1609, Winter of the Dead: A Novel of the Founding of Jamestown (6 page)

“Cape Henry,” said John Smith as he stood near Nat and nodded at the land. “We shall name that fine point of land Cape Henry in honor of the Prince of Wales.”

No one argued or disputed this name, because although Nat could tell by some of the gentlemen's expressions that they wouldn't have cared for any name suggested by Smith, it seemed the right thing to do on behalf of the prince.

The pinnace set off to the shore. Newport sat at the helm, and behind him were Smith, Archer, and Kendall and several sailors and soldiers. The
Godspeed
and
Discovery
also launched their small boats filled with explorers. Nat could see from his vantage place on the ship's deck there were two boys on the
Godspeed
's pinnace. Nat envied them; they would be among the first to step on Virginia's soil. The small boats reached the shore and the men climbed out and ventured over a sandy knoll where they could no longer be seen.

“I would like to be with them,” said Nat to Richard. “I imagine I could be a good soldier here. I told Smith that I was a soldier.”

“Just act as a soldier and you shall be one,” said Richard.

Nat laughed. “You're learning!”

Suddenly the carpenter Edward Pising grabbed Nat by the arm and said, “We have some repairs from the last storm. You boys come with me.” Nat and Richard spent the next hours driving nails into loosened boards all around the upper deck and in the cabins.

When the afternoon shadows grew long, the workers took a break, munching handfuls of hardtack and prunes and drinking their allotted beer. Nat ate quickly, knowing soon they would have better food from the land of Virginia. No longer would he have to worry about saving a stale biscuit.

Then Edward Pising dropped his biscuit, tilted his head, and squinted in the direction of the shore. “Listen,” he said.

Richard and Nat listened. There was a faint sound above that of the slapping waves, something like singing, high-pitched and resonant.

“What is that?” Nat wondered aloud.

Then they could hear that it was not singing at all but screams. From over the sandy knoll rushed the Englishmen. They ran in sheer terror, struggling in the sand, muskets held high. Some were yelling, others shouting. They jumped into the pinnaces and frantic sailors splashed knee-deep as they pushed the boats off into the deeper water.

“Lord save us!” said Edward Pising. “Savages!” Breaking from the scrubby vegetation and racing down after the men were several natives. They carried bows and arrows, and as they ran they set the bows straight and aimed at the retreating men.

“Watch out!” screamed Richard.

“Lay low!” cried the carpenter.

The natives drew back on their bows and released. Arrows arced in the air, coming down in a rain over the men of the
Susan Constant
's pinnace.

Some arrows missed and fell into the water. Several others struck men in shoulders and arms. A sailor, now waist-deep in the water, struggling to climb aboard, was struck in the back and went down. Newport pulled him onto the boat by his shirt collar.

“Row!” cried Nat. Sailors hopped in with the others, and men frantically tugged the oars to steer the boats back to the mother ships. Smith stood straight in the small boat, gesturing wildly with his arms, shouting and directing the others. Archer stood up as well, as if even in this desperate situation, he could not let Smith take command.

On the beach, the natives lined arrows on their bowstrings and aimed again at the pinnaces. They let the arrows fly. Archer spun to face the beach, and his hands flew up in front of his face as he saw the arrows flying at him.

And then he screamed.

An arrow pierced his hands, one in front of the other, pinning them together. Archer fell backward into the boat. Another man grabbed the arrow and tore it free of Archer's hands. Archer screamed again.

“Row!” cried men from the deck of the
Susan Constant.

Newport was at the stern of the boat then, legs planted apart to keep from tipping over. He raised his musket at the natives, who were yet again reloading their bows. He pulled on the trigger. The blast was loud and smoky, and the natives stopped midload to stare wide-eyed at the weapon pointed in their direction. But they shot arrows again, and again, men in the pinnaces were hit. Cries filled the air. Richard put his hands over his ears.

More men loaded the muskets with powder and ammunition, readied them, then fired across the waves at the attackers. Natives at last turned, and with loud wails and shouts, ran back over the sandy knoll and disappeared.

