Pocahontas

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Authors: Joseph Bruchac
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one of our poor dogs, did kill him.
    A quiet day followed. Then, upon Sunday, the first and thirtieth of May, they again came lurking in the thickets and tall grass. I had urged that we clear the land about the fort, but my words, as usual, had gone unheeded by the wisdom of the council. Eustace Clovell, a gentleman, was straggling unarmed outside the fort. The hidden salvages pierced him with six arrows in no more time than it does take to draw a breath. Wherewith Clovell came running into the fort.
    "
Arm, arm!
" he cried loudly, those arrows sticking out of him and quivering as he ran.
    The salvages stayed not, but ran away. Master Clovell himself departed after eight days of suffering from his grievous wounds.
    On the very day of Clovell's death, two salvages came and presented themselves unarmed.
    "
Wingapo,
" they shouted.
    I perceived them to be emissaries come from those kings with whom we had perfect league. But one of our gentlemen shot at them. As is their custom, the salvages fell down and then leaped up and ran away. Yet as they departed through the woods we heard them still crying "
wingapo
withstanding.
    Meanwhile, the building of our fort continued. Trenches were dug two feet deep. In them, heavy logs were placed side by side, strengthened by crosspieces, making a wall that rose high above our heads. Thus would we be well hidden from the spying eyes of any enemies. The shape of our fort was triangle-wise. The longest side, a full four hundred feet in length, lay upon the river, where our three ships were closely tied. Two hundred feet long were each of the other walls, with three bulwarks, like a half-moon, at every corner. In each bulwark were four or five pieces of mounted artillery. Truly we would make ourselves sufficently strong against any assault of the salvages.
    What toil we had with so small a power to guard our work adays, watch all night, resist our enemies, and effect our business to relade the ships, cut down trees, and prepare the ground to plant our corn. We had but six weeks to spend in this manner. Captain Newport, who was hired only for our transportation, was to return with the ships.
    Yet even in the midst of this toil and danger, much was the mischief that daily sprang from the ignorant yet ambitious spirits who hated John Smith. But the good doctrine and exhortation of our preacher Master Hunt reconciled them. For that, upon the tenth of June, I was released from confinement. Although some on that very day did yet protest and urge my punishment, I was set free without check.
    Left hand upon the hilt of my sword, I stood forth before Master Hunt and the assembled company. Placing my right hand upon the Bible held out to me, I firmly spoke the words of the oath.
    "I shall faithfully and truly declare my mind and opinion according to my heart and conscience in all things..."
    As I spoke, my eyes sought those of the gentleman Wingfield. The brave Wingfield did not dare to meet them, but stared instead at the ground. The words of a piece of poetry then shaped themselves in my mind. I wrote them down that evening when there was pause between the work of labor and guard.
Good men did ne'er their country's ruin bring
But when evil men shall injuries begin,
Not caring to corrupt and violate
The judgement seat for their own lucre's sake,
Then look, that country cannot long have peace,
Though for the present it have rest and ease.
    Our men by their disorderly straggling were often hurt, when the salvages by the nimbleness of their heels well escaped. On the thirteenth of June, two of our mariners, Master John Collson and Master Mathew Fytch, foolishly went by themselves outside the wall. Eight salvages lay in wait among the weeds and tall grass. They shot Master Fytch dangerously in the breast and so ran away.
    Upon the following day, the two salvages who had been driven off six days before again presented themselves unarmed and far beyond the range of our muskets. This time, recognizing one of them

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