27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John
Smith, by E. Boyd Smith
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith
Author: E. Boyd Smith
Illustrator: E. Boyd Smith
Release Date: February 2, 2008 [EBook #24487]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF POCAHONTAS ***
Produced by Chris Curnow, Jane Hyland, Joseph Cooper and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 1/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
THE STORY OF POCAHONTAS AND
CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH
TOLD AND PICTURED BY E. BOYD SMITH
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY E. BOYD SMITH
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Published November 1906.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 2/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
LIST OF COLORED PLATES
PLATE
1. POCAHONTAS
2. JOHN SMITH
3. HOW CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH WON HIS SPURS
4. STRANGE TALES OF A STRANGE PEOPLE
5. THE COMING OF THE WHITE MAN
6. THE LANDING OF THE COLONISTS—1607
7. THE AMBUSH
8. BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS
9. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH A PRISONER
10. THE DANCE OF VICTORY
11, 12. POCAHONTAS SAVES CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH'S LIFE
13. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AGAIN FREE
14. POCAHONTAS BRINGS FOOD TO THE COLONISTS
15. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH GOES IN SEARCH OF CORN
16. POCAHONTAS'S WARNING
17. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH SAILS FOR ENGLAND
18. POCAHONTAS IS CAPTURED BY ARGALL
19. MARRIAGE OF POCAHONTAS
20. THE LANDING OF POCAHONTAS IN ENGLAND
21, 22. POCAHONTAS AT THE COURT OF JAMES THE FIRST
23. THE MEETING OF POCAHONTAS AND CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH
24. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH GOES TO SEA AGAIN
25. POCAHONTAS LONGS FOR HOME
26. THE END OF THE STORY OF POCAHONTAS
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 3/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
THE STORY OF POCAHONTAS AND CAPTAIN JOHN
SMITH
1. POCAHONTAS
Long, long ago, when the Indians owned the land, there lived in Virginia, near the river
afterwards called the James, a little girl, the Princess Pocahontas, daughter of the great chief
Powhatan.
Pocahontas was her father's favorite child, and the pet of the whole tribe; even the fierce
warriors loved her sunny ways.
She was a child of nature, and the birds trusted her and came at her call. She knew their
songs, and where they built their nests. So she roamed the woods, and learned the ways of
all the wild things, and grew to be a care-free maiden.
2. JOHN SMITH
In far-away England was a doughty youth, John Smith, who dreamed of battle and
adventure. Though but a boy, he had already fought as a soldier in the wars of France, and
later in Flanders.
And these two, the wild little Indian girl and the warrior boy, now so far apart, in time were
to meet and become great friends.
At home again in Lincolnshire after dangerous travels, the youth still longed for the strife
and glory of the fray.
He retired to a quiet spot in the wood, and lived in a camp of his own making, where he read
tales of war and knights-errant, and in his enthusiasm fought imaginary enemies. At last he
could bear dreaming no longer, and started off again to roam the world in search of
adventure.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 4/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
3. HOW CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH WON HIS SPURS
He journeyed across France to join the armies fighting the Turks, but was robbed on the way
by false companions, and suffered much hardship. At last he reached Marseilles, where he
took ship with a party of pilgrims going to the East. A great storm arising, the pilgrims
superstitiously blamed him for it, and threw him overboard. By good fortune he was able to
swim to a small island, whence he was soon rescued by a Breton ship. He stayed for some
time on this ship, taking part in a sea fight with a Venetian vessel, and received, after the
victory, a share of the spoils.
Now, with money again in his pocket, he wandered through Italy, and then crossed over to
Styria. Here he joined the army of the Emperor Rudolph and was appointed captain of a
company of cavalry, and did good service.
During the siege of the town of Regal, the Turks, who held it, challenged any captain among
the besiegers to come out and fight one of their champions.
Captain John Smith was chosen to meet the Turk, and on a field before the town they fought,
and the Turk was beaten and lost his head. On the next day another Turk challenged the
victor and was also overthrown. And then came still a third, who, after a desperate battle,
met the same fate as the other two. For this brave service Prince Sigismund gave the Captain
a coat-of-arms with three Turks' heads as the device. And thus Captain John Smith won his
spurs.
