Just after sunset, and before the darkness of night closed in, those
who had been on shore came back very hurriedly and in disorder,
bringing with them in the foremost boat, two wounded men.

"They have had a battle with some one, Master," I reported, before
yet the boats were come alongside, and for the first time that day
did Captain Smith appear to be deeply concerned. I heard him say
as if to himself, not intending that the words should reach me:

"Lack of caution in dealing with the savages is like to cost us
dearly."

Half an hour later I heard all the story from Nathaniel Peacock,
who had believed himself fortunate when he was allowed to accompany
the party on shore.

According to his account, the company from the fleet roamed over
much of the land during the day, finding fair meadows and goodly
trees, with streams of fresh water here and there bespeaking fish
in abundance.

Nothing was seen or heard to disturb our people until the signal
had been given for all to go on board the boats, that they might
return to the ships, and then it was that a number of naked, brown
men, creeping upon their hands and knees like animals, with bows
and arrows held between their teeth, came out suddenly from amid
the foliage to the number, as Nathaniel declared, of not less than
an hundred.