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The story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith cover

The story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith

Chapter 12: 10. THE DANCE OF VICTORY
By E. Boyd Smith
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AdventureAmerican LiteratureRomance

About This Book

A vividly illustrated narrative retells the early encounters between a young indigenous Virginian girl and an English adventurer as colonists establish a settlement along the river. It follows their separate origins, the arrival of the newcomers, escalating tensions and skirmishes, the explorer's capture and dramatic rescue by the girl, and her efforts to aid the struggling settlers. Later episodes cover her capture by other colonists, a marriage to an Englishman and a visit to the royal court in England, a reunion with the explorer, and her nostalgic longing for home, concluding with a sober reflection on the personal costs of cultural collision.

10. THE DANCE OF VICTORY

They carried their prisoner from village to village, while at every moment he looked for death, until at last they came to their great town, Werowacomo, where king Powhatan lived. And here they celebrated their victory by savage pomps and conjurations. They tied the Captain to the ceremonial stake, then, all painted and decorated in their fiercest and most hideous war paint and trappings, they danced their wild dance of triumph. Shouting and jumping, they brandished their war clubs in his face, whirling round and round their captive, like so many demons, each more frightful than the other. But, since they did not kill him at once, Captain John, nothing daunted, kept them wondering, by telling strange stories of the sun, the stars, and the world over the sea, and though the Indians could understand but little they hesitated, one day feasting him, and the next threatening to kill.

Now Pocahontas felt sorry for the handsome young stranger, and was drawn to him, and taught him many words of the Indian tongue, and he told her of his people beyond the sea, as best he could, and so they became good friends.