41 pages 1 hour read

Elisa Carbone

Blood on the River

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2006

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Chapters 17-21Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 17 Summary

The ship from England brings food, ale, and wine along with 60 new colonists and their dogs, hogs, and chickens. Captain Smith does not hang, and Master Archer is removed from the council, and the presence of Captain Newport ensures that “a fragile peace” (129) is in place. Not long after the arrival of Captain Newport, a Native American canoe filled with food appears on the shores of the settlement, and Samuel and Richard are mesmerized by the sight of a little girl who “wears several necklaces of pearls and copper” (129). She leaves the canoe to speak in Algonquin with Captain Smith about the gift of food she has brought, and Samuel realizes she must be the princess Amonute, also called Pocahontas. When Captain Smith introduces her to the boys, they are excited to show her the cabins and Samuel practices his Algonquin with her, which “feels like magic” (131). The boys and Pocahontas play and run a race, and Samuel is not proud of being beaten by a young girl.

Captain Newport orders a group of men to hunt for gold for him to bring back to the Virginia Company, and while they are away, a fire starts in one of the cabins.