The Missionary as Peacemaker 
TuHE cry of “Sail, ho!” announced that the vessel from 
Fiji was within sight of the Fotunese. Great was the ex- 
citement on shore, for it was known that Wotu, a man under 
sentence of death according to heathen law, but who had 
fled years before to Fiji, was on her deck. As Wotu, thin 
and decrepit, landed on the beach, an angry, armed crowd 
stood threateningly on the cliff. No native but Takere, his 
brother-in-law, dared to speak to him. Mr. Gunn, however, 
in full sight of the natives, met him cordially, shook hands 
with him, and asked after his welfare. 
Just then Takere called loudly for Roroveka, and bade 
him take Wotu to shelter. Anxious for the safety of the 
fugitive, Mr. Gunn offered to have him sent to Aneityum, but 
a false report circulated that Wotu had ordered some one 
to be killed to be “quits” for his own crime. This report, 
furnishing incentive to the crowd, sent them in hot haste to 
take Wotu’s life, and served to call the natives from all dis- 
tricts to kill him. They gathered in large numbers, all bent 
upon killing. 
Yarai, a Christian native, came to Mr. Gunn in great per- 
plexity, asking, ““What shall we do? They are coming to 
kill Wotu.” 
“Don’t fight,” urged the missionary; “keep peaceful.” Ta- 
kere loaded his gun, remarking, “I am going to be killed 
today.” 
Erelong, Roroveka’s house, where Wotu had taken shel- 
ter, was surrounded by the excited, murderous crowd. His 
children were taken to a cave for safety from the flying bul- 
lets, and the wife and children of the missionary were shut 
in a back room of the mission house for the same purpose. 
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