Let
Opechancanough come to Jamestown to smoke of the
Englishman's uppowoc, and to receive rich presents, - a red robe
like his brother Powhatan's, and a cup from which he shall drink,
he and all his people."
He laid his dark fingers in mine for an instant, withdrew them,
and, rising to his feet, motioned to three Indians who stood out
from the throng of warriors. "These are Captain Percy's guides and
friends," he announced. "The sun is high; it is time that he was
gone. Here are presents for him and for my brother the Governor."
As he spoke, he took from his neck the rope of pearls and from his
arm a copper bracelet, and laid both upon my palm.
I thrust the pearls within my doublet, and slipped the bracelet upon
my wrist. "Thanks, Opechancanough," I said briefly. "When we
meet again I shall not greet you with empty thanks."
By this all the folk of the village had gathered around us; and now
the drums beat again, and the maidens raised a wild and plaintive
song of farewell. At a sign from the werowance men and women
formed a rude procession, and followed us, who were to go upon a
journey, to the edge of the village where the marsh began. Only the
dark Emperor and the old men stayed behind, sitting and standing
in the sunshine, with the peace pipe lying on the grass at their feet,
and the wind moving the branches overhead.
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