si, they think that because I am now a
Christian I have become a coward! a woman! to bear every abuse and
insult they can heap upon me. But I will show them for once that I am no
coward, that I am still their Chief, and that Christianity does not take
away but gives us courage and nerve."

Springing at one man, he wrenched in a moment the mighty club from his
hands, and swinging it in air above his head like a toy, he cried, "Come
any of you, come all against your Chief! My Jehovah God makes my heart
and arms strong. He will help me in this battle as He helps me in other
things, for He inspires me to show you that Christians are no cowards,
though they are men of peace. Come on, and you will yet know that I am
Kowia your Chief."

All fled as he approached them; and he cried, "Where are the cowards
now?" and handed back to the warrior his club. After this they left him
at peace.

He lived at the Mission House, with his wife and children, and was a
great help and comfort to Abraham and myself. He was allowed to go more
freely and fearlessly amongst the people than any of the rest of our
Mission staff. The ague and fever on me at Mr. Johnston's death so
increased and reduced me to such weakness that I had become insensible,
while Abraham and Kowia alone attended to me. On returning to
consciousness I heard as in a dream Kowia lamenting over me, and
pleading that I might recover, so as to hear and speak with him before
he died. Opening my eyes and looking at him, I heard him say, "Missi,
all our Aneityumese are sick. Missi Johnson is dead. You are very sick,
and I am weak and dying. Alas, when I too am dead, who will climb the
trees and get you a cocoanut to drink? And who will bathe your lips and
brow?"

Here he broke down into deep and long weeping, and then resumed, "Missi,
the Tanna-men hate us all on account of the Worship of Jehovah; and I
now fear He is going to take away all His servants from this land, and
leave my people to the Evil One and his service!"

I was too weak to speak, so he went on, bursting into a soliloquy of
prayer: "O Lord Jesus, Missi Johnston is dead; Thou hast taken him away
from this land. Missi Johnston the woman and Missi Paton are very ill; I
am sick, and Thy servants the Aneityumese are all sick and dying. O
Lord, our Father in Heaven, art Thou going to take away all Thy
servants, and Thy Worship from this dark land? What meanest Thou to do,
O Lord? The Tannese hate Thee and Thy Worsh