The next morning our hero was led to one of the larger houses which was divided in the middle by a partition. Smith was instructed to seat himself and to await events. Presently, from the other side of the screen came the most hideous howls and shrieks he had ever heard, but Smith had got beyond the point of being disturbed by anything that might occur. For half an hour or more the strange sounds continued, when Powhatan and his chiefs entered, accompanied by Smith’s old friends the noisy medicine men. He was informed that the ceremony which had just taken place was that of his adoption into the tribe and Powhatan formally addressed him as “son.” From this time Smith was treated with the utmost consideration and those who had been the most eager for his death, with the exception of the implacable Opechancanough who departed to his village in high dudgeon, now vied with each other in efforts to secure his good-will. Powhatan and Smith held many conferences together in which each learned a great deal from the other and grew to regard his erstwhile enemy with feelings of respect and friendship. The savages had entertained the hope that after the adoption Smith would remain with them and they even thought to induce him to lead them against Jamestown. It is needless to say that he firmly declined to do either. Powhatan being at length convinced of Smith’s friendly intentions agrees to his return but, in satisfaction of his own desire as well as to appease the disappointment of his people, he exacts a ransom to consist of two of the largest guns in the fort and the biggest grindstone. XVIII. FIRE AND STARVATION Powhatan by excessive greed overreaches himself--Smith is allowed to return to the settlement--He finds the colonists, as usual, disturbed by dissensions--Arrives just in time to prevent Ratcliffe and others from deserting--Newport arrives with the “first supply”--The Indians continue to treat Smith as a tribal chief--Fire destroys Jamestown completely--Newport and Smith visit Powhatan--The purple beads “fit only for the use of Kings”--The astute Indian Chief meets his match in Captain John Smith--The settlers are smitten with the gold fever--Captain Newport sails for England with a wonderful cargo.