ng all who would listen
to us to attend the Mission meeting where South Sea Islands idols,
weapons, and dresses would be exhibited, and stories of the Natives
told.

Running back for a hurried cup of tea, I then hasted to the Hall, and
found it crowded to excess with rough and boisterous diggers. The hour
struck as I was getting my articles arranged and spread out upon the
table, and they began shouting, "Where's the Missionary?"--"Another
hoax!"--indicating that they were not unwilling for a row. I learned
that, only a few nights ago, a so-called Professor had advertised a
lecture, lifted entrance money till the Hall was crowded, and then
quietly slipped off the scene. In our case, though there was no charge,
they seemed disposed to gratify themselves by some sort of promiscuous
revenge.

Amidst the noisy chaff and rising uproar, I stepped up on the table, and
said, "Gentlemen, I am the Missionary. If you will now be silent, the
lecture will proceed. According to my usual custom, let us open the
meeting with prayer."

The hush that fell was such a contrast to the preceding hubbub, that I
heard my heart throbbing aloud! Then they listened to me for an hour, in
perfect silence and with ever-increasing interest. At the close I
intimated that I asked no collection; but if, after what they had heard,
they would take a Collecting Card for the new Mission Ship, and send any
contributions to the Treasurer at Melbourne, I would praise God for
sending me amongst them. Many were heartily taken, and doubtless some
souls felt the "constraining love," who had till then been living
without God.

CHAPTER XLVIII.
JOHN GILPIN IN THE BUSH.

THE crowning adventure of my tour in Australia came about in the
following manner. I was advertised to conduct Services at Narracoort on
Sabbath, and at a Station on the way on Saturday evening. But how to get
from Penola was a terrible perplexity. On Saturday morning, however, a
young lady offered me, out of gratitude for blessings received, the use
of her riding horse for the journey. "Garibaldi" was his name; and,
though bred for a race-horse, I was assured that if I kept him firmly in
hand, he would easily carry me over the two-and-twenty miles. He was to
be left at the journey's end, and the lady herself would fetch him back.
I shrank from the undertaking, knowing little of horses, and having
vague recollections of being dreadfully punished for more than a week
after my last and almos