Part 12 (2/2)
Soan to withdraw from the scene, all lowered their weapons of war, and several, terror-struck, exclaihting for the them Let us away!” A panic seized upon the torches; in a few moments they had all disappeared in the bush; and I was left alone, praising God for His ood!
Blessed is theto the door of the Mission House, I cried, ”Open and let me in I am now all alone”
Mr Mathieson let me in, and exclaimed, ”If ever, in time of need, God sent help and protection to His servants in answer to prayer, He has done so to-night! Blessed be His holy Name!”
In fear and in joy we united our praises Truly our Jesus has all power, not less in the elee hearts of the Tannese Precious Jesus! Often since have I wept over His love and mercy in that deliverance, and prayed that everylife may be consecrated to the service of my precious Friend and Saviour!
CHAPTER XLII
”SAIL O! SAIL O!”
ALL through the re watch,neararound us Our ene It had been finally resolved to kill us at once, to plunder our house and then to burn it The noise of the shouting was distinctly heard as they neared the Mission pre, friendly Natives looked terror-struck, and seemed anxious to flee for the bush But just when the excitehest pitch, we heard, or dreaher still, ”Sail O!”
We were by this tiain and again that cry ca up fro the beach, ”Sail O! Sail O!”
The shouts of those approaching us gradually ceased, and the whole multitude seemed to have melted away from our view I feared some cruel deception, and at first peered out very cautiously to spy the land But yonder in very truth a vessel cas I set fire to the reeds on the side of the hill to attract his attention I put a black shawl as a flag on one end of the Mission House and a white sheet on the other
This was one of the vessels that had been to Port Resolution, and had sailed past to Aneityuo I afterwards saw theht from the Tannese on their former visit At the earnest request of Messrs Geddie and Copeland, Mr Underwood, the owner, had sent Captain Hastings to Tanna to rescue us if yet alive For this purpose he had brought twenty armed e of the mate, the notorious Ross Lewin He returned to the shi+p with a boat-load of Mr Mathieson's things, leaving ten of the Natives to help us to pack more and carry theht most valuable
The two boats were now loaded and ready to start It was about two o'clock in the afternoon, when a strange and painful trial befell us
Poor dear Mr Mathieson, apparently unhinged, locked hi Mrs Mathieson and o, for he had resolved to remain and die on Tanna We tried to show hirant us means of escape, and then refuse to accept a rescue sent to us in our last extreued that it was surely better to live and work for Jesus than to die as a self-uilty of self-murder His ept aloud and pleaded with him, but all in vain! He refused to leave or to unlock his door I then said, ”It is now getting dark Your wife o with the vessel, but I will not leave you alone I shall send a note explaining why I am forced to remain; and as it is certain that we shall be murdered whenever the vessel leaves, I tell you God will charge you with the guilt of our murder” At this he relented, unlocked the door, and accompanied us to the boats, in which we all i lost several hours, the vessel had drifted leeward; darkness suddenly settled upon us, and ere out at sea we lost sight of her and she of us After tu about for some hours in a heavy sea, and unable to find her, those in charge of the boats came near for consultation, and, if possible, to save the lives of all We advised that they should steer for Port Resolution by the flahthouse, seen fifty miles away--and there await the vessel The boats were to keep within hearing of each other by constant calling; but this was soon lost to the ear, though on arriving in the bay we found they had got to anchor before us There we sat in the boats and waited for the coht appeared, we anchored as far out as possible, beyond the reach of musket shots; and there without water or food we sat under a tropical sun till n of the vessel The ers and the poorest sea at anchor, while, with a strong crew in the other, he started off in search of the vessel
In the afternoon, Nowar and Miaki came off in a canoe to visit us Nowar had on a shi+rt, but Miaki was naked and frowning He urged o and see the Mission House, but as we had seen a body ofremained as I had left it, but we knew that he lied Old Abraham and a party had slipped on shore in a canoe, and had found the s sone except my books, which were scattered about and torn in pieces They learned that Miaki had sold everything that he could sell to the Traders The mate and men of the _Blue Bell_ had on ht thes of tobacco and for powder, caps, and balls But they would not return a single shi+rt to e We had all been without food since the ht us off a cocoanut each, and two very small roasted yams for the ladies Those, however, only see day in that boat under a burning sun
Nowar inforhts before this, Miaki and his folloent inland to a village where last year they had killed ten e at the door of every house, at a given signal they yelled, and when the terrified inmates tried to escape, they killed almost every man, woman, and child Some fled into the bush, others rushed to the shore A nu wo those they could with them, they killed the rest, lest they should fall alive into Miaki's hands These are surely ”they who through fear of death are all their lifetie”
The Chief and nearly his whole village were cut off in one night! The dark places of the Earth are ”full of the habitations of horrid cruelty” To have actually lived aives a s of the Gospel, even where its influence is only very iuide and restrain the passions of men Oh, what it will be when all lorious Redeemer!
CHAPTER XLIII
FAREWELL TO TANNA
ABOUT five o'clock in the evening the vessel hove in sight Before dark ere all on board, and were sailing for Aneityuh both Mr and Mrs Mathieson had becoe wonderfully
Next day ere safely landed We had offered Captain Hastings 20 to take us to Aneityust the reat kindness to us on the voyage
After arriving on Aneityuradually sank under consumption, and fell asleep in Jesus on 11th March, 1862, and was interred there in the full assurance of a glorious resurrection Mr
Mathieson, beco more and h's Station, on Mare, and there died on 14th June, 1862, still trusting in Jesus, and assured that he would soon be with Him in Glory
After their death I was the only one left alive, in all the New Hebrides Mission north of Aneityu which were sown the seeds of what is now fast becoo, all these dear brethren and sisters ere associated with me in the work of the Mission were called home to Glory, to cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus and enjoy the bliss of the redeeed still to toil and pray for the salvation of the poor Islanders, and plead the cause of the Mission both in the Colonies and at hoiven me undreamt-of success My constant desire and prayer are that I may be spared to see at least one Missionary on every island of the group, or trained Native Teachers under the superintendence of a Missionary, to unfold the riches of redee love and to lead the poor Islanders to Jesus for salvation
What could be taken in three boats was saved out of the wreck of Mr