But after this he was less fortunate, for, being wounded, he was taken prisoner by the Turks
and made a slave. In time, however, he escaped and fled to Russia, and from thence at last
found his way home to England again.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 5/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
4. STRANGE TALES OF A STRANGE PEOPLE
Meanwhile Pocahontas, now grown to be a girl of some twelve years, often listened eagerly
to the stories of the old men of her tribe, who, on these warm spring days, sat and smoked
together, and told of the things they had done and seen long ago. Some remembered a white-
faced people who, nearly twenty years before, had come to Roanoke Island from no one
knew where,—men with yellow hair, dressed from head to foot in cumbrous garments, and
bearing wonderful weapons which spat out fire, with much noise. Many believed them gods,
while others thought they were devils. And Pocahontas listened in wonder, ever curious to
hear of this strange people so unlike her own. The old priest mournfully prophesied that the
strangers, being of some mighty race, would come again from out the great waters and
overrun the whole land.
5. THE COMING OF THE WHITE MAN
And scarcely had he spoken when it seemed that his warning had come true, for runners,
wildly excited, cried out that a fleet of mighty winged canoes had been seen afar on the
ocean, advancing like great clouds.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 6/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
Then Pocahontas, with many of her people, hurried to the hills, and there, overlooking the
sea, they saw in truth three strange craft slowly sailing up the bay.
These were the ships from England, bringing a new colony, a band of pioneers, and
adventurers in search of gold, to take possession of the broad lands of America.
6. THE LANDING OF THE COLONISTS—1607
That night the ships dropped anchor in the bay. On the morrow the colonists disembarked,
and Captain Gosnold, their leader, claimed the land in the king's name. Among the first, as
one of the Council, was Captain John Smith, who had again left home in quest of adventure
and glory, this time in the new world. To the eyes of the weary travelers, after their long
voyage across the sea, Virginia, on that bright April day, seemed a land of promise. With
great hopes and renewed courage they set to work to build the town which they called
Jamestown, in honor of their king,—a town which lives to this day.
But after a time they grew dissatisfied, for they failed to find the gold mines they had hoped
for. And they became discouraged, and quarreled, and things began to go ill with them.
To make matters worse Captain Gosnold after a few months sickened and died.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 7/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
7. THE AMBUSH
Fortunately for the good of the colonists, who had completely lost heart and were anxious to
give up the undertaking, Captain John Smith soon became their leader. Ever active and
enterprising, he inspired the others by his example. He vigorously put things in order, and
set the idlers to work to complete their half-finished houses, and to build the forts to protect
them from the Indians, who now showed a warlike spirit.
Next he went off to explore the country, and to trade with the natives for corn, for the
settlers began to lack food.
On one of these expeditions, when he had gone ashore with an Indian guide, a band of
hostile braves, who had been on the watch among the trees, lay in wait to attack him, led by
Opekankano, Pocahontas's uncle, while he, unconscious of their presence, gave orders to his
men to stay by the boat and keep a sharp lookout for danger.
8. BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS
Suddenly, in the heart of the deep woods, the stealthy redskins sprang upon him, shrieking
like fierce beasts of prey. And in a moment the arrows flew thick and fast.
Captain John, though taken unawares, made a brave fight, gravely wounding two of his
enemies with his pistols, and protecting himself from the arrows by holding his Indian guide
in front of him, as a buckler.
But there were too many against him, and as he could not beat them off he tried to retreat to
the boat, always shielding himself with the guide. Unfortunately, just as escape seemed near,
he stumbled into a swamp and was held fast by the heavy bog, and chilled by the cold water.
Being thus helpless he was forced to surrender, and the triumphant Indians seized him as
their prisoner.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 8/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
9. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH A PRISONER
At first they decided to kill him at once, then some thought it better to lead him to their
village, that the whole tribe might rejoice in the triumph. But, as one of the Indians shot by
the Captain had in the meantime died, the more impatient clamored for speedy vengeance.
So they bound him to a tree to use as a target.
