lf, laughing it off
when they noticed that he did not eat his breakfast, and, to avoid
further questioning, he went out after a time to wander up the valley
into the shady woodland and among the tree-ferns, hoping that the rest
and cool shadowy calm of the primaeval forest would prove restful and
refreshing.

The day was glorious, and Don lay back listening to the cries of the
birds, dreaming of home, and at times dozing off to sleep after his
restless night.

His head ached terribly, and was confused, and at times, as he lay back
resting against a tuft of fern, he seemed to be back at Bristol; then in
an instant he thought he must be in the Maoris' _pah_, wondering whether
there could be any truth in Jem's fancies as to why they were being
kept.

Then there was a dull time of blank weariness, during which he saw
nothing, till he seemed to be back in the convicts' lurking-place, and
he saw Mike Bannock thrusting his head out from among the leaves, his
face brown and scarred, and eyes glistening, as he looked from place to
place.

It was all so real that Don expected to see the scoundrel step out into
the open, followed by his two companions.

And this did happen a few minutes later. Mike Bannock, armed with a
heavy club, and followed by his two brothers in crime, crept out. Then
it seemed to be no longer the convicts' home, and Don started from his
dreamy state, horrified at what he saw, for the scoundrels had not seen
him, and were going cautiously toward the little settlement, whose
occupants were all away hunting, fishing, and attending to their crops.
Don alone was close at hand, and he in so semi-delirious and helpless a
state, that when he tried to rise he felt as if it would be impossible
to warn his friends of their danger, and prevent these ruffians from
making their descent upon the pleasant little homes around.

An acute pain across the brows made Don close his eyes, and when he
re-opened them his head was throbbing, his mind confused, and as he
looked hastily round, and could see nothing but the beautiful verdant
scene, he felt that he had been deceived, and as if the figures that had
passed out of the dense undergrowth had been merely creatures of his
imagination.

He still gazed wildly about, but all was peaceful, and not a sound save
the birds' notes fell upon the ear.

"It must have been fancy," he thought. "Where is Jem?"

He sank back again in a strangely excited state, for the idea that