Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1894-06-15
THE DIVE FOR LIBERTY

Led to another experience, the infection of
the brand of slavery. This consisted in
tattooing his entire body, with the excep-
ton of face hands and feet.
Holden acquired the native language in
a short time, and as the years passed he
became more reconciled to his native COM
panions and in time came to be regarded
as one of their number. This gave him
opportunities for maintaining a constant
though covert watch for the chance an
proach of a vessel. He learned to swim
as well as his captors, which is the same
as saying equal to a fish.
At last the day of his deliverance ar
rived. Ascending q hill one morning, he
was overjoycd to Sec ship lying near the
coast. Reaching the beach, he entered one
of the proas filled with natives which was
just pushing out to reconnoiter the big
ship. They were too much engrossed to
notice his eagerness and excitement Many
other proas, we'll manned, were ranged in
semicircle around the ship at respect
full distance, but none would venture near.
Holden found it impossible to induce his
captors to approach the vessel: He dared
not for Obvious reasons be too insistent. A
boat was lowered from the ship manned by
half dozen sailors with the first officer.
They came within about quarter of a
mile. Nearer than that they were afraid
to come. At this distance Holden was able
to make himself understood and found to
his great JOY that they spoke his own Ian
guage. They were about to venture nearer,
when they saw the proas in the wings of the
semicircle preparing to make dash, with
the evident intention of intercepting their
return to the ship, seeing which they has
tlly drew farther away and were careful
after that to keep the bow Of their boat to-
ward the ship, in readiness for immediate
return.
= The boat was signaled to return. "Can't
you swim to us?" they called.
If attempt that, they will kill me
with their spears,'' he answered.
''Dive, them" suggested one.
Holden carefully scanned the distance.
1t was near quarter Ola mile. He would
have to swim at least 100 yards under wa
ter before being out of reach of the deadly
spears, if even then. They could overtake
him in a few strokes and then what had
he to expect but almost certain death? The
ship was beginning to move. Again the
boat was signaled to return, and this time
with unmistakable Impotence. ''Are you
coming?" came from the boat.
There was no time TO hesitate. "Wait;
am coming, he shouted; then breathing
rapidly and deeply few times he exhaust
Cd the last particle Of air from his lungs
'and began inhaling the mighty draft that
was to carry him to liberty or death. i
This was language the natives under
stood. Amovement was made to stay him,
but his bare foot was On the gunwale, his
hands were pressed together above his
head, and he swiftly disappeared beneath
the brine. A score of lances were poised
in readiness to transfx him on his first APP
pearance above water. With strained mus
Giles they stood gazing where he must soon
appear, each eager to be first to pierce the
seded by look Of Disappointment. Then
they laid down their spears, believing the
sea had robbed them Of their intended vic
tim. IS.
Holden had calculated the distance
well, and when he thought himself out Of
range he yet had strength to spare, and
still he kept on. Every muscle was ek-
.erted to its 0t1nost, and when well nigh
exhausted for want Of air he rallied and
went still farther. At last, when nature
could endure no more, he rose to the sur
face and glanced back. The boat he had
left appeared to be away back il the dis
tance; then he glanced ahead The ships
boat was the nearest, but was pulling
away, they, like the natives, believing
him dead
He rose high QUITO the water and shout
ed. They heard, and he swami alongside
and was pulled on board He was taken
aboard the ship, which proved TO be the
bark Britannia, and was landed at Hong
Kong 8 few weeks later