The doughty pioneer could give no attention to his feet, since he dared not take his eyes off his pursuers. He was slowly falling back, and hopeful of getting away, when he stepped into a marshy place into which he immediately sank above his knees. Even when in this plight, the Indians were afraid to lay hands on him. They would steal forward and then scramble in a panic for the shelter of the tree trunks, afraid he was about to fire his terrible gun at them. Smith struggled hard to free himself from the mire, but with every effort only sank deeper. The weather was cold, and, seeing that he must perish if he staid where he was, he set free his human shield and flung away his weapons. He expected to be killed at once, but the captors drew him out of the mud and led him back to the place where the two Englishmen had been slain, and where a fire was kindled. The warmth of this brought back his vigor and hopefulness, and seeing no disposition to do him immediate harm, he asked for their chief. The famous Opecancanough came forward. The captive handed him a small compass. The chief took it in his hand while his warriors gathered around and all studied the odd-looking instrument with deep interest. The darting about of the tiny needle filled them with wonder, and for the moment no one thought of doing the white man any harm. Smith says that through the compass he made clear to the Indians the roundness of the globe, the spheres of the sun, moon and stars, the revolution of the earth on its axis, the immensity of the land and sea, the diversity of the nations, the antipodes, "and many other such like matters, so that all stood amazed with admiration!" And yet how are we to believe that, unable as he was to speak the Indian language, Smith "explained" these strange things to the Indians, or that they could have gained any idea of his meaning! Such a feat was surely beyond his power. The compass, however, was to serve a good purpose, for when the warriors had tied Smith to a tree and were about to fire their arrows at him, Opecancanough held up the curious instrument and they stopped. The captive was taken to the home of Powhatan, on York River, and well treated. Indeed, he was fed so much that he began to suspect they were fattening him in order that he might make a fine meal for them.