ight
had burst on him. "How is it that your friends are so great and
powerful, while I am so poor and miserable?" he asked of Tatai.

"Because my friends worship the great and powerful God, who has given
them a Book which makes those who study it wise, while you worship your
wretched gods, who are no gods, and cannot help you or make you wise, or
do you any good," answered the interpreter promptly.

"Then I should like to learn about your God," said the old chief.

Tatai, in reply, promised that he would try and send some one who would
teach them more about the white man's God, and what He desired them to
do, and teach them how to pray to Him.

Mr Charlton was much pleased with what Tatai had said, and promised
that he would also try to have either a native or English missionary
sent to them. He then made more presents to the old chief, made further
inquiries about the vessels of the supposed man-stealers, and, after a
friendly farewell to the old chief and his companions, pulled back to
the ship.

Thus a visit which threatened to prove disastrous, by judicious
management gave promise of being productive of great good to the
islanders.

After this, the Ajax visited several other islands, searching for the
man-stealers. Some were inhabited, others had the remains of huts,
altars, and temples, and had been deserted; and on others no signs of
human beings could be discovered.

CHAPTER TEN.

TELLS ABOUT MISSION WORK.

Mr Martin had, as it may be remembered, promised to give Ben and his
son an account of the introduction of Christianity among the islands of
the Pacific. One day, during a calm, when the ship floated idly on the
ocean, her sails scarcely even flapping against the masts, Tom, on going
below, declared that it was too hot to read or think or sleep, and that
he did not know what he should do with himself.

"It is not too hot to prevent you from listening though, Master Tom,"
said his father, who did not like to see any one idle from any excuse.
"Call Ben Hadden, and I'll tell you and him something which will
interest you, or ought to do so, at all events."

Ben soon came, and the boatswain told him and Tom to sit down just
outside his cabin, where there was more air than inside.

"Now listen, youngsters; I'm not going to throw my breath away on
unwilling ears," he began.

"I am listening, sir," said Ben.

"So am I, father," said Tom, "but I can't promise to keep awake if the
yarn is a lo