Blood on the River

Samuel reflects on how much he has learned about cooperation, stating that his “circle has become bigger” (136). The losses of the fire are serious, but “we have not all starved or frozen to death” (137) thanks to the help of Powhatan people who regard Captain Smith as a brother and countryman. They bring the colonists “deerskins and bear furs to keep us warm” (137) as well as frequent gifts of food. The fort is soon rebuilt, and then they start rebuilding the houses just as the winter weather intensifies. One of the newly arrived servant boys, Thomas Savage, goes to live with the Powhatan people, and Chief Powhatan’s own servant boy, Namontack, comes to James Town. He shares a tent with Richard and Samuel, and from him, the boys learn that Chief Powhatan adopted Captain Smith, which means that “your tribe belongs to Chief Powhatan” (140). This explanation makes sense to Samuel, who realizes that the chief “is taking care of us because he considers us one of his tribes” (140). Though Samuel is happy with the arrangement, he predicts that the gentlemen will be less so.

Springtime of 1608 approaches, and everyone has a new house, a new church, and a new well that provides fresh water. As Captain Newport prepares to sail back to England, the ship is loaded with rocks “that we hope contain gold” (141) as well as three passengers: Master Wingfield, Master Archer, and Namontack. The two gentlemen are being sent home “in dishonor” (141), and Namontack will bring back a report of England to his chief. The summer arrives with another bout of “summer sickness” (142), which Reverend Hunt links to the arrival of seasonal mosquitoes. The men and boys are weakened by the illness, so when President Ratcliffe demands that they build him “a large house in the woods” (143), his request is criticized and he loses his position as president. Captain Smith is selected as his replacement.

Captain Smith’s presidency starts, and he insists that “any man who wants supper has to pitch in” (144), a decree that includes himself. Samuel is now “the page of a ruler” (145), and he is proud of his position. Captain Smith continues to write about the Jamestown settlement, including drawings and maps of the area. In late September, a ship from England is spotted, and Captain Newport arrives with another group of settlers, and this time, two women are amongst the men, the wife of Mr. Thomas Forrest and her servant girl, Ann Burras, who is visibly uncomfortable being “the center of attention” (147). Namontack comes to shore on a longboat and he greets Samuel in English, which pleases Reverend Hunt, who then tries to speak with about Namontack about Jesus and his “message of salvation” (148). Namontack listens, but he responds by telling the reverend “how our world was made” (149), which means that the reverend’s “first time trying to convert a Virginia native to Christianity did not work out” (149).

Captain Newport shares with the men that the second batch of Virginia rocks he brought to England did not contain gold, so the Virginia Company have changed their focus, observing that they can make a profit from “the raw materials we have here in Virginia” (150). The Virginia Company also wants to make Chief Powhatan “a prince under King James” (150) and the members of his tribe English subjects, a plan that angers Captain Smith. The captain plans a trip to the Powhatan camp Werowocomoco to speak with the chief, but he explains that such a gesture of subordination could means “the end of our peace” (152).

Samuel describes the attention that Ann is receiving from “every unmarried man in the colony” (152), all of whom are competing for her. Namontack, Richard, and Samuel try to befriend her, but she is unsure of their overtures, until Samuel’s “unspoken message” (153) of friendship finally seems to take effect. The boys express their concern that Ann works too hard under the orders of Mrs. Forrest, and she explains that her mistress makes her work all the time “because she is afraid I’ll find a beau” (154). Samuel hopes “she finds someone who will be kind to her and make sure she gets her full food rations” (155).

Samuel is “jittery with excitement” (156) the morning of the journey to the Powhatan village, and he packs his things while Namontack assembles the gifts he has brought from England. Captain Smith insists Samuel wear his armor and sword. Samuel notices that the carpenter, whose name is John Layton, has created a beautifully carved wooden chest for Ann Burras, and he tells John that Ann likes flowers. When Samuel sees Captain Smith dressed as if he is “going into battle” (158), he realizes that “[t]his crowning of Powhatan must truly be a bad idea” (158).

Samuel walks 12 miles with the five others to the Pamunkey River, where they find a canoe that allows them to access Werowocomoco. Namontack anticipates his return home happily, and people come from the village to greet them. Captain Smith explains the reason for their visit and finds out that Chief Powhatan will arrive tomorrow. When darkness falls, a large fire is lit, and just as Captain Smith appears suddenly wary, “shrieking and howling erupt from the forest” (160). Pocahontas appears and reassures the colonists, and an hour-long performance of a warrior’s dance begins. Afterward, there is a feast. Samuel sleeps in Namontack’s house, and as Samuel settles in to his bed, he thinks to himself that “Namontack is right […] His home is much better than James Town” (163) and worries that the peace and the love between the two peoples will not last.

The following morning, Samuel sees the chief of the Powhatans, Wahunsonacock, for the first time as Captain Smith delivers the invitation to James Town “to receive his gifts from King James” (165). As the captain predicted, the chief is displeased at the prospect of having to travel to receive presents and refuses to do so. On the walk back to James Town, the captain expresses his frustration, and upon arriving to the settlement, he tells Captain Newport the news. Captain Newport insists that “Chief Powhatan must be crowned a prince of King James” (166), so he decides to travel to Werowocomoco himself, and he and his men travel by boat to transport the large gifts from the king. A week later, they return, “still fuming” (167) from the show of disrespect they experienced. Captain Smith predicts more trouble in the future, “[t]rouble that we will have to bear, while the fools who gave these orders sit in their comfortable homes in London” (168).

Meanwhile, a wedding is underway. James Laydon and Ann Burras are married, and the settlement celebrates with a special meal. Samuel reports that Reverend Hunt is in good spirits, but that his health has been poor. One day after the wedding, Samuel goes to check on the reverend while he is resting, and they talk about Samuel’s future. Samuel is touched to hear that Reverend Hunt predicts great things for Samuel and he receives a reminder from the reverend to “choose from love” (170) whenever he must make a decision. Reverend Hunt takes a turn for the worse soon after this conversation, and on his deathbed, Samuel thanks the reverend for “treating me like I was worth something” (172). Richard and Samuel stand together on the day the reverend is buried.