ght sight of him standing under a tree in company with three wild,
gaunt-looking men.

"Mas' Don! Ahoy! Mas' Don!"

"I'm here, Jem, but mind the Maoris."

"I forgot them!" cried Jem. "Look out! There was a lot of savages
arter us."

The three men darted behind trees, and stood with their guns presented
in the direction of the supposed danger, Don and Jem also seeking cover
and listening intently.

"Were you hit, Jem?"

"No, my lad; were you?"

"No. Where's Ngati?"

"I'm afraid he has got it, my lad. He went down like a stone."

"But Mike! How came he here?"

"I d'know, my lad. Hi! Stop! Don't shoot. Friends."

Ngati, who came stalking up through the bush, spear in hand, had a
narrow escape, for two guns were presented at him, and but for the
energetic action of Don and Jem in striking them up, he must have been
hit.

"Oh, this is a friend, is it?" said Mike Bannock, as he gave a tug at
his rough beard, and turned from one to the other. "Arn't come arter
me, then?"

"No, not likely," said Jem. "Had enough of you at home."

"Don't you be sarcy," growled Mike Bannock; "and lookye here, these
gentlemen--friends of mine!"--he nodded sidewise at the two
fierce-looking desperadoes at his side--"is very nice in their way, but
they won't stand no fooling. Lookye here. How was it you come?"

"In a ship of war," said Don.

"Ho! Then where's that ship o' war now?"

"I don't know."

"No lies now," said the fellow fiercely; "one o' these here gentlemen
knocked a man on the head once for telling lies."

"Ah," growled one of the party, a short, evil-looking scoundrel, with a
scar under his right eye.

"Hear that?" cried Mike Bannock. "Now, then, where's that there ship?"

"I tell you I don't know," said Don sharply.

"Whorrt!" shouted Mike, seizing Don by the throat; but the next moment a
sharp blow from a spear handle made him loosen his hold, and Ngati stood
between them, tall and threatening.

"Here, come on, mates, if you don't want to be took!" cried Mike, and
his two companions raised the rusty old muskets they bore.

"Put them down, will yer?" cried Jem. "Lookye here, Mike Bannock: Mas'
Don told you he didn't know where the ship was, and he don't. We've
left her."

"Ah!" growled Mike, looking at him suspiciously. "Now, look here: don't
you try none of your games on me."

"Look here!" cried Jem fiercely; "if you give me any of your impudence,
Mike Bannock, I'll kick you out