ck andowgh (bid Pocahontas bring hither two little baskets and I
will give her white beads to make her a necklace)."

He would gladly have sent a message of thanks for her care of him that
night, but he thought it best not to do so, since she might not wish it
known that she had followed him.

"Pray her to come and see us soon," he added as he bade farewell to his
guides whose eagerness to show their treasures at home was even greater
than their curiosity to see further marvels.

After he had seen them safely outside of the palisades, Smith stopped to
enquire by name for such men as had not come out to greet him.

"Oh! Ralph, he's dead and buried," they answered; and of another:
"Christopher? He wore away from very weakness. And Robin went a
sen'night ago with a quartain fever. This is no land for white men."

"But thou lookest hale and hearty. Captain," remarked one of the
gentlemen, leaning against his door for support. "I'll wager the death
thou didst face was not by starvation."

Then Smith learned in full the pitiful story of what the colony had
suffered during his absence: lack of food and illness had carried off
nearly half the colonists, and those that remained were weak and
discouraged. Death had taken both of his enemies and of his friends, but
some who had been opposed to him formerly had been brought to see during
his absence how with his departure the life and courage of Jamestown had
died down. Men there are--and most of them--who must ever be led by some
one, and in Smith these adventurers had come to see a real leader of
men.

While Smith stood questioning and heartening the downhearted, President
Wingfield came out of his house on his way to the Government House.
Smith doffed his hat and made a brave bow to honour, if not the man, at
least the office he represented.

"So thou art returned. Captain Smith," said the President, coldly.
"Methinks thou hast not fared so ill, better belike than most of us.
Hast thou brought the provisions thou didst promise? We have been
awaiting them somewhat anxiously. But first tell me where thou hast left
Robinson and Emery, for the lives of our comrades, however humble, are
of more value to us than even the sorely needed victuals."

Now Smith was aware that President Wingfield knew, as every other man
in the colony knew, that Robinson and Emery were dead; the others had
already discussed their fate with him. Therefore he realized that the
President had some pol