The fury of the Queen when she heard of the flight of Rafaravavy was terrible, for this was the second of her favourite ladies-in-waiting who had become Christians1 and deserted3 her Court in fear of their lives—Ra-Ruth, the fair little sister of Ravonino, having been the first.
Fortunately Ranavalona did not think of connecting the flight of Rafaravavy with the recent entertainments, so that suspicion did not attach to Mark and his friends. Neither did the executioner with the Romanised nose suspect them, for in the profound darkness he had not been able to see who it was that knocked the senses out of him; and when afterwards he was told of the explosion that had occurred, he came to the conclusion, (and told his friends), that a big stone, hurled4 into the air at that time, had descended5 on his head and felled him. Whether the “friends” believed this or not we cannot say, but certain it is that they covertly6 rejoiced in the accident, for naturally the man of blood was no favourite!
As might be supposed, soldiers were at once despatched all over the country in search of the fugitive7; and the Queen, relapsing into one of her dark fits of cruelty, began to persecute8 the Christians more severely9 than ever. Still, Mark Breezy strove to influence her towards mercy, and in some measure restrained her.
Meanwhile Ravonino and his party pushed on in hot haste towards their place of refuge in the wild forest.
The dangers to which they were exposed and the risks they ran on this adventurous10 journey were too numerous to be related in detail. We can only touch on a few of them here.
Laihova, it may be mentioned in passing, failed to join them, certainly not from want of will, but because the place where he had concealed12 himself was discovered while he lay awaiting the signal to join his friends. Two female relations who knew of his hiding-place were caught, convicted, if we may so put it, of Christianity! and put to the torture. Although true-hearted, these poor girls were so agonised by suffering and terror that, in a moment of weakness, they disclosed the secret. But even among prison authorities there were found followers13 of Jesus—secretly, however, for fear of the tyrant14 Queen—and one of these sent a swift messenger to Laihova to warn him. Had the youth been an ordinary man the warning would have been too late, for close on the heels of the messenger came the soldiers with his death-warrant. But Laihova was gifted with cool courage and unusual speed of foot. Trust, also, in the certainty of God’s blessing15, whether life or death should be his portion, filled him with that spirit of enthusiastic energy which goes so far, in all circumstances of life, to ensure success. He soon distanced his pursuers, left them out of sight behind, and, finally, found refuge with a Christian2 friend, who hid him over an oven in his house when he had reached the last stage of exhaustion16 from hard running, and could not have advanced further without rest. The soldiers came up and searched the house while he was asleep, but happily did not observe the oven! They remained there, however, over the night, and thus rendered it impossible for Laihova to join his friends at that time.
Ravonino could not, of course, afford to delay. Knowing also that his young friend was well able to take care of himself, and that his soul’s anchor was the Lord, he felt comparatively little anxiety in starting without him.
To let Rafaravavy have female companionship on the hazardous17 journey, her lover induced a Christian girl who had been named Sarah to accompany them. This faithful creature was the means of saving their lives more than once by giving timely warning of approaching danger.
The first place to which the fugitives18 directed their steps was a village about fifty miles from the capital, where dwelt a Christian who, with his wife, offered them hospitality and protection. This man had sent a noble message to the persecuted19 ones in the city. It ran thus:—
“Let all the Christians who are compelled to run away for their lives come to me. I will take care of them. As long as I am safe they are safe, and as long as I have food they shall share it.”
Not an hour’s rest was taken until the house of their friend was reached. Of course they were received with open arms. Food was placed before them, and mats were spread in a safe place on which they might rest. But neither food nor repose20 would the fugitives take until they had joined the Christian family in thanking God for their escape and in singing His praise.
“Sing the hymn21 of dear Ramanisa,” said Ravonino as he seated himself at the side of Rafaravavy, after arranging her mat.
The host smiled as he turned over the leaves of a Malagasy hymn-book. “All the fugitives like that hymn,” he said.
“Do you wonder?” returned his guest. “Before the last great persecution22 he was one of our most faithful preachers of the Gospel, and when trouble came he always forgot himself in his eager desire to help and comfort others. Many a time has he guided and strengthened the Lord’s people when they have been compelled to fly,—to travel weary and footsore by night, to wander in the dark forests, and hide in the gloomy caves. Wherever he went there was sunshine, because his heart was very full of the love of Jesus; and when he was led out to be speared, was he not faithful to the last? Perhaps we may be permitted to sing his own hymn along with him some day before the throne. No wonder that we love the words of Ramanisa. They called him Josiah when he was baptized, but he was Ramanisa when the Lord called him, and I think that is the name that is written in the Book of Life.”
