where the heathens cannot find you."

"We will place ourselves under your guidance," I answered, "but you must
also take care that this stranger does not again fall into the hands of
the heathens," I added, turning to the young man who was standing at the
door, and who appeared to be above the rank of a common sailor. "Tell
me," I asked, "are you the only person who has escaped from the vessel,
which we heard was burned the other day along the coast?"

"I fear that such is the case, and why my life was spared I cannot tell
you," he answered. "I jumped overboard, and was swimming towards the
shore, when I was taken up by a canoe, in which was a young chief, who
made signs that he would protect me, and faithfully kept his word. I
should have remained with him had I not received a note sent, I presume,
by you."

This was said in a hurried tone, while Nanari was arranging a plan for
our safety.

I told the stranger of the warning we had just received from Tofa of the
threatened attack by the heathens, supposing that he might not have
understood what the lad might have said to him.

While some of our friends ran off to the huts to obtain provisions,
Abela and Lisele taking our hands, told us that we must set off at once
to the mountains, till the fury of the heathens had ceased. Three or
four of our other friends also prepared to accompany us.

"But what will this stranger do?" I asked. "Surely if the heathens
find him when no longer under the protection of Mafoa, they will put him
to death."

"He is under my care," exclaimed Tofa. "I promised Mafoa that I would
protect him, and I will show them that I am clever enough to hide him
away even although the whole tribe come to look for him."

I explained this to the young stranger, and advised him to put himself
under Tofa's guidance. Nanari having commended us to the care of
Jehovah, we and our friends, not stopping even to obtain anything at the
house, hurried off towards the mountains, while Tofa led the stranger by
a more direct way up a precipice, which was too steep for us to climb.
As we were quitting the chapel, turning my eyes seaward for a moment, I
caught sight of several sails dotting the ocean in the far distance. I
pointed them out to Lisele.

"They may be my father's canoes," she exclaimed, "and he might arrive in
time to protect us."

"Alas! even should they be Masaugu's fleet, they may be too late for
that," said Abela. "We must not delay o