rudent to place
sentries round his part of the camp. He advised Canochet to do the
same. "We are not so careless as you suppose," answered the chief; "we
have men on the watch, but we deem it unwise to allow them to stand up
so that they may afford a mark to the enemy. We conceal our watchmen
from the foe approaching the camp, so that he never knows when he may be
discovered; we have men on guard outside your sentries, so that if it
pleases you, they may lie down and rest."

After hearing this, Rolfe and the other leaders slept far more soundly
than they otherwise would have done. The night passed away without
interruption, and the next morning they proceeded on their way. Vaughan
anxiously inquired of Canochet when he expected the return of his
people. He had directed them, he said, merely to follow the trail to
ascertain the direction the enemy had taken, and to gain as much other
information as they could pick up. It was not, however, till late the
next day that the party overtook the main body of the Monacans. They
had discovered a trail which led towards the north, and that two white
men were with the party, they were from the first certain. That this
was the case was confirmed by a slip of paper which had been found
fastened to a tree by a thorn. It contained but a few words, signed by
Gilbert; Vaughan eagerly took it. "We are both alive, but our captors
glance at us unpleasantly. We will try to escape; follow if you can,
and help us."

Vaughan explained the meaning of the words to Canochet. "Wonderful!" he
exclaimed; "can so small a piece of white material with a few faint
strokes on it say so much?"

He promised to follow the Indians, as Gilbert had desired; Vaughan
wished to set out at once with him, but he recommended that he should
first communicate with Powhattan, and get his assistance. Vaughan,
though still very anxious, was somewhat relieved, and agreed to follow
the chief's advice.

Towards the evening, as they were proceeding along the banks of a broad
stream which fell in a succession of cascades over its rocky bed,
Canochet informed them that they were approaching the abode of the great
chief. He had sent on before, as in duty bound, to announce their
coming. Rolfe and Vaughan, accompanied by Canochet, were marching ahead
of their party, the English following them, and the Indians at a little
distance behind; they had just turned an angle of the river, beneath the
shade of some lo