"It is good," proudly answered the chief. "He would not see his brother imperil his life against such a dog as this." "Bill," shouted White to one of the sailors who stood near, "do thou and Sam fasten a solid shot to this fellow's feet," pointing to the carpenter, "and cast him overboard." And he walked away. As I made my way down to my cabin, I ran full into Marsden, who crouched down behind the ladder. "It is awful," he groaned; "much innocent blood will be shed, and I hide my eyes from the scene." "Get out!" I said, giving him a kick with a right good will, which sprawled him on his face in the middle of the floor. "Thou needst have no fear; the storm has blown over, and thy precious head is safe." And with that I left in disgust. We were now nearing the shore of Virginia. For the last day the boughs and barks of trees could be seen on the water, and this morning about five o'clock, the man had called out from the mast the magic word "land." In a few moments the decks were crowded with men, as with eager gaze they strained their eyes to catch the first glimpse of old mother earth, which for five months we had not seen. Away to the left of us, and several miles behind, could be seen the other vessels, following in our wake, as they had during the whole of the voyage. By noon we had neared the shore, of what White told me was Roanoke Island, on which was a settlement of the colonists. No sound greeted our ears as we approached the shore, fringed with a forest of dark, unbroken trees. We fired our culverins and musketoons repeatedly. No answer--only the boom of the surf came back to us, and the woods re-echoed to the roar of the guns. The Governor was standing by my elbow, his face distraught and anxious. "Why do they not answer?" he groaned. "What has become of them?" "Perhaps they have run out of powder and ball," I answered, "or probably they have strayed over to the other side of the island, and have not had time to come within shooting distance." "I fear that they have been slain," he said gloomily, "for only about four miles around is the settlement." We rounded the northern end of the island, which we had first seen, and passing into a broad bay of water, began to beat down the coast. The island was thickly wooded, and grapes and fruits in abundance could be seen from the ship. In an hour's time we had dropped anchor in a little sheltered cove, and firing our guns again, put out several boats for the shore. "The settlement is only about a mile away, through yon trees," said White sorrowfully. "Some evil has befallen them, or they would have answered long ere this." I did not answer, for I knew he spoke the truth, and in silence we rowed to the shore, accompanied by a strong party well armed with swords and musketoons.