might be moored to the trees. It was this convenient deep water that
determined matters. Here came to anchor the Susan Constant, the Goodspeed, and
the Discovery. Here the colonists went ashore. Here the members of the Council
were sworn, and for the first President was chosen Edward-Maria Wingfield.
Here, the first roaming and excitement abated, they began to unlade the ships,
and to build the fort and also booths for their present sleeping. A church,
too, they must have at once, and forthwith made it with a stretched sail for
roof and a board between two trees whereon to rest Bible and Book of Prayer.
Here, for the first time in all this wilderness, rang English axe in American
forest, here was English law and an English town, here sounded English
speech. Here was placed the germ of that physical, mental, and, spiritual
power which is called the United States of America.



CHAPTER III. JAMESTOWN

In historians' accounts of the first months at Jamestown, too much,
perhaps, has been made of faction and quarrel. All this was there. Men set
down in a wilderness, amid Virginian heat, men, mostly young, of the active
rather than the reflective type, men uncompanioned by women and children,
men beset with dangers and sufferings that were soon to tag heavily their
courage and patience--such men naturally quarreled and made up, quarreled
again and again made up, darkly suspected each the other, as they darkly
suspected the forest and the Indian; then, need of friendship dominating,
embraced each the other, felt the fascination of the forest, and trusted
the Indian. However much they suspected rebellion, treacheries, and
desertions, they practiced fidelities, though to varying degrees, and
there was in each man's breast more or less of courage and good intent.
They were prone to call one another villain, but actual villainy--save as