e mast; an' there
they are! They never goes at the investigation o' the subject as a man
investigates mathematics, or navigation, or logarithms; so they're like
a ship at sea without a chart. Niggers, no man can claim to be wise
unless he can `render a reason.' He _may_ be, p'raps, but he can't
_claim_ to be. _I_ believe the Bible's true because o' two facts. Fust
of all, men of the highest intellec' have found it true, an tried it,
an' practised its teachin's, an' rested their souls on it. In the
second place, as the parsons say, _I_ have tried it, an' found it true
as fur as I've gone. I've sailed accordin to the chart, an' have struck
on no rocks or shoals as yet. I've bin wery near it; but, thank God, I
wasn't allowed to take the wrong course altogether, though I've got to
confess that I wanted to, many a time. Now, wot does all this here come
to?" demanded Jarwin, gazing round on his audience, who were intensely
interested, though they did not understand much of what he said, "wot
_does_ it come to? W'y that, havin' wisely given up yer idols, an'
taken to the true God, the next best thing you can do is to go off at
once to Raratonga, an' git the best adwice you can from those wot are
trained for to give it. I can't say no fairer than that, for, as to
askin' adwice on religious matters from the likes o' me, w'y the thing's
parfitly ridiklous!"

Jarwin sat down amid a murmur of applause. In a few minutes an old
chief rose to reply. His words were to the effect that, although there
was much in their white brother's speech beyond their understanding--
which was not to be wondered at, considering that he was so learned, and
they so ignorant--there was one part of it which he thoroughly agreed
with, namely, that a party should be sent to Raratonga to inform the
Cookee missionaries as to what had taken place, to ask advice, and to
beg one of the Cookees to come and live permanently on their island, and
teach them the Christian religion. Another chief followed with words
and sentiments to much the same effect. Then Big Chief gave orders that
the canoes for the deputation should be got ready without delay, and the
meeting broke up with loud shouts and other pleasant demonstrations.

Matters having been thus satisfactorily arranged, Jarwin returned to his
hut with a grateful heart, to meditate on the happy turn that had taken
place in his prospects. Finding the hut not quite congenial to his
frame of mind, a