w fever,
and it became imperative that he should go to England for his health's
sake. On August 1, 1856, Mr. and Mrs. Hinderer sailed from Lagos for
home. And yet Anna Hinderer did not feel as if she were going home,
but that she were leaving it, for Ibadan was beloved by her. Husband
and wife were in bad health throughout the voyage, and the captain's
parting words to the latter as she went ashore at England were:--'You
must not come to sea again; it cannot be your duty. A few more voyages
must kill you.' Nevertheless, two years later, Anna Hinderer and her
husband, restored in health, were back at Ibadan.

Two years of hard work followed. The school was filled, the natives
had ceased from persecuting the converts, and the prospects of
missionary work were brighter than ever, when suddenly the news came
that the fiendish King of Dahomey was marching on Abeokuta. Mr. and
Mrs. Hinderer were at Abeokuta when the news arrived, and at once they
hastened back to Ibadan, although there was a danger of being captured
and tortured by the invading force. They reached Ibadan in safety,
only, however, to find that the chief of that place was at war with the
chief of Ijaye, a neighbouring town. The place was full of excitement
and a human sacrifice was offered, the victim, prior to the ceremony,
walking proudly through the town.

Anna Hinderer and her husband could at first have made their way to the
coast, but they decided to remain with their converts and pupils. It
was a bitter war, and soon the Hinderers were cut off from all
communication with their fellow-missionaries in the Yoruba country.
Supplies ran short, and they were compelled to sell their personal
belongings to obtain food for themselves and the children. 'We sold a
counterpane and a few yards of damask which had been overlooked by us;'
runs an entry in Anna Hinderer's diary, 'so that we indulge every now
and then in one hundred cowries' worth of meat (about one pennyworth),
and such a morsel seems a little feast to us in these days.' Many of
the native women were exceedingly kind to Anna Hinderer in the time of
privation. The woman who had supplied them with milk insisted upon
sending it regularly, although told that they had no money to pay for
it.

For four years the Hinderers were almost entirely cut off from
communication with the outer world, but they continued their labours
unceasingly throughout this trying time. The girls' sewing class had,