ckle and the
strawberries, the gay, returning birds, the barred and striped and
mottled serpents. The colony was one year old. Back to England sailed
the Francis and John and the Phoenix, carrying home Edward-Maria
Wingfield, who has wearied of Virginia and will return no more.

What rests certain and praiseworthy in Smith is his thoroughness and
daring in exploration. This summer he went with fourteen others down the
river in an open boat, and so across the great bay, wide as a sea, to
what is yet called the Eastern Shore, the counties now of Accomac and
Northampton. Rounding Cape Charles these indefatigable explorers came
upon islets beaten by the Atlantic surf. These they named Smith's
Islands. Landing upon the main shore, they met "grimme and stout"
savages, who took them to the King of Accomac, and him they found civil
enough. This side of the great bay, with every creek and inlet, Smith
examined and set down upon the map he was making. Even if he could find
no gold for the Council at home, at least he would know what places were
suited for "harbours and habitations." Soon a great storm came up, and
they landed again, met yet other Indians, went farther, and were in
straits for fresh water. The weather became worse; they were in danger
of shipwreck--had to bail the boat continually. Indians gathered upon
the shore and discharged flights of arrows, but were dispersed by a
volley from the muskets. The bread the English had with them went bad.
Wind and weather were adverse; three or four of the fifteen fell ill,
but recovered. The weather improved; they came to the seven-mile-wide
mouth of "Patawomeck"--the Potomac. They turned their boat up this vast
stream. For a long time they saw upon the woody banks no savages. Then
without warning they came upon ambuscades of great numbers "so strangely
painted, grimed and disguised, shouting, yelling and crying, as we
rather supposed them so many divils." Smith, in midstream, ordered
musket-fire, and the balls went grazing over the water, and the terrible
sound echoed through the woods. The savages threw down their bows and
arrows and made signs of friendliness. The English went ashore, hostages
were exchanged, and a kind of amicableness ensued. After such sylvan
entertainment Smith and his men returned to the boat. The oars dipped
and rose, the bright water broke from them; and these Englishmen in Old
Virginia proceeded up the Potomac. Could they have seen--could they but
have