WE REMAIN CONCEALED, NONE OF OUR FRIENDS APPEARING.--MAUD SEES A PERSON
ON THE HILL.--OUR ALARM.--WE AGAIN HEAR VOICES AND FOOTSTEPS.--OUR
NATIVE FRIENDS RETURN AND BRING US SAD TIDINGS; YET WE HAVE CAUSE TO BE
THANKFUL THAT SOME HAVE ESCAPED.--WE ARE MAKING OUR WAY TO A CANOE, WHEN
THE HEATHENS PURSUE US.--ESCAPE.--CHARLES NORTON GIVES ME HIS HISTORY.
Two more days passed away, and none of our friends had come near us. We
began to fear that they had been seized by the heathens. Should such be
the case, what must be our fate!
"We will wait where we are till our provisions are exhausted, and then
we must make our way down to the sea-shore, and perhaps we may be seen
by some passing ship and taken off," said Maud. "Anything will be
better than trusting ourselves to the savage heathens."
I agreed with her that this was the only plan we could follow, that,
indeed, was almost a hopeless one.
"But suppose papa has been detained longer than he expected with Mr
Hilton, and returns to the settlement. If so, we may see him and reach
his canoe," said Maud. She always called my father papa.
This idea of Maud's gave me new hope, and then I thought how sad must be
our meeting when I should have to tell him of our mother's death.
Our chief want in our cavern was water; but Maud managed, by creeping
under the bushes, where she was sure she could not be seen, to reach a
pool filled by the never ceasing spray from the cascade. I entreated
her, however, not to go out often, for I was afraid of her foot
slipping, or, notwithstanding her assertion, that some native passing
over the mountain above us might catch a glimpse of her. She agreed,
therefore, to wait till just after dawn, when no one was likely to be at
so great a distance from any habitation. She went out one morning to
fill the gourd, which held our store of water, and when she came back
she told me that she had seen a person looking down towards her from a
point a long way up above the top of the waterfall.
"I did not stop to look a second time," she said, "but, crouching down,
crept back, in the hopes that he might not have discovered me."
This circumstance caused us great alarm; still we hoped that even had
any one seen her, he might not be able to discover the entrance to our
cavern.
"Perhaps the person I saw may have been Tofa, or the young Englishman,"
exclaimed Maud, as if the thought had suddenly struck her. "They would
naturally come to look for us, especially should they know that any of
our friends had been discovered by the heathens, and they might assist
us greatly."
"I trust that our friends have escaped," I said. "Though it seems
strange that they should be so long in returning to us, and as Tofa and
the young Englishman are strangers, I would rather trust myself to those
whose fidelity has been well tried."
"Oh, but I am sure that the Englishman would defend us with his life,"
said Maud. "I was struck by the good expression of his countenance, and
the way he behaved during the few moments we saw him. I do trust that
he has escaped, and I long to know who he is, for I am sure that he is
not a common sailor."
In this I agreed with Maud: indeed, had I not known that it is imprudent
to trust strangers, I should have been _very_ thankful to obtain his
assistance. Although he might be the person Maud had soon, we knew that
it would be very unwise to venture out of our concealment.
"Still I should like to try and look out through the brushwood, and then
should we see him approaching, and be sure that it is him, we might make
ourselves known," said Maud.
As Maud was sure that she could do as she proposed without being
discovered, I did not forbid her, though I felt that it might be wiser
to remain as closely concealed as we had been hitherto. Still no one
approached.
"After all, I may have been mistaken," said Maud, coming back and
sitting down by my side.
We were employed as usual in reading, when the sound of voices at a
distance reached our ears, coming apparently up the ravine. "Can they
be the savages returning to look for us," whispered Maud.
"I think that their voices would sound very differently to those we
hear," I answered. "They would be wildly shrieking and shouting, unless
they intended to attack an enemy unprepared for them. Still, as the
persons may possibly be strangers, we will keep concealed."
We remained seated on the ground, hoping that should enemies be
approaching, they would pass by without discovering us. The footsteps
grew nearer. We could hear them climbing up the precipice to the ledge
on which the cavern opened. Maud, notwithstanding her usual courage,
trembled violently.
