ON ANEITYUM 121 
The family retired to rest one night as usual, all uncon- 
scious of danger; a little after midnight Mrs. Geddie was 
aroused by the sound of something burning and the smell 
of fire, and on looking up, she saw the roof of the house all 
in a blaze. She gave the alarm. Mr. Geddie ran to arouse 
the natives belonging to the family, who were sleeping in 
the two houses close by, and Mrs. Geddie, with the two 
children, escaped from the burning house. Mr. Geddie, with 
the help of the domestics and the girls of Mrs. Geddie’s 
school, succeeded in getting the fire extinguished. The sea 
was near and the night was calm. Had it been otherwise, 
the probability is that the whole of the mission premises 
would have been destroyed. 
It was at once ascertained that the setting fire to the house 
had been the work of an incendiary. The brand with which 
it had been done was found, as was also a quantity of com- 
bustible material which had been brought in order to insure 
the business being effectually done. 
Mr. Geddie sent for Nohoat, who was now a true friend. 
When he saw what had been done, he burst into tears. The 
tidings spread rapidly, and though it was the dead of night, 
the house was speedily filled with men, women, and children, 
and all was excitement and commotion. 
On the following day, Nohoat set himself without delay 
to collect information as to the origin and perpetration of 
the diabolical deed. He ascertained that five persons had 
been engaged in it, and learned the names of three of them. 
He found, also, that two heathen villages were parties to it, 
the one having undertaken to burn Mr. Geddie’s house, the 
other the chapel. 
Nohoat behaved nobly throughout the crisis. For two 
months he slept every night in Mr. Geddie’s house; he 
seemed determined to share whatever danger there might 
be, and to do his utmost to protect those whom he now re- 
garded as his best friends. He was full of wrath against 
the enemies of the missionary, and it was with great difficulty 
