"Look out! Ngati will help you."

Jem grasped the situation, and the chief caught his feet, lowering him
slowly, when all at once something seemed to spring out of the darkness,
knocking Don right over, and seizing Ngati.

That it was one of the guards there could be no doubt, for the man
raised the alarm, and held on to the prisoner he had made, Jem going
down awkwardly in turn.

He and Don could have fled at once, but they could not leave their New
Zealand friend in the lurch; and as the struggle went on, Jem had
literally to feel his way to Ngati's help, no easy task in the darkness
when two men are struggling.

At last he was successful, and got a grip of one of the combatants'
throat; but a hoarse, "No, pakeha!" told him of his mistake.

He rectified it directly, getting his arm round the neck of the guard,
tightening his grasp, and with such good effect, that Ngati wrenched
himself free, and directly after Don heard one heavy blow, followed by a
groan.

"My pakeha!"

"Here!" whispered Don, as they heard the rapid beating of feet, shouts
below, in the _pah_, and close at hand.

Ngati seized Don's hand, and after stooping down, thrust a spear into
it. Then, uttering a grunt, he placed another spear in Jem's hand, the
spoils of their fallen enemy, and leaving him for a moment, he felt
along the fence for his own weapon.

He spoke no more, but by means of action made Don understand that he
would go first, holding his spear at the trail, he grasping one end, Don
the other. Jem was to do likewise, and thus linked together they would
not be separated.

All this took time, and during the brief moments that elapsed it was
evident that the whole tribe was alarmed, and coming up to the _pah_.

"All right, Mas' Don! I understand. It's follow my leader, and old `my
pakeha' to lead."

Ngati did not hesitate a moment, but went rapidly down the steep
descent, straight for the river, apparently right for where some of the
yelling tribe were advancing.

All at once the New Zealand chief stopped short, turned quickly, and
pressed his hands firmly on Don's shoulder; for voices were heard just
in front, and so near, that the lad feared that they must be seen.

But he grasped the chief's idea, and lay flat down, Jem following his
example; and almost as they crouched to the ground, a group of the enemy
ran up so close, that one of them caught his foot against Jem, and fell
headlong.

Fortunately Jem was too much