The boughs were drawn aside, when several natives appeared in front of
us. A second glance showed us that they were entirely clothed according
to the custom of the converts, and then, to our joy, we saw that Abela
was among them. We sprang up and threw ourselves into her arms.
"My children," she said, "we have left you long; but we have had many
difficulties to encounter, and, alas! disasters have overtaken our
friends. But come, we have no time to lose, we will tell you more as we
go along."
We were thankful to find that besides Abela, those who had accompanied
us to our hiding-place had likewise escaped. Our friends having taken
the baskets, and the remainder of our provisions, we set off down the
ravine, which led, as we supposed, towards the sea-shore. I immediately
inquired of Abela if she had heard of my father.
"Alas! no, my child," she answered, "Our good pastor's canoe has not
returned; we have anxiously kept watch for him, and he could scarcely
have reached the shore without having been observed." I then inquired
for Nanari, who might, I hoped, have escaped. "He died faithfully at
his post with those whom he would not desert," she answered. "He was
entreated by the sick and wounded to fly, but would not, and then, alas!
the savage people rushed in and slew him."
She then told me that Lisele was safe, although she had run great risk
of being captured by the heathens. The fleet we had seen was the
remnant of that with which Masaugu had set sail. Though at first
victorious in his expedition, he had been attacked by overwhelming
numbers of his enemies, and, with the loss of a large portion of his
warriors, and many of his canoes, had with difficulty reached the
island. On his arrival he found a large party of the heathens, who had
heard that he intended to lotu, arrayed against him, and once more he
had to put to sea. He had, however, reached the end of the island where
we now were. There Lisele had joined him, and, at her earnest
entreaties, he had left a canoe to convoy us away. Abela told us also
that Tofa and the young Englishman had been communicated with, and she
hoped that they would be found already on board the canoe.
"Oh then we will proceed at once to Mr Hilton's station," I exclaimed.
"What joy it will be if we find that my father has not yet quitted it."
"Such are Masaugu's intentions," said Abela. "He has seen the folly of
his conduct in going to attack his enemies when so earnestly warned by
your father, and now he wishes to remain with the Christian missionary,
that he may receive instruction in the truths he before despised."
The news we thus received caused us many conflicting feeling's. We
deeply grieved for the loss of the faithful Nanari, while my anxiety
about my father was still unrelieved. Yet we rejoiced that Masaugu,
through the severe lesson he had received, should have been induced to
seek for Christian instruction.
Our path down the ravine was extremely difficult, and often dangerous,
and we could make but slow progress. Abela, however, hurried on as fast
as we could venture to proceed, for she feared that the heathens,
knowing that many of the Christians had escaped, would be searching for
us, and that although they might not dare to follow Masaugu's fleet,
they would not hesitate to attack the single canoe, with only a small
party on board. At length we caught sight of the blue ocean, but the
sparkling white lines of foam I saw dancing over it, made me fear that
the canoe would have a hard buffet with the waves.
We were already not far from the beach, when we saw two persons running
towards us--they were Tofa and the young Englishman. "Hasten," they
exclaimed; "a large band of our enemies are coming along the shore, and
we have been in dread that you would be cut off." The latter, who of
course spoke in English, took Maud and me by the hands to assist us, and
helped along by him we soon reached the boat. The crew stood ready with
poles to urge on the canoe into deep water. We were speedily on board,
and launching forth; the wind being favourable, a large triangular mat
sail was set, and we glided away from the beach.
Scarcely had we got beyond the reach of their spears, than the savages
arrived at the spot we had left. Several were hurled at us, but happily
no one was hit, and the next shower, which the vindictive savages darted
from their hands, fell short of our canoe.
Abela and every Christian with her knelt down on the deck and offered up
an earnest prayer--in which we joined--that the hearts of our foes might
be changed, and that they would ere long be brought to know the truth.
The savages continued shrieking and shouting at us till we had got
outside the reef. Happily no canoe was near, or they would undoubtedly
have followed us.
