en mats to be lifted one after
the other, but at last we came to the central chamber and to the man we
sought.

He sat beside a small fire burning redly in the twilight of the room.
The light shone now upon the feathers in his scalp lock, now upon the
triple row of pearls around his neck, now upon knife and tomahawk in his
silk grass belt, now on the otterskin mantle hanging from his shoulder
and drawn across his knees. How old he was no man knew. Men said that he
was older than Powhatan, and Powhatan was very old when he died. But
he looked a man in the prime of life; his frame was vigorous, his skin
unwrinkled, his eyes bright and full. When he rose to welcome us, and
Nantauquas stood beside him, there seemed not a score of years between
them.

The matter upon which we had come was not one that brooked delay. We
waited with what patience we might until his long speech of welcome was
finished, when, in as few words as possible, Rolfe laid before him our
complaint against the Paspaheghs. The Indian listened; then said, in
that voice that always made me think of some cold, still, bottomless
pool lying black beneath overhanging rocks: "My brothers may go in
peace. The Paspaheghs have washed off the black paint. If my brothers go
to the village, they will find the peace pipe ready for their smoking."

Rolfe and I stared at each other. "I have sent messengers," continued
the Emperor. "I have told the Paspaheghs of my love for the white man,
and of the goodwill the white man bears the Indian. I have told them
that Nemattanow was a murderer, and that his death was just. They are
satisfied. Their village is as still as this beast at my feet." He
pointed downward to a tame panther crouched against his moccasins. I
thought it an ominous comparison.

Involuntarily we looked at Nantauquas. "It is true," he said. "I am
but come from the village of the Paspaheghs. I took them the word of
Opechancanough."

"Then, since the matter is settled, we may go home," I remarked, rising
as I spoke. "We could, of course, have put down the Paspaheghs with one
hand, giving them besides a lesson which they would not soon forget, but
in the kindness of our hearts toward them and to save ourselves trouble
we came to Opechancanough. For his aid in this trifling business the
Governor gives him thanks."

A smile just lit the features of the Indian. It was gone in a moment.
"Does not Opechancanough love the white men?" he said. "Some day he will