heir right of filling their vacant ranks. The
first had a nominal superiority, but the genius of the last made him the
very soul of the settlement.

It is related by the best authority that in this dark crisis, when their
counsels were distracted, their hopes nearly extinguished, their bodies
enfeebled from famine and disease, the savages around them voluntarily
brought in such quantities of venison, corn, and wholesome fruits that
health and cheerfulness were at once restored. Their condition now
brought them in almost daily contact with the aborigines.

Ratcliffe and Martin were alike incompetent, and Smith assumed the
guidance of affairs. Finding their provisions again nearly exhausted, he
went with a party down the river to Kecoughtan to obtain supplies from
the natives. Savage irony was all they received; a handful of corn and a
piece of bread were offered in exchange for swords and muskets. The
Indians came against them in numbers, frightfully dressed, and bearing
their okee in the form of a monstrous idol, stuffed with moss, and hung
with chains and copper. But they were received with a volley of
pistol-shot. The omnipotent okee fell to the earth, and with him several
of his worshippers. The rest fled to the woods, and, finding resistance
vain, they brought quantities of corn, venison, turkeys, and wild-fowl,
and received in exchange beads, copper, hatchets, and their discomfited
deity.

During the absence of the ruling mind, Wingfield and Kendall seduced a
few sailors and made another attempt to carry off the bark to England. At
the critical moment Smith returned, and, instantly directing the cannon
of the fort against them, commanded submission. A skirmish ensued, and
the seditious Kendall lost his life. A similar effort to the settlement
was soon made by Captain Gabriel Archer and the imbecile President
Ratcliffe, and again the decision of Smith arrested them and forced them
to their duty. He was ever prompt, and hesitated not at any measures
required to govern his turbulent compeers.

And now the winter came on, and with it immense numbers of swans, geese,
and ducks, which covered the rivers and afforded delightful food to the
settlers. They daily feasted upon them, and enjoyed in abundance the
peas, pumpkins, persimmons, and other vegetable treasures which the
season matured. But Smith could not be contented with a life of
inactivity, however plentifully supplied. The council had ungratefully
charged him