settlements take
a certain amount of precautions. I shall write down at once to my agent
at Hawke Bay asking him to buy me a couple of dogs and send them up by
the next ship. I shall tell him that it does not matter what sort of
dogs they are so that they are good watch-dogs, though, of course, I
should prefer that they should be decent dogs of their sort, dogs one
could make companions of. I should advise you to do the same.

"I shall ask Mr. Mitford to get me up at once a heavy door and shutters
for the window strong enough to stand an assault. Here again I should
advise you to do the same. You can assign any reason you like to your
father. With a couple of dogs to give the alarm, with a strong door and
shutters, you need not be afraid of being taken by surprise, and it is
only a surprise that you have in the first place to fear. Of course if
there were to be anything like a general rising we should all have to
gather at some central spot agreed upon, or else to quit the settlement
altogether until matters settle down. Still, I trust that nothing of
that sort will take place. At any rate, all we have to fear and prepare
against at present is an attack by small parties of fanatics."

Wilfrid had no difficulty in persuading his father to order a strong oak
door and shutters for the windows, and to get a couple of dogs. He began
the subject by saying: "Mr. Atherton is going to get some strong
shutters to his window, father. I think it would be a good thing if we
were to get the same for our windows."

"What do we want shutters for, Wilfrid?"

"For just the same reason that we have been learning to use our
firearms, father. We do not suppose that the natives, who are all
friendly with us, are going to turn treacherous. Still, as there is a
bare possibility of such a thing, we have taken some pains in learning
to shoot straight. In the same way it would be just as well to have
strong shutters put up. We don't at all suppose we are going to be
attacked, but if we are the shutters would be invaluable, and would
effectually prevent anything like a night surprise. The expense wouldn't
be great, and in the unlikely event of the natives being troublesome in
this part of this island we should all sleep much more soundly and
comfortably if we knew that there was no fear of our being taken by
surprise. Mr. Atherton is sending for a couple of dogs too. I have
always thought that it would be jolly to have a dog or two here, and if