The Argosy, April 1912 — page 50: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

36 savage Indians. Ere our scanty store of ship’s provisions should be exhausted we must work day and night cutting down trees, reclaiming and plowing forest land, and sowing our crops. Ere winter should come we must build warm homes and get the skins of wild ani- mals for cold-weather clothing. Sconer than that, we must erect fortifications against the warlike Indians of the interior, who any day might swarm down upon us. And, with this mountain of pressingly needful work looming up before them, what were our choice gentlemen-adventur- ers doing? Digging with their finger-nails for gold and planning treasure journeys to the Pacific coast! Smith raged among them, purple with fury, shouting insults and commands, ex- horting them madly ‘to return to their senses, to get to work, to make at least preparations against attack. At first the gold-maniacs paid no heed. Then, upon their craving for wealth, in- truded the fact that their. tyrant was once more harrying them. They ceased their treasure hunt and rushed as one man to Gosnold with the demand that he open at once the king’s list of officials for the colony. Their intent was plain. So soon as these officials should be named, the adventurers would force them to put Smith to death. Thus, legally, they would accomplish what the mutiny had failed to give them. As the king’s commands were that the packet be opened within twenty-four hours of our landing in Virginia, Gosnold could find no excuse for refusal. He brought forth his strong-box, un- locked and opened it, and drew forth the parchment, fastened with the royal seal. It was discolored and limp from sea-water that had soaked in during the storm. The seal came open almost at Gosnold’s first touch. Around him crowded the gentlemen-ad- venturers, faces cruel and eager, hands on hilts, ears strained to catch the wording of the list. Smith alone, seated on a sea-chest, to one side, gave no sign of interest. But I noted that his knuckles were white from the tight grip on his sword-hilt. I moved carelessly across the cleared space until I stood beside him, and I mo- tioned secretly to Aquia and Mark Errol to follow me. _ damp scroll. his face changed, and I half drew my . THE ARGOSY. Slowly, reluctantly, Gosnold unrolled the Then, as he glanced at it, sword. Presently he read aloud, all listen- ing breathlessly: “By the command and the good pleasure of His Gracious Majesty, James the First, ofe England and of Scotland, to his well-be- loved subjects in Virginia. Creetings and these: “Tt is herewith ordained and command- ed that the following President and Council shall rule over you in my name, and with royal authority—” Gosnold paused. The silence was tense, alive with meaning. Then he read on: “President of the Virginia Colony— Captain John Smith!” Gosnold got no further. A groan that rose to a howl burst from the adventurers. Their tyrant, from whose power they had hoped to be freed in one stroke, was now their legal ruler; the choice of their king. - To raise hand against him was to court death. All England’s mighty authority was behind him. Henceforth John Smith would be as secure among these black- guards who hated him as in the Tower of London. My sword slipped back into its sheath. There was no work for it. My eye fell by chance on Mark Errol, and the look in his face struck me with a sudden suspicion. Our eyes met and he moved across to me. “T can trust you, now that the thing is done, lad,” he muttered low, “I did it at Point Comfort when the ships lay at an- chorage there. Gosnold slept.. One of my keys fitted his strong-box. A hot knife- blade lifted the seal. Five minutes’ work with erasing-knife and a quillful of ink completed the affair. The handwriting was easy to copy. Smith’s name was not on the king’s list. But for me the council would now be signing his death warrant.”’ “To work! howled Smith, “and a hun- dred lashes on the bare back of the first man who speaks the word ‘ gold?!” CHAPTER XV. INTO THE UNKNOWN. THROUGH the dense, untrodden forest we moved in single file. Aquia, genius at trail-making and woodcraft in general, led the way. Close behind him followed Smith. And I brought up the rear. Ccomicloool. (CO