ill with them.

To make matters worse Captain Gosnold after a few months sickened and
died.

[Illustration]

7. THE AMBUSH

Fortunately for the good of the colonists, who had completely lost heart
and were anxious to give up the undertaking, Captain John Smith soon
became their leader. Ever active and enterprising, he inspired the
others by his example. He vigorously put things in order, and set the
idlers to work to complete their half-finished houses, and to build the
forts to protect them from the Indians, who now showed a warlike spirit.

Next he went off to explore the country, and to trade with the natives
for corn, for the settlers began to lack food.

On one of these expeditions, when he had gone ashore with an Indian
guide, a band of hostile braves, who had been on the watch among the
trees, lay in wait to attack him, led by Opekankano, Pocahontas's uncle,
while he, unconscious of their presence, gave orders to his men to stay
by the boat and keep a sharp lookout for danger.

[Illustration]

8. BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS

Suddenly, in the heart of the deep woods, the stealthy redskins sprang
upon him, shrieking like fierce beasts of prey. And in a moment the
arrows flew thick and fast.

Captain John, though taken unawares, made a brave fight, gravely
wounding two of his enemies with his pistols, and protecting himself
from the arrows by holding his Indian guide in front of him, as a
buckler.

But there were too many against him, and as he could not beat them off
he tried to retreat to the boat, always shielding himself with the
guide. Unfortunately, just as escape seemed near, he stumbled into a
swamp and was held fast by the heavy bog, and chilled by the cold water.
Being thus helpless he was forced to surrender, and the triumphant
Indians seized him as their prisoner.

[Illustration]

9. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH A PRISONER

At first they decided to kill him at once, then some thought it better
to lead him to their village, that the whole tribe might rejoice in the
triumph. But, as one of the Indians shot by the Captain had in the
meantime died, the more impatient clamored for speedy vengeance. So they
bound him to a tree to use as a target.

Now, as the arrows began to strike dangerously near, Captain John, ever
quick-witted and resourceful, brought forth his pocket compass and
showed the Indians the dancing needle; and when they found they could
not touch it, because of the glass, they were