READING THE LONDON COMPANY'S ORDERS
An hour later, when those who had just come from the shore had
been refreshed with food, I noted with much of anxiety that all
the gentlemen of the company, not only such as belonged on board
the Susan Constant, but those from the Speedwell, gathered in the
great cabin of our ship, and, looking out ever so cautiously, while
the door of Captain Smith's room was ajar, I saw them gather around
the big table on which, as if it were something of greatest value,
was placed a box made of some dark colored wood.
It was Master Hunt who opened this, and, taking out a paper, he
read in a voice so loud that even my master, as he lay in his narrow
bed, could hear the names of those who were chosen by the London
Company to form the Council for the government of the new land of
Virginia.
These are the names as he read them: Bartholomew Gosnold, Edward
Wingfield, Christopher Newport, John Smith, John Ratcliffe, John
Martin and George Kendall.
My heart seemingly leaped into my throat with triumph when I thus
heard the name of my master among those who were to stand as leaders
of the company, and so excited had I become that that which Master
Hunt read from the remainder of the paper failed to attract my
attention.
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