at I say is this, a man can't be
doing wrong in taking stolen goods back to them as they belong to."

"No, Jem, I s'pose not."

"Very well then, Mas' Don; the question is this--Will you or won't you?"

"I will, Jem."

"First chance?"

"Yes, I am decided."

"That's a bargain then, my lad. So shake hands on it. Why! How rough
and hard and tarry your hands have grown!"

"Look out, Jem!"

Don caught hold of the grapnel rope ready to haul up and get away from
the shore, but Jem seized his hand.

"It's all right, Mas' Don. Only them two running back with a basket,
and I'm in that sort o' way of thinking that they've only got to coax me
a bit, and swear as there shall be no tattooing and meat-pie nonsense,
and I'd go ashore with them now."

"No, Jem, that would not do till we know a little more of them, and I
can't help hesitating now it comes to the point."

"That's just what I felt, Mas' Don," said Jem, with a perplexed look on
his face.

"Come, Jem, who's stealing some one else's ideas now?"

"Like fruit?" said the tattooed Englishman, coming down to the water's
edge.

"That depends," said Jem, dubiously. "What is it?"

"Karaka," said their new friend, offering a basket of an olive-like
fruit.

"Good to eat?"

"Yes; try it."

"S'pose you eat some first," said Jem suspiciously.

The Englishman laughed, and took some of the fruit, and began to chew
it.

"Afraid these would drug you so that I could steal the boat?"

"I didn't know," said Jem sulkily. "Wouldn't be the first who has
stolen a boat, I suppose."

Don took some of the berries, and began to eat, and this emboldened Jem,
who tasted one in a very suspicious and doubting way.

"Hullo!" he said, with his countenance brightening; "know what these
here taste like, Mas' Don?"

"Very mellow apple?"

"No; like the medlars that grew in my grandmother's garden."

"That's right!" said the Englishman; and his New Zealand companion began
to select the best and ripest of the fruit from the basket and handed
them to Don, watching him eat with what was meant for a pleasant smile;
but as his face resembled one that had been carved in a piece of
mahogany, and afterwards ornamented with streaks and scrolls, the effect
was more repellent than attractive.

"My pakeha," said the great fellow with a childlike show of
satisfaction; and he looked from one to the other and laughed.

"Here, he's took to you regular, youngster; only look out, for he'l