amazed, for of course they
had never seen glass before, and could not understand it. A feeling of
awe crept over them; they thought him a magician, and were afraid to
kill him. So at last they marched him off in their midst, through the
forest, to consult with the rest of the tribe as to what should be done
with him.

[Illustration]

10. THE DANCE OF VICTORY

They carried their prisoner from village to village, while at every
moment he looked for death, until at last they came to their great town,
Werowacomo, where king Powhatan lived. And here they celebrated their
victory by savage pomps and conjurations. They tied the Captain to the
ceremonial stake, then, all painted and decorated in their fiercest and
most hideous war paint and trappings, they danced their wild dance of
triumph. Shouting and jumping, they brandished their war clubs in his
face, whirling round and round their captive, like so many demons, each
more frightful than the other. But, since they did not kill him at once,
Captain John, nothing daunted, kept them wondering, by telling strange
stories of the sun, the stars, and the world over the sea, and though
the Indians could understand but little they hesitated, one day feasting
him, and the next threatening to kill.

Now Pocahontas felt sorry for the handsome young stranger, and was drawn
to him, and taught him many words of the Indian tongue, and he told her
of his people beyond the sea, as best he could, and so they became good
friends.

[Illustration]

11-12. POCAHONTAS SAVES CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH'S LIFE

At last, after long deliberation, the Indians decided that, since he had
killed one of their tribe, Captain John must die, for this was their
law. So they dragged him, bound, before the great chief Powhatan, who
sat in mighty state surrounded by his warriors. They stretched the
prisoner on the ground with his head on a large stone, to beat out his
brains with their cruel clubs. And it seemed as though at last the
gallant Captain's time had come. But just as the Indian brave was about
to strike, his great war club swinging high in the air, Pocahontas
rushed forward and threw herself between him and his victim. With her
own body she shielded the Captain from harm, for her heart was moved to
pity for the stranger, and she could not bear that he should die. And
now aroused, with flashing eyes she waved the executioner back. Then she
pleaded with her father that the captive's life be spared.