savages in Virginia, dry houses for lodging, and two hundred acres of ground ready to be planted.  This place, so strong and delightful in situation, they called Non-such.  The savages appeared and exchanged captives, and all became friends again.

At this moment, unfortunately, Captain West returned.  All the victuals and munitions having been put ashore, the old factious projects were revived.  The soft-hearted West was made to believe that the rebellion had been solely on his account.  Smith, seeing them bent on their own way, took the row-boat for Jamestown.  The colony abandoned the pleasant Non-such and returned to the open air at West’s Fort.  On his way down, Smith met with the accident that suddenly terminated his career in Virginia.