deck. Her crew with difficulty held on. In another moment she struck,
and it seemed certain that she would be dashed to atoms. Still she
floated, and the water became less broken. She drove on; her bow struck
violently on a sandy beach, and tall trees rose before the eyes of those
on board. They rushed forward, and as the wave receded they scrambled
upwards till they reached the dry sand. How could they tell, though,
that they were not to meet with the fate from which they had a few days
before escaped? The lives of all were mercifully preserved, but it
seemed too likely that their canoe had suffered some material injury
from the blows she had received. A few, not without risk, ventured
again on board, and succeeded in landing most of their scanty supply of
provisions and water. A fire was then, after some time, lighted, round
which they collected to dry their drenched garments.
They were all too anxious to sleep. Soon after daybreak, some persons
were seen approaching in the distance. "Good news, my friends,"
exclaimed Marco, who was watching them; "they wear the dress of
Christians; they are clothed and in their right mind." A party of
natives now came up, and cordially welcomed the shipwrecked strangers.
Some hurried back to bring water and provisions, others examined the
canoe, which it was pretty evident was not in a condition again to go to
sea. Marco found that he could very easily understand them; so could
also Ned Hadden. They said that they had themselves been scarcely a
year before untaught savages, but that a large ship came to their
shores, and that those in her treated them kindly, and that a missionary
was sent who had taught them the new way; that they found it very good,
and that their great wish was to act in accordance with the precepts of
Christianity. The missionary, who had come from Raratonga, was living
not far off, and would soon be with them. Mr Manners, on hearing this
account, and calculating the position of the island, had little doubt
that this was the island visited by the Ajax, the natives of which had
at first given so hostile a reception to those who had landed on their
shores, but had finally been won over by kindness. This opinion was
confirmed when the missionary, a very intelligent Tahitian, arrived. He
said that the people had welcomed him from the first, and that all of
them, young and old, seemed anxious to learn the Truth.
Mr Manners was satisfied from all he saw and heard that a genuine
change had taken place among the people. He found that, though
tolerably industrious, and improving in that respect also, they did not
produce as yet much more food than they required for their own support.
He was therefore unwilling to remain longer among them than was
necessary. All his efforts, however, to get the canoe repaired were
useless, as some of her principal beams were broken, and it became
necessary to pull her to pieces and to rebuild her. He hoped, however,
that, before that could be done, the island would be visited by the
missionary vessel, which would either carry him and his people off, or
through which he might inform Captain Bertram where he was. In the
meantime, that they might not be a burden to the inhabitants, he advised
Marco to offer the services of his people to assist in cultivating the
ground, while he and his seamen set to work to erect more comfortable
huts than any which he had seen on the island. Marco did not refuse to
labour with his hands, but he was also actively employed in assisting
the missionary in preaching to and teaching the people. In this he was
helped by several of his companions. Schools, both for adults and
children, were also formed, and visible progress was made.
Three months fled rapidly by, when one day a native came running up to
Mr Manners' hut, to tell him that a vessel was approaching the island.
He at once went, accompanied by most of his men, to the highest spot in
the neighbourhood, whence he could have a good look-out over the sea.
His heart leaped for joy, for the ship, there could be little doubt of
it, was the Ajax herself. The seamen one and all were agreed that she
was their own ship. She hove to, a boat came on shore, and Mr Martin
and his crew were cordially welcomed by their shipmates. The loss of
the schooner, in consequence of her non-arrival, had been supposed
probable, and the Ajax was now on a cruise to ascertain her fate, and to
rescue any of the survivors of those who had been on board. After doing
this, she was to return to Callao, where the admiral in the Pacific then
was.
It is not necessary to describe the reception Mr Manners and his people
met with on board their ship. Mr Martin was thankful to get back his
son, and more so when he discovered the great change which had taken
place in him. Ned was at once rated on the books of the Ajax as one of
her crew. He had greatly improved since he had been discovered, and,
with Ben constantly at his side, assisted also by Mr Manners, he
continued to progress in Christian knowledge, as well as to improve in
conduct and manners. Captain Bertram offered to receive Marco and his
fellow-islanders on board. Two begged to remain where they were; the
rest accepted his offer, Marco begging that he, with two others who had
volunteered to accompany him, might be landed on the island on which Ned
Hadden had so long resided. This Captain Bertram undertook to do,
hoping that the appearance of a ship-of-war might awe the natives, and
induce them to treat the missionaries with due respect. This plan was
carried out, and Ned, who went on shore first, succeeded in extracting a
promise from their chief that he would protect them. After landing the
natives at their respective islands, the Ajax returned to Callao. There
she remained till her term of service had expired, and she once more
made sail for Old England. Amply was Ben Hadden repaid for all the
dangers he had gone through when he was able to present his long-lost
brother Ned to their widowed mother, not only rescued from the power of
the savages, but from the dominion of sin and Satan.
And now there is not much more to tell about Ben Hadden. The experience
he had had of a seafaring life confirmed his original desire to be a
sailor; and the favour he had won, by his good conduct, in the regards
of the captain and officers of the Ajax, was of great advantage to him,
and led to his promotion in the service. When last we heard of him, Ben
was what is called a warrant-officer, on board an admiral's ship--that
admiral being his first patron and captain.
As long as his mother lived, Ben had the happiness of doing very much
for her comfort, and also in assisting his older brother Ned in
obtaining a good situation on shore; for he had had enough of the sea
and savages, he said. So Mrs Hadden, though she remembered with a
feeling of sadness the loss of her husband and other sons, yet felt and
thankfully acknowledged that her God and Saviour had been very good to
her in sparing those two--Ned and Ben; both of whom heartily adopted,
and lived according to, their father's favourite motto:
"Do Right, whatever comes of it;
And Trust in God."
THE END.