90 ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
“They then told him that the priests or some of his friends 
wished to see him, and again invited him to descend. ‘Why,’ 
said he, “do you thus seek to deceive me? ‘The priests or 
friends may wish to see me, but it is under very different 
circumstances from what your message would imply. I 
know a ceremony approaches, that a human victim is to 
be offered; something within tells me J am to be that vic- 
tim, and your appearance and your message confirm my con- 
victions. Jesus Christ is my keeper; without His permis- 
sion you cannot harm me. You may be permitted to kill 
my body, but J am not afraid to die. My soul you cannot 
hurt; that is safe in the hands of Jesus Christ, by whom it 
will be kept beyond your power.’ 
“Perceiving there was but little prospect of inducing him 
by falsehood to accompany them toward the beach, and irri- 
tated probably by his heroic reply, they rushed upon him, 
wounded and murdered him, and then, in a long basket made 
with the leaves of the overshadowing coconut tree, bore his 
body to the temple, where, with exultation, it was offered in 
sacrifice to the god.” 
It is surprising that the number thus slain is not greater 
than the records show. As “the cruel and bloody system of 
idolatry,’ that had so long prevailed, tottered to its fall, a 
fierce, murderous spirit took possession of the heathen who 
still adhered to it, but it is inspiring to find that notwith- 
standing this, some openly avowed their attachment to the 
new order of things, maintaining in the midst of the heathen 
around, daily worship in their families, and morning and 
evening devotion in private; others, fearful of giving offense 
to their chiefs or neighbors, maintained secretly their pro- 
fession, and at the hour of midnight met together, as the 
persecuted Christians in older lands have often formerly 
done, in the depths of the woods or the retired glens of the 
valleys, for conference or social prayer.” 
“Meanwhile, as the Christian party continued to increase 
in numbers and influence, the heathen became more and more | 
