Children's Classics in Dramatic Form Part 27

SMITH. It tells me where to find the north. I turn the box this way,--I turn the box that way. But the needle always shows the north to me.

POWHATAN. Why, so it does! It is very strange and wonderful!

A BRAVE. Will it tell the north at night?

SMITH. In the darkest night it tells you.

ANOTHER BRAVE. Will it tell the north on water?

 

SMITH. On river or on lake it tells you.

POWHATAN. Come, show me how to make it talk.

SMITH. Will you let me go in peace?

POWHATAN. You shall live and go in peace.

MEDICINE MAN. Great chief, is it wise to let so wise a man go from us?

POWHATAN. Is it your wish to keep him here?

MEDICINE MAN. There is no place for such a wise man.

POWHATAN. What do you mean?

MEDICINE MAN. Let him go, or let him stay, he will only make more wise things.

POWHATAN. That is true.

MEDICINE MAN. Things too wise for Powhatan's braves. Things too wise for Powhatan.

POWHATAN. What is that? Things too wise for Powhatan!

MEDICINE MAN. The white man makes talking needles. This needle shows the north to him. Another needle may show him how to be chief in your place, Powhatan.

A BRAVE. Yes, yes! That is true!

ALL BRAVES. Yes, yes!

MEDICINE MAN. He is too wise to live, great chief!

BRAVES. Yes, yes, yes!

(_Pause._)

POWHATAN. Bind him to the ground, braves! Put his head on that stone there!

SMITH. Powhatan! I beg you--

POWHATAN. Take him, braves! Be ready with your war clubs!

[_The braves throw Captain Smith on the ground, and stand over him with uplifted clubs. Enter_ POCAHONTAS. _She runs to Captain Smith and kneels beside him, s.h.i.+elding his head with her arms. Enter_ WOMEN _and_ CHILDREN.]

POCAHONTAS. You shall not kill him!

POWHATAN. My daughter! Come away!

POCAHONTAS. You shall not kill him! You shall not kill him!

A WOMAN. Pocahontas!

A GIRL. Pocahontas! They will kill you!

SECOND GIRL. Pocahontas! Come away! Come away!

POCAHONTAS. I will not move!

MEDICINE MAN. Drag her away, braves! Drag her away, I say!

POWHATAN. Do not dare to touch her! Do you hear? Do not dare to touch her! The Great Spirit lives in the child! The Great Spirit has breathed His courage into her! Captain Smith, you shall live and go in peace. I, Powhatan, do say these words!

POCAHONTAS SAVES JAMESTOWN

SCENE I

TIME: _One evening; three hundred years ago._ PLACE: _Indian camp near Jamestown, Virginia._

CHIEF POWHATAN.

BRAVES.

MEDICINE MAN.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN POCAHONTAS.

[POWHATAN, MEDICINE MAN, _and_ BRAVES _sit around the fire in council.

The_ WOMEN _and_ CHILDREN, POCAHONTAS _among them, are near._]

POWHATAN. I speak, my children.

BRAVES. We hear, great chief.

POWHATAN. Who among you loves the white man?