mith, who had been taught
by experience and insight many things about the relations which should
prevail between the colony and the Indians, knew how unwise it was to
give to an untried friend the means of turning against the giver. He
knew that the Indians respected his sternness with them more than they
did the evident desire of Newport and the Council to please them.
Therefore he refused. The disappointed savages showed their anger and
cried out insolent words against Smith.

Finding they could not weaken his decision, they sought to steal the
swords. They were discovered and Smith, realizing that the time had come
when a decided stand must be taken, had them whipped and imprisoned.
Some of the Council protested, declaring that this was the wrong way to
treat the Indians and urged that Powhatan was sure to resent their
action. How did Smith know, they asked, that these savages were acting
at the command of their chief? Was it not merely a sudden impulse of
anger that had led them to take what ought to have been given them?

But the prisoners, who believed in Smith's power to read the past as
well as the future, thinking it useless to try to hide the truth from
him, confessed that Powhatan had commanded them to secure the swords by
any method. Powhatan was now aware that his plan had failed and that it
was necessary for him to disavow the deed of his messengers. To convince
the palefaces of his good faith he must send some one to talk with them
whom they would trust. And so it was that Pocahontas went to Jamestown
as ambassadress.

Accompanied by slaves bearing presents of food, seed corn for the spring
planting and pelts of deer and bear and wildcat, Pocahontas was received
at Jamestown with much ceremonial.

"I bear these gifts from The Powhatan," she said to Smith, who always
acted as interpreter. "He begs thee to excuse him of the injuries done
by some rash ontoward captains his subjects, desiring their liberties
for this time with the assurance of his love forever."

The manner in which she delivered this little speech was so frank that
Smith knew she was ignorant of her father's real part in the theft. The
men had had their lesson, and Powhatan his warning, therefore clemency
might be effectively dispensed.

"Dost thou desire, Matoaka, that these men should be freed?"

"Oh, yes, my Brother," she replied eagerly. "Thou knowest thyself how
the trapped man or beast pines to escape. My heart is sad at the tho