24

December 30, 1608

John Smith has done it again! Samuel Collier was taken on an expedition to the native village of Waraskoyack, and did not return with the men. I heard from Edward Pising that John Smith left Samuel with Powhatan, “assuring the king perpetual love,” in order to keep the peace and for Samuel to learn the language. Someday, Pising says, Samuel may come back to us with this knowledge, and, as with Thomas Savage, we will all benefit. I did not know Thomas Savage, but I knew Richard. I knew Samuel. And for all the page’s irritable spirits, I would not have wished this upon him.

Nicholas Skot has told me he is afraid he will be next to be taken away, and asked me what he should do. I told him I do not know. Just as we are unable to tell when we offend the Powhatans and bring attack upon ourselves or when we please them and bring about assistance, I am unable to know the heart and mind of John Smith when it comes to matters such as the trading of boys.

I do not hate Smith as the councilors do, but I do not revere him the way the commoners do. His turn has come to be president of the James Towne council and he is a harsher ruler than the others, which is to our benefit. He makes everyone work. Those not hunting or collecting food are set to building and repairing our homes and the fort walls or splitting logs and putting them on ships to sail for England in a few days.

But regardless, I cannot stomach the man as I once did.

Smith visits the natives and trades for food when the storehouse supplies grow slim. I think he enjoys the adventure a bit too much, leaving most of us behind to labor. I wonder if he misses the beads I took. I wonder if, on his trips, he has seen Richard. I have asked him, but he ignored me, as if such a matter is past and should remain past. Pocahontas, the young Powhatan girl, still comes on occasion with baskets of food. We are not starving as we did the last winter, and though I avoid Smith, I do give him credit for his steadfast control. He even makes everyone, from carpenter to sailor to tailor to gentleman, drill with muskets daily so we might be better ready if we are attacked again. Captains Archer and Wingfield obey, but they secretly rebel by continuing to steal from the storehouse when no one is around. I doubt I am the only one who has seen them sneaking out with food under their cloaks, but no one yet seems up to challenging them. They must remember the man who was executed for treason our first summer. Accusing our leaders would be nearly as bad as speaking against the king.

William Love seems pleased to have chores other than hunting and fishing. With many new men now, he is busy with tailoring, mending clothes and stitching new trousers from the small stock of fabric which arrived from London. He is not much with a musket. He can’t even hit a tree stump. But he does have talent with a needle.

John Laydon and his wife have a cottage to themselves now. I am certain Ann is enjoying the little extra food which was my very reluctant wedding gift. I believe I even saw the blue beads around her neck, hiding just beneath her collar. John and Ann watch me like hawks, seeing if I try to go again into the woods alone. I’ve not been back since October. A handful of extra food is not worth the hangman’s noose. I hope John is happy with Mistress Laydon. He can have her. I wish him luck with such a spiteful girl.

My shoes have holes in them. They won’t last another year.