lf-reproachfully.

"No: no pig," said Ngati, who caught the word.

"Well, I didn't say there was, obstinit," said Jem. "Here, give us an
egg. Fruit and young wood's all werry well; but there's no spoons and
no salt!"

In spite of these drawbacks, and amid a series of remarks on the
convenience of cooking cauldrons all over the place, Jem made a hearty
meal of new laid eggs, which they had just finished when Ngati looked up
and seized his spear.

"What's the matter?" cried Don listening.

Ngati pointed, and bent down, holding his hand to his ear.

"I can hear nothing," said Jem.

Ngati pointed down the ravine again, his keen sense having detected the
sound of voices inaudible to his companions. Then carefully gathering
up the egg shells, so as to leave no traces, he took the bag with the
rest of the eggs, and led the way onward at a rapid rate.

The path grew more wild and rugged, and the roar increased as they
ascended, till, after turning an angle in the winding gully, the sound
came continuously with a deep-toned, thunderous bellow.

"There, what did I tell you?" said Jem, as the top of the mountain was
plainly in view, emitting steam, and about a mile distant. "That's the
chimney roaring."

"It's a great waterfall somewhere on ahead," replied Don; and a few
yards farther on they came once more upon the edge of the river, which
here ran foaming along at the bottom of what was a mere jagged crack
stretching down from high up the mountain, and with precipitous walls, a
couple of hundred feet down.

Ngati seemed more satisfied after a while, and they sat down in a narrow
valley they were ascending to finish the eggs, whose shells were thrown
into the torrent.

"I should like to know where he's going to take us," said Jem, all at
once.

"It does not matter, so long as it is into safety," said Don. "For my
part, I--Lie down, quick!"

Jem obeyed, and bending low, Don seized the Maori's arm, pointing the
while down the way they had come at a couple of naked savages, leaping
from stone to stone, spear armed, and each wearing the white-tipped tail
feathers of a bird in his hair.

Ngati saw the danger instantly, fell flat on his breast, and signing to
his companions to follow, began to crawl in and out among the rocks and
bushes, making for every point likely to afford shelter, while, in an
agony of apprehension as to whether they had been seen, Don and Jem
followed painfully, till the chief halted to r