Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/188

178 large council houses. Most gruesome of all was a block of wood closely resembling a butcher's block. This was set at one side of the platform and was recognized at once as the facility of executions.

As the captives were brought near the platform they saw that, naked and miserable as they were, they were the center of attraction. Crowds of natives appeared and gathered on the bluffs. They were armed with battle axes and spears, and were dressed mainly in tattooes.

Then the chief and his advisers came to the platform and began counseling what to do, their sentiments being understood by the sailors only from the tones of their voices, which were loud and rough. In the mean time the crowds of the people pressed and thronged about the white men, examining them with utmost curiosity. That these were not absolutely without human feelings was even then shown, by at least one woman. She worked her way toward the captives, and finally paused near Holden, with tears streaming down her face, and having no other way of expressing sympathy began stroking his arm; then, probably intending to gain the ear of the counselors, cried out "Chlora cabool; arrakath English."

Her exclamation seems to have been heard, as one of the men on the platform came to the edge, and addressing the captives asked "Kow English; or kow American English?' The American sailors quickly answered "American English." By this information, matters seemed to be brought to an immediate change. The question was now discussed, as nearly as could be understood, whether they should at once cut off the heads of the captives, or send for instructions to the sorceress of the island to learn the will of the spiritual powers. The latter course prevailed and a young man was selected who should run as rapidly as possible.

While he was gone the first indication of any hospi-