Outdoor Life and Indian Stories / Making open air life attractive to young Americans by telling them all about woodcraft, signs and signaling, the stars, fishing, camping, camp cooking, how to tie knots and how to make fire without matches, and many other fascinating open air pursuits. Also, stories of noted hunters and scouts, great indians and warriors, including Daniel Boone, Kit Carson, General Custer, Pontiac, Tecumseh, King Philip, Black Hawk, Brandt, Sitting Bull, and a host of others whose names are famous; all of them true and interesting

by Edward Sylvester Ellis

Meanwhile, the pioneer was pushing his way into the wilderness, with no thought of what had befallen the men left behind in the barge. The light canoe was just buoyant enough to float himself and friends, and they paddled up the narrowing stream with all possible care. The day was wearing away, and, since they had no food, Smith decided to hunt for wild fowl. Landing, he went forward alone, never dreaming that Opecancanough with a large body of warriors was tracking him through the woods. This chief came upon the two Englishmen while they were asleep and killed both. Then they hurried after Smith, who they knew could not be far away.

When the pioneer caught sight of the dusky figures flitting among the trees, firing their arrows and pressing towards him, he tried to retreat to his canoe, but soon saw that he would be cut off. He seized one of his Indian companions and swung him round in front, as a shield. The pursuers did not wish to harm a member of their own race, and Smith found for a time that the novel armor served him well. As fast as he could load his gun he fired into the swarm of warriors, who were so close together that he did not miss. He wounded a number and said he killed three, which may be true.

The doughty pioneer could give no attention to his feet, since he dared not take his eyes off his pursuers. He was slowly falling back, and hopeful of getting away, when he stepped into a marshy place into which he immediately sank above his knees. Even when in this plight, the Indians were afraid to lay hands on him. They would steal forward and then scramble in a panic for the shelter of the tree trunks, afraid he was about to fire his terrible gun at them.

Smith struggled hard to free himself from the mire, but with every effort only sank deeper. The weather was cold, and, seeing that he must perish if he staid where he was, he set free his human shield and flung away his weapons. He expected to be killed at once, but the captors drew him out of the mud and led him back to the place where the two Englishmen had been slain, and where a fire was kindled. The warmth of this brought back his vigor and hopefulness, and seeing no disposition to do him immediate harm, he asked for their chief. The famous Opecancanough came forward. The captive handed him a small compass. The chief took it in his hand while his warriors gathered around and all studied the odd-looking instrument with deep interest. The darting about of the tiny needle filled them with wonder, and for the moment no one thought of doing the white man any harm.

Smith says that through the compass he made clear to the Indians the roundness of the globe, the spheres of the sun, moon and stars, the revolution of the earth on its axis, the immensity of the land and sea, the diversity of the nations, the antipodes, "and many other such like matters, so that all stood amazed with admiration!" And yet how are we to believe that, unable as he was to speak the Indian language, Smith "explained" these strange things to the Indians, or that they could have gained any idea of his meaning! Such a feat was surely beyond his power.

The compass, however, was to serve a good purpose, for when the warriors had tied Smith to a tree and were about to fire their arrows at him, Opecancanough held up the curious instrument and they stopped. The captive was taken to the home of Powhatan, on York River, and well treated. Indeed, he was fed so much that he began to suspect they were fattening him in order that he might make a fine meal for them.

The capture of the leader of the colony sharpened the appetites of the Indians for greater deeds, and they got ready to destroy Jamestown. They tried by every means they could think of to get Smith to help them, promising him much land and the finest of their women as wives. Nothing could lead Smith to turn against his own countrymen, and he tried to show his captors that their plan was hopeless. Smith then did a slight thing of itself, which filled the Indians with wonder. Taking a blank leaf from his pocket book, he wrote upon it a brief account of the plot, and asked his friends to send him a number of articles which he named, and which he promised the Indians they could get by taking the slip of paper to Jamestown. The messengers made the journey in the face of severe weather, and brought back the things which Smith had promised. How he managed thus to talk with his friends many miles away, was a mystery which the native mind could not grasp.

Since the red men had to give up their plan of capturing Jamestown, they tried to impress him with their own greatness. He was taken from place to place, among the different tribes, and finally brought back to Opecancanough. He was feasted again, the Indians looking upon him as a sort of god. He was next led into the presence of the mighty Powhatan, where, after a time, it was decided to put him to death.