not see anything but the dark mass of their
bodies and the gleaming of their eyes, and they sat so still that when
she stopped she could only hear the sighing of the wind among the palm
tops. It was all very wonderful to them. Sometimes they would ask
questions, chiefly about the life after death, which was such a mystery
to them, and, when they rose, they slipped away softly to their homes to
talk about this strange new religion that was so different from their
own.

It was the time of storms, and one day when Ma was sitting sewing the
sky grew dark, lightning flashed, thunder crashed, and floods fell. The
roof of the hut was blown away, and she was drenched to the skin, and
for a time was ill with fever and nigh to death.

[Illustration: MRS. SLESSOR AND JANIE.]

On the way back at night to Old Town another tornado burst, flooding the
canoe, and tossing it about like a match-box on the raging waves. The
crew lost their wits, and Ma thought they would be upset. But putting
aside her own fear for the sake of others, she made the men paddle into
the mangrove, where they jumped into the branches like monkeys and held
on to the canoe until the danger was passed. All were sitting in water,
and Ma was wet through and shaking with ague. She became so ill that
when Old Town was reached she had to be carried up to the Mission House.
Yet she did not go to bed until she had made hot tea for the children,
and tucked them snugly away for the night.

Soon afterwards another tornado destroyed her house, and she and the
children escaped through the wind and rain to the home of some white
traders who were very kind to her. But she was so ill after all she had
gone through that she was ordered to Scotland, and had again to be
carried on board the steamer. She would not leave Janie behind her, as
she was afraid the people would murder her, and so the girl-twin also
sailed with her across the sea.

Ma soon grew strong in her native air, and one Sunday she went to her
old church in Dundee with Janie, and there that morning the little black
child was given the name that had been chosen for her. With her black
skin and her solemn eyes she was a curious sight to the boys and girls,
and they came crowding round and begged to be allowed to hold her for a
little. She appeared at many of the meetings to which Ma went, and
during the address would sit on the platform munching biscuits, which
she was always ready to share with every one near