The young captain was right, and now came a thump and a bump, as the craft struck rocks and palm trees and then slid along a cliff. Oscar thought they might be carried directly to the center of the island, when of a sudden the tide turned and rolled back to the vast ocean. And they went with it!
But those inside of the Holland XI. knew little now of where they were. Having gotten into deep water, the force of the tidal wave turned the craft completely over, and all those inside had all they could do to keep themselves from being smashed to death on walls or ceiling.
But in less than three minutes the agitation was over and the new Holland righted herself. The water had come in at the broken window and this had to be pumped out with all rapidity. Had not one of the men placed a temporary plate over the window when first ordered to do so, the new Holland would surely have been swamped.
Inside of half an hour the tidal disturbances were at an end and the ocean rolled as peacefully as before. Feeling they could now rise in safety, the young captain gave the necessary orders and they went up.
The first sight which met their gaze filled them with wonder. All three of the foreign warships had been caught by the tidal wave and carried on the rocks, and there they lay, battered and broken almost beyond recognition.
Sailors and soldiers lay in the wreckage or floating helpless on the tide.
A few had gone ashore, but these the Hawaiians had either shot down or made prisoners.
"Our work here is done," said Oscar. "Let us go back to Honolulu and see what damage has been done there."
His orders were obeyed and at Honolulu they found much of the shipping a wreck, yet but few lives had been lost.
The loss of the foreign ships was hailed with great delight and Oscar and his crew were entertained in fine style for the remainder of that day and also the next.