the
premises. Providentially, I had bolted myself that morning into a closet
room, and was engrossed with writing. They went through every room in
the house and did not see me, concluding I had gone inland. They
discharged a musket into our Teacher's house, but afterwards left
quietly, greatly disappointed at not finding me. My heart still rose in
praise to God for another such deliverance, neither by man nor of man's
planning!

CHAPTER XLI.
THE LAST AWFUL NIGHT.

WORN out with long watching and many fatigues, I lay down that night
early, and fell into a deep sleep. About ten o'clock the savages again
surrounded the Mission House. My faithful dog Clutha, clinging still to
me amid the wreck of all else on earth, sprang quietly upon me, pulled
at my clothes, and awoke me, showing danger in her eye glancing at me
through the shadows. I silently awoke Mr. and Mrs. Mathieson, who had
also fallen asleep. We committed ourselves in hushed prayer to God and
watched them, knowing that they could not see us. Immediately a glare of
light fell into the room! Men passed with flaming torches; and first
they set fire to the Church all round, and then to a reed fence
connecting the Church and the dwelling-house. In a few minutes the
house, too, would be in flames, and armed savages waiting to kill us on
attempting an escape!

Taking my harmless revolver in the left hand and a little American
tomahawk in the right, I pleaded with Mr. Mathieson to let me out and
instantly to again lock the door on himself and wife. He very
reluctantly did so, holding me back and saying, "Stop here and let us
die together! You will never return!"

I said, "Be quick! Leave that to God. In a few minutes our house will be
in flames, and then nothing can save us."

He did let me out, and locked the door again quickly from the inside;
and, while his wife and he prayed and watched for me from within, I ran
to the burning reed fence, cut it from top to bottom, and tore it up and
threw it back into the flames, so that the fire could not by it be
carried to our dwelling-house. I saw on the ground shadows, as if
something were falling around me, and started back. Seven or eight
savages had surrounded me, and raised their great clubs in air. I heard
a shout--"Kill him! Kill him!" One savage tried to seize hold of me,
but, leaping from his clutch, I drew the revolver from my pocket and
leveled it as for use, my heart going up in prayer to my God. I said,