Blood on the River

Winter 1608 arrives, and “our trouble starts” (173). The men are spending too much time searching for gold and not enough time farming and hunting, and Captain Newport sets sail for England in December with most of the food supply. Trading with the natives proves to be futile as “Chief Powhatan has commanded all of his tribes not to trade with us” (174). One day, two natives appear to announce that the chief is finally ready to trade and that he wants weapons in addition to the usual beads and copper; though Captain Smith tells the messengers that he agrees, he tells his men he will not give them weapons.

On their way to Werowocomoco, the chief of the Warraskoyack tribe advises Captain Smith not to trust Chief Powhatan. Captain Smith decides to leave Samuel with this tribe so that Samuel can convey a message to James Town if something happens to Captain Smith. The chief’s son teaches Samuel how to make arrowheads and knives out of rocks, and Samuel soon adapts to the ways of the village. Namontack arrives one day, and Samuel worries that he has bad news about Captain Smith, but Samuel learns that the captain wants him to stay with the Warraskoyacks for the rest of the winter.