disappeared directly. Then steps were heard, and the great chief came
in, bending low to avoid striking his head against the roof till he
reached the rough bedside, where he bent over Don, and patted him
gently, saying softly, "My pakeha."

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE.

DON SPEAKS OUT.

A healthy young constitution helped Don Lavington through his perilous
illness, and in another fortnight he was about the farm, helping in any
little way he could.

"I'm very sorry, Mr Gordon," said Don one evening to the young settler.

"Sorry? What for, my lad?" he said.

"For bringing those convicts after us to your place, and for being ill
and giving you so much trouble."

"Nonsense, my lad! I did begin to grumble once when I thought you were
going to be ungrateful to me for taking you in."

"Ungrateful!"

"Yes, ungrateful, and trying to die."

"Oh!" said Don smiling.

"Nice mess I should have been in if you had. No church, no clergyman,
no doctor, no sexton. Why, you young dog, it would have been cruel."

Don smiled sadly.

"I am really very grateful, sir; I am indeed, and I think by to-morrow
or next day I shall be strong enough to go."

"What, and leave me in the lurch just as I'm so busy! Why, with the
thought of having you fellows here, I've been fencing in pieces and
making no end of improvements. That big Maori can cut down as much wood
as two men, and as for Jem Wimble, he's the handiest fellow I ever saw."

"I am very glad they have been of use, sir. I wish I could be."

"You're right enough, boy. Stop six months--a year altogether--and I
shall be very glad of your help."

This set Don at rest, and he brightened up wonderfully, making great
strides during the next fortnight, and feeling almost himself, till, one
evening as he was returning from where he had been helping Jem and Ngati
cut up wood for fencing, he fancied he saw some animal creeping through
the ferns. A minute's watching convinced him that this was a fact, but
he could not make out what it was. Soon after, as they were seated at
their evening meal, he mentioned what he had seen.

"One of the sheep got loose," said Gordon.

"No, it was not a sheep."

"Well, what could it have been? There are no animals here, hardly,
except the pigs which have run wild."

"It looked as big as a sheep, but it was not a pig," said Don
thoughtfully. "Could it have been a man going on all fours?"

"Hullo! What's the matter?" cried Gordon looking