the complete writings-3-第63章
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nt Francis； their companion； disguised as an Indian； to find out the cause。 He came to the Glass house in the woods a mile from Jamestown； which was the rendezvous for all their villainy。 Here they laid an ambush of forty men for Smith； who hearing of the Dutchman； went thither to apprehend him。 The rascal had gone； and Smith； sending twenty soldiers to follow and capture him； started alone from the Glass house to return to the fort。 And now occurred another of those personal adventures which made Smith famous by his own narration。
On his way he encountered the King of Paspahegh； 〃a most strong； stout savage；〃 who； seeing that Smith had only his falchion； attempted to shoot him。 Smith grappled him； the savage prevented his drawing his blade； and bore him into the river to drown him。 Long they struggled in the water； when the President got the savage by the throat and nearly strangled him； and drawing his weapon； was about to cut off his head； when the King begged his life so pitifully； that Smith led him prisoner to the fort and put him in chains。
In the pictures of this achievement； the savage is represented as about twice the size and stature of Smith； another illustration that this heroic soul was never contented to take one of his size。
The Dutchman was captured； who； notwithstanding his excuses that he had escaped from Powhatan and did not intend to return； but was only walking in the woods to gather walnuts； on the testimony of Paspahegh of his treachery； was also 〃laid by the heels。〃 Smith now proposed to Paspahegh to spare his life if he would induce Powhatan to send back the renegade Dutchmen。 The messengers for this purpose reported that the Dutchmen； though not detained by Powhatan； would not come； and the Indians said they could not bring them on their backs fifty miles through the woods。 Daily the King's wives； children； and people came to visit him； and brought presents to procure peace and his release。 While this was going on； the King； though fettered； escaped。 A pursuit only resulted in a vain fight with the Indians。 Smith then made prisoners of two Indians who seemed to be hanging around the camp； Kemps and Tussore； 〃the two most exact villains in all the country；〃 who would betray their own king and kindred for a piece of copper； and sent them with a force of soldiers； under Percy； against Paspahegh。 The expedition burned his house； but did not capture the fugitive。 Smith then went against them himself； killed six or seven； burned their houses； and took their boats and fishing wires。 Thereupon the savages sued for peace； and an amnesty was established that lasted as long as Smith remained in the country。
Another incident occurred about this time which greatly raised Smith's credit in all that country。 The Chicahomanians； who always were friendly traders； were great thieves。 One of them stole a Pistol； and two proper young fellows； brothers； known to be his confederates； were apprehended。 One of them was put in the dungeon and the other sent to recover the pistol within twelve hours； in default of which his brother would be hanged。 The President； pitying the wretched savage in the dungeon； sent him some victuals and charcoal for a fire。 〃Ere midnight his brother returned with the pistol； but the poor savage in the dungeon was so smothered with the smoke he had made； and so piteously burnt； that we found him dead。 The other most lamentably bewailed his death； and broke forth in such bitter agonies； that the President； to quiet him； told him that if hereafter they would not steal； he would make him alive again； but he （Smith） little thought he could be recovered。〃 Nevertheless； by a liberal use of aqua vitae and vinegar the Indian was brought again to life； but 〃so drunk and affrighted that he seemed lunatic； the which as much tormented and grieved the other as before to see him dead。〃 Upon further promise of good behavior Smith promised to bring the Indian out of this malady also； and so laid him by a fire to sleep。 In the morning the savage had recovered his perfect senses； his wounds were dressed； and the brothers with presents of copper were sent away well contented。 This was spread among the savages for a miracle； that Smith could make a man alive that was dead。 He narrates a second incident which served to give the Indians a wholesome fear of the whites： 〃Another ingenious savage of Powhatan having gotten a great bag of powder and the back of an armour at Werowocomoco； amongst a many of his companions； to show his extraordinary skill； he did dry it on the back as he had seen the soldiers at Jamestown。 But he dried it so long； they peeping over it to see his skill； it took fire； and blew him to death； and one or two more； and the rest so scorched they had little pleasure any more to meddle with gunpowder。〃
〃These and many other such pretty incidents；〃 says Smith； 〃so amazed and affrighted Powhatan and his people that from all parts they desired peace；〃 stolen articles were returned； thieves sent to Jamestown for punishment； and the whole country became as free for the whites as for the Indians。
And now ensued； in the spring of 1609； a prosperous period of three months； the longest season of quiet the colony had enjoyed； but only a respite from greater disasters。 The friendship of the Indians and the temporary subordination of the settlers we must attribute to Smith's vigor； shrewdness； and spirit of industry。 It was much easier to manage the Indian's than the idle and vicious men that composed the majority of the settlement。
In these three months they manufactured three or four lasts （fourteen barrels in a last） of tar； pitch； and soap…ashes； produced some specimens of glass； dug a well of excellent sweet water in the fort； which they had wanted for two years； built twenty houses； repaired the church； planted thirty or forty acres of ground； and erected a block…house on the neck of the island； where a garrison was stationed to trade with the savages and permit neither whites nor Indians to pass except on the President's order。 Even the domestic animals partook the industrious spirit： 〃of three sowes in eighteen months increased 60 and od Pigs； and neare 500 chickings brought up themselves without having any meat given them。〃 The hogs were transferred to Hog Isle； where another block house was built and garrisoned； and the garrison were permitted to take 〃exercise〃 in cutting down trees and making clapboards and wainscot。 They were building a fort on high ground； intended for an easily defended retreat； when a woful discovery put an end to their thriving plans。
Upon examination of the corn stored in casks； it was found half… rotten； and the rest consumed by rats； which had bred in thousands from the few which came over in the ships。 The colony was now at its wits end； for there was nothing to eat except the wild products of the country。 In this prospect of famine； the two Indians； Kemps and Tussore； who had been kept fettered while showing the whites how to plant the fields； were turned loose； but they were unwilling to depart from such congenial company。 The savages in the neighborhood showed their love by bringing to camp； for sixteen days； each day at least a hundred squirrels； turkeys； deer； and other wild beasts。 But without corn； the work of fortifying and building had to be abandoned； and the settlers dispersed to provide victuals。 A party of sixty or eighty men under Ensign Laxon were sent down the river to live on oysters； some twenty went with Lieutenant Percy to try fishing at Point Comfort； where for six weeks not a net was cast； owing to the sickness of Percy； who had been burnt with gunpowder； and another party； going to the Falls with Master West； found nothing to eat but a few acorns。
Up to this time the whole colony was fed by the labors of thirty or forty men： there was more sturgeon than could be devoured by dog and man； it was dried； pounded； and mixed with caviare； sorrel； and other herbs； to make bread； bread was also made of the 〃Tockwhogh〃 root； and with the fish and these wild fruits they lived very well。 But there were one hundred and fifty of the colony who would rather starve or eat each other than help gather food。 These 〃dist
