onsternation from the scene.

But the cup of iniquity was not yet filled up. While the martyrs were
still in the fire, and praying, "O Lord, receive our spirits, and lay
not this sin to their charge," a shouting yelling band arrived, dragging
after them the corpses of the men and women who had perished at the
Place of Hurling Down. These were tossed upon the pile to serve as fuel
to the fire. The poor unrecognisable remains of Mamba were among them;
and thus, even in their death, he and Ramatoa were not divided!

At this time of terrible suffering and trial--as in the previous
persecutions during the reign of this tyrant queen--hundreds of
Christians willingly submitted to the loss of position, wealth, and
liberty for the sake of Jesus, besides those who witnessed a good
confession, and sealed their testimony with their blood. Thirty-seven
native preachers, with their wives and families, were consigned to a
life of slavery. More than a hundred men and women were flogged and
sentenced to work in chains during their lives. Some were heavily
fined, and many among the "great and noble" were stripped of honours and
titles, reduced to the ranks, and forced to labour at the hardest and
most menial occupation.

Among these last was Prince Ramonja, who had been the means of
sheltering, secreting, and saving many Christians. Fortunately Prince
Rakota retained his influence over his mother, and his power to do
good--a circumstance for which our three adventurers had ultimately
reason to thank God, though, for a considerable time after that, they
remained in prison, in company with their friends Ravonino, Voalavo,
Laihova, and others.

These last were not delivered from their chains, but lived in hourly
expectation of being led out to execution. After Ra-Ruth's removal,
Laihova was at first overwhelmed with despair, but when a friendly
jailor informed him of her having been spared under the supposition that
she was insane, hope revived a little, though he could not help seeing
that the prospect ahead was still very black.

Another prisoner who was inconsolable was poor Reni-Mamba. From the
time that she was told of her son's fate she seemed to sink into a state
of quiet imbecility, from which no efforts of her friends could rouse
her. She did not murmur or complain. She simply sat silent and callous
to everything around her. She, Rafaravavy, Sarah, and the other
females, were removed to another prison, and for a lo