him made him turn quickly. There stood
Dickon and Hugh and Hob, three of the men who had come from his own part
of the country, with whom during the long voyage he had often been glad
to chat of their homes and the folk they all knew.

"Captain," spake Dickon, "we have followed to have a word wi' thee in
secret. 'Tis said they have not given thee a place in the Council. Is't
true?"

"Aye," answered Smith calmly.

"'Tis a dirty trick," cried Hugh, and his comrades echoed him. "A dirty
trick, but what wilt thou do now?"

"What would ye have me do, men?" asked Smith curiously.

Dickon was again spokesman, the others nodding approval of his words.

"We be thy friends, Captain, and thy wellwishers. We came to this
strange land to make our fortunes because of thy coming. We felt safe
with one who had already travelled far and knew all about the outlandish
ways of queer folks, blackamoors and these red men here. Now if so be
thou art not to have a voice in the managing we be cheated and know not
what may befall us. There be many of the others who think as we do, not
only laborers such as we, but many of the gentlemen who have little
faith in them as have been set in the high places. Now I say to thee,
let us three go amongst them we knows as are friendly to thee and we
will speak in secret with them and we will draw together to-morrow at
one end of this island, and there we will all stay until they agree to
make thee President. And if fightin' comes o' it why all the better.
What sayst thou, Captain?"

Smith did not answer at once. The friendliness of these men touched him
deeply just at the moment when he was smarting under the treatment
accorded him. He knew they spoke truth; there were a number of the
colonists who had shown themselves friendly to him and who would be
willing to stand by him. Moreover, he felt within himself the power to
use them, to make them follow his bidding as Wingfield could never
succeed in doing. It was less for personal gratification he was tempted
to consent than for the knowledge that his leadership would benefit the
colony as would that of none of his fellow adventurers. He was not a
vain man, but one conscious of unusual powers.

"If we were strong enough to gain and hold part of the stores and one of
the vessels, would ye let me lead ye away to some other island of our
own, men?" he asked, and immediately saw in his imagination the
possibilities of such a step.

"Aye, aye. Captain,