186 OVER ON THE ISLAND the confines of his own territory for fear of being killed. Women were in slavery. Superstitions abounded. Geddie's first job was to learn the language. But the natives with their love of barter, would give new words only for some consideration. So the missionary carried biscuits around in his pockets. In six weeks he preached in the native tongue. It is lucky the biscuits held out. I like the picture of the little Geddie followed by a flock of hungry natives, each anxious for another biscuit and he for another native word. So lived and died little Johnny Geddie . In three countries his name is highly honoured and remem¬ bered. In Aneityum, the broken-hearted Christian savages erected a tablet with the world-famous inscription: "When he landed in 1848 there were no Christians here, and when he left in 1872 there were no heathen." In the cemetery at Geelong, Australia, his friends erected a striking memorial to his memory. While in far-away Prince Edward Island , his first church became the John Geddie Memorial Church. The record of the little minister hallows the old- fashioned building. The whole atmosphere breathes the message of Johnny Geddie . And outside a cool, salty breeze blows from the Gulf of St. Lawrence . 5 From some one's lane came a shrill voice raised in protest. " You stepped on a line, you stepped . . ." "I didn't." "You did, too." "I didn't!"