Then came the ‘Southern Cross,’ bringing with her from New Zealand a box with numerous books and other treasures, the pillow that the old Bishop of Exeter was leaning on when he died; a photograph, from the Bishop of Salisbury, of his Cathedral, and among the gifts for the younger Melanesians, a large Noah’s ark, which elicited great shouts of delight.

’Well! [after mentioning the articles in order] all these things, and still more the thought of the pains taken and the many loving feelings engaged in getting them together, will help me much during the coming months.  All the little unexpected things are so many little signs of the care and love you always have for me, and that is more than their own value, after all.  I always feel it solemn to go off on these voyages.  We have had such mercies.  Fisher is doing quite well, getting about on crutches; and that is the only hospital case we have had during the whole summer.’

Then follows:—­

’April 27th.—­We start in a few hours (D.V.).  The weather is better.  You have my thoughts and hopes and prayers.  I am really pretty well:  and though often distressed by the thought of past sins and present ones, yet I have a firm trust in God’s mercy through Christ, and a reasonable hope that the Holy Spirit is guiding and influencing me.  What more can I say to make you think contentedly and cheerfully about me?  God bless you all!’

So the last voyage was begun.  The plan was much the same as usual.  On the way to Mota, the Bishop landed on Whitsuntide Island, and there was told that what the people called a ‘thief ship’ had carried off some of their people.  Star Island was found nearly depopulated.  On May 16, the Bishop, with Mr. Bice and their scholars, landed at Mota, and the ‘Southern Cross’ went on with Mr. Brooke to Florida, where he found that the ‘Snatch-snatch’ vessels, as they were there called, had carried off fifty men.  They had gone on board to trade, but were instantly clapped under hatches, while tobacco and a hatchet were thrown to their friends in the canoe.  Some canoes had been upset by a noose from the vessel, then a gun was fired, and while the natives tried to swim away, a boat was lowered, which picked up the swimmers, and carried them off.  One man named Lave, who jumped overboard and escaped, had had two fingers held up to him, which he supposed to mean two months, but which did mean two years.

It was plain that enticing having failed, violence was being resorted to; and Mr. Brooke was left to an anxious sojourn, while Mr. Atkin returned to Mota on his way to his own special charge at Bauro.  He says, on June 9:—­