a man in good position among the
aristocracy of the land, and occupied a post of trust in the Queen's
service. At that time the first great persecution of the Christians had
begun. It was known that Andrianivo favoured the Christians. On the
question being put to him, he frankly admitted that he was one of them.
He was therefore despoiled of all he possessed, and banished into
perpetual exile and slavery. He was sent in chains to a pestilential
part of the island, with the intention that toil and disease should end
his life. So secretly and promptly was he spirited away that no one
could tell the precise locality to which he had been banished. His
heart-broken wife and child were also sold, but were taken to a more
healthy region, where the child grew and became a stout boy; his little
mother, meanwhile, acting the part of a meek and faithful slave. She
would probably have lived and died in this condition had not her stout
son, when he grew up, resolved to become free. His mother had taught
him what she knew of the Christian religion. From Ravonino he learned
more, and heard of the escaped Christians who found a refuge in forests
and mountains. Finally he persuaded his mother to run away with him,
and thus it came about that we find them with the band of which Ravonino
was leader--Laihova being lieutenant of the band.

An occasion for the display of his affectionate nature was afforded to
Mamba on the morning we write of. Active as a kitten, though
middle-aged, Reni-Mamba was skipping from rock to rock in a very rugged
part of their route, when, her foot slipping, she fell and sprained her
ankle badly.

Mamba was close to her.

"Mother!" he exclaimed, hurrying forward and raising her carefully, "why
jump about like the squirrel? Are you hurt?"

"My son, help me to rise."

Gently the youth lifted her, and set her on her feet, whereupon she sank
down again with a little shriek, and looked up with an expression of
mingled humour and pain.

"My leg, I think, is broken!" said Reni. For the sake of brevity we
will drop the "Mamba."

"Surely not, mother; it has been too tough and strong to break ever
since I knew it."

Mamba spoke encouragingly; nevertheless, he examined the limb with
anxious care. Being ignorant of surgery his examination was not of much
use, but, fortunately, just then Mark Breezy, who had lingered behind to
gather some plants, arrived on the scene. He found the injury to be a
bad