hould carry them to Jamestown they
would speak to my people there and they would hear what I say at
Werowocomoco."

Pocahontas shook her head as did those to whom she passed the leaf. The
stranger might do many wonderful things, but this claim passed the
bounds of even the greatest shaman's power.

Smith, however, determined to keep her thinking of the possibility of
his return to Jamestown, continued:

"It is possible for me, in truth. Princess, and if thou would'st
accompany me thither I could show thee stranger marvels still."

"Nay," she cried angrily, "thou shalt never go there. Thou art mine to
do as I will. Is it not so?" she appealed to those about her.

They all shouted affirmation, confirming Smith's belief that his fate
had been placed in a girl's hands. It was not the first time such a
thing had happened to him; once before in his life a woman had been his
gaoler, and he again made up his mind to bide his time. He answered the
numerous questions put to him as best he could, about the number of days
he had been with the Pamunkeys, his capture, and why he had separated
from his fellows. In turn he questioned them about their harvests, the
time and method of planting and the moon of the ripening of the maize;
but the Indians showed plainly that they liked better to ask than to
answer.

As the day advanced the crowd began to dwindle. The captive would not
fail to be there whenever they desired to observe him and there was
hunting to be done and cooking, and already some of the boys had
strolled off to play their ever-fascinating game of tossing plumstones
into the air. At last only Pocahontas was left with the prisoner.

Smith glanced about to see what the chances of escape might be should he
make a sudden dash, but the sight of some braves at a lodge not more
than a hundred feet away busied in sharpening arrowheads made him settle
down again.

"Tell me, White Chief," said Pocahontas as she lighted a pipe she had
filled with tobacco and gave it now to Smith, "tell me about thyself and
thy people. Are ye in truth like unto us; do ye die as we do or can
your medicine preserve you forever like Okee? Canst thou change thyself
into an animal at will? If so, I fain would know how to do it, too."

Smith looked critically at the girl who sat on a mat beside him. He had
never seen a maiden whose spirit was more eager for life. In her avidity
for the miraculous he recognized something akin to his own love of
ad