"There is a difference. You are not the first child of Powhatan who
has loved and shielded the white men."
"She was a woman, a child," he answered. "Out of pity she saved
your lives, not knowing that it was to the hurt of her people. Then
you were few and weak, and could not take your revenge. Now, if
you die not, you will drink deep of vengeance, - so deep that your
lips may never leave the cup. More ships will come, and more; you
will grow ever stronger. There may come a moon when the deep
forests and the shining rivers know us, to whom Kiwassa gave
them, no more." He paused, with unmoved face, and eyes that
seemed to pierce the wall and look out into unfathomable
distances. "Go!" he said at last. "If you die not in the woods, if you
see again the man whom I called my brother and teacher, tell him .
. . tell him nothing! Go!"
"Come with us," urged Diccon gruffly. "We English will make a
place for you among us" - and got no further, for I turned upon him
with a stern command for silence.
"I ask of you no such thing, Nantauquas," I said. "Come against us,
if you will. Nobly warned, fair upon our guard, we will meet you
as knightly foe should be met."
He stood for a minute, the quick change that had come into his
face at Diccon's blundering words gone, and his features sternly
impassive again; then, very slowly, he raised his arm from his side
and held out his hand.
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