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Death frighted me not； but when I thought of one whom I should leave behind me I feared lest I should go mad。 Had this thing come to me a year before； I could have slept the night through； now… now…
I lay； bound to the log； before the open door of the lodge； and； looking through it； saw the pines waving in the night wind and the gleam of the river beneath the stars； and saw her as plainly as though she had stood there under the trees； in a flood of noon sunshine。 Now she was the Jocelyn Percy of Weyanoke； now of the minister's house； now of a storm…tossed boat and a pirate ship； now of the gaol at Jamestown。 One of my arms was free； I could take from within my doublet the little purple flower； and drop my face upon the hand that held it。 The bloom was quite withered； and scalding tears would not give it life again。
The face that was； now gay； now defiant； now pale and suffering； became steadfastly the face that had leaned upon my breast in the Jamestown gaol； and looked at me with a mournful brightness of love and sorrow。 Spring was in the land； and the summer would come； but not to us。 I stretched forth my hand to the wife who was not there； and my heart lay crushed within me。 She had been my wife not a year； it was but the other day that I knew she loved me …
After a while the anguish lessened； and I lay； dull and hopeless； thinking of trifling things； counting the stars between the pines。 Another slow hour； and； a braver mood coming upon me； I thought of Diccon； who was in that plight because of me； and spoke to him； asking him how he did。 He answered from the other side of the lodge； but the words were scarcely out of his mouth before our guard broke in upon us commanding silence。 Diccon cursed them； whereupon a savage struck him across the head with the handle of a tomahawk； stunning him for a time。 As soon as I heard him move I spoke again； to know if he were much hurt； when he had answered in the negative we said no more。
It was now moonlight without the lodge and very quiet。 The night was far gone； already we could smell the morning； and it would come apace。 Knowing the swiftness of that approach； and what the early light would bring； I strove for a courage which should be the steadfastness of the Christian； and not the vainglorious pride of the heathen。 If my thoughts wandered； if her face would come athwart the verses I tried to remember； the prayer I tried to frame； perhaps He who made her lovely understood and forgave。 I said the prayer I used to say when I was a child； and wished with all my heart for Jeremy。
Suddenly； in the first gray dawn； as at a trumpet's call； the village awoke。 From the long； communal houses poured forth men； women； and children； fires sprang up； dispersing the mist； and a commotion arose through the length and breadth of the place。 The women made haste with their cooking； and bore maize cakes and broiled fish to the warriors who sat on the ground in front of the royal lodge。 Diccon and I were loosed； brought without； and allotted our share of the food。 We ate sitting side by side with our captors； and Diccon； with a great cut across his head； seized the Indian girl who brought him his platter of fish； and pulling her down beside him kissed her soundly； whereat the maid seemed not ill pleased and the warriors laughed。
In the usual order of things； the meal over； tobacco should have followed。 But now not a pipe was lit； and the women made haste to take away the platters and to get all things in readiness。 The werowance of the Paspaheghs rose to his feet； cast aside his mantle； and began to speak。 He was a man in the prime of life； of a great figure； strong as a Susquehannock； and a savage cruel and crafty beyond measure。 Over his breast； stained with strange figures； hung a chain of small bones； and the scalp locks of his enemies fringed his moccasins。 His tribe being the nearest to Jamestown； and in frequent altercation with us； I had heard him speak many times； and knew his power over the passions of his people。 No player could be more skillful in gesture and expression； no poet more nice in the choice of words； no general more quick to raise a wild enthusiasm in the soldiers to whom he called。 All Indians are eloquent； but this savage was a leader among them。
He spoke now to some effect。 Commencing with a day in the moon of blossoms when for the first time winged canoes brought white men into the Powhatan； he came down through year after year to the present hour； ceased； and stood in silence； regarding his triumph。 It was complete。 In its wild excitement the village was ready then and there to make an end of us who had sprung to our feet and stood with our backs against a great bay tree； facing the maddened throng。 So much the best for us would it be if the tomahawks left the hands that were drawn back to throw； if the knives that were flourished in our faces should be buried to the haft in our hearts； that we courted death； striving with word and look to infuriate our executioners to the point of forgetting their former purpose in the lust for instant vengeance。 It was not to be。 The werowance spoke again； pointing to the hills with the black houses upon them； dimly seen through the mist。 A moment； and the hands clenched upon the weapons fell； another； and we were upon the march。
As one man； the village swept through the forest toward the rising ground that was but a few bowshots away。 The young men bounded ahead to make preparation； but the approved warriors and the old men went more sedately； and with them walked Diccon and I； as steady of step as they。 The women and children for the most part brought up the rear； though a few impatient hags ran past us； calling the men tortoises who would never reach the goal。 One of these women bore a great burning torch； the flame and smoke streaming over her shoulder as she ran。 Others carried pieces of bark heaped with the slivers of pine of which every wigwam has store。
The sun was yet to rise when we reached a hollow amongst the low red hills。 Above us were the three long houses in which they keep the image of Okee and the mummies of their kings。 These temples faced the crimson east； and the mist was yet about them。 Hideous priests； painted over with strange devices； the stuffed skins of snakes knotted about their heads； in their hands great rattles which they shook vehemently； rushed through the doors and down the bank to meet us； and began to dance around us； contorting their bodies； throwing up their arms； and making a hellish noise。 Diccon stared at them； shrugged his shoulders； and with a grunt of contempt sat down upon a fallen tree to watch the enemy's manoeuvres。
The place was a natural amphitheatre； well fitted for a spectacle。 Those Indians who could not crowd into the narrow level spread themselves over the rising ground； and looked down with fierce laughter upon the driving of the stakes which the young men brought。 The women and children scattered into the woods beyond the cleft between the hills； and returned bearing great armfuls of dry branches。 The hollow rang to the exultation of the playgoers。 Taunting laughter； cries of savage triumph； the shaking of the rattles； and the furious beating of two great