THE DOOR KEPT SHUT.

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known at the capital, there was not much difficulty in concealing her; it was much more difficult to conceal Rafaravavy, since she was known to almost everybody. She was put in a part of the house thought to be quite adapted for the purpose, and remained concealed there more than a fortnight. One day, about fifteen or twenty men came to the house suddenly, on some business from the government, and had occasion to examine the whole of it; they had no idea that Rafaravavy was there, nor had they come in search of her. The owner of the house became uneasy while they were there, and though not a person easily alarmed, he felt anxious now, not seeing how she could possibly escape. After they had looked over all the other parts of the house, they attempted to enter that part where she was. The door was shut, and they tried hard to push it open; Rafaravavy pushed on the other side. They perceived the owner of the house was remarkably uneasy, and it struck them that perhaps he kept his "ody" (charms or idols) there, and gave him a hint of the kind; a mistake which he did not think it needful to correct.

They left the house as if for the purpose of giving him an opportunity to remove his "ody ;" and as soon as they had left, he called Rafaravavy to come out without delay, and led her out of the house by a different exit; she escaped over a wall, and reached another friend's house without being seen. The men in less than a minute returned, and entered the very place where she had been concealed. This happened in the day-time, and many of the Christian friends stood not far off looking on with trembling anxiety.

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CONCEALMENT IN THE FOREST.

We left Joseph, David, and Simeon, in the forest, east of Ambatomanga. The friend who led them there did all he possibly could to make them comfortable, and supplied them with rice from the capital.

His work in the service of the government prevented him, however, from visiting them as often as he wished, and all the rice he could give them he had to carry from the capital, a distance of 40 or 50 miles; he was naturally timid, and would not venture to tell any, even of the Christians, where they were concealed, so that none of them visited them even once in the forest, not knowing the exact spot where they were. They suffered much during these five or nearly six months from want of sufficient food, and from the heavy rains. Having merely a sort of shed to live in, which exposed them to constant chills and damps, their health suffered, and they were more than once in great danger of being apprehended as robbers and brigands, by the people fetching timber.

One advantage of being in the forest was, they had plenty of fuel; and they found ample time for reading and prayer. After their friend had supplied them for about four months, he found his little resources almost exhausted, and told them that he must go to another part of the forest at some distance to make bowls which he might sell at the capital, and so obtain money to purchase rice for them, since he had none left; David went with him, as he was less known in that part than either Joseph or Simeon. Besides which, the latter were extremely feeble and could hardly stand on their feet. Their friend left with Joseph and Simeon a sufficient quantity of rice.

ARRIVING AT A FAVOURABLE TIME.

247

to support them for three weeks, and as he was to have David with him to assist him in making the bowls, he intended to return within the time mentioned with a fresh supply of provisions, obtained by the fruit of their united labours in the forest. After appointing a time and a place to meet David he returned to the capital. David in the mean time was anxious to leave his two sick friends in as much comfort as their circumstances admitted, and contrived a better sort of shed for them; but while arranging the wood for it, the day before he was to set out, he cut his foot with an axe which disabled him from walking. He was now obliged to remain and take a share of the rice allotted only for Joseph and Simeon, and as three persons were eating instead of two, they consumed it some days before the three weeks had expired.

They tried to find roots or wild fruits to eat, but could not; and it became a very serious affair with them what to do. After much fervent prayer they said to one

another, 'Why do we sit here till we die? Let us try to reach our friends in the capital, if we are preserved from being discovered we shall live, if we are caught we can but die." They set out the next day, reached the capital, and were concealed by their friends. On leaving the forest it was their intention to return without delay after obtaining food, and therefore buried their bible, testaments, and other books, with their axes, &c., in the earth, and there they remain most likely to this day. On arriving at the capital they heard that Mr. Johns had reached Tamatave, that Rafaravavy and another persecuted friend had also come to Tananarivo, intending

218

DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

to go down to the coast, hoping to effect their escape across the water, and that Andrianilaina and another friend had gone down to Tamatave to ascertain the probability of their getting off, and were expected back ere long.

Thus for the space of eight months were our friends mercifully preserved amidst innumerable dangers. Every day renewed its difficulties; but in every difficulty God provided for their escape, and thereby confirmed their faith in his word, their trust in his providence, and their hope that he would keep them "to the end."

THE MESSENGERS AT TAMATAVE.

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CHAPTER X.

Journey of the Refugees from Tananarivo to the Coast, where they embarked for Mauritius; including various providential Escapes from Discovery and Apprehension on the Road.

It has been already mentioned that Andrianilaina, and a companion, left the capital for Tamatave with the view of meeting Mr. Johns there, and making some final arrangements with him for the escape of some of the persecuted Christians to Mauritius. They reached Tamatave safely while Mr. Johns was yet there, and entered the house he occupied about the middle of the day. As he knew the government was seeking for Andrianilaina, it may be conceived how anxious he felt on seeing him and his companion. He had no place in which to conceal them, and as his house was filled with visitors nearly the whole of the day, and they would be in constant danger there of apprehension, he sent for his confidential friend, Ramiandrahasina, and explained to him the whole affair, persuaded that, though he held a high office under government, he would not betray the Christians, but rather aid them in effecting their escape.

On stating the case to him, he deeply sympathised in the anxiety of Mr. Johns, and advised Andrianilaina to remain on the coast until his companions came down from the capital, and to let the friend now with him return, and urge those who could effect their escape to