We could see Masaugu's fleet in the far distance; but as our canoe was
smaller than any of his we could not hope to overtake him. I was
thankful, however, to find that he was steering towards Mr Hilton's
station, where we hoped in time to arrive. The sea was, as I had
feared, very rough, and though our canoe was strong and buoyant, she was
tossed much about, and had it not been for the assistance of the young
Englishman and Tofa, we should have had great difficulty in clinging to
the deck. In the centre was a small house or cabin, generally used by
the chief or owner of the canoe, and this we found was to be devoted to
our use at night as a sleeping place. Still, as I surveyed the
curiously-constructed and apparently weak vessel, I could not help
feeling that a voyage on board her of the length we were about to
attempt, must be attended with much danger. Happily we could say at sea
as on shore, "We will trust ourselves to the care of One all-powerful to
save."
As I now had a better opportunity of observing the young stranger more
particularly than before, I felt more convinced than at first that he
was a person of education. His manner towards Maud and me especially,
was retiring and reserved, and he seemed unwilling to intrude himself
upon us. After some time, however, he came and sat near us, and thanked
me for the note I had written, which, as he supposed, had not only been
the means of obtaining his freedom, but of his life being preserved.
"I wrote merely on the possibility of any European having escaped the
massacre which I understood had taken place," I answered. "I can
therefore claim no thanks from you."
"I am not the less grateful," he answered. "I had so fully expected to
be killed, that I feel like one risen from the dead."
"I trust that you have risen to newness of life," I ventured to say, for
I am sure it was a remark my father would have made, and I felt anxious
to be assured that the young man was under religious impressions. It
was an opportunity indeed I dare not let pass by.
"Yes, Miss Liddiard, I do feel that," he exclaimed. "And with what
horror do I reflect what would have been my doom had I died with my
companions. I knew the truth when I was a boy, for I had been brought
up by a pious father and mother, but I became careless and wild, and
neglected all their precepts and warnings. I went on from bad to worse,
and at length, believing that if I could get out to the Pacific--of
which I had read--I could enjoy unfettered liberty and licence, I
shipped on board a vessel bound out, round Cape Horn. Having knocked
about in the way I proposed for some time, though, as may be supposed, I
did not find the life among rough seamen and fierce savages as agreeable
as I had expected, I at length reached Sydney in New South Wales. I
there joined the sandal wood trader, which has been so fearfully
destroyed.
"Just before going on board I met an old friend of my father's, a
missionary, whom I had known at home. He spoke to me seriously, and
warned me against joining the vessel, knowing as he did, the lawless
character of her crew. He offered to obtain my discharge if I would
come and live with him. His words made a deep impression on my heart,
although I was too self-willed to follow his advice. During the voyage,
while we were sailing from island to island, those words often and often
recurred to my mind. I in vain attempted to drive them from me. When I
saw my companions being put to death--expecting to meet the same fate--
how earnestly I wished that I had followed my friend's counsels. I
could only utter, `Lord be merciful to me a sinner,' and entreated God
to protect me. When I found myself so unexpectedly preserved, I
remembered the prayer I had uttered, and resolved to give myself to the
service of God in any way He might open out for me. You now know my
brief history, Miss Liddiard. I felt bound to give it you, but I am
unwilling to trouble you with more than I have already told you about
myself. My name is Charles Norton."
"You can have no difficulty in finding opportunities of serving God, Mr
Norton," I exclaimed. "When we see thousands and tens of thousands of
human beings scattered about this broad Pacific ignorant of Him, and
given over to abominable heathen practices, all requiring to be fed with
the bread of life. Why should you not prepare yourself to go forth as a
missionary among them?"
"I feel that I am too unworthy and sinful to undertake so serious an
office," he said humbly.
"No human being could be qualified to go forth as a missionary of the
gospel trusting alone to his own merits, and no one would be found to
undertake the office were all influenced by the opinion you express," I
observed. "All must feel their unworthiness and we must take God at His
word, and believe that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin,
and then go forth and declare what great things He has done for us. I
repeat what I have heard my father say:--We must not trust to our
feelings, but we must believe that God is a rewarder of those who
diligently serve Him, not only of those who have all along done so."
"You have given me new life and hope," exclaimed the young man.
"Henceforth, if my life is spared, after having prepared myself for the
task, I will devote it to making known the gospel to the poor heathens
of these regions."