ol of the morning, with the dew
sparkling on the hedges and the birds twittering in the orchards, he
rode out of Timber Town.

He crossed the ford where he had rescued Rachel from the clutches of the
digger, and had turned into the gorge which led through the foot-hills
when he came suddenly upon Amiria, waiting for him, with her horse
standing across the road.

She was dressed in a perfectly-fitting habit of dark blue cloth, a hard
felt hat, and in her hand she carried a dainty whip; but her feet were
bare, and one pretty toe protruded from the stirrup.

"I'm hanged!" exclaimed Jack. "Who ever expected to see you here, at
this time of the morning?"

The Maori girl laughed. "I knew you were going to-day--Rose Summerhayes
told me. So I said to myself, 'I'll go to the diggings too; I'll see how
they get this gold.' Perhaps I may find some myself. Is it far?"

"About fifty miles. But I can't take you to the field."

"Why not? I shan't steal anything."

Scarlett could not forbear a smile. "I don't mean that," he said. "I was
thinking what the fellows would say."

Amiria's merry laugh rang through the narrow valley. "Oh, you _Pakeha_
people, how funny you are--always troubled by what others may think
about you, always bothering about the day after to-morrow. Yet I think
it's all put on: you do just the same things as the Maori. I give it up.
I can't guess it. Come on; see if your horse can trot mine."

She flicked her big bay that she was riding, and started off at a
swinging pace. And so, Scarlett riding on the soft turf on one side of
the road and Amiria on the other, they raced till they came to the next
ford.

"I beat!" cried the Maori girl, her brown cheeks glowing with
excitement.

The horses were given a mouthful of water, and then they splashed
through the shallows; their iron shoes clanking on the boulders as dry
land was reached.

"You are very rich, aren't you?" Amiria asked, as they walked their
horses side by side.

"What do you mean by rich?"

"Oh, you have lots of gold, money, everything you want."

"Not by any means."

"You must be very greedy, then. They tell me you have thousands of
pounds in the bank, a big house which you are building, and a fine
girl."

"A girl?"

"Yes, Rahera Varnhagen. Isn't she a fine girl?"

"Rachel Varnhagen!"

"Yes. I was in the old man's store yesterday, buying things for the
_pa_, and he told me he had given his girl to you."

Jack opened his eyes in