Part 12 (1/2)
CHAPTER XL.
WAITING AT KWAMERA.
BEFORE I left the Harbor I wrote and left with Nowar letters to be given to the Captains of any vessels which called, for the first, and the next, and the next, telling them of our great danger, that Mr. Mathieson was almost without food, and that I would reward them handsomely if they would call at the Station and remove any of us who might be spared thence to Aneityum. Two or three vessels called, and, as I afterwards learned, got my letters; but, while buying my stolen property from the Natives for tobacco, powder, and b.a.l.l.s, they took no further notice of my appeals, and sailed past Mr. Mathieson's, straight on to Aneityum.
”The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel!”
Let me now cull the leading events from my Journal, that intervened betwixt this date and the break-up of the Mission on Tanna--at least for a season--though, blessed be G.o.d! I have lived to see the light rekindled by my dear friends Mr. and Mrs. Watt, and s.h.i.+ning more brightly and hopefully than ever. The candle was quenched, but the candlestick was not removed!
On the 23d January, 1862, Mr. Mathieson sent for Taura, Kati, and Kapuku, his three princ.i.p.al Chiefs, to induce them to promise protection till a vessel called to take us away. They appeared friendly, and promised to do their best. Alas! the promises of the Tannese Chiefs had too often proved to be vain.
On Friday, 24th January, report reached our Station that Miaki and his party, hearing that a friendly Chief had concealed two of Manuman's young men, compelled him to produce them and club them to death before their eyes. Also, that they surrounded Manuman's party on a mountain, and hemmed them in there, dying of starvation, and trying to survive on the carca.s.ses of the dead and on bark and roots. Also, that Miaki had united all the Chiefs, friends and foes alike, in a bond of blood, to kill every one pertaining to the whole Mission on Tanna. Jesus reigns!
On Sunday, the 26th January, thirty persons came to wors.h.i.+p at the Mission House. Thereafter, at great risk, we had Wors.h.i.+p at three of the nearest and most friendly villages. Amidst all our perils and trials we preached the Gospel to about one hundred and sixteen persons. It was verily a sowing time of tears; but, despite all that followed, who shall say that it was vain! Twenty years have pa.s.sed, and now when I am writing this, there is a Church of G.o.d singing the praises of Jesus in that very district of Tanna. On leaving the second village, a young lad affectionately took my hand to lead me to the next village; but a sulky, down-browed savage, carrying a ponderous club, also insisted upon accompanying us. I led the way, guided by the lad. Mr. Mathieson got the man to go before him, while he himself followed, constantly watching.
Coming to a place where another path branched off from ours, I asked which path we took, and, on turning to the left as instructed by the lad, the savage, getting close behind me, swung his huge club over his shoulder to strike me on the head. Mr. Mathieson, springing forward, caught the club from behind with a great cry to me; and I, wheeling instantly, had hold of the club also, and betwixt us we wrested it out of his hands. The poor creature, craven at heart however bloodthirsty, implored us not to kill him. I raised the club threateningly, and caused him to march in front of us till we reached the next village fence. In terror lest these villagers should kill him, he gladly received back his club, as well as the boy his bow and arrows, and they were lost in the bush in a moment.
At the village from which this man and boy had come, one savage brought his musket while we were conducting Wors.h.i.+p, and sat sullen and scowling at us all the time. Mocking questions were also shouted at us, such as, ”Who made the rains, winds, and hurricanes? Who caused all the disease?
Who killed Missi Mathieson's child?” They sneered and scoffed at our answers, and in this Taura the Chief joined the rest.
On the 27th, at daylight, a vessel was seen in the offing, as if to tantalize us. The Captain had been at the Harbor, and had received my letter from Nowar. I hoisted a flag to induce him to send or come on sh.o.r.e, but he sailed off for Aneityum, bearing the plunder of my poor Mission House, purchased for ammunition and tobacco for the Natives. He left the news at Aneityum that I had been driven from my Station some time ago, and was believed to have been murdered.
On the 29th of January, the young Chief Kapuku came and handed to Mr.
Mathieson his own and his father's war-G.o.ds and household idols. They consisted chiefly of a basket of small and peculiar stones, much worn and s.h.i.+ning with use. He said, ”While many are trying to kill you and drive the Wors.h.i.+p of Jehovah from this island, I give up my G.o.ds, and will send away all Heathen idols from my land.”
On the 31st, we learned that a party of Miaki's men were going about Mr.