The boats were quickly rowed the rest of the distance to their ships, and the men, wounded and unhurt, were hauled up to the deck.

Men crowded about and had to be shoved back by the captains and the sailors. The man who had been shot in the back was severely wounded. The arrow still protruded from his body, and there was a second one in his thigh. It took two men and much effort to pull the bloody sticks from him.

“Be strong, Matthew Morton,” said the sailor who held the arrow and then broke it in half angrily.

John Smith, sweating and rumpled but not wounded, said, “You took an arrow for us. That shows goodly faith and courage.”

Matthew Morton clutched his belly and groaned as the blood ran through his fingers.

This is not acting,
Nat thought.
This is truly a brave man. Could I be so brave?

Morton was carried carefully and respectfully into the galley by two other sailors.

Captain Archer sat on the deck by the center hatch, making a great deal of noise.

“I am mortally wounded!” he shrieked. “My hands are so badly pierced I shall surely die!” Nat could see the holes in the hands, welling with red blood, coursing down his wrists in thick rivulets. His shirtsleeves were soaked.

The surgeon said, “Be still, and we shall do what we can.” He motioned for help, and Archer was lifted to his feet and taken to Newport's cabin.

Newport stayed on deck, clearly undeterred by the attack. “We shall wait a short time before we return,” he said. “The savages know our power, they will not likely attack again soon. Tomorrow morning we shall go ashore and assemble the shallop. Tomorrow we shall explore. Tomorrow we shall bless Virginia in the name of God and the king.”

Gentlemen and commoners alike nodded in agreement. And then Newport said, “And now, as instructed, we shall open the box in which is listed the council for Virginia. We shall know who is to be the leaders in our new land.”

Gentlemen and commoners nodded again, but this time it was clear they nodded for different reasons. Gentlemen hoped they would find the council list to their liking, and that John Smith would not be part. Sailors, soldiers, and laborers hoped that Smith would be on the list.

Newport, Smith, and several other gentlemen went to Newport's cabin. With a pleased tossing of his head and winking in Richard's direction, Samuel Collier followed. Captains from the other ships were hailed and invited to come onto the
Susan Constant
to hear the reading. They came in their pinnaces, which were tethered to the
Susan Constant
's side. The men came aboard and without a word, went to the Great Cabin.

No one wanted to go below. Everyone wanted to know who was on the list. There was small talk to pass the time. Richard leaned against the ship's railing by Nat and said, “I do not think Smith will make the list. He was charged with attempted murder and found guilty.”

“The list was made before we left,” Nat said. “I think Smith will be included. And I'll wager my first piece of Virginia gold that I'm right.”

The night sky grew dark, and stars made their twinkling appearances overhead. Everyone was restless. How long did it take to open a box and read names? But at last the door to the Great Cabin swung wide and Newport came out. His face was set in a serious mood and it was impossible for Nat to tell from that expression if Smith was in or out. Newport held a piece of rolled paper.

“We have our council,” Newport said simply. “These are the men who will share in the leadership of the Virginia colony.”

It was as though everyone on deck took a breath at the same time. “Christopher Newport,” said Newport, and there were murmurs of agreement. “Edward Maria Wingfield, Bartholomew Gosnold, John Ratcliffe, John Martin, George Kendall.” Then Newport clenched his fist. He glanced back over his shoulder to the Great Cabin where the other men still tarried and then out at the men on the deck. Then Newport said no more, turned and went inside.

“I heard there were to be seven councilors,” said Edward Pising. “He read only six.”

“I do not understand,” said a gentleman. “But I am glad Smith was not on the list!”

Everyone retired below deck.

Richard punched the side of his mattress to soften it a bit and said, “You owe me your first gold.”

Nat didn't answer.

It wasn't long before Samuel Collier came below. He looked drawn and tired and upset. Nat didn't want to speak to the boy, but curiosity overcame dislike. “What happened in the Cabin that had Newport looking so troubled?”

