18 The Work. 
sense of God's fatherly care. For a long time this savage 
had sought an opportunity of assassinating the missionary. It 
seems a wonder that he did not succeed, as he lived within half- 
a-mile of the mission station. It happened, however, that Mr. 
Geddie had become aware that his life was in danger, and sel- 
dom went beyond his own premises. Disappointed in his 
hope of meeting him, Kopaio came several evenings after 
dark to his garden, armed with his club, in the hope that Mr. 
Geddie would go outside the house. He was a very powerful 
man, and one well-directed blow would have done the work. 
Mr. Geddie did go out one night, and passed close by the bush 
under which Kopaio was concealed. Now the critical moment 
was come—the long-desired opportunity. Kopaio grasped the 
club, that he might spring upon his victim and fell him to the 
ground. But lo! his hands had forgot their cunning—they 
were powerless. A strange sensation came over him, and all 
thoughts of injuring the man of God were at an end. Was it 
conscience that arrested him? or cid he hear that voice that 
has been heard so often through the ages, “ Touch not mine 
anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” However it was, the 
good missionary failed not to acknowledge that the Keeper 
of Israel had kept him in that dark hour of unconscious 
danger. 
ae ae 
