the mission； nor by Davidfor those Yankee traders are not the most
edifying societyand the crew vowed they were cannibals； and had
eaten a man three years ago； so they all went ashore armed。〃
〃You stayed with him；〃 said Margaret。
〃Ay； it was my turn； and I was glad enough to have some fresh fruit
and water for him； but he could not take any notice of it。 Did not
I want you； papa？ Well； by and by； Owen came back； in a perfect
rapture with the place and the people； and said it was the only hope
for Mr。 Ernescliffe； to take him on shore〃
〃Then you did really go amongst the cannibals！〃 exclaimed Blanche。
〃That is all nonsense；〃 said Harry。 〃Some of them may once have
been； and I fancy the heathens might not mind a bit of 'long pig'
still； but these have been converted by the Samoans。〃
The Samoans； it was further explained； are the inhabitants of the
Navigator Islands； who； having been converted by the Church
Missionary Society； have sent out great numbers of most active and
admirable teachers among the scattered islands； braving martyrdom and
disease； never shrinking from their work； and； by teaching and
example； preparing the way for fuller doctrine than they can yet
impart。 A station of these devoted men had for some years been
settled in this island； and had since been visited by the missions of
Newcastle and New Zealand。 The young chief； whom Harry called David；
and another youth； had spent two summers under instruction at New
Zealand； and had been baptised。 They were spending the colder part
of the year at home； and hoped shortly to be called for by the
mission…ship to return； and resume their course of instruction。
Owen had come to an understanding with the chief and the Samoans； and
had decided on landing his lieutenant； and it was accordingly done；
with very little consciousness on the patient's part。 Black figures；
with woolly mop…heads； and sometimes decorated with whitewash of
lime； crowded round to assist in the transport of the sick man
through the surf； and David himself； in a white European garb； met
his guests； with dignified manners that would have suited a prince of
any land； and conducted them through the grove of palms； interspersed
with white huts； to a beautiful house consisting of a central room；
with many others opening from it； floored with white coral lime； and
lined with soft shining mats of Samoan manufacture。 This； Harry
learned； had been erected by them in hopes of an English missionary
taking up his abode amongst them。
They were a kindly people； and had shown hospitality to other
Englishmen； who had less appreciated it than these young officers
could。 They lavished every kindness in their power upon them； and
Mr。 Ernescliffe； at first； revived so much； that he seemed likely to
recover。
But the ship had completed her repairs； and was ready to sail。 The
two midshipmen thought it would be certain death to their lieutenant
to bring him back to such an atmosphere； 〃and so；〃 continued Harry's
letter to his father； 〃I thought there was nothing for it but for me
to stay with him； and that you would say so。 I got Owen to consent；
after some trouble； as we were sure to be fetched off one time or
another。 We said not a word to Mr。 Ernescliffe； for he was only
sensible now and then； so that Owen had the command。 Owen made the
skipper leave me a pistol and some powder； but I was ashamed David
should know it； and stowed it away。 As to the quarter…master； old
Jennings； whose boy you remember we picked up at the Roman camp； he
had not forgotten that； and when we were shaking hands and wishing
good…bye； he leaped up； and vowed 'he would never leave the young
gentleman that had befriended his boy； to be eaten up by them black
savage niggers。 If they made roast…pork of Mr。 May； he would be
eaten first； though he reckoned they would find him a tougher
morsel。' I don't think Owen was sorry he volunteered； and no words
can tell what a blessing the good old fellow was to us both。
〃So there we stayed； and； at first； Mr。 Ernescliffe seemed mending。
The delirium went off； he could talk quite clearly and comfortably；
and he used to lie listening； when David and I had our odd sort of
talks。 I believe； if you had been there； or we could have
strenthened him any way； he might have got over it； but he never
thought he should； and he used to talk to me about all of you； and
said Stoneborough had been the most blessed spot in his life； he had
never had so much of a home； and that sharing our grief； and knowing
you； had done him great good； just when he might have been getting
