"Oh, Thomas," she cried, as she watched me eat, "that is the third great slice of venison that thou hast helped thyself to; never have I seen thee eat so much."
"Never had I such a cook," I answered. "I could eat forever with so dainty a maid to sit beside me. In truth this venison is to me as the nectar of the gods." And so feasting my eyes upon her, I sat looking into her face.
"The Eagle gazes at the beautiful one as a famished wolf at a fat, slick buck," said Manteo, who had strode noiselessly up and who now stood behind me. "He looks as a man who had not tasted food for days would look, if he sat down to a great feast."
I flushed guiltily at his words, and then I translated them to my lady, who had looked up at the sound of Manteo's voice. She blushed a deep pink to the tips of her little ears, and her blue eyes fell beneath the admiring gaze I bent upon them. Laughing at her pretty confusion, I arose and made ready our light baggage to take the trail.
In a few moments we had resumed our journey. Pleasant and sweet were those last two days to me, as I walked by Margaret and whispered soft words of love to her. The very woods seemed transformed to me; from every tree there trilled some sweet-voiced songster; beautiful flowers lined our path and mingled with the many-tinted autumn leaves; while the sun shone brightly down on us, as though in pleasure at our happiness.
Hand in hand we trod after the Indian, as with tireless step he led us on. Sometimes we would come upon a little babbling brook and then, picking up Margaret in my arms, I would wade through, and put her gently down upon the other side. And so, laughing and happy as two children, we came in sight of Roanoke Island. I gave a great shout as we emerged from the forest, for there, a few rods away, lay the ship of White, riding calmly at anchor, her consorts nowhere to be seen; probably they had sailed again for England.
At the sound of my voice, a dozen men who were on the deck turned towards me, and as I waved my hands they lowered a boat and came toward us. In the bow of the approaching boat sat Governor White, and he shouted at me all the way to the shore.
"Safe back again, at last!" he cried in joy, as the boat grated upon the beach, and springing ashore, he wrung my hand as though he would never loose it. "We feared thou hadst been slain by the savages, but I had determined to wait until thou didst appear or we had news of thee."
"This is the Lady Margaret Carroll of London," I said, turning to my lady as she stood beside me, stately and grand as any queen. "This is Governor White, of whom thou hast frequently heard me speak."
"This is indeed an unexpected pleasure," cried the Governor, as with a deep bow he bent over her white hand. "'Tis but poor accommodation we can offer to one so lovely and well-bred, but to such as we have thou art welcome."