ach be in one piece. Then would
we set about raising tobacco, as the Indian girl Pocahontas taught us,
and who can say that we might not come to be of some consequence, even
as are Captain Smith and Master Hunt, in this new world.

A PLAGUE OF RATS

And now am I come to the spring of 1609, when befell us that disaster
which marked the beginning of the time of suffering, of trouble, and of
danger which was so near to wiping out the settlement of Jamestown that
the people had already started on their way to England.

The day had come when we should put into the ground our Indian corn that
a harvest might follow. The supply, which was to be used as seed, had
been stored in casks and piled up in the big house wherein were kept our
goods.

When those who had been chosen to do the planting went for the seed,
it was found to have been destroyed by rats, and not only the corn, but
many other things which were in the storehouse, had been eaten by the
same animals.

Master Hunt maintained, and Captain Smith was of the same opinion, that
when the Phoenix was unloaded, the rats came ashore from her, finding
lodging in that building which represented the vital spot of our town.

Howsoever the pests came there, certain it was we should reap no harvest
that year, unless the savages became more friendly than they had lately
shown themselves, and as to this we speedily learned.

TREACHERY DURING CAPTAIN SMITH'S ABSENCE

When Captain Smith set off in the pinnace in order to buy what might
serve us as seed, he found himself threatened by all the brown men
living near about the shores of the bay, as if they had suddenly made up
a plot to kill us, and never one of them would speak him fairly. It was
while my master was away that two Dutchmen, who came over in the Phoenix
and had gone with Captain Smith in the pinnace, returned to Jamestown,
saying to Captain Winne, who was in command at the fort, that Captain
Smith had use for more weapons because of going into the country in the
hope of finding Indians who would supply him with corn.

Not doubting their story, the captain supplied them with what they
demanded, and, as was afterward learned, before leaving town that night
they stole many swords, pike heads, shot and powder, all of which these
Dutch thieves carried to Powhatan.

If these two had been the only white men who did us wrong, then might
our plight not have become so desperate; but many there were, upward