When a fellow begins to talk about it, he'll soon come
to magnify it to such a degree that he'll not be fit to face it when it
comes, no more than a suckin' baby."
"Nay, Peterkin," replied Jack gravely, "I won't be jested out of it. I
grant you that when we've once resolved to act, and have made up our
minds what to do, we should think no more of danger. But before we have
so resolved it behoves us to look it straight in the face, and examine
into it, and walk round it; for if we flinch at a distant view, we're
sure to run away when the danger is near.--Now, I understand from you,
Ralph, that the island is inhabited by thorough-going, out-and-out
cannibals, whose principal law is, 'Might is right, and the weakest
goes to the wall'?"
"Yes," said I; "so Bill gave me to understand. He told me, however,
that at the southern side of it the missionaries had obtained a footing
amongst an insignificant tribe. A native teacher had been sent there by
the Wesleyans, who had succeeded in persuading the chief at that part
to embrace Christianity. But instead of that being of any advantage to
our enterprise, it seems the very reverse; for the chief Tararo is a
determined heathen, and persecutes the Christians--who are far too weak
in numbers to offer any resistance--and looks with dislike upon all
white men, whom he regards as propagators of the new faith."
"Tis a pity," said Jack, "that the Christian tribe is so small, for we
shall scarcely be safe under their protection, I fear.
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