mpanied by two Christian people of her
tribe, who promised to protect her from the heathens, and aid her return
should it be opposed, even although they might risk their lives in so
doing. We were very sorry to lose her, as we feared that efforts would
be made to prevent her returning among us.

Maud could not restrain her tears. "I know too well how cruelly these
heathens can act," she said. "They will not hesitate to carry her off
to some distant island, whence she cannot possibly escape; or, if she
offends them by what she says, they may even kill her." Dear Maud had
indeed had bitter experience of the barbarities often committed by the
savage islanders.

My father had for some years been a missionary in another part of the
Pacific, when it was settled that he should occupy the Station where we
now were. I was too young at the time to remember much about what
occurred, so I can describe only what I have heard. As there was then
no missionary vessel to convey us, we embarked on board a whaler, the
Christian captain of which undertook to carry us to our destination. He
was, however, unable to make a direct passage, as he had in the
prosecution of his business first to visit several other places, still,
as no other means of getting where we wished to go were likely to occur,
my father was glad to embrace the opportunity thus offered. We had been
for some time at sea when a fearful storm arose, which compelled us to
run before it under bare poles, and carried us a long way out of our
course. The vessel received also considerable damage, losing one of her
masts and several spars. At length a beautiful island appeared in
sight, covered thickly with trees, and directly ahead was seen a
commodious harbour. The captain therefore ran into it and came to an
anchor, that the damages which the vessel had received might be
repaired. He soon found that it was inhabited by numerous savages, who
pushed off in their canoes to visit the strange ship. He, however, had
so long been acquainted with the treacherous character of the natives of
most of the Pacific islands, that he would allow no one to come on
board, and he had also boarding-nettings triced up to guard against any
sudden attack they might venture to make. We had on board a Sandwich
islander, who managed to make himself understood by the natives.
Through his means our good captain let them know that he wished to cut
down some trees, and that he was ready to pay