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152 THOMAS J. COMBER. 
never recovered ; and so, when fever came, he could 
not meet it with the former power of resistance. On 
the 1 6th of June he was dangerously ill ; the remittent 
fever being complicated with severe hsematuria and 
sleeplessness. Mr. Scrivener, the missionary in 
charge of the Underhill station, had the great 
advantage of Dr. SmalPs assistance, a medical 
missionary belonging to the American Baptist 
Missionary Union ; but the hsematuria continued, 
greatly weakening the patient. The doctor advised 
a trip to sea as the only chance of saving his life. 
Lieutenant Valcke, the President of the Executive 
Board of the Free State, placed the Prince Bodouin 
at the disposal of the Mission ; and Mr. Comber was 
comfortably conveyed from Underhill to Banana. 
Every attention was shown the sick missionary. A 
German steamer, the Lulu Bohlen, homeward bound, 
came into the creek, and Mr. Comber was carried on 
board. The captain, ship doctor, and others, were 
unremitting in their kindness. At first the sea 
breezes, were beneficial, but the benefit was only 
temporary ; strength gradually failed, and on the 
27th of June, 1887, Ihe end came peacefully whilst 
the vessel lay anchored off Loango. 
“ Our brother,’^ reported Mr. Scrivener, who never 
left him, “ seemed to have a strong presentiment that 
he would not recover. During the night we passed at 
Boma, he called me to his side, and said he had been 
reasoning the matter over in his mind. He did not 
think he should recover ; but whether he recovered or 
not, the Father’s will was best. He considered his 
ties — that of sonship — his dear father : and then his 
brother Percy would be the only son left if he died. 
His father had given up three boys for the Congo 
Mission. He (Mr. Comber) had the sweetest prospects 
for the future ; there was much that made him feel 
that he would like to stay, but the Father’s will was 
best. Both Dr. Small and myself assured him of our 
belief that the sea breezes would strengthen him, and 
