OCR Text |
Show Page 243 "Aye, that it is," said her husband. "Yet I suspect the governor may do just that if, indeed, it means the return of those poor souls who have lived so many months with the heathen." "And what of the two Indians?" I asked, my voice quavering. "Have they already returned to their chief?" "Likely they will be sent back tomorrow, after the governor has made his decision," answered the captain. "Not Camohan also?" I blurted heedlessly. Though I had come to feel a sadness over the plight of the native Virginians, and even believed I understood what had made them behave thus toward us, still, the remembrance of what Camohan had done to Margaret and the thought of him going free sickened me and I felt cloven in my breast. I did not mean to do it, yet I made a small gagging sound when I spoke the man's name. "Why this concern about Camohan?" asked Captain Pierce. I could not speak for the black thoughts that were in my head and that froze my tongue to stillness. So John spoke for me. "Camohan was an actor in the massacre at Martin's Hundred," he explained. "Sarah saw him scalp Margaret Davidson." I heard Mistress Pierce gasp and even the captain growled deep in his throat. "Chanco is a good Indian," he said, "and to him the people of James Towne owe their lives. And though he is not Opechancanough, I cannot but think Opitchapan laughs in our faces by sending to us this other, who has taken the |