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
"Do not be cast down, Mistress Audley," he said, after Vaughan had given
her the account; "we have certain notice from Gilbert himself that the
Indians did not kill him and Fenton when they were first seized; and the
savages well know that it will be more to their interest to preserve
their lives than to take them; and as they tell me that the great chief
who has just come to the settlement has no small power among the people
of this country, we may trust to his being able to recover them before
long. I have much hope, also, that with his assistance we may at length
find your husband. I had determined, on the return of my son, to sail
along the shore of the Chesapeake, and to make inquiries among all the
natives I can meet with. Should Powhattan not be able to help us as we
hoped, I shall forthwith carry out my plan. My two seamen have now come
back; I will question them afresh. And now that they have seen more of
the country, they may be able to say whether it was here or elsewhere
they met with the poor wretch Batten: would that he had lived--he would
have helped us more than they have done, or are likely to do."
While Mistress Audley's spirits were somewhat revived by Captain
Layton's assurances, she received a message from the governor,
requesting her to act the hostess to the Indian princess just arrived
with her father. This she could not refuse; and Lettice and Cicely were
well pleased with the thoughts of having the Indian maiden under their
care. Accordingly word was sent to the governor that they were willing
to receive her as their guest. In a short time Pocahontas arrived,
still seated on her litter, with Harry Rolfe by her side. Mistress
Audley, with Lettice and Cicely, went forth to meet her, and taking her
hand as the bearers placed the litter on the ground, helped her to rise,
and led her into the house, followed by Harry Rolfe, who seemed
unwilling to give up the charge of the damsel even to them. The
beautiful young savage, for such, in the presence of the English matron
and the two young maidens, she truly seemed, cast looks of admiration at
their fair features, and their dresses, which appeared to her of
wondrous texture. Although they could exchange but a few words with
her, they were able with the assistance of Harry Rolfe to answer her
questions; and in a short time she appeared perfectly at home with them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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