Blood on the River: Chapters 6–10

by Elisa Carbone
Based on the true story of the settlement of Jamestown, this novel follows twelve-year-old Samuel Collier as he goes from being an orphan on the streets of London to the page of Captain John Smith on his journey to the New World.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–10, Chapters 11–18, Chapters 19–27
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. perseverance
    persistent determination
    Captain Smith has a satisfied look on his face, as if his regiment has just won a battle. “You see how it is when you’ve left the confines of England?” he asks me. “You might have been born the biggest fish in the sea, but the skill and perseverance of those lower born can take you down and destroy you.”
  2. converge
    move or draw together at a certain location
    Down the newly cut path I go, high-stepping over stumps and roots, following the soldiers and gentlemen. We all converge on the path cutters.
  3. writhe
    move in a twisting or contorted motion
    They are yelling and writhing as if they are fighting invisible demons. Henry is hopping, swatting his arms and neck, shouting in agony.
  4. faction
    conflict between members of the same organization
    Such factions here we had as commonly attend such voyages, that a pair of gallows was made, but Captain Smith, for whom they were intended, could not be persuaded to use them.
    —Captain John Smith, The True Travels, adventures, and Observations of Captaine John Smith
  5. teeming
    abundantly filled with especially living things
    After six days on Nevis I am fatter. The birds are so tame we pluck them out of the bushes with our hands, the sea is teeming with fish, and the trees are full of fruit.
  6. descry
    catch sight of
    The six and twentieth day of April, about four o’clock in the morning, we descried the land of Virginia.
  7. torrent
    a violently fast stream of water or other liquid
    The rain comes down in torrents, and when we shout that it is flooding the ’tween deck, the sailors oblige us by covering up the hatch so that we are shut in the dark with only stale, vomit-scented air to breathe.
  8. oblige
    provide a service or favor for someone
    The rain comes down in torrents, and when we shout that it is flooding the ’tween deck, the sailors oblige us by covering up the hatch so that we are shut in the dark with only stale, vomit-scented air to breathe.
  9. ill-fated
    marked by or promising bad fortune
    The gentlemen complain bitterly. We should go back to England, they say. We should have reached Virginia weeks ago. We must be off course. This voyage is ill-fated.
  10. gloat
    dwell on with satisfaction
    Richard glances at Captain Smith and grins, enjoying his moment of victory. But Captain Smith puts a quick stop to the gloating. “Don’t make the boy wait — hop to it,” he says.
  11. desolate
    having few or no inhabitants
    At last we are allowed up on deck for our first sight of Virginia. It is green, quiet, and desolate. There are no natives coming to us in canoes as they did in the Caribbean islands.
  12. disdainful
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    Master Wingfield gives him a disdainful look. “Did you not read your contract with the Virginia Company? The part where it says we are to turn a profit for the company as soon as possible? We will eat the supplies we brought, and dig for gold.”
  13. disembark
    exit from a ship, vehicle, or aircraft
    The Godspeed and the Discovery are anchored nearby as well. I watch as the longboats are rowed to shore. About thirty men in all disembark for the exploratory trip, most of them gentlemen and sailors.
  14. contrive
    make or work out a plan for; devise
    Now falleth every man to work: The council contrive the fort; the rest cut down trees to make place to pitch their tents, some provide clapboard to relade the ships, some make gardens, some nets, etc.
    —William Symonds, ed., The Proceedings of the English Colony in Virginia
  15. palisade
    a strong fence made of stakes driven into the ground
    “...We have invaded their land, and I believe they will fight us to get it back. We must build a palisade to protect the settlement.”
Created on Wed Jun 08 21:33:01 EDT 2022 (updated Mon Jul 28 16:29:54 EDT 2025)

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