But meanwhile the desired teacher was being trained all unknown to them. One of their own islanders, a wild Ono lad, had contrived to wander all the way to Tonga, and you can fancy that several hundred miles in an open canoe is no easy journey, especially when every isle to which you may unintentionally drift is inhabited by fierce cannibals of unfriendly tribes. An ordinary canoe is a very unsafe vessel in a storm, and in heathen days shipwreck invariably meant death; for even should the crew reach the land in safety, and find themselves on shores which, under ordinary circumstances, would be friendly, they were declared to have salt water in their eyes, and were doomed to death and the oven. But the lad in question reached Tonga in safety, and there he found the people earnestly conforming to the new faith. He attended their services, learnt much, and on returning to Lakemba became truly converted, and for several years lived a consistent Christian life, taking the name of Isaac Ravuata. He soon learnt to read and write well, and acquired so much knowledge that he became a useful assistant in the mission. When, therefore, the message from Ono reached Lakemba, it was evident that he was the right man for the work; he was accordingly despatched, and gladly was he welcomed by his countrymen. He found that 120 persons had given up idolatry, and were thirsting for further knowledge of the Christian faith. The following year a Tongan teacher was sent to assist him; by this time three chapels had been built, and so anxious were the converts for instruction, that the Christian crew of the canoe said they had scarcely been allowed needful sleep, so eager were the people to learn all that they possibly could teach them. They found that the little isle of Vatoa had also become _lotu_, and all these people prayed that they might be visited by a white missionary who might administer the sacraments. It seemed hard to refuse such a prayer, but labourers were few and the work was vast. Mr Calvert and his wife were left quite alone at Lakemba, where Tui Nayau, the king, and most of his chiefs and people, continued heathen, and often antagonistic. Fifteen years elapsed before the king determined to accept the _lotu_. As far as possible, Mr Calvert travelled about this group of twenty isles, teaching the people, and now this further claim on time and strength seemed beyond his power. It was a long and dangerous journey to undertake in a frail canoe, and involved an absence certainly of weeks, possibly of months; and the thought of leaving his wife utterly alone in the midst of ferocious cannibals was altogether appalling. At this crisis it was she—a most gentle and loving woman—who came to his help, and urged him to go. Still there was the difficulty of getting a canoe sufficiently seaworthy for such a long and dangerous voyage. However, not long afterwards, a Tongan chief came to Lakemba in a large canoe, and consented to take Mr Calvert to Ono.