attempt it without delay. He immediately went to the village, and, being a man of authority in that part of the country, took possession of a house not occupied; then conducted Andrianilaina to it, with his nephew (James, now in England) and a confidential servant to remain with him, and put up a "kiady" before the door to forbid the entrance of any intruders, as though a sick person was there. It being known that Ramiandrahasina had put up the kiady, no one ventured to approach the house. After remaining there part of two days he sent him to another village thirty or forty miles distant, with his confidential servant, who was to remain with him till the ship arrived. The other friend hastened back to the capital with letters to explain the plan, and to direct them to proceed to the village where Andrianilaina was concealed. All this having been settled, it was thought advisable for Mr. J. to return to Mauritius, and a final arrangement was made with a captain to bring them there from Madagascar. The amount agreed on was 400 dollars, 80l. sterling; which sum was spontaneously and generously collected on the spot. Letters were then given the captain to the person on the coast who had concealed the refugees, and who was to be pared to convey them safely on board.

pre

During the absence of Andrianilaina's companion on his journey to the coast and back to the capital, our friends managed to avoid discovery. Rafaravavy was concealed in the house of one friend, Sarah in that of another, and the rest of the party among different friends.

On the return of Andrianilaina's companion with money to our Christian friends to purchase provisions

LEAVING THE CAPITAL.

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on their journey to Tamatave, and letters and instructions as already mentioned, they resolved on setting out immediately. Rafaravavy was anxious to see once more her nephew, Andrianantoandro, who had been now in irons for six months, namely, since the death of Rafaralahy. Putting on a cloth resembling that usually worn by slaves, she went to his house, long after dusk, and although soldiers were guarding him they took no notice of her, supposing her to be a servant of one of his friends who was in the habit of visiting him with rice. He was still in irons, and at the moment she arrived happened to be asleep. She durst not venture to speak to him, lest her voice should lead to her detection. She pressed his hand and left him. He was informed of it in the morning, and was deeply affected. She parted from him without any expectation of seeing him again in this world.

Late at night our five friends, namely, Rafaravavy, Sarah, David, Simeon, and Joseph, set out by agreement from the capital, full of fear and joy. Many tears were shed both by the Christians remaining, and by those leaving; and many fervent prayers were offered up for the divine blessing and protection. Two friends accompanied them as servants to the coast, and it was arranged that one should go before them at a short distance, and the other behind. If the one before saw any person likely to know them he was to call to the one behind, "Faingana ley iry"—" Make haste ;" and should one be coming behind, then the one behind was to call on the one in advance, "Andraso kely"— "Wait a little." The orders were of course to be obeyed inversely; the command to

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WISE AS SERPENTS.

"make haste" implied "get out of the way as soon as

go on as fast as

you can ;" and "wait a little" meant " possible." And at any rate the party in the middle would have time to turn out of the road, or, if caught, their two guides would not appear connected, and so not be involved in danger, with them. The plan answered well when they came to the forest, where the paths are narrow and circuitous, and where an opportunity of concealment occurs so frequently. By daybreak they were ten or twelve miles from the capital, and hesitated whether to conceal themselves during the day or proceed on their journey; but as they could not find a convenient hiding-place they determined to advance.

In the morning they met suddenly with some persons, one of whom knew Joseph perfectly well, noticed him, and looked after him some time. This induced them to turn at once out of the road, and direct their way towards the forest till they were out of sight, when they returned again to the high road; so that, if the men who had just passed should tell the people in the neighbouring village, they might be induced by the stratagem to direct their steps towards the forest. After a time they turned out of the road and read the 18th chapter of Luke, and took courage, especially from the 27th verse:— "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." They walked about there and prepared provisions, as they could not venture through the village before night. After dark they proceeded, using their lamp which a friend had given them and which they found of great service. They now remembered and conversed about God having led the children

HARMLESS AS DOVES.

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of Israel by the pillar of fire. Ex. xiii. 21. When they got near the village they recollected what Gideon did, and divided themselves into small companies, lest the villagers should hear their steps on passing through, and come out from their houses to see so large a company; and then, lest the lamp should awaken suspicion, they put it, not in their pitchers, but in their cooking

utensils.

This village is on the road just before coming to Ambodinangavo. Near the latter is a descent, which our party found extremely difficult. The rain poured in torrents, they slipped almost every moment, and could only advance by holding each other's hands. They recollected Bunyan's description of Christian walking on all fours, and felt they were like him. When they began to ascend they found the difficulty as great as at the descent. They talked of Christian in Pilgrim's Progress, and remembered his saying, "Though the ascent is steep, I will go up; though the road be difficult, its difficulty shall not discourage me." They took the same resolution, and felt it was for life-pressed onward and reached the top of the hill almost unawares, without being sensible of their fatigue. On descending the hill they exhorted one another to proceed with the utmost caution, as a single fall might precipitate them to a great distance. "Let us learn to keep," said they, profiting by their situation, "the narrow path,' in the strength of the Lord, and hope to continue stedfastly in it till we reach the end of our journey, and may the Lord keep us from falling.” They saw a fire at some distance, and supposed it might be a light belonging to some of the queen's letter-car

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DREAD OF AN ENCAMPMENT.

riers; and as the road was narrow, and there was no place of concealment at hand, they extinguished their candle to avoid discovery, and turned slightly out of the path in time to allow the party to pass by.

It was now about midnight; and at a little distance from the road they laid down to sleep. No sleep, however, could be obtained; the rain continued incessantly till the morning, and they were soaked through. They talked of their uncomfortable situation, having nothing to defend them from the cold and rain, but were cheered by the hope of a world "where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." About cock-crow they proceeded on their journey, but, as there were two or three hundred soldiers a little before them going to Tamatave, and encamping, they were informed, about ten miles in advance of them, they felt anxious how to pass them without being seen. Many of the soldiers knew them perfectly well, and the Dekana of Rainiharo were with them. Many of the officers knew Rafaravavy, and some of them had been in search of her. They thought it safest to advance. It was dangerous to remain long where they were, as other soldiers had been sent off from the capital in search of highwaymen in that direction, and the woodcutters were not far from the spot. If they should see them they would apprehend them as highwaymen or runaway slaves. They thought it safer and easier to pass the camp of the soldiers near dawn of day than afterwards, for, it being much colder at that time than any other part of the night, the men keep within their tents more closely. Committing themselves to the care of the Keeper