FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH 183 
one of them, with two chiefs whom he knew, and was taken 
ashore, the other canoes remaining about ten yards from 
the boat. 
“Suddenly, without any warning, a man in one of these 
rose, and saying, ‘Have you got anything like this?’ shot an 
arrow, which was quickly followed by a volley from his 
seven companions. Mr. Atken was shot in the left shoulder, 
while of the three Melanesians one was wounded slightly, 
and another was pierced through and through. 
“The boat was at once rowed to the vessel, on reaching 
which it was decided to send a strong party well armed to 
ascertain the fate of the bishop. Notwithstanding his wound, 
Mr. Atken volunteered to go in the boat, and act as guide. 
When they reached the reef, the tide was still too low to 
allow of their crossing it; so they had to wait till about half 
past four o’clock, when they were able to pull over the reef. 
There they saw for the first time a canoe floating about on 
the water with no one in it. On pulling up to it, they found 
something in it wrapped up carefully in native cloth, and 
which on examination was found to be the bishop’s body! 
With sad hearts the party returned to the ship, bearing the 
remains of him whom all so greatly revered and loved. 
“With intense anxiety those on board the ship had awaited 
the return of the boat, and now their worst fears were real- 
ized—Bishop Patteson had fallen a martyr to the horrid slave 
traffic. The poor deluded natives had killed their best friend! 
Alas! they knew not what they did. They had treated the 
body with respect, wrapping it in matting, and tying the cov- 
ering carefully at the neck and the ankles, and a palm frond 
was thrust into the breast, in which were five knots tied, 
probably designed to indicate the number of those whom his 
death was meant to avenge. It is very likely that those who 
so treated the body were friends of the bishop, but were 
unable to protect him from the vengeance of others who 
may have suffered grievous wrongs at the hands of the 
slavers. 
