the wind was light. Under sail the canoe could beat us hollow, but we
could pull faster than she could. I accordingly ordered the oars to be
got out, so as to avoid her if necessary. Suddenly, however, as she got
close to us down came her sail, and all the warriors prostrated
themselves on the deck, where they remained as we glided by. Had we
been alone we should have boarded them, but with Mary and Alea on board,
we felt it more prudent to avoid them.

The wind soon again springing up, on we sailed, and as long as we could
distinguish the people on the deck, they were seen still lying down as
they were when we passed. The cause of this strange behaviour did not
till then strike me, when my eye fell on the hideous idol in our bow,
and I found many months afterwards that I was right in my conjectures,
when I met with one of the men who had formed the crew of the canoe. He
and his companions were among the most ferocious of the cannibals of the
Pacific. On seeing us they had borne down upon us intending our
destruction. When, however, they saw the two hideous idols stuck up at
either end of the boat, they were impressed with the idea that some
powerful gods were on a cruise, or about to visit some new country, and
completely awestruck, they dared not examine us further. Thus were we
delivered from another great danger. It was not till we were out of
sight of the war-canoe, that Mary and Alea awaking, we told them of what
had occurred. The Indian girl trembled, as well she might, for there
was much reason to suppose that it belonged to the heathen chief to whom
she was betrothed, and that had she been discovered she would have been
carried away as a prisoner. Again a feeling of illness came over me,
for which I could not account, but I exerted myself and succeeded in
overcoming the sensation.

Our voyage continued prosperous though our progress was slow, and it was
not till the morning of the fourth day that we sighted the high land
above the missionary station. As we sailed in through an intricate
passage, under the guidance of Mr Bent, we saw people collecting on the
beach. He stood up and waved to them with his daughter resting on his
arm. A minute passed, when it was evident that he was recognised, for
there was an immediate hurrying to and fro--numbers rushing down to the
beach from all quarters, clapping and stretching out their hands, and
leaping, and dancing, with other demonstrative gesticulations;