between
them. Often she came and went, bringing peace and welcome food, quite at
home in the little streets of Jamestown. And Captain John Smith in his
writings has said that without her help in times of dire need, and
without her influence for peace, the feeble colony must surely have
perished, either by famine or by the hands of her savage kindred. Much
we owe to the Indian maid who helped so greatly in the early struggles
of the founders of this great nation.

[Illustration]

15. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH GOES IN SEARCH OF CORN

This pleasant state, however, did not last, for, as the settlers became
more firmly fixed in the land, the Indians, fickle and changeable, grew
jealous and resented their intrusion, and refused to sell corn, hoping
by this means to force them away.

Once when Captain John Smith was compelled to go to them in search of
food in the dead of winter, and to break his way through the ice of the
frozen river, they received him coldly, with lowering looks, and only
Pocahontas bade him welcome.

Finally Powhatan joined the discontented, and plotted to destroy Captain
John and his friends by treachery.

[Illustration]

16. POCAHONTAS'S WARNING

To carry out his plan the crafty chief proposed to the Captain that, as
now they were all friends, he and his party should leave their weapons
in the boat. He hoped thus to attack the white men while they were
unarmed.

But Captain John was too cautious a soldier to agree to this, and
answered that, since, as Powhatan had well said, they were all friends,
there could be no harm in keeping their guns with them, as the settlers
considered them a part of their dress. Then Powhatan planned to surprise
them by night. But, just as his trap was well laid, Pocahontas, risking
her own life, stole silently through the deep woods in the dark, cold
night, to the Captain's tent, and, with tears in her eyes, warned him of
his danger, urging him to fly.

Thus forewarned he was on his guard, and, with his soldiers, beat back
his enemies when they came, and even forced them to bring the much
needed corn, by threatening to destroy their village.

And so Pocahontas saved Captain John Smith's life for the second time.

[Illustration]

17. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH SAILS FOR ENGLAND

Always watchful and brave, Captain John Smith worked zealously to make
the colony a success. One day, while returning from treating with the
Indians for a new and better site for Jamestown, h