Fritz agreed to this, though he still persisted
that the easiest and quickest mode of return would have been by
swimming. We were endeavouring to retrace our road, when, to our great
astonishment, we saw, at a few yards' distance, a man clothed in a long
black robe advancing towards us, whom we immediately recognized as
a European.
"Either I am greatly deceived," said I, "or this is a missionary, a
worthy servant of God, come into these remote regions to make Him known
to the wretched idolators."
We hastened to him. I was not wrong. He was one of those zealous and
courageous Christians who devote their energies and their lives to the
instruction and eternal salvation of men born in another hemisphere, of
another colour, uncivilized, but not less our brothers. I had quitted
Europe with the same intention, but Providence had ordered it
otherwise; yet I met with joy one of my Christian brethren, and, unable
to speak from emotion, I silently embraced him. He spoke to me in
English--a language I had fortunately learned myself, and taught to my
children--and his words fell on my soul like the message of the angel to
Abraham, commanding him to spare his son.
"You are the person I am seeking," said he, in a mild and tender tone,
"and I thank Heaven that I have met with you.
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