IN THE LOYALTY ISLANDS 165 
“When it was day, Hnaisiline heard an old man come to 
the house where he slept and awake the young men who 
were in some part of the same house, saying, ‘Why do you 
sleep? Be off and drink medicine that you may be strong 
to fight tomorrow.’ Hnaisiline was now convinced that evil 
was determined; so he gave orders to his people to open 
the oven which had been prepared some time before, saying, 
“Let us eat and be going.’ The other members of the party 
did not realize the impending danger so fully as the chief. 
They had morning prayer, and after partaking of their meal 
they set out on their homeward journey. Alas! two of their 
number were never more to see their earthly home. 
“Hnaisiline did not communicate his fears to his own peo- 
ple, but with calm self-possession took the lead and proceeded 
on the way. Some of the Medu people mixed themselves 
up with the party and walked on along with them. After 
a short time a number of young men were seen running 
along in byways, armed with clubs and spears, to get ahead 
of the party and be in readiness to attack them at some con- 
venient spot. No more doubt was felt now as to the inten- 
tions of the heathen; an attack was evidently determined 
upon, and the two Christians who were the especial objects 
of their wrath were in great dread. They came up close to 
Hnaisiline, and walking behind him, asked, “What is this?’ 
He replied, ‘I don’t know;’ and yet he pretty well guessed, 
as did they all, what was coming. 
“Hnaisiline and party were unarmed, but one man carried 
a long-handled ax for cutting firewood, etc., during their 
journey. MHnaisiline called to the man who had the ax to 
hand it to him, which he did; and he seized it and went on 
with it in his hand, expecting every moment to be set upon 
by the armed heathen who had gone on before. By and by 
they came to a well of water, in the neighborhood of which 
it was thought probable that the ambuscade was lurking, 
but no one was seen. Some women who had come for 
water were standing upon a rock near the road, and as the 
