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She took along one of the boys she had adopted. It was twelve-year-old Etim. He could read and she needed his help. Once more Mary was beginning mission work in a new part of the country where Christians had never been. Mary and Etim went to Ibibio-land. Mary started a school and a small congregation. Etim was made the teacher of the school. He proved to be a very good teacher.
She, at any rate, would not be found lagging, and in the middle of the year 1905 she sallied forth, taking with her a boy of twelve years named Etim, who read English well, and, at a place called Ikotobong, some five and a half miles inland, she formed a school and the nucleus of a congregation. "I trust," she said, "that it will be the first of a chain of stations stretching across the country.
The old chief is pleased. He told me that the future, the mystery of things, was too much for him, and that he would welcome the light. The people are to give Etim food, and I will give him 5s. a month for his mother out of my store." The lad proved an excellent teacher and disciplinarian, and gathered a school of half a hundred children about him.
"It is Etim, the son of our chief, Edem. He is going to get married soon and is building his house. A tree fell the wrong way and hit him. He cannot move his arms or legs. This means bad trouble. The people will say it is witchcraft." Mary with her helpers quickly made a stretcher to carry Etim. They carried him to his mother's home at Ekenge. "I will nurse him," said Mary to Etim's mother.
The last of the prisoners was let go free on the promise that if Chief Akpo was caught he would take the poison test. Mary heard that Etim was the only chief in Okoyong ever to be buried without some people being killed as a human sacrifice. The people of the jungle thought Mary was wonderful indeed.
Then the people were let into the yard to see Etim. The people shouted. They were so happy they danced around. They called for whiskey to drink. Chief Edem gave them much whiskey to drink. They became wilder and wilder. Mary and Mr. Ovens took turns watching the prisoners. They were afraid the people would kill them.
Chief Edem turned around and went back to the village. He sent all the chiefs home. Nothing more was said about the poison bean test. Now Mary began to plead for Akpo, the chief of the village which the witch doctor had said had caused Etim to be killed. "Chief Edem, let him come home. Forgive him. He has done you no wrong." God softened Edem's heathen heart.
She would not leave her place in the gate. The people were angry with her, but still many of them loved and respected their white Ma and would not hurt her. Suddenly a man pushed his way through the crowd. He shoved Mary aside. He grabbed one of the women prisoners. He dragged her in front of the body of Etim. He handed her the cup of poison. "Drink!" he cried.
Hearing Etim groaning and crying out, she rushed back to the house where he was. The natives were blowing smoke into his nose. They were rubbing pepper into his eyes. His uncle, Ekponyong, shouted into his ears. They thought they were helping him to get well. Instead they made him die sooner. In a moment he gave a cry and fell back dead. "Etim is dead!" cried the people in the house.
The natives had never seen anything like it before. It pleased them very much and it also quieted them down. The next day when the funeral was held, a cow was killed and put in the coffin with Etim instead of the people who were thought to have worked witchcraft against him. Mary was glad and thankful to God that she had been able to save the prisoners.
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