y. "Eh, mates?"

"Ay. That's a true word."

"Then we'll go the way you came," cried Don.

"Nay, you don't; that's our way, too."

"The country's open, and we shall go which way we like," cried Don.

"Hear, hear, Mas' Don!" cried Jem.

"You hold your tongue, old barrel cooper!" cried Mike. "You're going
along of us; that's what you're going to do."

"That we are not!" cried Don.

"Oh, yes, you are, so no nonsense. We've got powder and shot, and
you've only got spears, and one gun's equal to fifty spears."

"Look here, sir!" cried Don sternly, "I don't want any words with such a
man as you. Show me the way you want to take, and we'll go another."

"This here's the way," said Mike menacingly. "This is the way we're
going, and you've got to come with us."

"Jem; Ngati; come on," said Don.

"Oh, then you mean to fight, do you?" growled Mike. "Come on then,
mates. I think we can give 'em a lesson there."

"Mas' Don," whispered Jem, "it's no good to fight again guns, and my
shoulder's a reg'lar dummy. Let's give in civil, and go with them.
We'll get away first chance, and it do make us six again' any savages
who may come."

"Savages!" said Don angrily; "why, where would you get such savages as
these? The Maoris are gentlemen compared to them."

"That's my 'pinion again, Mas' Don; but we'd better get on."

"But why do they want us with them?"

"Strikes me they're 'fraid we shall tell on them."

"Tell on them?"

"Yes; it's my belief as Master Mike's been transported, and that he's
contrived to get away with these two."

"And we are to stop with three such men as these?"

"Well, they arn't the sort of chaps I should choose, Mas' Don; but they
say they're gen'lemen, so we must make the best of it. All right, Mike,
we're coming."

"That's your sort. Now, then, let's find my big bird, and then I'm with
you."

"Yah! There's no big bird," said Jem. "We was the birds, shamming so
as to get away from the savages."

"Then you may think yourself precious lucky you weren't shot. Come on."

Mike led the way, and Don and his companions followed, the two rough
followers of Mike Bannock coming behind with their guns cocked.

"Pleasant that, Mas' Don," said Jem. "Like being prisoners again. But
they can't shoot."

"Why did you say that, Jem?" said Don anxiously.

"Because we're going to make a run for it before long, eh, my pakeha?"

"My pakeha," said Ngati, laying his hand on Don's shoulder