John O'Jamestown

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 Excerpt: ...astray in a single instance. "Down with your weapons!" roared Smith. "And every man of you ashore!" For a moment it looked as if they had more than half a mind to try their strength with us, but they must have realised that we held them wholly at our mercy and that at a word from Smith we would have killed the half of them at least. Then Wingfield spoke with some little show of spirit: "We have six men here, you have eight, Captain Smith; we would fain have gone without you, but so be it" "Gone whither?" thundered Smith. "To England. Now we offer you the chance we have made. The pinnace is ready victualled for the voyage, in half an hour or less the tide will turn; it remains but to slip our moorings and drop down the river, leaving this fever and plague-stricken spot." No doubt, judging Smith by himself, he really thought he could strike this bargain with him. "What " cried Smith, his honest blue eyes blazing. "Leave the sick to die? By God, sir, you shame me by such a proposal! I will not go--nor shall you--for I will sink the pinnace first!" But Wingfield turned quickly to the rest of us. "Farraday, Cassen, Robinson--and you, Emery, will you stay here to die, when I offer you this chance of life?" For answer we spit out curses at him, and I know not how near death he was, such was our rage with him. I think he understood then the complete frustration of his plans, and that he was forever shamed in the eyes of all honest men, for he did not speak again. Yet Kendall and Archer must bluster some to show their manhood, but John Smith quieted them by one of his hot glances. Now, for a second time he ordered all ashore, and Wingfield, after a moment of irresolution, rose from his s...