device of a deer carved at the
great end of it big enough to dash out one's brains with.
There is very much more which might be said about these savages that
would be of interest; but I am minded now to leave such stories for
others to tell, and come to the day when Captain Newport was ready to
sail with the Susan Constant and the Goodspeed back to England, for his
share in the adventure was only to bring us over from England, after
which he had agreed to return.
The pinnace was to be left behind for the use of us who remained in the
strange land. Before this time, meaning the thirteenth day of May, the
members of the Council had decided upon the place where we were to build
our village. It was to be in the country of the Paspahegh Indians, at a
certain spot near the shore where the water runs so deep that our ships
can lie moored to the trees in six fathoms.
THE PEOPLE LAND FROM THE SHIPS
Then it was that all the people went on shore, some to set up the tents
of cloth which we had brought with us to serve as shelters before houses
could be built; others to lay out a fort, which it was needed should
be made as early as possible because of the savages, and yet a certain
other number being told off to stand guard against the brown men, who
had already shown that they could be most dangerous enemies.
My master went ashore, as a matter of course, with the others, I
sticking close to his side; but neither of us taking any part in the
work which had been begun, because the charges of wickedness were still
hanging over his head.
Had Captain Smith been allowed a voice in the Council, certain it is
he never would have chosen this place in which to make the town, for he
pointed out to me that the land lay so low that when the river was
at its height the dampness must be great, and, therefore, exceeding
unhealthful, while there was back of it such an extent of forest, as
made it most difficult to defend, in case the savages came against us.
Captain Smith aided me in building for ourselves a hut in front of an
overhanging rock, with the branches of trees. It was a poor shelter at
the best; but he declared it would serve us until such time as he was
given his rightful place among the people, or had been sent back a
prisoner to England.
CAPTAIN SMITH PROVEN INNOCENT
This served us as a living place for many days, or until my master was
come into his own, as he did before the fort was finished, when,
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