s
taken on board.

Ben took a last look at the hut he had so long inhabited, and the garden
he had cultivated with so much care, with a feeling almost of regret,
knowing that he was to part from them for ever. Before leaving them,
however, he planted a number of ripe seeds, and repaired his hut, in
case any other person might be cast on shore on the island. The crosses
were also repaired.

"We had not intended landing on the island till we saw them," observed
Mr Manners. "When our eyes caught sight of them, we knew that some
Christian person must be, or must have been, on the island; and, though
eager to proceed on our voyage, we at once resolved to touch at the
place. I pray that, before long, the time may come for the cross to be
erected on every island throughout the wide Pacific, not as the symbol
of nominal Christianity, of a religion of forms and ceremonies, but as
the sign of a true and living faith, of a spiritual worship acceptable
to God."

The last remarks, though spoken aloud, were made by Mr Manners rather
to himself than to those near him.

All preparations having been made, the whole party, with Ben Hadden,
embarked on board the canoe. She was paddled out into the open sea, the
wind was fair, the sail was hoisted, and Ben soon saw his island home
sink beneath the horizon.

The difficulties in the navigation of the voyage just commenced were
very great. Mr Manners had saved only a boat's compass; he had no
quadrant and no chart. He calculated that they were about sixteen
hundred miles at least from Samoa, for which group he shaped his course.
They expected to meet with several islands on the way, but though the
inhabitants of some of them had been converted to Christianity, those of
others were still sunk in heathen darkness and barbarism. It would be
necessary for them, therefore, to be very careful on which they landed.
In the one case, they would be sure of a friendly reception; in the
other they would be attacked, and probably murdered, if not on their
guard. Ben hoped that at all events they might touch at several
islands, that he might have more opportunities of making inquiries about
Ned. He found that strict discipline was maintained on board the canoe.
All on board were divided into watches, taking regularly their turns of
duty. Morning and evening there were prayers, led by Mr Manners in
English and by Marco in his own language. The day was begun by all
joining in a hymn, then