the end of an hour."

"All right, Mas' Don," said Jem, going through the business of taking
out an imaginary watch, winding it up, and then looking at its face.
"Five and twenty past seven, Mas' Don, but I'm afraid I'm a little slow.
These here baths don't do one's watch any good."

"You'll keep a good look out, Jem."

"Just so, Mas' Don. Moment I hear or see anything I calls you up. What
time would you like your shaving water, sir? Boots or shoes this
morning?"

"Ah, Jem," said Don, smiling, "I'm too tired to laugh."

And he lay back and dropped off to sleep directly, Ngati's eyes having
already closed.

"Too tired to laugh," said Jem to himself. "Poor dear lad, and him as
brave as a young lion. Think of our coming to this. Shall we ever see
old England again, and if we do, shall I be a cripple in this arm?
Well, if I am, I won't grumble, but bear it all like a man; and," he
added reverently, "please God save us and bring us back, if it's only
for my poor Sally's sake, for I said I'd love her and cherish her, and
keep her; and here am I one side o' the world, and she's t'other; and
such is life."

CHAPTER FORTY SIX.

AN UNTIRING ENEMY.

Jem kept careful watch and ward as he stood leaning on his spear. He
was very weary, and could not help feeling envious of those who were
sleeping so well. But he heard no sound of pursuit, and after a time
the wondrous beauty of the glen in which they had halted, with its
rushing waters and green lacing ferns, had so composing an effect upon
his spirits, that he began to take an interest in the flowers that hung
here and there, while the song of a finch sounded pleasant and homelike.
Then the delicious melody of the bell-bird fell upon his ear; and while
he was listening to this, he became interested in a beautiful blackbird,
which came and hopped about him.

Jem laughed, for his visitor had some white feathers just below the
beak, and they suggested an idea to him as the bird bobbed and bowed and
chattered.

"Well," he said, "if I was naming birds, I should call you the parson,
for you look like one, with that white thing about your neck."

The bird looked at him knowingly, and flitted away. Directly after, as
he turned his eyes in the direction where the uneaten fruit was lying,
he saw that they had a visitor in the shape of one of the curious rails.
The bird was already investigating the fruit, and after satisfying
itself that the berries were of the kin