elated。 I cannot recollect it all； though I tried hard； for
Margaret's sake； but he said Hector would have a great deal of
temptation； and he hoped you would be a father to him； and Norman an
elder brother。 You would not think how much he talked of Cocksmoor；
about a church being built there； as Ethel wished； and little Daisy
laying the first stone。 I remember one night； I don't know whether
he was quite himself； for he looked full at me with his eyes； that
had grown so large； till I did not know what was coming； and he said；
'I have seen a ship built by a sailor's vow； the roof was like the
timbers of a shipthat was right。 Mind； it is so。 That is the ship
that bears through the waves； there is the anchor that enters within
the veil。' I believe that was what he said。 I could not forget
thathe looked at me so； but much more he said； that I dimly
remember； and chiefly about poor dear Margaret。 He bade me tell her…
…his own precious pearl； as he used to call herthat he was quite
content； and believed it was best for her and him both； that all
should be thus settled； for they did not part for ever； and he
trusted But I can't write all that。〃 （There was a great tear…blot
just here）。 〃It is too good to recollect anywhere but at church。 I
have been there to…day； with my uncle and aunt； and I thought I could
have told it when I came home； but I was too tired to write then； and
now I don't seem as if it could be written anyhow。 When I come home；
I will try to tell Margaret。 The most part was about her； only what
was better seemed to swallow that up。〃
The narrative broke off here； but had been subsequently resumed。
〃For all Mr。 Ernescliffe talked as I told you； he was so quiet and
happy； that I made sure he was getting well； but Jennings did not；
and there came an old heathen native once to see us； who asked why we
did not bury him alive； because he got no better； and gave trouble。
At last； one nightit was the third of Augusthe was very restless；
and could not breathe； nor lie easily； I lifted him up in my arms；
for he was very light and thin； and tried to make him more
comfortable。 But presently he said； 'Is it you； Harry？ God bless
you；' and； in a minute； I knew he was dead。 You will tell Margaret
all about it。 I don't think she can love him more than I did； and
she did not half know him； for she never saw him on board； nor in all
that dreadful time； nor in his illness。 She will never know what she
has lost。〃
There was another break here； and the story was continued。
〃We buried him the next day； where one could see the sea； close under
the great palm； where David hopes to have a church one of these days。
David helped us； and said the Lord's Prayer and the Glory with us
there。 I little thought； when I used to grumble at my two verses of
the psalms every day； when I should want the ninetieth； or how glad I
should be to know so many by heart； for they were such a comfort to
Mr。 Ernescliffe。
〃David got us a nice bit of wood； and Jennings carved the cross； and
his name； and all about him。 I should have liked to have done it；
but I knocked up after that。 Jennings thinks I had a sun…stroke。 I
don't know； but my head was so bad； whenever I moved； that I thought
only Jennings would ever have come to tell you about it。 Jennings
looked after me as if I had been his own son； and there was David
too； as kind as if he had been Richard himselfalways sitting by； to
bathe my forehead； or； when I was a little better； to talk to me； and
ask me questions about his Christian teaching。 You must not think of
him like a savage； for he is my friend； and a far more perfect
gentleman than I ever saw any one； but you； papa； holding the command
over his people so easily and courteously； and then coming to me with
little easy first questions about the Belief； and such things； like
what we used to ask mamma。 He liked nothing so well as for me to
tell him about King David； and we had learned a good deal of each
other's languages by that time。 The notion of his heartlike
Cocksmoor to Ethelis to get a real English mission； and have all
his people Christians。 Ethel talked of good kings being Davids to
their line； I think that is what he will be； if he lives； but those
islanders have been dying off since Europeans came among them。〃
But Harry's letter could not tell what he confessed； one night； to
his father； the next time he was out with him by starlight； how
desolate he had been； and how he had yearned after his home； and； one
evening； he had been utterly overcome by illness and loneliness； and
had crie