Mathieson's district inciting the people to kill us. Faimungo also came to inform us that Maiki was exerting all his artifice to get us and the Wors.h.i.+p destroyed. Manuman even sent, from inland, Raki, his adopted son, to tell me of the fearful sufferings that he and his people were now pa.s.sing through, and that some were killed almost every day. Raki's wife was a Chief's daughter, who, when the war began, returned to her father's care. The savages of Miaki went to her own father's house and compelled him to give her up as an enemy. She was clubbed and feasted on.
On Sabbath, 2d February, thirty-two people attended the Morning Service.
I addressed them on the Deluge, its causes and lessons. I showed them a doll, explaining that such carved and painted images could not hear our prayers or help us in our need, that the living Jehovah G.o.d only could hear and help. They were much interested, and after Wors.h.i.+p carefully examined the doll. Mr. Mathieson and I, committing ourselves to Jesus, went inland and conducted Wors.h.i.+p at seven villages, listened to by about one hundred people in all. Nearly all appeared friendly. The people of one village had been incited to kill us on our return; but G.o.d guided us to return by another way, and so we escaped.
During the day, on 3d February, a company of Miaki's men came to the Mission House, and forced Mrs. Mathieson to show them through the premises. Providentially, I had bolted myself that morning into a closet room, and was engrossed with writing. They went through every room in the house and did not see me, concluding I had gone inland. They discharged a musket into our Teacher's house, but afterwards left quietly, greatly disappointed at not finding me. My heart still rose in praise to G.o.d for another such deliverance, neither by man nor of man's planning!
CHAPTER XLI.
THE LAST AWFUL NIGHT.
WORN out with long watching and many fatigues, I lay down that night early, and fell into a deep sleep. About ten o'clock the savages again surrounded the Mission House. My faithful dog Clutha, clinging still to me amid the wreck of all else on earth, sprang quietly upon me, pulled at my clothes, and awoke me, showing danger in her eye glancing at me through the shadows. I silently awoke Mr. and Mrs. Mathieson, who had also fallen asleep. We committed ourselves in hushed prayer to G.o.d and watched them, knowing that they could not see us. Immediately a glare of light fell into the room! Men pa.s.sed with flaming torches; and first they set fire to the Church all round, and then to a reed fence connecting the Church and the dwelling-house. In a few minutes the house, too, would be in flames, and armed savages waiting to kill us on attempting an escape!
Taking my harmless revolver in the left hand and a little American tomahawk in the right, I pleaded with Mr. Mathieson to let me out and instantly to again lock the door on himself and wife. He very reluctantly did so, holding me back and saying, ”Stop here and let us die together! You will never return!”
I said, ”Be quick! Leave that to G.o.d. In a few minutes our house will be in flames, and then nothing can save us.”
He did let me out, and locked the door again quickly from the inside; and, while his wife and he prayed and watched for me from within, I ran to the burning reed fence, cut it from top to bottom, and tore it up and threw it back into the flames, so that the fire could not by it be carried to our dwelling-house. I saw on the ground shadows, as if something were falling around me, and started back. Seven or eight savages had surrounded me, and raised their great clubs in air. I heard a shout--”Kill him! Kill him!” One savage tried to seize hold of me, but, leaping from his clutch, I drew the revolver from my pocket and leveled it as for use, my heart going up in prayer to my G.o.d. I said, ”Dare to strike me, and my Jehovah G.o.d will punish you. He protects us, and will punish you for burning His Church, for hatred to His Wors.h.i.+p and people, and for all your bad conduct. We love you all; and for doing you good only, you want to kill us. But our G.o.d is here now to protect us and to punish you.”
They yelled in rage, and urged each other to strike the first blow, but the Invisible One restrained them. I stood invulnerable beneath His invisible s.h.i.+eld, and succeeded in rolling back the tide of flame from our dwelling-house.
At this dread moment occurred an incident, which my readers may explain as they like, but which I trace directly to the interposition of my G.o.d.
A rus.h.i.+ng and roaring sound came from the South, like the noise of a mighty engine or of muttering thunder. Every head was instinctively turned in that direction, and they knew, from previous hard experience, that it was one of their awful tornadoes of wind and rain. Now, mark, the wind bore the flames away from our dwelling-house; had it come in the opposite direction, no power on earth could have saved us from being all consumed! It made the work of destroying the Church only that of a few minutes; but it brought with it a heavy and murky cloud, which poured out a perfect torrent of tropical rain. Now, mark again, the flames of the burning Church were thereby cut off from extending to and seizing upon the reeds and the bush; and, besides, it had become almost impossible now to set fire to our dwelling-house. The stars in their courses were fighting against Sisera!