Surviving Jamestown: The Adventures of Young Sam Collier
1 The Luckiest Boy in England Sam Collier climbed onto the ship’s broad railing and sat with his legs dangling He stuck two fingers in his mouth the way his new friend Nate Peacock had taught him and let fly a screeching whistle Grabbing a line to steady himself he placed his feet on the wooden railing and slowly rose until he stood teetering on the side of the swaying ship Grinning he announced Samuel Collier second son of Thomas and Anne Collier of Lincolnshire is the luckiest boy in all of England There was no response from the people on the wharf at Blackwall Port With night coming on and the sailors busy loading supplies none of the men on the ship paid attention to Sam’s announcement either But a boy’s voice behind him said Sam Collier will be none too lucky if he falls into the black water of the Thames River Startled Sam turned around Nate imitated the voice of a nagging parent How many times do I need to remind you Samuel A ship makes a slippery perch He wagged his index finger If you fall in wearing your heavy coat you’ll sink like a stone He glared at Sam for a few seconds then burst out laughing Smiling Sam leaped onto the muddy deck his feet skidding on the slick wooden boards Master Smith told me to fetch you Nate said
2 Surviving Jamestown Sam was John Smith’s page For the next few years he would be expected to obey Master Smith the way a son obeys his father As a page Sam was Smith’s servant who had to help with all kinds of errands and chores But he was also Smith’s appren tice and he would have a chance to learn whatever his master was willing to teach Sam knew that when a page became fifteen or sixteen years old and ready to strike out on his own he some times followed in his master’s footsteps John Smith was an explorer and an adventurer and Sam thought this life would suit him just fine Waving good-bye to the people on the wharf Sam trotted after Nate Nobody waved back but Sam didn’t notice The boys were a mismatched pair Sam was twelve nearly two years younger than Nate and he stood at least a head shorter than his friend Although he was lean Sam’s muscular body made him seem stocky compared with his skinny friend Nate’s long arms and legs stuck out of his coat sleeves and pants ending in huge hands and clumsy feet In his woolly waistcoat Nate resembled a lanky cheerful pup who had not yet grown bulky enough to fill up his own skin Do you know any of those folks Nate asked gesturing at the crowd on the wharf Not a one Sam replied I’ve never been to this port For that matter I’d never been on the Thames River or to the city of London until I came aboard this ship And I don’t care to return to any of these places either Nate nodded in agreement Too crowded he said I don’t like seeing so many faces without a friendly look on any of them I don’t want to be friends with them Sam said They live in the old world If you ask me even the great city of London is dirty and worn out It’s part of the past You and me we’re
A boy’s voice said Sam Collier will be none too lucky if he falls into the black water of the Thames River
4 Surviving Jamestown headed for a new world the future Sam clamped his hand on Nate’s shoulder and the boys looked at each other and grinned They threaded their way along the railing of the crowded ship The deck of the Susan Constant was smaller than the ground floor of the tidy farmhouse where Sam had grown up But the ship was crowded with seventeen sailors shouting direc tions and loading cargo And more than fifty passengers were living aboard this ship The boys had to clamber over coils of tarred rope and heaps of equipment They jumped aside to avoid bumping into sailors who were carrying heavy barrels on board and passing them down to their mates for storage in the hold Some of the gentle men passengers stood watching the bustle Their overcoat col lars were pulled up against the damp December chill As they squeezed between groups of onlookers Sam and Nate nearly bumped into a small white-faced boy Nathaniel Peacock the boy shouted I’ve been searching high and low for you James Brumfield frowned Master Calthrop sent me to find you He’s worried sick that you got off the ship and got lost here in Blackwall I do think you should be more considerate We’re not supposed to make trouble for the gentlemen you know Nate started to hurry off but Sam grabbed his arm and winked Wait a minute Nate I hope you paid attention to James’s pretty speech James hesitated He considered Sam Collier a rude boy so the compliment surprised him He wasn’t sure whether he should tip his cap to acknowledge Sam’s fair words Or whether Sam was being sarcastic and had insulted him Sam looked closely at James’s pale face It’s as white as a fish belly Sam thought With a quick movement Sam snatched James’s cap and tossed it to Nate Then Sam grabbed the two
