Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/223

Rh and taking matters into his own hands he went aft and met the captain as he came alongside on his walk. Addressing him by name, he said, "Captain Short, I am an American; I have a shipmate who is undoubtedly in one of those canoes waiting to be taken aboard. I beg of you to do what you can for his rescue."

The captain simply looked him over, and up and down, without a word turned and walked back across the deck. Holden's Yankee spirit rose, and he waited until the captain faced his way again, and looked him over once more and said:

"You are an American?"

"Yes."

"You say you have a shipmate yonder?"

"Yes."

"If that is the case I will do what I can for him."

"You can do no more, sir," replied Holden, bowing.

Captain Short then called the men aft and explained in a few words the situation of Holden's mate, and said that those who wished to volunteer for his rescue might do so. A boat was soon manned and lowered away.

This boat was already about to leave when Holden demanded to be allowed to accompany the rescuing party, and to be enabled to fulfill his promise to the natives, who had risked their lives literally at the cannon's mouth, to carry out their part of the agreement. The captain at first was disinclined to permit this, but finally consented, and ordered the cabin boy to go below and fill a basket with iron scraps, nails, or other refuse out of the locker, and bring it to the boat. It seemed difficult for Holden to work through his obtuse mind that this was not a mere bit of sentiment or whim, but that