THE LAST AWFUL NIGHT.
WORN out with long watching and many fatigues, I lay down that night
early, and fell into a deep sleep. About ten o'clock the savages again
surrounded the Mission House. My faithful dog Clutha, clinging still to
me amid the wreck of all else on earth, sprang quietly upon me, pulled
at my clothes, and awoke me, showing danger in her eye glancing at me
through the shadows. I silently awoke Mr. and Mrs. Mathieson, who had
also fallen asleep. We committed ourselves in hushed prayer to God and
watched them, knowing that they could not see us. Immediately a glare of
light fell into the room! Men passed with flaming torches; and first
they set fire to the Church all round, and then to a reed fence
connecting the Church and the dwelling-house. In a few minutes the
house, too, would be in flames, and armed savages waiting to kill us on
attempting an escape!
Taking my harmless revolver in the left hand and a little American
tomahawk in the right, I pleaded with Mr. Mathieson to let me out and
instantly to again lock the door on himself and wife. He very
reluctantly did so, holding me back and saying, "Stop here and let us
die together! You will never return!"
I said, "Be quick! Leave that to God. In a few minutes our house will be
in flames, and then nothing can save us."
He did let me out, and locked the door again quickly from the inside;
and, while his wife and he prayed and watched for me from within, I ran
to the burning reed fence, cut it from top to bottom, and tore it up and
threw it back into the flames, so that the fire could not by it be
carried to our dwelling-house. I saw on the ground shadows, as if
something were falling around me, and started back. Seven or eight
savages had surrounded me, and raised their great clubs in air. I heard
a shout--"Kill him! Kill him!" One savage tried to seize hold of me,
but, leaping from his clutch, I drew the revolver from my pocket and
leveled it as for use, my heart going up in prayer to my God. I said,
"Dare to strike me, and my Jehovah God will punish you. He protects us,
and will punish you for burning His Church, for hatred to His Worship
and people, and for all your bad conduct. We love you all; and for doing
you good only, you want to kill us. But our God is here now to protect
us and to punish you."
They yelled in rage, and urged each other to strike the first blow, but
the Invisible One restrained them. I stood invulnerable beneath His
invisible shield, and succeeded in rolling back the tide of flame from
our dwelling-house.
At this dread moment occurred an incident, which my readers may explain
as they like, but which I trace directly to the interposition of my God.
A rushing and roaring sound came from the South, like the noise of a
mighty engine or of muttering thunder. Every head was instinctively
turned in that direction, and they knew, from previous hard experience,
that it was one of their awful tornadoes of wind and rain. Now, mark,
the wind bore the flames away from our dwelling-house; had it come in
the opposite direction, no power on earth could have saved us from being
all consumed! It made the work of destroying the Church only that of a
few minutes; but it brought with it a heavy and murky cloud, which
poured out a perfect torrent of tropical rain. Now, mark again, the
flames of the burning Church were thereby cut off from extending to and
seizing upon the reeds and the bush; and, besides, it had become almost
impossible now to set fire to our dwelling-house. The stars in their
courses were fighting against Sisera!
The mighty roaring of the wind, the black cloud pouring down unceasing
torrents, and the whole surroundings, awed those savages into silence.
Some began to withdraw from the scene, all lowered their weapons of war,
and several, terror-struck, exclaimed, "That is Jehovah's rain! Truly
their Jehovah God is fighting for them and helping them. Let us away!" A
panic seized upon them; they threw away their remaining torches; in a
few moments they had all disappeared in the bush; and I was left alone,
praising God for His marvelous works. "O taste and see that God is good!
Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him!"
Returning to the door of the Mission House, I cried, "Open and let me
in. I am now all alone."
Mr. Mathieson let me in, and exclaimed, "If ever, in time of need, God
sent help and protection to His servants in answer to prayer, He has
done so to-night! Blessed be His holy Name!"
In fear and in joy we united our praises. Truly our Jesus has all power,
not less in the elements of Nature than in the savage hearts of the
Tannese. Precious Jesus! Often since have I wept over His love and mercy
in that deliverance, and prayed that every moment of my remaining life
may be consecrated to the service of my precious Friend and Saviour!