of their
own evil imaginings. They at once set about making friends with some of
the serving men, and this in itself was so strange that Nathaniel and I
kept our eyes and ears open wide to discover the cause.

It was not many days before we came to know that there was a plan on
foot, laid by these two men who should have been working for the good of
the colony instead of to further their own base ends, to seize upon our
pinnace, which lay moored to the shore, and to sail in her to England.

How that would have advantaged them I cannot even so much as guess; but
certain it was that they carried on board the pinnace a great store of
wild fowl, which had been cooked with much labor, and had filled two
casks with water, as if believing such amount would serve to save them
from thirst during the long voyage.

These wicked ones had hardly gone on board the vessel when Captain Smith
came home in the shallop, which was loaded deep with Indian corn he had
bought from the savages, and, seeing the pinnace being got under way,
had little trouble in guessing what was afoot.

THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN KENDALL

If ever a man moved swiftly, and with purpose, it was our master when he
thus came to understand what Master Wingfield and Captain Kendall would
do. He was on shore before those in the pinnace could hoist the sails,
and, calling upon all who remained true to the London Company to give
him aid, had three of our small cannon, which were already loaded with
shot, aimed at the crew of mutineers.

Five men, each with a matchlock in his hand, stood ready to fire upon
those who would at the same time desert and steal from us, and Captain
Smith gave the order for Captain Kendall and Master Wingfield to come on
shore without delay.

For reply Captain Kendall discharged his firearm, hoping to kill my
master, and then those on the bank emptied their matchlocks with such
effect that Captain Kendall was killed by the first volley, causing
Master Wingfield to scuttle on shore in a twinkling lest he suffer a
like fate.

The whole bloody business was at an end in less than a quarter hour; but
the effect of it was not so soon wiped away, for from that time each man
had suspicion of his neighbor, fearing lest another attempt be made to
take from us the pinnace, which we looked upon as an ark of refuge, in
case the savages should come against us in such numbers that they could
not be resisted.

CAPTAIN SMITH'S EXPEDITION AND R