Squanto's relation with the Plymouth Colony may not have been as benign as has been told to us in elementary school pageants. He was kidnapped by Europeans and taken to Spain. Learning English, he eventually convinced his captors to send him back to America. However, in the time between his kidnapping and return, hepatitis ran rampant through his nation. He returned to an empty land and was captured by rivals, who later used his ability to speak English to speak to Plymouth Colony. In return, he tried to use the colonists to take over the rival nation.