This man was no other than Captain John Smith, who, although at this
time not above six and twenty years of age, had already served in the
French, in the Dutch, and in the Transylvanian armies, where he had met
and overcome many dangers.
He had been robbed and beaten and thrown into the sea because of not
believing in the religion of the men who attacked him; he had been a
slave among the Turks; he had fought, one after another, three of the
bravest in the Turkish army, and had cut off the head of each in turn.
Can it be wondered at that Nathaniel Peacock and I were filled to
overflowing with admiration for this wonderful soldier, or that we
desired above all things to see him?
We loitered about the streets of London town from daylight until night
had come again, hoping to feast our eyes upon this same John Smith, who
was to us one of the wonders of the world, because in so short a time he
had made his name as a soldier famous in all countries, and yet we saw
him not.
We had searched London town over and over for mayhap a full month, doing
nothing else save hunt for the man whose life had been so filled with
adventure, and each time we returned home, Mistress Peacock reproached
me with being an idle good for nothing, and Nathaniel but little better.
I believe it was her harsh words which caused to spring up in my heart
a desire to venture into the new world, where it was said gold could be
found in abundance, and even the smallest lad might pick up whatsoever
of wealth he desired, if so be his heart was strong enough to brave the
journey across the great ocean.
The more I thought of what could be found in that land, which was called
Virginia, the stronger grew my desire, until the time came when it was a
fixed purpose in my mind, and not until then did I breathe to Nathaniel
a word of that which had been growing within me.
He took fire straightway I spoke of what it might be possible for us
lads to do, and declared that whether his mother were willing or no, he
would brave all the dangers of that terrible journey overseas, if so be
we found an opportunity. To him it seemed a simple matter that, having
once found a ship which was to sail for the far off land, we might hide
ourselves within her, having gathered sufficient of food to keep us
alive during the journey. But how this last might be done, his plans had
not been made.
Lest I should set down too many words, and therefore bring upon myself
the charge of being one who can work with his tongue better than with
his hands, I will pass over all that which Nathaniel and I did during
the long time we roamed the streets, in the hope of coming face to face
with Captain Smith.
It is enough if I set it down at once that we finally succeeded in our
purpose, having come upon him one certain morning on Cheapside, when
there was a fight on among some apprentices, and the way so blocked
that neither he nor any other could pass through the street, until
the quarrelsome fellows were done playing upon each other's heads with
sticks and stones.
It seemed much as if fortune had at last consented to smile upon us, for
we were standing directly in front of the great man.
I know not how it chanced that I, a lad whose apparel was far from being
either cleanly or whole, should have dared to raise my voice in speech
with one who was said to have talked even with a king. Yet so I did,
coming without many words to that matter which had been growing these
many days in my mind, and mayhap it was the very suddenness of the words
that caught his fancy.
"Nathaniel Peacock and I are minded to go with you into that new world,
Captain John Smith, if so be you permit us," I said, "and there we will
serve you with honesty and industry."
There was a smile come upon his face as I spoke, and he looked down upon
Nathaniel and me, who were wedged among that throng which watched the
apprentices quarrel, until we were like to be squeezed flat, and said in
what I took to be a friendly tone:
"So, my master, you would journey into Virginia with the hope of making
yourself rich, and you not out from under your mother's apron as yet?"
"I have no mother to wear an apron, Captain Smith, nor father to say I
may go there or shall come here; but yet would serve you as keenly as
might any man, save mayhap my strength, which will increase, be not so
great as would be found in those older."
Whether this valiant soldier was pleased with my words, or if in good
truth boys were needed in the enterprise, I cannot say; but certain it
is he spoke me fairly, writing down upon a piece of paper, which he tore
from his tablets, the name of the street in which he had lodgings, and
asking, as he handed it to me, if I could read.
Now it was that I gave silent thanks, because of what had seemed to me
a hardship when my mother forced me to spend so many hours each day in
learning to use a quill, until I was able to write a clerkly hand.
It seemed to please this great soldier that I could do what few of the
lads in that day had been taught to master, and, without further ado, he
said to me boldly:
"You shall journey into Virginia with me, an' it please you, lad. What
is more, I will take upon myself the charge of outfitting you, and time
shall tell whether you have enough of manliness in you to repay me the
cost."
Then it was that Nathaniel raised his voice; but the captain gave him
no satisfaction, declaring it was the duty of a true lad to stand by his
mother, and that he would lend his aid to none who had a home, and in it
those who cared for him.
I could have talked with this brave soldier until the night had come,
and would never have wearied of asking concerning what might be found in
that new world of Virginia; but it so chanced that when the business was
thus far advanced, the apprentices were done with striving to break
each other's heads, and Captain Smith, bidding me come to his house next
morning, went his way.