Now, as the arrows began to strike dangerously near, Captain John, ever quick-witted and
resourceful, brought forth his pocket compass and showed the Indians the dancing needle;
and when they found they could not touch it, because of the glass, they were amazed, for of
course they had never seen glass before, and could not understand it. A feeling of awe crept
over them; they thought him a magician, and were afraid to kill him. So at last they marched
him off in their midst, through the forest, to consult with the rest of the tribe as to what
should be done with him.
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
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 9/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
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.
11-12. POCAHONTAS SAVES CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH'S LIFE
At last, after long deliberation, the Indians decided that, since he had killed one of their
tribe, Captain John must die, for this was their law. So they dragged him, bound, before the
great chief Powhatan, who sat in mighty state surrounded by his warriors. They stretched the
prisoner on the ground with his head on a large stone, to beat out his brains with their cruel
clubs. And it seemed as though at last the gallant Captain's time had come. But just as the
Indian brave was about to strike, his great war club swinging high in the air, Pocahontas
rushed forward and threw herself between him and his victim. With her own body she
shielded the Captain from harm, for her heart was moved to pity for the stranger, and she
could not bear that he should die. And now aroused, with flashing eyes she waved the
executioner back. Then she pleaded with her father that the captive's life be spared.
At once there was wild confusion of shouting and threatening, many crying, "Kill, kill!"
while but few were willing to spare his life, for the Indians feared the white men, and
wished to drive them from the land.
But Pocahontas, as Princess of the tribe, claimed her right, and would not yield them up
their victim. Then Powhatan, who ruled them all, raised his hand and stopped their clamor.
In sullen silence the angry warriors awaited his decision. For a moment he hesitated, and the
fate of Captain John hung wavering in the balance. Then, to please his favorite daughter,
whom he dearly loved, he decreed that she should have her will.
"Let Pocahontas keep the stranger as her own, to make her toys," he said, for Captain John,
during the idle days of weary captivity, had often whittled curious playthings for the little
maid.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 10/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
And thus was Captain John Smith's life saved by the gentle Indian girl, and with it the
Jamestown colony, for without their sturdy and resourceful leader the settlers would have
lost courage and abandoned the town.
13. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH AGAIN FREE
Now, after much feasting, and with savage rite and ceremony, Powhatan adopted the
Captain into the tribe, and made him a chief, and told him that he might come and go in
safety, as one of them; then gave him guides to take him back to Jamestown, that the red
man and the white should henceforth be friends, since Pocahontas willed it so.
And Captain John thanked the maiden for the great service she had done him, and, like a
gallant knight of old, bent his knee and kissed her hand as he bade her good-by.
Once again in Jamestown, he found the colony in disorder and panic. All were on the point
of sailing for home, completely disheartened, for they thought him dead, and feared the
Indians. But again he put life into the enterprise, and set the faint-hearted to work, freed
from the fear of Indian attack, since Pocahontas stood his friend.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 11/26
27/8/24, 3:47 p.m. The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith, told and pictured by E. Boyd Smith.
14. POCAHONTAS BRINGS FOOD TO THE COLONISTS
Later, when the settlers were in sore straits for food, for they were improvident, and
managed badly, Pocahontas, always generous and friendly, learning of their needs, came
with her brother Nantaquaus and her Indians bringing corn, and kept them from starving,
while their own was growing. Captain John in return gave her beads and trinkets to deck
herself, and called her his child, and a firm friendship grew between them. Often she came
and went, bringing peace and welcome food, quite at home in the little streets of Jamestown.
And Captain John Smith in his writings has said that without her help in times of dire need,
and without her influence for peace, the feeble colony must surely have perished, either by
famine or by the hands of her savage kindred. Much we owe to the Indian maid who helped
so greatly in the early struggles of the founders of this great nation.
15. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH GOES IN SEARCH OF CORN
This pleasant state, however, did not last, for, as the settlers became more firmly fixed in the
land, the Indians, fickle and changeable, grew jealous and resented their intrusion, and
refused to sell corn, hoping by this means to force them away.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/24487/24487-h/24487-h.htm 12/26
