104 ADVENTURES IN THE SOUTH SEAS 
Again the missionary was approached by Christian natives 
for permission to meet force with force, but this he sternly 
forbade, and immediately went among the crowd of armed 
warriors, pleading that Wotu be spared, and undertaking to 
see that he was again sent abroad. But all to no purpose. 
They took up stones and cast them upon the house to 
drive Wotu out. When this failed, they proposed to burn 
the house, and thus compel him to leave his shelter. This, 
however, Yarai sternly forbade, and they desisted. 
At this moment, Takere raised his rifle as if to shoot 
among the crowd, and in a moment they scattered for shel- 
ter. Ina little time they were once more around the house, 
but this time they were met by Wotu himself, with musket 
in hand, at the door of the hut, and when Wotu pointed the 
musket at them, they fled once more to such shelter as they 
could find. 
Mr. Gunn next went to the public square, there to appeal 
for the life of Wotu, when suddenly the report of a rifle 
was heard. “He is shot! He is shot!’ was the cry from 
all lips, but a lad rushing by us cried, “He has run away!” 
And indeed he had. Seeing an opportunity to escape, he 
had darted through the doorway and fled into the bush. A 
rifle was discharged at him, but he escaped unharmed. His 
assailants sought here and there, but failing to find him, re- 
turned to their places disappointed. 
Roroveka, with Christian magnanimity, called to them to 
come and shake hands and pray together, and promise not 
to trouble him again, but they refused, saying, “We have 
Satan’s dirt [the war paint] on us.” But ignoring their un- 
willingness, he prayed with them on the path. A few days 
later, when Mr. Gunn talked with them, they said, “None 
but Roroveka could do such a thing.” 
Rumors of war were rife for a time, but no further at- 
tempt was made to kill Wotu, and this was the last time an 
attempt was made to murder on Fotuna in satisfaction of 
the old heathen ways. “Had this happened some years ago,” 
