CHAPTER XV
WHEREIN ONE SURPRISE BEGETS MANY
Colville leaped ashore. Without appearing to hurry, he was quickly by Hume’s side and asking in an undertone:
“Why has this war–drumming started? I heard it an hour ago down stream. Our engine was not running well, so the men got the paddles to work and we cracked on at top speed.”
“I do not know,” said the missionary, who was more anxious at the moment to reassure the women than to answer questions.
“But is there any bush fighting going on? Everything was reported to be all right when I left Ibi.”
“May heaven be praised that you were prompted to visit us! My wife, Miss Dane, our interpreter and myself—four out of two hundred—alone remain in the mission. Some of our people stole the canoe and made off, and every other native in the compound has gone into the bush. When we heard your paddles just now we thought that the war canoes of the King of Oku were approaching. But please come with me to the house. The mere sight of your uniform will show the ladies that our danger is at an end.”
Colville was young, but he was old in experience. He had also learned the exceeding wisdom of repressing opinions that were not called for.