Page:A pilgrimage to my motherland.djvu/118

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TO MY MOTHERLAND.
109

were permitted to occupy, when two horsemen rode up to the door, and dismounting, entered, weary, starved and almost in rags.

These were the Rev Mr. Stone, and a colored American carpenter in the employ of the missionaries. The surprise Of seeing them so unexpectedly, and under such distressing circumstances, being somewhat allayed, Mr. Stone briefly related to us his adventures as follows:

A colored man named Vaughn, an American, had selected for his abode a locality about three hours' journey from the city of Ijaye, on the road towards Ibadan. The Arey ascertaining that the Ibadans were moving against him, sent information to the missionaries, that they should go and bring their friend within the city, otherwise he could not answer for his safety. Mr. Stone, accompanied by Russel, almost immediately set out on horseback to apprise Vaughn of his danger, and persuade him to come with them. The horse on which Mr. Stone rode, was purchased some months before from the Arey, and was well known all through the country as his favorite war-horse; he was one of the largest, and except that the infirmities of age were be-coming manifest, one of the handsomest among the Yoruba horses; besides, only a few weeks before, two large, warlike, Mexican saddles were received from