Samuel dropped to his mattress and took off his hat. “John Smith was on the list.”

“What?” asked Nat.

“He was on the list, but the other councilors say they will not seat him. Wingfield and Kendall were the most adamant in their objections. They convinced the others that Smith would be bad for the colony. They said he had selfish interests. Smith agreed to abide by their decision temporarily. Somehow, he will show them he is fit to council. But not for now.” The boy then lay down and went silent.

“I will take your first-found pearl if you would rather keep the gold,” Nat said to Richard with a laugh.

Richard grumbled softly and rolled over to sleep. Nat looked at the blackness of the 'tween deck ceiling. Smith was on the council. This would be a good thing for himself. Smith could be counted on. Smith, at least, didn't see Richard and Nat as less than human.

8

May 12, 1607

The past days have been filled with excitement and work. We all went onshore, armed and helmeted, ready for adventure. But I found adventure is, for now, the privilege of others, not common boys. The first act was to give thanks to God for His mercy. Laborers cut down a tree and constructed a large cross. It was erected on the beach of Cape Henry, and the Reverend Hunt gave a long oration on God's anger and power. We knelt in the damp sand and prayed. Seabirds circled overhead, and I thought I could hear a distant chanting of savages and pulsing of drums.

I sense they are anxious we are here. They do not want us taking their mountains of gold. I would not want anyone taking my gold, either, but these are people who are not even Christians, and I've heard gentlemen say that God doesn't reward those who do not worship Him properly.

After our prayer, we stood, and the mood shifted to anticipation. Gentlemen and soldiers gathered together to explore the cape. They left us commoners behind to assemble the shallop. I wanted to explore so very much! I have suffered the journey on the ship as well as any of the others! But I had to keep my thoughts to myself.

I have finished my midday meal, and in moment—

“Boy!” came a sharp voice. It was one of the carpenters in charge of putting the boat together. “Put that dabbling away, you've done with your meal now back to work!”

Nat cursed under his breath and slipped the pen and paper into the front of his shirt. Then he stood and went back to work on the shallop.

The shallop was a boat larger than a pinnace, made of wood brought from London and constructed on the very sands of Cape Henry. It would be used to carry twenty-five men up rivers to investigate. The wood was already measured and cut, so that all the workers had to do was fit it together.

Nat, Richard, and a boy named Nicholas Skot from the
Godspeed
had been put to this task, helping lay out the wood and hold planks in place while Edward Pising ordered them and the other laborers about. Samuel Collier had been allowed to go inland with the explorers, carrying supplies for John Smith.

“Where is the other boy?” Nat asked Nicholas as they stood side by side with a curved length of wood as nails were driven in. “Was there not a boy your size, named James or John? I saw him at the spring on the island of Mona.”

Nicholas said, “James Brumfield. He was killed.”

Richard's eyes went wide. “Killed? How? When?”

“He went ashore yesterday with the others in the pinnace, and was pierced by an arrow.”

“Were you on the pinnace, too?” Richard asked.

Nicholas nodded. “We both were on the expedition ashore. It was fine for a while. And then…” He paused. His eyes tightened. “Then there were the shouts, the arrows, and then James was cut through. I tried to hold the blood in his chest, but it poured out so dreadfully fast. I couldn't push the life back in, though God knows I tried.”

“Here! Hold the plank still!” shouted Edward Pising. “Be quiet and pay attention. We must have this right!”

The work went well into the late afternoon. Nat held planks as still as possible and watched Edward Pising carefully. This work was hard. The man's hands were scarred and tough as weathered wood. Nat knew he would be responsible for helping build once they settled; then, of course, he would find gold and pay for another boy to come to Virginia and do his work for him.

A sailor smacked Nat soundly on the head, jostling him out of his thoughts. “We're done with this plank. What do you think? We will now let you sit down for tea? Come to this side now and make yourself of some worth!”

The shallop was done by nightfall, and the gentlemen returned from their exploring and sat about the fire, talking and laughing as the stars traveled their course.