The fighting tribe at last agreed to be satisfied with a fine.  The village paid the fine.  They did not use money.  So the fine was paid in barrels and bottles of trade gin.  Now Mary was worried.  What should she do?  She knew the warriors would drink the gin right away.  She knew this would make them fight after all in spite of their promises.  A quick thought came to her.  According to the law of these people, clothes thrown over anything gave it the protection of your body.  No one else could touch it.  Mary snatched off her skirt.  She took off all the clothes she could spare.  She spread them over the barrels and bottles.  Now no one could touch them.

Mary took the one glass the tribe had.  She gave one glassful to each chief to show that there was no trick and that the barrels and bottles were really filled with gin.  Then she spoke to them about fighting.  “If all of you go to your homes and don’t fight,” said Mary, “I’ll promise to send the stuff after you.  I must go away.  I have been sick and I must go where I can get strong again.  I am going across the great waters to my home.  I shall be away many moons.  Will you promise me that you will not fight while I am gone?  It will make me very happy if you will make that promise.  It will make me sad if you don’t, for I will always be wondering whether you are fighting and hurting one another.”

“I will promise,” said the chief of the village, “if the other chief will.”

All the warriors looked at the chief whose son had been hurt.  For a long time he said nothing.  His tribe had always been fighters.  It would be hard for them to give up fighting.  The chief rubbed his chin.  He scratched his head.

“Yes, Ma,” he said finally, “I will promise that we will not fight while you are gone.”  The two villages kept the promise made by their chiefs.  When Mary came back the two chiefs could say, “It is peace.”

Mary was very tired.  Slowly she tramped through the hot jungle.  After many hours she came to Ekenge.

“We have sent your trunks and things on ahead,” said Chief Edem.  “Here are my best rowers and best soldiers.  They are ready to take you to Duke Town.”

Mary once more stepped into the canoe.  This time there was no one to call her back.  Little black Janie, whom Mary had adopted, was with her.

“Good-by, good-by, Ma,” shouted the crowd.  “God keep you safe and bring you back to us again.”

The rowers pulled their oars strongly, and swiftly down the slow moving river went the canoe.  Three years Mary had spent in Okoyong.  Already she had seen a change in the heathen people.  A greater change was still to come.  Mary was going to see more of the power the Gospel has to change heathen hearts and lives.

#10#

A Disappointment

Mary wrote to the Mission Board;

Charles and I are very much in love.  We would like to be married.  Charles is a wonderful Christian and a very fine teacher.  He would be a very great help in my jungle work.  We hope that you will agree to our marriage and let Charles go into the jungle with me.