Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/186

176 was nothing better than to follow, being in no condition to resist and not wishing to rouse the hostility of the savages. After some time on the lagoon they reached the mouth of a bayou from the interior of the island, towards which the canoe led the way, and they felt the intimation that they would be taken to the portion of the country seldom seen by strangers. A loud blast of warning was then blown by one in the canoe upon a conch, an alarm that white men were coming, and in almost an instant the waters became alive with many native canoes, putting into the lagoon from the bayou and every winding of the shore. But as flight would now be useless they pulled directly into the fleet, and were soon confronted by an immense war canoe about fifty feet long and holding about thirty-two men armed with spears, battleaxes, etc.

With the actions and intention of this canoe Holden and his party naturally felt much concern, and were not a little solicitous as it bore down upon them with all paddles in action and the craft itself cutting the light waves of the now narrowing arm of the lagoon. Suddenly, as it came exactly abreast, and in truth made a somewhat imposing appearance with its armed and bronze-bodied occupants, the paddles were reversed, it came to an instant stand, and all the paddlers but two stood up. By the two it was held in its position as firmly as if tied, and the chief then rose and sprang into the stern sheets of the whaleboat. His manner betokened no kindness, and with the utmost indifference he looked around at the sailors, evidently estimating the plunder to be had. He then began stamping as he stood in the stern sheets, and the twenty-nine unoccupied natives began with him the looting of all that appeared. He first snatched at the shirt of the captain, which the latter gave up without resistance. The other white men were