or, with branches on opposite sides,
capable of sustaining a cross tree betwixt them. I sank them on each
side firmly into the ground, passed the beam across them over the center
of the shaft, fastened thereon a rude home-made pulley and block, passed
a rope over the wheel, and swung my largest bucket to the end of it.
Thus equipped, I began once more sinking away at the well, but at so
great an angle that the sides might not again fall in. Not a Native,
however, would enter that hole, and I had to pick and dig away till I
was utterly exhausted. But a Native Teacher, in whom I had confidence,
took charge above, managing to hire them with axes, knives, etc., to
seize the end of the rope and walk along the ground, pulling it till the
bucket rose to the surface, and then he himself swung it aside, emptied
it, and lowered it down again. I rang a little bell which I had with me,
when the bucket was loaded, and that was the signal for my brave helpers
to pull their rope. And thus I toiled on from day to day, my heart
almost sinking sometimes with the sinking of the well, till we reached a
depth of about thirty feet. And the phrase, "living water," "living
water," kept chiming through my soul like music from God, as I dug and
hammered away!

CHAPTER LXVII.
RAIN FROM BELOW.

AT this depth the earth and coral began to be soaked with damp. I felt
that we were nearing water. My soul had a faith that God would open a
spring for us; but side by side with this faith was a strange terror
that the water would be salt. So perplexing and mixed are even the
highest experiences of the soul; the rose-flower of a perfect faith, set
round and round with prickly thorns. One evening I said to the old
Chief, "I think that Jehovah God will give us water to-morrow from that
hole!"

The Chief said, "No, Missi; you will never see rain coming up from the
earth on this Island. We wonder what is to be the end of this mad work
of yours. We expect daily, if you reach water, to see you drop through
into the sea and the sharks will eat you! That will be the end of it;
death to you, and danger to us all."

I still answered, "Come to-morrow. I hope and believe that Jehovah God
will send you the rain water up through the earth."

At the moment I knew I was risking much, and probably incurring
sorrowful consequences, had no water been given; but I had faith that
the Lord was leading me on, and I knew that I sought His glory, not my
own.

Next morn