hoose, but I have not seen any of you
before. If you will sit down on that bench outside I will bring you
food."

He soon reappeared with a dish of maize and boiled pork, for a supply
was generally kept in readiness in case any of the natives should come
in.

"Shuffle about and make a noise," he said to Marion as she got the dish
from the cupboard. "They cannot know who are inside, and if they mean
mischief--and honestly I do not like their looks--they will be more
likely to try it on if they think that I am alone."

The Maoris took the food in silence, and as they ate it Wilfrid was
amused to hear Marion stamping heavily about inside, and occasionally
speaking as if to her father. He could see that the men were listening,
and they exchanged words in a low tone with each other.

Presently the leader of the party said, "Drink!" Wilfrid went in and
brought out a pitcher of water. "Gin!" the chief said shortly. "I have
no gin to give you," Wilfrid replied; "we do not keep spirits."

The natives rose to their feet. "We will come in and see," the leader
said.

"No you won't!" Wilfrid said firmly. "I have given you what food there
is in the house, and you are welcome to it; but strangers don't come
into the house unless they are invited."

The native laid his hand on Wilfrid's shoulder to push him aside, but
four months of chopping and digging had hardened every muscle in the
lad's body. He did not move an inch, but jerked the Maori's hand off his
shoulder.

With an exclamation of anger the native drew a heavy knobbed stick from
the girdle round his waist, but before he could raise it to strike
another figure appeared at the door. Marion held a gun in her hand which
she raised to her shoulder. "Drop that," she said in a clear ringing
voice, "or I fire!"

Taken by surprise, and seeing the rifle pointed full at his head, the
chief instantly dropped his club. At the same instant Wilfrid sprang to
the door, exclaiming "Go in, Marion!" and before the natives had
recovered from their surprise the door was shut and barred.

They had not been deceived by Marion's attempt to personate a man, and
their sharp ears had told them while eating their meal that there was
but one person in the house, and that it was a girl. They knew that
there was no other about, having watched the house for some time, and
had therefore anticipated that the work of murder and plunder would be
accomplished without difficulty. The instant the door