mean that through him the colony should be saved? He
longed to know what had brought about this sudden change in his fate,
but he could not ask. In as stately a manner as that of the
werowance--so at variance with his appearance--and with the best words
at his command, he spoke his thanks.

"I thank thee, great Powhatan, for thy words of kindness and the good
news thou bringest me. In truth if thou wilt be to me a father, I will
be to thee a son, and there shall be peace between Werowocomoco and
Jamestown. If thou wilt send men with me to show me the way they shall
return with presents for thee."

Powhatan gave certain orders and twelve men stepped forward and laid
aside their sacrificial masks and announced themselves ready to
accompany the paleface. Smith had not imagined that he could leave that
night, but he was so eager to be off that he lost no time in his
farewells.

They set forth into the forest which at first was not dense, and along
its edge were clearings where the summer's maize had grown. Then the
trees grew closer together, and to Smith there appeared no path between
them, but his guides strode quickly along with no hesitation, though the
night was a dark one. Six of the Indians went in front of him and six
behind. There was no talking, only the faint sound from the Englishman's
boots and his stumbling against trunks or rocks broke the silence. There
was little chance of an enemy's coming so near to the camp of The
Powhatan, nevertheless the Indians observed the usual caution.

To John Smith there was something ghostly about this excursion by night,
through an unknown country, with unknown men. He could not help
wondering whether he had understood correctly all that Powhatan had
said, or whether he dared believe he had meant what he said, or if he
had not planned to kill him in the wilderness away from any voice to
speak in his favor. Even though the werowance himself were acting in
good faith, might not others of the chiefs have plotted to put an end to
the white man whose coming and whose staying were so beyond their
fathoming? In spite of these thoughts he went on apparently as
unconcernedly as though he were strolling along the king's highway near
his Lincolnshire home.

The call of some animal, a wildcat perhaps, brought the little company
to a hurried standstill, and a whispered consultation. The sound might
really come from some beast, Smith knew; on the other hand, it might be
either a sign