Rolfe of his main object in coming to the
country, begged him to inquire of the chief whether he knew of any
Englishman held captive for many years by his nation. Powhattan replied
that rumours had reached him of palefaces having been seen in different
parts of the country, but that none of them having been brought before
him, he could not at present give his guests any exact information on
the subject; but he would on that point also, he promised, make
inquiries. He seemed pleased at the confidence they showed him, when
they expressed their readiness to occupy a part of his dwelling,
separated from their men. After the fatigues they had gone through,
they slept soundly.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

Although the object of their expedition had been gained, Vaughan's heart
felt sad as he thought of returning to James Town without his brother.
Powhattan had expressed his intention of accompanying the party, with
his daughter, to visit the English governor; no longer, therefore, were
difficulties or dangers to be apprehended, as no foes would dare to
attack the powerful chief; while his hunters would bring in an ample
supply of game. Had Gilbert and Fenton not been missing, he would still
have felt that his great object--the discovery of his father--seemed no
nearer than before; for neither from Powhattan nor Canochet had he been
able to obtain any information about him. Canochet gave him hopes that
Gilbert and Fenton were still alive, and would be recovered; but till
the appearance of the party sent in pursuit of their supposed captors
nothing certain could be known.

The chief having made up his mind to visit the English, was eager to set
off; he was attended by fifty of his braves, dressed in their gayest
costume; he marching, however, on foot, while his daughter was conveyed
in a litter, cushioned with skins, and canopied with boughs to shield
her from the hot rays of the sun. Very different was her lot from that
of the other women of the tribe, who were, the Englishmen observed with
no little disgust, compelled to labour hard from morning till night,
while their lords and masters lolled in the shade and smoked their
pipes.

While Captain Smith marched in front with the chief, Harry Rolfe often
found himself by the side of Pocahontas, with whom in her own language
he managed to converse. He told her of the wonders of the ocean, of the
mode by which the ships found their way across it, of England, of its
great cities