High were their hopes over it, but when it was subsequently
sent to London and assayed, it was found to be worthless.
The fifteen now started homeward, out of Potomac and down the westward side
of Chesapeake. In their travels they saw, besides the Indians, all manner
of four-footed Virginians. Bears rolled their bulk through these forests;
deer went whither they would. The explorers might meet foxes and
catamounts, otter, beaver and marten, raccoon and opossum, wolf and Indian
dog. Winged Virginians made the forests vocal. The owl hooted at night, and
the whippoorwill called in the twilight. The streams were filled with fish.
Coming to the mouth of the Rappahannock, the travelers' boat grounded upon
sand, with the tide at ebb. Awaiting the water that should lift them off,
the fifteen began with their swords to spear the fish among the reeds.
Smith had the ill luck to encounter a sting-ray, and received its barbed
weapon through his wrist. There set in a great swelling and torment which
made him fear that death was at hand. He ordered his funeral and a grave to
be dug on a neighboring islet. Yet by degrees he grew better and so out of
torment, and withal so hungry that he longed for supper, whereupon, with a
light heart, he had his late enemy the sting-ray cooked and ate him. They
then named the place Sting-ray Island and, the tide serving, got off the
sand-bar and down the bay, and so came home to Jamestown, having been gone
seven weeks.
Like Ulysses, Smith refuses to rust in inaction.
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