Lisele and I feel great anxiety on account of our Father’s not returning.—Tofa also has not appeared.—We are assembled in the Chapel, when Tofa, with a white stranger, arrives and warns us that the heathens threaten an attack.—Tofa takes charge of his companion.—We fly to the mountains, and witness the burning of our village. We lie concealed in a cave, while the savages search for us.
The hurricane had caused sad damage to the cocoanut groves and plantations in our little settlement, and we had no doubt that it, in addition to the eruption of the volcano, had produced still more destructive effects throughout the island, but I own that my thoughts were far more occupied with my anxiety about my father. In vain we watched for the return of his canoe. No sail appeared in the blue ocean in the direction of the island to which he had gone. Lisele too was overwhelmed with grief at the non-appearance of her father; her only hope was that he had conquered his enemies and remained in possession of their country. Still he would, she thought, before this, have despatched a canoe to announce his victory.
Two days passed away, and we began to look for the return of young Tofa; but on the third day, when he did not come, fears for his safety were added to our other troubles. The chief, indeed, the only refuge from our sorrows, was prayer; how great was the comfort that brought to our hearts none but those who have experienced it can tell.
We continued to attend to our usual duties. Though the younger girls and boys assembled for school, the older people were too much agitated and alarmed to attend to their studies; they were also chiefly employed during the day in repairing the damages caused by the storm.
In the evening, however, they all assembled in the chapel for public prayer. Nanari was addressing them, when the noise of feet was heard without, and directly afterwards Tofa appeared, followed by a young white man. The latter took off his hat when he saw how we were engaged, and stood reverentially at the door for a moment, as if unwilling to interrupt us, though evidently in a state of great agitation.
Tofa, however, influenced by no such feelings, exclaimed loudly, “Fly! fly! and hide yourselves. Your enemies are approaching, and will be here anon. Mafoa tried to prevent them, but he could not prevail.”
“My friends!” exclaimed Nanari, “the warning has been sent that you all may seek for safety. For myself, I will remain with the aged and wounded people, who cannot fly; but you, my daughters,” turning to Maud and me, “who have been committed to my charge, I must see that you are placed in a secure hiding-place, where the heathens cannot find you.”
“We will place ourselves under your guidance,” I answered, “but you must also take care that this stranger does not again fall into the hands of the heathens,” I added, turning to the young man who was standing at the door, and who appeared to be above the rank of a common sailor. “Tell me,” I asked, “are you the only person who has escaped from the vessel, which we heard was burned the other day along the coast?”
“I fear that such is the case, and why my life was spared I cannot tell you,” he answered. “I jumped overboard, and was swimming towards the shore, when I was taken up by a canoe, in which was a young chief, who made signs that he would protect me, and faithfully kept his word. I should have remained with him had I not received a note sent, I presume, by you.”
This was said in a hurried tone, while Nanari was arranging a plan for our safety.