prayed, not that God
would give the victory to the chief, but that He would turn his heart
and make him to know the truth.

As we were leaving the beach we saw another canoe coming round a
headland through the lagoon, which she had entered by a further off
passage. Had the strange canoe been a little sooner she would have
encountered the fleet, and very likely have been stopped and compelled
to accompany the war party. Her appearance caused us some anxiety. If
she had heathens on board, they might land and rob us, or cause us even
more serious annoyance. We continued to watch her, as we knew that we
should have plenty of time to escape and give warning at the village
before she could come to shore. At length we discovered a flag flying
from the end of her yard, and great was my joy to see that on it was
worked a dove with the olive branch of peace--I consequently hoped that
a missionary might be on board coming to visit us. We waited therefore
for the arrival of the canoe. We could distinguish, however, as she
drew near, only natives on her deck. They all were in the dress adopted
by Christian converts--in shirts and trousers.

The canoe soon ran up on the beach, when a native stepped on shore with
a letter in his hand. He told me that he had been sent by Mr Hilton, a
missionary stationed on an island about fifty miles off. Mr Hilton was
very ill, and entreated my father to come and see him; for, believing
that he should not recover, he was anxious to commit his motherless
children to his charge. We accordingly conducted the messenger up to
the house.

The letter caused my father much grief and perplexity. He sorrowed to
hear of his friend's illness, and felt anxious to go to him, and yet he
was unwilling to leave my mother and us for so long a time, when the
settlement might possibly be annoyed by heathens. Still he knew that he
could with confidence leave the instruction of the people to Nanari, who
would also protect my mother and us to the best of his power. He sent
for Nanari, and spoke to him on the subject.

"God helping me, I will do all that man can do," answered Nanari. "And
nothing shall tempt me to quit the post you have committed to my
charge."

My mother, feeling for our poor friend and for the young ones who might
soon be deprived of his protection, sacrificing her own wishes, urged my
father to go as he was requested. As there was no time to be lost if he
would see his friend alive,