e
country, than provoke God by high-handed violence and injustice. The
policy of continually driving the heathen further and further away, is
only one degree less detestable than exterminating them at once."

"And you think the natives could be converted to Christianity, if your
programme were followed? I have heard men doubt it, whose reputation
for wisdom stands high."

"I dare say. But what is man's opinion worth in such a matter? Has not
God made mankind all of one blood? Did not Christ die for all? Are we
to believe that He did not understand His own work? We must do so, if
we believe that there is any nation on the face of the earth, which
could not accept the Gospel But it is growing late. I will visit my
patient once more before lying down to rest. He may want another dose,
but I hardly think it."

They repaired accordingly to Wilmore's bed, and were glad to find him in
a calm deep sleep, which they did not disturb. The fire was then
replenished, and Warley having undertaken to keep watch during the first
part of the night, the others lay down under the shadow of the palm
trees and were soon sound asleep.

Ernest sat over the fire, with his rifle in his hand, buried in deep
thought. Always of a grave turn of mind, the events of the last few
weeks had made him a man before his time. His life during that time had
been one of continual peril, and three times at least he had had the
narrowest possible escape from a dreadful death. He felt--as all men of
any strength of character always do feel under such circumstances--that
his life had been preserved for some high and worthy purpose, and the
conversation of the stranger missionary had impressed the same truth
more forcibly upon him. He had always had an inclination for the life
of a clergyman; its only objection in his eyes being the dull routine of
commonplace duties; which, however worthy in themselves, did not satisfy
his longing for enterprise and action But in Mr De Walden's career, all
that he thirsted after seemed to be realised. He felt that if the
latter would consent to take him as a helper in the work he had now in
hand, he should prefer it to any other lot that life could offer him.
But then there was the difficulty about money. He must have some means
of living, and the life of a missionary in Africa would not supply any,
not even the barest necessaries. Mr De Walden, it was evident, did
possess some private income; but it might no