SAMSON ODOK. 
103 
lings of it month by month. The arrangement 
worked splendidly so far as we were concerned. At 
first it was a bit trying when Samson brought a 
pan for a cup and saucer, and did not know the 
difference between a knife and a brush, but that 
soon passed, and he made a model servant. On his 
side, it proved a great advantage until a certain 
trial befel him and interrupted his service. Up till 
then he made splendid progress in educational 
matters, and better still had learned to read God's 
Word, to pray to Him, and to love Him. The 
plain truth is, he got on too well for his master's 
peace of mind. He was afraid of his authority with 
a book-loving, God-fearing slave. So he devised a 
plan whereby our willingness could be secured to 
spare him for a visit to his native place up the 
creeks. The story he gave us was that Samson's 
testimony was necessary to settle a big family dis- 
pute, and if we would consent he gave his word 
Samson would only be away a few days. When 
Samson reached Ekanem Esin's town the sinister 
plot was laid bare. It was all a trick to get Samson 
into their clutches, and away from the Mission alto^ 
gether. The plotters brought him before their town 
council and commanded him to renounce the Mis- 
sion and all its ways. If not, they would punish 
him, etc., etc. Samson, the poor slave, refused to 
promise any such thing; he said he had given his 
word to go back, and go back he must. Angry at 
being thus thwarted, they took away his good 
clothes and the money he had saved, tied him to a 
post, and flogged him with the Egbo whip across 
his bare back, each lash bringing flesh and blood 
with it. Since he was still obdurate, they insisted 
