“Pocahontas once loved your people and came to Jamestown to visit them.”
“I have heard many kind things of her whom the pale-faces call the ‘Blessed Pocahontas,’” Argall replied.
“Has the chief with the shining body returned!” she inquired.
“No, he is dead,” replied Argall, who was of the nature that does not mind telling a wanton lie.
She turned sorrowfully away. All links with the happy past were broken. There was no one at Jamestown now who would love her as her “father” had done. It would only bring pain to visit there again.
While Argall was talking with Pocahontas a happy inspiration seized him. He would take her, by force if necessary, to Jamestown as a hostage of peace between Powhatan and the settlers. Fame would come to him and no doubt he would be rewarded. Nothing could be better, he thought, and he immediately set to work on the well-known greed of Japazaws to gain his end.
“Come down to the ship, Japazaws; I have something to show you.”
When they arrived there he brought forth a kettle, and placing it before the longing eyes of the Indian, said, “Look at this copper kettle; see how it shines and glistens. Only great kings use them—not even Powhatan has one like it.”
“How many bushels of corn does the white chief want?”
“Not one bushel shall it cost you,” replied Argall. “Only a little thing, a very little thing, I ask in return.”