fanatical frenzy that must speedily find vent in
horrible action.

If Dick's life were to be saved he must be rescued at once! No time now
to await Fred Elliot's return with the surveyors and their men! Hugh
must save his brother single-handed. But how was he to do it? For him,
unarmed and unbacked by an authoritative show of numbers, to attempt an
open rescue would merely mean, in the natives' present state of mind,
the death of both brothers.

"If the worst comes, I won't let Dick die alone," Hugh Jervois avowed.
"But the worst shan't come. I must save Dick somehow."

He cast desperate glances around. They showed him that the _marae_ was
completely deserted now, the group about the cooking-place having
retired into the _whares_ for the night. If he only knew which of those
silent _whares_ held Dick, a rescue was possible. To blunder on the
wrong _whare_ would only serve to arouse the _kainga_.

"Oh, if I only knew which! If I only knew which!" Hugh groaned in agony
of mind. "And any moment those fiends may come and drag him out to his
death."

Just then, as if in answer to his unspoken prayer, an unexpected sound
arose. Poor little Dick, in sore straits, was striving to keep up his
courage by whistling "Soldiers of Our Queen!"

Hugh's heart leaped within him. The quavering boyish whistle came from
the third _whare_ on his left, and, in an instant, he had reached the
hut and was gently tapping on the door. Dick might not be alone, but
that chance had to be risked, for time was very precious.

"It's Hugh, Dick," he whispered.

"Hugh! Oh, Hugh!" and in that choking cry Hugh could read the measure of
his young brother's mental sufferings since he had last seen him.

In a moment he had severed the flax fastening of the door, and burst in
to find Dick, securely tied hand and foot to a post in the centre of the
_whare_. Again Hugh's pocket-knife came into play, and Dick, freed of
his bonds, fell, sobbing and crying, into his brother's arms.

"Hush, Dick! No crying now!" whispered Hugh imperatively. "You've got to
play the man a little longer yet. Follow me."

And the youngster, making a brave effort, pulled himself together and
noiselessly stole out of the _whare_ after his brother.

But evil chance chose that moment for the breaking up of the excited
council in the _whare-runanga_. Horoeka, stepping out into the _marae_
to fetch his victim to the sacrifice, was just in time to see that
victim disappearing roun