g a place of concealment, it may be
discovered by our enemies, and we have little expectation of being in
safety even there."

Mrs Hart spoke to the same effect, but expressed a hope that the enmity
of the heathens might abate, or that friends might arrive who would turn
them from their purpose.

Notwithstanding the threatening aspect of affairs, Mr and Mrs Hart
attended zealously to their missionary duties. Mr Hart not only
preached the gospel, but held a school for men and boys, whom he
instructed in various branches of knowledge, while Mrs Hart taught the
women and girls and young children. Mr Hart also instructed them in
several mechanical arts, and showed them improved methods of cultivating
the ground.

With their assistance he had built the house he inhabited, and had
manufactured most of the furniture it contained, as also the
school-house and chapel, and many of the natives had erected neat
cottages after the same model. Indeed, the whole place already wore an
air of civilisation and comfort, which contrasted greatly with the
heathen portion of the island.

The missionary and his wife were employed from morning till night among
their converts, and much of the time spent in their own house was
devoted to study. They enjoyed, indeed, none of that luxurious ease
which some people in England suppose falls to the lot of missionaries in
the sunny isles of the Pacific, but, harassed by numerous cares and
anxieties, their days were spent in toil, while they knew that their
lives were in constant danger.

As soon as Harry and old Tom were able to move about, they begged that
Mr Hart would allow them to assist him in his labours. Harry would
gladly have tried to teach the natives, but his ignorance of their
language prevented him being of use in that way. They both, however,
could carpenter and dig, and accordingly helped in fitting up the
school-house, which had just been erected.

Dickey was soon able to join them. Two days afterwards the three men
had sufficiently recovered to take their share of the work.

Again a rumour reached the settlement that the heathens were about to
attack it.

"I'll tell you what, Harry," said old Tom, when they happened to be
alone together. "There is one thing we ought to do, and that is to get
the boat ready for use. I don't fancy Mr and Mrs Hart hiding away in
the mountains. They are pretty sure to be starved to death, if the
savages don't get hold of them, which I