"John Smith carries bad luck wherever he goes," the men whispered to each other. "He has brought this storm upon us."
They threw him overboard. As he was a good swimmer and not far from land, he managed to reach the shore in safety.
This is only one of the stories John Smith told of his strange life when he was a young man.
Not long after that adventure he took part in a war against the Turks. He was as brave as ever, for at one time he killed three Turks and cut off their heads. He had no one to help him do it, either.
He did not succeed as well afterwards, for the Turks caught him and made him a slave. His cruel master fastened an iron collar around his neck and made him work very hard. He had to thresh wheat.
One day when he was working in the wheat field his Turkish master rode up on horseback and began to whip him. How angry he was! He seized his heavy flail and killed the Turk with one blow.
He must lose no time in getting away now. He lifted a bag of wheat to the back of the horse, jumped up behind it, and off he rode as fast as he could go.
He wandered through the wilderness for a long time. At last he reached the seashore and got on board an English ship. When he reached England there were many people ready to listen to his wonderful adventures.
On the other hand, John Smith heard many stories about the land across the great ocean—of little Virginia Dare and her lost people, and of the Red Men who lived such a free life in the forests of America. This was not all, however, for people were saying:
"Why not try again to settle in Virginia? It is a beautiful country. The weather is warm and pleasant there. It must be easy enough to live in such a place, if we can only get along with the Indians."