break. Only
the wind sang in the brown branches, and from some forest brake came a
stag's hoarse cry. As he sat in the sunshine he glistened all over, like
an Ethiop besprent with silver; for his dark limbs and mighty chest had
been oiled, and then powdered with antimony. Through his scalp lock was
stuck an eagle's feather; across his face, from temple to chin, was a
bar of red paint; the eyes above were very bright and watchful, but we
upon whom that scrutiny was bent were as little wont as he to let our
faces tell our minds.

One of his young men brought a great pipe, carved and painted, stem and
bowl; an old man filled it with tobacco, and a warrior lit it and bore
it to the Emperor. He put it to his lips and smoked in silence, while
the sun climbed higher and higher, and the golden minutes that were more
precious than heart's blood went by, at once too slow, too swift.

At last, his part in the solemn mockery played, he held out the pipe to
me. "The sky will fall, and the rivers run dry, and the birds cease to
sing," he said, "before the smoke of the calumet fades from the land."

I took the symbol of peace, and smoked it as silently and soberly--ay,
and as slowly--as he had done before me, then laid it leisurely aside
and held out my hand. "My eyes have been holden," I told him, "but now
I see plainly the deep graves of the hatchets and the drifting of the
peace smoke through the forest. Let Opechancanough come to Jamestown to
smoke of the Englishman's uppowoc, and to receive rich presents,--a red
robe like his brother Powhatan's, and a cup from which he shall drink,
he and all his people."

He laid his dark fingers in mine for an instant, withdrew them, and,
rising to his feet, motioned to three Indians who stood out from the
throng of warriors. "These are Captain Percy's guides and friends,"
he announced. "The sun is high; it is time that he was gone. Here are
presents for him and for my brother the Governor." As he spoke, he took
from his neck the rope of pearls and from his arm a copper bracelet, and
laid both upon my palm.

I thrust the pearls within my doublet, and slipped the bracelet upon my
wrist. "Thanks, Opechancanough," I said briefly. "When we meet again I
shall not greet you with empty thanks."

By this all the folk of the village had gathered around us; and now the
drums beat again, and the maidens raised a wild and plaintive song
of farewell. At a sign from the werowance men and women formed a