LTistory of the “ Dayspring.” 47 
on this occasion that Captain Fraser performed the feat which 
so astonished the French on Lifu, as related by the Rev. S. 
Macfarlane in his interesting book called the “Story of the Lifu 
Mission.” The “ Dayspring” had got into a narrow bay, where 
she could neither luff nor wear; and as there was a strong 
breeze blowing at the time, the French officers looked on with 
ill-concealed delight, expecting every moment to see the vessel 
on the rocks, and indulging in the hope of some loot. Captain 
Fraser, however, had just left a school of navigation where 
every device of escape had to be practised—namely, running 
the American blockade ; and, to the astonishment and chagrin 
of the onlookers, he trimmed his sails so as to cause his vessel 
to move out stern foremost—one of the rarest and most difficult 
resources of the master of a sailing ship. 
Making for the New Hebrides, Mr. and Mrs. Morison were 
settled on Efate, and Mr. Gordon on Eramanga, where his 
brother had been massacred a few years before. 
Just at this time intelligence came to the New Hebrides to 
the effect that the first “John Williams” had been lost on 
Danger Island (17th May, 1864); one of the consequences of 
which must be, that the missionaries on the Loyalty islands 
should be left without stores, and, not improbably, without 
communications, for a whole year. On consultation, it was re- 
solved to send the “ Dayspring” again to the Loyalties—even 
though at the risk of offending the French, who were the terror 
of the missionaries in those days; the fear being that, after 
desolating the Loyalties, they might take the New Hebrides 
too. 
In January, 1865, the vessel was again in Sydney ; and, after 
an overhaul, she visited Hobart Town, Launceston, and Ade- 
laide. Mr. Paton was on board’ during this intercolonial voy- 
age, and his presence added much to the interest felt by the 
children of these towns in their own ship. In June she re- 
turned to Aneityum, and then made three voyages round the 
