But no one came forward. The young braves to whom Pocahontas had been entrusted kept wisely on the outskirts of the crowd.
Then the little sombre figure at Powhatan's feet rose and stood with the firelight shining on her face and dark hair and asked in a gentle voice:
"Didst thou want me, mine uncle?"
"Pocahontas," exclaimed Opechanchanough, "how camest thou here ahead of us, and in that dark robe?"
"Pocahontas can run even better than she can shoot. Uncle, and the changing of a robe is the matter but of a moment."
"What meaneth this, Matoaka?" asked Powhatan, making use of her special intimate name, which signified Little Snow Feather. He spoke in a low tone, but one so stern that Cleopatra shivered and rejoiced that she was not the culprit.
"It was but a joke, my father," answered Pocahontas. "I meant no harm." She hung her head and waited until he should speak again.
"I will have no such jokes in my land," he said angrily, "remember that."
With a gesture of his hand and a whispered word of command he sent the Pamunkey braves to the guest lodge. Opechanchanough, still angry at the ridicule that a child had brought upon him, lingered to ask;
"Wilt thou not punish her?"