was a little after sunset, and the evening shadows were already beginning to fall upon the village. The Dyak was much surprised, and apparently sincerely sorry, when the missionary told him that he must leave next day, and that he had come to say farewell. The Dyak remonstrated warmly, and urged him to remain, but was told in reply that there seemed no prospect that, even if he should remain, he or any other Dyaks would give up their sins and become Christians. He was assured that possibly in a little time the man of the house himself would take that much-desired step, whereupon Dr. Luering said to him, ‘If you are sincere, you will give me a token of your honest purpose. You have often told me you would be a Christian, and you now repeat it again; if you will become a Christian I will take the responsibility of remaining, to help the rest of your people into a better life; or, if you will even give me a pledge of your sincere purpose to become a Christian in the future, I will see to it that some one comes to you without delay. The pledge which I ask is this: let me take one of those skulls and carry it back with me to Singapore, and I will keep it as a token on your part that you wish us to return, and that you honestly intend to become a Christian man.’ At the mention of so startling a proposal the Dyak grasped his long knife—a terrible weapon in the use of which they are fearfully skillful—and looked as if he would revenge the insult offered him on the spot. His friends also looked startled, for according to their notions no proposal could have been more insulting. The missionary, however, remained calm, and persisted in repeating his proposal. There was silence for a little time, and then the Dyak, pointing to his skulls, said to Dr. Luering, ‘Take one.’ The permission was immediately accepted, and the horrible trophy was carried back to Singapore.”
It is given to few men of the present generation to see the work of their own hands, begun in the face of many obstacles and in the midst of startling perils, move steadily forth to such grand proportions as the Mission founded by Dr. Butler has
