Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/205

Rh that they might secure. But the other sailors, being less forward, were driven back, or dashed into the water. Holden made a wild rush to a canoe just putting off and started with it, but was thrown out. However, he seized the side of the craft and although his fingers were heavily belabored, still clung until the canoe put back. But the moment it was off he again caught onto the outrigger and was towed along. Maddened by his pertinacity the natives again returned and casting him on the shore dealt him a blow upon the head that rendered him helpless and nearly senseless. When he came to, the ship was gone, and he and the eight others were left in "that horrible place."

It seemed incredible, and something stunning to his mind, that an English ship could have left him and his fellow sailors, after learning, as must have been the case from the captain, that white men were there. He would not have believed that Barnard and Rawlins reached the vessel had it not been that his mates saw them climb up the companion way and over on to the deck. The name of the captain of that ship should be remembered, as a man of a brutality equal to that of any of the natives, and one from whom the natives perhaps learned something of the hardness shown the sailors. It was Sommes, and when finally rescued, Holden was told the pitiful excuse that he offered for his act.

It was for some time impossible for Holden and his mates to believe that they had been left, and the nine Americans waited, expecting that a boat would return for them; but they only saw the great ship stand off and finally disappear not to come back, or to send any word or help. The natives were much dissatisfied and grumbled at great length at what they considered the niggardly treatment of the British ship, from which they were given but the hoops of an old barrel knocked down on