eady not far from the beach, when we saw two persons running
towards us--they were Tofa and the young Englishman. "Hasten," they
exclaimed; "a large band of our enemies are coming along the shore, and
we have been in dread that you would be cut off." The latter, who of
course spoke in English, took Maud and me by the hands to assist us, and
helped along by him we soon reached the boat. The crew stood ready with
poles to urge on the canoe into deep water. We were speedily on board,
and launching forth; the wind being favourable, a large triangular mat
sail was set, and we glided away from the beach.

Scarcely had we got beyond the reach of their spears, than the savages
arrived at the spot we had left. Several were hurled at us, but happily
no one was hit, and the next shower, which the vindictive savages darted
from their hands, fell short of our canoe.

Abela and every Christian with her knelt down on the deck and offered up
an earnest prayer--in which we joined--that the hearts of our foes might
be changed, and that they would ere long be brought to know the truth.
The savages continued shrieking and shouting at us till we had got
outside the reef. Happily no canoe was near, or they would undoubtedly
have followed us.

We could see Masaugu's fleet in the far distance; but as our canoe was
smaller than any of his we could not hope to overtake him. I was
thankful, however, to find that he was steering towards Mr Hilton's
station, where we hoped in time to arrive. The sea was, as I had
feared, very rough, and though our canoe was strong and buoyant, she was
tossed much about, and had it not been for the assistance of the young
Englishman and Tofa, we should have had great difficulty in clinging to
the deck. In the centre was a small house or cabin, generally used by
the chief or owner of the canoe, and this we found was to be devoted to
our use at night as a sleeping place. Still, as I surveyed the
curiously-constructed and apparently weak vessel, I could not help
feeling that a voyage on board her of the length we were about to
attempt, must be attended with much danger. Happily we could say at sea
as on shore, "We will trust ourselves to the care of One all-powerful to
save."

As I now had a better opportunity of observing the young stranger more
particularly than before, I felt more convinced than at first that he
was a person of education. His manner towards Maud and me especially,
was retiring and re