ils, they returned with us to the settlement. They made signs, as
they examined the canoe, that she would require much repair before she
was again fit to put to sea. She was, to our eyes, a wonderful
structure. There was not a nail in her; all her planks were sewed
together, and secured in the same way to the ribs. This made her very
strong and elastic, and accounted for her being able to endure the rough
seas to which she must have been exposed.

Several days passed away, and our guests showed that they were
recovering from the effects of their voyage. All this time we could not
tell from whence they had come, or where they were going. They tried to
explain, but we could not understand them. They were coming from some
Christian island, and they were probably going to one; or, perhaps, they
were native missionaries anxious to carry the gospel of salvation to
their benighted fellow-beings among the inhabitants of Polynesia. We
soon came to the conclusion that some were missionaries, who had their
wives and children with them. One was a chief, who was escorting them,
and the rest were the seamen of the canoe. Mr Brand arrived at this
conclusion.

"But, sir," said Jerry, "I thought missionaries always wore black coats
and white ties!"

"John the Baptist was a missionary, but his raiment was of camel's hair,
and his food locusts and wild honey," was the answer. "A man may be a
first-rate missionary who dresses in a fustian jacket and leather
gaiters, or whose costume is not more elaborate than that of these poor
people. A friend of mine told me that he has often, sitting hammer in
hand on the roof of a cottage nailing on shingles, preached the gospel
to a congregation who were as attentive as if he were in a high pulpit,
and were habited in lawn sleeves."

There was something in the manner and the grave and thoughtful
countenances of the missionaries which enabled us to distinguish them
from the rest, and the one who already spoke a few words in English
quickly acquired more by which to explain himself.

When they grew strong enough to move about, they made signs that they
would not longer consume our store of provisions, but would, if we would
let them have our canoes go and fish for themselves. To this, of
course, we gladly consented; and they never came back without offering
us a portion of what they had caught. We saw that they were preparing
to remain some time on the island. They built themselves h