fftenant; this was the worst part of the coast,
and the people were ready to rob and murder and eat you?"

"I didn't hear all that, Jem," said Don quietly. "I heard him say that
they were a warlike, fighting people; but that doesn't matter if they
are kind to us."

"But that's what I'm feared on," said Jem, giving himself a jerk.

"Afraid of them being kind?"

"Ay, feared of them liking us too well. Pot."

"Pot?"

"Yes, Pot. Don't you understand?"

"No."

"Pot. P--O--T, Pot."

"Well, of course, I know that; but what does it mean?"

"Why, they've sat upon you, Mas' Don, till your head won't work; that's
what's the matter with you, my lad. I mean treat us as if we was chyce
fat sheep."

"Nonsense, Jem!"

"Oh, is it? Well, you'll see."

"I hope not," said Don, laughing.

"Ah, you may laugh, my lad, but you won't grin that day when it comes to
the worst."

News was brought in soon after of the boats being busy taking soundings,
and that night Don and Jem sat screened by the ferns high up on the
mountain side, and saw the sloop of war with her sails set, and looking
golden in the setting sun, gliding slowly away toward the north-east,
careening slightly over before a brisk breeze, which grew stronger as
they reached out farther beyond the shelter of the land; and in spite of
hints from Tomati, and calls from Ngati, neither could be coaxed down
till, just as it was growing dusk, Don rose and turned to his companion.

"Have we done right, Jem?"

"What, in getting away from being slaves aboard ship? Why, o' course."

Don shook his head.

"I don't know," he said, sadly. "We are here right away on the other
side of the world amongst savages, and I see no chance of getting away
back home."

"Oh, but we arn't tried yet, my lad."

"No, we haven't tried, Jem."

"My pakeha! My pakeha!" came from below.

"There he goes again!" growled Jem. "Do tell Tomati to ask him to call
you something else. I know I shall get in a row if you don't."

"You must not get into any quarrel, Jem," said Don, thoughtfully; "for
we ought to keep the best of friends with these people. Ahoy!"

An answering cry came back, and they began to descend with the darkness
coming on and a strange depression of spirit troubling Don, as he felt
more and more as if for the first time in their lives he and Jem Wimble
were thoroughly alone in the world.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

SOMETHING TO DO.

"'Tarn't so bad, Mas' Don,"