The Settlers: A Tale of VirginiaKingston, William Henry Giles
History
The Settlers: A Tale of Virginia
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Juvenile fiction
It still wanted nearly an hour to dawn, and before that time they might
be engaged in a more desperate conflict than the first. They could only
hope that Canochet would soon arrive to their relief. They would not
fear to encounter ten times as many as themselves in the open ground
during the day, but it would be madness to attempt to march through the
country when they would be certain to be attacked at night by
overwhelming numbers. With grateful hearts they welcomed the appearance
of the dawn, which as it rapidly increased exposed to their view the
surrounding country and the hill-side, on which lay the bodies of four
Indians, who had been shot dead during the attack. On the opposite side
of the river they discovered the body of the native shot by Fenton; none
of the bodies, however, as far as could be judged from their costume,
appeared to be those of chiefs.
As soon as it was broad daylight, Rolfe allowed Gilbert and those who
had accompanied him at night to continue their search for the Indian who
had shot his arrow at Vaughan. He could nowhere, however, be found, and
they concluded therefore that he must have floated down the river, and
landed at some distance from the hill. Not wishing to allow the dead
bodies of the Indians to remain near them, they were dragged to the bank
and allowed to float down with the current.
As their provisions were running short, they anxiously looked out for
the arrival of Canochet, who, they hoped, would ere this have come to
their assistance. Something, they concluded, therefore, had detained
him. The fire was now lighted, and they cooked their morning meal.
"Should the chief not soon appear, I propose that we set out without
waiting for him," said Roger; "not finding us at the fort, he will
follow in our trail, and after the lessons we have given the Indians,
they are not likely again to attack us."
Rolfe and Vaughan, however, thought it would be more prudent to remain
where they were.
"Provided we had food, I should agree with you," answered Roger, "but
starvation is a tough foe to fight against, and for my part I would
rather face a whole host of Indians."
Still, as Canochet might certainly be expected in the course of the day,
Rolfe was not moved from his purpose. The party did not fail to keep a
bright look-out from their hill; chafing, however, at the delay to which
they were subjected. Gilbert and Fenton especially, with most of the
men, were eager to go on. Their last piece of venison was consumed, and
they were growing very hungry. As the two young men were seated
together on the top of a rock whence they could look out round them on
every side, Fenton exclaimed, "See, see, Gilbert! yonder is a deer--she
just showed her head from behind that thicket on the borders of the
forest--there is some sweet grass there probably on which she is
browsing. If we could steal up from to leeward, we might get close
enough to shoot her before she discovers us."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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