med to all the anxious onlookers as if the werowance,
furious at such disobedience, were about to order the blow to fall upon
both heads. There was silence, and those at the back of the lodge
crowded forward in order not to miss what was to come. Then Powhatan
spoke:

"Rise, Matoaka! and dare not to interfere with my justice!"

"Nay, father," cried Pocahontas, lifting her head while her arms still
lay protectingly about Smith's neck, "I claim this man from thee. Even
as Wansutis did adopt Claw-of-the-Eagle, so will I adopt this paleface
into our tribe."

Every one began to talk at once: "She desires a vain thing!"--"She hath
the right."--"If he live how shall we be safe?"--"Since first our
forefathers dwelt in this land hath this been permitted to our women!"

Powhatan spoke sternly:

"Dost thou claim him in earnestness, Matoaka?"

"Aye, my father. I claim him. Slay him not. Let him live amongst us and
he shall make thee hatchets, and bells and beads and copper things shall
he fashion for me. See, by this robe I wrought to remind thee of thy
love for me, I ask this of thee."

"So be it," answered The Powhatan.

Pocahontas rose to her feet and, taking Smith by the hand, raised him
up, dazed at his sudden deliverance and not understanding how it had
come about.

[Illustration: Decorative]

CHAPTER IX

SMITH'S GAOLER

The following morning Claw-of-the-Eagle, passing before the lodge
assigned to the prisoner, beheld Pocahontas seated on the ground in
front of it.

"What dost thou here?" he asked, "and where be the guards?"

"I sent them off to sleep as soon as the Sun came back to us," she
answered, looking up at the tall youth beside her. "I can take care of
him myself during the day."

"Hast thou seen him yet? Tell me what is he like. I saw him but for the
minute yesterday."

"He sleeps still. I peeped between the openings of the bark covering
here and beheld him lying there with all those queer garments. I am
eager for his awakening; there are so many questions I would ask him."

"Let me have a look, too," pleaded the boy.

Pocahontas nodded and motioned graciously to the opening of the lodge.
It pleased her to grant favors, and Powhatan sometimes smiled when he
marked how like his own manner of bestowing them was that of his
daughter.

With the same caution with which he crept after a deer in a thicket,
Claw-of-the-Eagle moved on hands and knees along the ground within the
lodge. L