The hymn composed by this good native, which these Christians began to sing—and which is incorporated, as we have said, in the Malagasy hymn-book,—is still, and will doubtless continue to be, a great favourite with the Christians of Madagascar. The following is a translation of three of the verses. See Note 1.
“Loud to the Lord your voices raise,
Publish the wonders of His hand
O’er all the earth, in every land.
“Oh! God, our God, to Thee we cry,
Oh! sacred Spirit, hear our prayer,
“Scarce can we find a place of rest,
Pilgrims amidst a wilderness30.”
Poor Rafaravavy had full proof of the truth embodied31 in these lines, both as to the affliction and the bliss, before many days were over. The soldiers being strong hardy32 men, burdened only with their arms, and with little clothing, pushed after the three fugitives with so much vigour33 that they arrived at the place where the latter had rested on the second day of their flight. While soldiers were thus close to them the utmost caution and close concealment34 were necessary. They remained where they were, therefore, and every morning, before dawn, Ravonino stole out to a neighbouring mountain with Rafaravavy and her maid. There they lay hid among the craggy rocks until night-fall, when they returned to their friend’s house.
But soon this place of concealment became known to the persecuting35 prime minister, Rainiharo, who directed the soldiers to search the mountain before going to the village. This they did, but did not find the fugitives, for, as it was cold that morning, they had agreed to run the risk of remaining in the house!
Failing to find those they sought for in the mountain, the soldiers entered the village and approached the house where they lay unperceived by human eye, and it seemed as if at last Rafaravavy’s doom36 was sealed. Other eyes, however,—very black and sharp ones—observed the enemy, and the owners of these eyes—a flock of crows—rose in alarm at their approach.
“Oh!” exclaimed the handmaiden, Sarah, “the crows are at the rice I spread out to dry!” and out she ran to rescue it. One glimpse of the soldiers was enough. Sarah was equal to the occasion. Without even a backward glance she gave warning to those in the house, but cleverly continued her raid upon the crows, laughingly asking the men when she passed them, “if they had come there to search for run-away Christians!”
“This way,” whispered the host to his two guests when the warning reached him. Leading them to an inner room he made them creep under a bed and covered them with a mat. As for the chair-bearers and their burden, such adjuncts to Malagasy travel were too numerous and common in the land to attract much attention. Fortunately the soldiers were hungry, and, being eager for food, did not search the house with care, but during their stay of an hour poor Rafaravavy heard all they said respecting her and the orders that had been issued for her arrest and death. At the same time Ravonino became aware that his presence in the neighbourhood was known, though his complicity in the abduction of his companion in distress37, he fancied, had not been suspected.
That night the fugitives resumed their journey and travelled till dawn, when they again found safe refuge in the house of a sympathising friend. Thus they proceeded for several days and nights with the utmost caution, for, wherever they went it was found that soldiers had been sent out in pursuit.
One night they approached a village where they knew they would be kindly38 received, but had scarcely reached it when they learned that a party of soldiers were searching the neighbourhood for some other woman who had recently disappeared. They were compelled, therefore, to return to the place they had left the day before. From this point they changed their intended route, partly to throw the pursuers off the scent39, if possible, and partly to seek temporary refuge at the house of an old woman who was an aunt of Sarah.
“She’s a real good Christian,” said Sarah, when advising the visit, “and she fears no one but God. If they ever kill my old aunt she will die singing, or praying for her murderers.”
Sure enough, when they reached the hut of the old woman, they heard her singing hymns40 at the full pitch of her voice, quite regardless of the fact that she was breaking the law and that persecutors were swarming41 in the land.
“Shelter you!” exclaimed this old woman, when her niece had mentioned the cause of their visit, “yes, I will shelter you as long as my dear Lord gives me the power to do so.”
The need for friendly aid was great, for, even while the old woman spoke42, a little girl came bounding into the hut saying that a party of soldiers were approaching.
“Run! meet them, child. Then turn and run away as if you were afraid of them. Make them chase you if you can. Run!”
The girl was intelligent. She bounded away, and the old woman, with a degree of activity that was wonderful at her age, led her visitors to the back of her house and hid them in a pit. There they had to spend that night while the aunt entertained their pursuers, but next morning, after the latter had left, their old hostess led them to a plantation43 close at hand, where they remained concealed for several days, not daring to move, for, at various times, they saw men who were in pursuit of them pass quite near to their hiding-place.
Here it was decided44 that the palanquin, or chair-bearers, should proceed no further, as they only increased the danger of discovery, and that Ravonino, Rafaravavy, and Sarah should proceed alone and on foot through the extensive forest which lay just beyond the place.
