r
Him!"

"Strange!" said Mamba, while the old man gazed at the two soiled leaves
as if lost in meditation, "strange that you should show this to me. I
have come--but tell me," he said, breaking off abruptly, "what do you
wish me to do?"

"This," said the old man, pointing to the leaves, as though he had not
heard the question, "is all that I possess of the Word of God. Ah! well
do I remember the time--many years past now--when I had the whole Bible.
It was such a happy time then--when good King Radama reigned, and the
missionaries had schools and churches and meetings--when we prayed and
sang to our heart's content, and the Bible was printed, by the wonderful
machines brought by the white men, in our own language, and we learned
to read it. I was young then, and strong; but I don't think my heart
was so warm as it is now! Learning to read was hard--hard; but the Lord
made me able, and when I got a Bible all to myself I thought there was
nothing more to wish for. But the good Radama died, and Ranavalona sits
upon his throne. You know she has burned many Bibles. Mine was found
and burned, but she did not suspect me. I suppose I am too poor and
worthless for her to care about! Perhaps we did not think enough of the
happy times when we had them! A brother gave me these two leaves. They
are all that I have left now."

Again the old man paused, and the younger forbore to interrupt his
thoughts. Presently he looked up, and continued, "When the missionary
Ellis was on his way to the coast I met him and asked for a Bible. He
had not a spare one to give me. He was very sorry, but said if I could
find any one going to Tamatave who would carry a Bible back to me, he
would send one. Now you have come. Will you see the great missionary,
or, if he is away, find one of the other men of God, and fetch me a
Bible?"

There was a trembling earnestness in the old wood-cutter's voice which
showed how eager he was about the answer. Mamba readily promised, and
then, after singing and praying together, these like-minded men retired
to rest.

Next morning Mamba pursued his way eastward with rapid step, for he was
anxious--yet with a glad heart, for he was hopeful. Many things of
interest were presented to his gaze, but though he observed them well he
did not suffer them to turn him aside for a moment from his purpose--
which was to reach Tamatave in the shortest possible time, so as to meet
and converse with the missiona