ht of a canoe,
which, on discovering us, as it seemed, paddled off at right angles to
avoid us--her people evidently mistrusting our character. We instantly
altered our course to cut her off, and approached her with our
missionary flag flying. No sooner was this discovered than the canoe
turned again towards us. She soon drew near, when we recognised the
people in her as belonging to the station. By their gestures and
countenances we had too much reason to believe that they brought us evil
tidings. "Haste! haste! haste!" they exclaimed, leaping on board. "A
heathen fleet has arrived at the island, and the chief threatens to
attack the station. Even now he may have begun the onslaught, for his
fury was great. Haste! haste! haste!"

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

THE LAUNCH OF THE OLIVE BRANCH.

We now understood more of the dangers to which the families of
missionaries have often been exposed in all parts of the world. I must
own that in my fears for Mary Bent's safety, my own faith and fortitude
were well nigh giving way. Mr Bent retained his calmness in a
wonderful manner. "All things are in God's hands," he observed. "He
will guide them as He knows to be best. We have to go on labouring to
the utmost of our power, leaving the rest to Him." I felt that I must
be in action, and hauling the canoe on board with the aid of her crew,
we got out the paddles and urged our craft ahead somewhat faster than
the wind was doing. Every moment might be of consequence. As the
cannibal chief, exasperated at having been deprived of Alea, might
attempt to carry off Mary, the very thought drove me almost distracted.
I had had few or no trials in life, and was not prepared for this one.

Mr Bent wished to ascertain whether, if required, we could depend on
the assistance of our new friends. They had heard what had occurred,
and at once volunteered to use every means in their power to prevent
their chief from doing harm, even to turning against him.

"He will live perhaps to thank us," one of them, a young and intelligent
chief, observed. "At all events you have bound us to serve you."

All now seemed to depend on our arriving before the attack had begun.
We trusted that if not begun we should be able to prevent it. Meantime
all we could do was to offer up constant, earnest prayer for the
protection of one so dear to us, and for all those at the settlement.
The wind, hitherto blowing a strong breeze, now fell light, and our