The first night all went well. The moon was clear enough to make travelling easy, and no enemies were encountered, but the next evening, a little after sunset, on gaining the crest45 of a hill, they met almost face to face a small band of soldiers who were travelling in the opposite direction.
To crouch46 behind some rocks was the work of an instant. There was no thick underwood at the spot to conceal11 them. As Ravonino glanced quickly round, he saw that the only hope was to turn and run. They evidently had not been perceived, but what probability was there that the two trembling girls beside him could escape by such means?
“We must fly, dear one,” he said, in desperation, putting his arm round Rafaravavy’s waist.
“I cannot run,” she said, while a look of resignation settled on her face. “Go, you may escape, perhaps, if the Lord will, and bring us help. Leave us, we are ready to die.”
“Leave you, Rafaravavy!” exclaimed the man, with a look almost of triumph. “No—not until my God commands. May He help us now!”
While he spoke he observed a patch of rushes growing at the side of the path. As a last resource he ran in among them, leading or rather dragging the two girls. To their joy they found that the rushes grew in a pool of water. It was very shallow, but by lying down and sinking themselves into the mud of the deepest part they managed to cover themselves completely, except their heads, which the rushes effectually concealed.
A few minutes later and the soldiers, reaching the crest of the hill, halted to look round and chat. If it had been broad day at the time the fugitives must undoubtedly47 have been observed, but it was growing dark. For a few terrible minutes the men conversed—always on the same theme—the capture and death of Rafaravavy! Then they resumed their march and disappeared among the forest trees.
It was a deplorable plight48 in which the fugitives now found themselves. Soaking wet, covered with mud from their necks downwards49, and without the prospect50 of any shelter for the coming night save that afforded by the open forest. Poor Sarah lost heart entirely51 for a little time and burst into tears, but Rafaravavy, putting her hand on the maid’s shoulder, said encouragingly, “‘The Lord reigneth. We will not fear what man can do unto us.’ Will you pray for us?” she added, turning to their protector.
Ravonino at once kneeled; the two girls sank down beside him, and in few but earnest, simple words he prayed for help in the all-prevailing name of Jesus.
The vigour of body which flowed from the prayer was no fanciful emotion or miraculous52 effect. The confidence resulting from faith in God, and the joy of soul and consequent flow of warm blood, were not less natural consequences of prayer than direct answers to it would have been. They rose from their knees refreshed, and walked on with renewed energy for a considerable time; but at last Rafaravavy was fairly overcome with fatigue53, and an irresistible54 desire to sleep. Her maid, being of a more robust55 physical fibre, was not so much overcome, and declared that she could still go on easily.
Ravonino at last solved the difficulty by taking his lady-love in his strong arms. She submitted with a sleepy protest, and her little head was no sooner on the man’s shoulder than she was fast asleep.
And here again the power of joy to give strength became abundantly evident, for when he fairly had Rafaravavy in his arms, a glow of enthusiasm and thankfulness pervaded56 his entire being, so that he felt as if he had scarcely walked any distance at all that day! His endurance, however, was not destined57 to be further tested that night, for he had not gone far when he came unexpectedly on the hut of a wood-cutter, who received him hospitably58, though, being taciturn, it was not easy to ascertain59 what were his views as to the religion for which so many people were then suffering.
Strange to say, during all this trying time, these fugitives found comfort not only from the Word of God, but from the Pilgrim’s Progress of Bunyan! This work had been translated into the Malagasy language by the English missionaries60, and many passages in it were found to be singularly appropriate to and comforting in the circumstances in which the persecuted people were placed. Eight copies of the great allegory had been transcribed61 by the native Christians themselves for their common use. These being lent from one household to another the details of the story soon spread. Naturally those who possessed62 strong memories learned much of it by heart, and thus it became a book which the afflicted Christians prized next to the Bible.
Note 1. Extracted from Madagascar, its Missions and Martyrs63, by E. Prout, for the London Missionary64 Society.
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1
Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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covertly
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| adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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persecute
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| vt.迫害，虐待；纠缠，骚扰 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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extol
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| v.赞美，颂扬 | |
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exalt
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| v.赞扬，歌颂，晋升，提升 | |
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saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dens
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| n.牙齿，齿状部分；兽窝( den的名词复数 )；窝点；休息室；书斋 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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embodied
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| v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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persecuting
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的现在分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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hymns
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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41
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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42
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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46
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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47
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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48
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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51
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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52
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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53
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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54
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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hospitably
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| 亲切地，招待周到地，善于款待地 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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transcribed
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| （用不同的录音手段）转录( transcribe的过去式和过去分词 )； 改编（乐曲）（以适应他种乐器或声部）； 抄写； 用音标标出（声音） | |
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62
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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63
martyrs
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| n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情） | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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