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certain traitors in the colony； a plot was arranged for the
murder of Captain Smith and the destruction of the colony。
Three times they attempted to entrap and destroy the 〃great
captain〃 and his people； but each time the little Ma…ta…oka； full
of friendship and pity for her new acquaintances； stole
cautiously into the town； or found some means of misleading the
conspirators； and thus warned her white friends of their danger。
One dark winter night in January； 1609； Captain Smith； who had
came to Wero…woco…moco for conference and treaty with
Wa…bun…so…na…cook （whom he always called Pow…ha…tan）； sat in the
York River woods awaiting some provisions that the chief had
promised him；for eatables were scarce that winter in the
Virginia colony。
There was a light step beneath which the dry twiggs on the ground
crackled slightly； and the wary captain grasped his matchlock and
bade his men be on their guard。 Again the twigs crackled； and now
there came from the shadow of the woods not a train of Indians；
but one little girlMa…ta…oka； or Pocahontas。
〃Be guarded； my father；〃 she said； as Smith drew her to his side。
〃The corn and the good cheer will come as promised； but even now；
my father； the chief of the Pow…ha…tans is gathering all his
power to fall upon you and kill you。 If you would live； get you
away at once。〃
The captain prepared to act upon her advice without delay； but he
felt so grateful at this latest and most hazardous proof of the
little Indian girl's regard that he desired to manifest his
thankfulness by presentsthe surest way to reach an Indian's
heart。
〃My daughter；〃 he said kindly； 〃you have again saved my life；
coming alone； and at risk of your own young life； through the
irksome woods and in this gloomy night to admonish me。 Take this；
I pray you； from me； and let it always tell you of the love of
Captain Smith。〃
And the grateful pioneer handed her his much…prized pocket
compassan instrument regarded with awe by the Indians； and
esteemed as one of the instruments of the white man's magic。
But Ma…ta…oka； although she longed to possess this wonderful
〃path…teller；〃 shook her head。
〃Not so； Cau…co…rouse；〃 she said； 〃if it should be seen by my
tribesmen； or even by my father； the chief； I should but be as
dead to them； for they would know that I have warned you whom
they have sworn to kill； and so would they kill me also。 Stay not
to parley； my father； but be gone at once。〃
And with that； says the record； 〃she ran away by herself as she
came。〃
So the captain hurried back to Jamestown； and Ma…ta…oka returned
to her people。
Soon after Smith left the colony； sick and worn out by the
continual worries and disputes with his fellow…colonists； and
Ma…ta…oka felt that； in the absence of her best friend and the
increasing troubles between her tribesmen and the pale…faces； it
would be unwise for her to visit Jamestown。
Her fears seem to have been well grounded； for in the spring of
1613； Ma…ta…oka； being then about sixteen； was treacherously and
〃by stratagem〃 kidnapped by the bold and unscrupulous Captain
Argallhalf pirate； half trader；and was held by the colonists
as hostage for the 〃friendship〃 of Pow…ha…tan。
Within these three years； however； she had been married to the
chief of one of the tributary tribes； Ko…ko…um by name； but； as
was the Indian marriage custom； Ko…ko…um had come to live among
the kindred of his wife； and had shortly after been killed in one
of the numerous Indian fights。
It was during the captivity of the young widow at Jamestown that
she became acquainted with Master John Rolfe； an industrious
young Englishman； and the man who； first of all the American
colonists； attempted the cultivation of tobacco。
Master Rolfe was a widower and an ardent desirer of 〃the
conversion of the pagan salvages。〃 He became interested in the
young Indian widow； and though he protests that he married her
for the purpose of converting her to Christianity； and rather
ungallantly calls her 〃an unbelieving creature；〃 it is just
possible that if she had not been a pretty and altogether
captivating young unbeliever he would have found less personal
means for her conversion。
Well； the Englishman and the Indian girl； as we all know； were
married； lived happily together； and finally departed for
England。 Here； all too soon； in 1617； when she was about
twenty…one； the daughter of the great chieftain of the
Pow…ha…tans died。
Her story is both a pleasant and a sad one。 It needs none of the
additional romance that has been thrown about it to render it
more interesting。 An Indian girl； free as her native forests；
made friends with the race that； all unnecessarily； became
hostile to her own。 Brighter； perhaps； than most of the girls of
her tribe； she recognized and desired to avail herself of the
refinements of civilization； and so gave up her barbaric
surroundings； cast in her lot with the white race； and sought to
make peace and friendship between neighbors take the place of
quarrel and of war。
The white race has nothing to be proud of in its conquest of the
people who once owned and occupied the vast area of the North
American continent。 The story is neither an agreeable nor a
chivalrous one。 But out of the gloom which surrounds it； there
come some figures that relieve the darkness； the treachery； and
the crime that make it so sad。 And not the least impressive of
these is this bright and gentle little daughter of
Wa…bun…so…na…cook； chief of the Pow…ha…tans； Ma…ta…oka； friend of
the white strangers； whom we of this later day know by the
nickname her loving old father gave herPo…ca…hun…tas； the
Algonquin。
End