Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/200

190 as this day must either see his deliverance, or end his own power of endurance.

As it grew lighter Holden followed the circle of the horizon with his gaze, hoping to descry some sign of sail or land. At what seemed the very utmost limit of his vision, toward the brightening dawn, he saw a black hump on the water. Toward this he was steering, and as he advanced, and at length the sun shot up, he distinguished trees, the tops of cocoanut palms. He was now certain that land was ahead, and with strange mingled feelings he watched it emerge and grow upon the sight until the sun was a full hour high. But, of course, whatever his sense of relief at first in the sight of palms and the thought of cocoanuts and fresh water, his next feeling was only of apprehension. He was undoubtedly to be saved from the sea only to fall into the hands of savages. The beauty of the scene, however, the island not as yet made frightful to him by its inhabitants, but rising like a fresh creation out of the ocean, was a sight never to be forgotten.

However his apprehensions were soon to be realized. Canoes were soon seen on the water and putting out to meet the boat. Holden at once sung out to the boys in the boat to awaken, but there was no stir. Four canoes could now be distinguished, but the number of the native occupants could not be counted. Holden continued singing out "Get up, get up, boys! The natives are bearing down onus!" Still he obtained no response, and he began jumping up and down on the stern sheets making a racket, and crying "you must, you shall get up!" By his noise they were partially aroused and began looking over the rail, and at the sight of the canoes were startled into what little life they still retained. The savages at first kept off, but finally, concluding apparently that the boat had no firearms, took a course directly