t out with two of the dogs and scouted in the bush.
As soon as he returned with the news that he could find no signs of
natives the household broke up. The Allens went through the bush to
their clearing and continued their work of felling trees. Mr. Atherton
sauntered off with his two dogs into the forest in search of plants.
Wilfrid and the Grimstones pursued their work of digging and planting in
the upper part of the glade. Jack and the two dogs were on watch round
the house. Mr. Renshaw worked at his Maori vocabulary, and his wife and
daughter carried on the business of the house.

At night two of the dogs were chained up outside; the other two slept in
the kitchen, while Jack was allowed to sleep up in the loft. At daybreak
on the fourth day the party were awoke by a growl from one of the dogs
outside. Each of the occupants of the house had been allotted his post,
and in a minute all were standing, rifle in hand, at the windows they
were to guard. Mr. Atherton opened the front door and went out,
followed by Jack. It was just getting light enough to make out objects
in the clearing. Everything seemed quiet.

"What is it, Ponto?" he said to his dog, who was standing with his eyes
fixed upon the bush to the right, his ears pricked and his hair
bristling. "What do you hear, old fellow?"

The dog uttered another deep growl. A moment later there was a loud
yell. A number of dark figures leapt from the edge of the bush and ran
towards the house. They had made out Mr. Atherton's figure, and knew
that their hope of surprising the place was at an end. Mr. Atherton
levelled his rifle and fired, and one of the natives fell dead. Then
stooping he quietly unfastened the dog's chain from his collar, telling
Jack to do the same to the other dog, "Come into the house, sir," he
ordered; "it's no use your being here to be shot."

His shot had been answered by a dozen rifles, but fired in haste as the
men were running none of the bullets struck him. Four shots were fired
almost simultaneously from the windows looking towards the bush, and
three more natives fell. This proof of the accuracy of the defenders'
shooting staggered the Maoris and they paused for a moment, then, moved
by the exhortations of their chief, they again rushed forward. The whole
of the defenders were now gathered at the windows facing them, and seven
shots were fired in quick succession. Three natives fell dead. Four
others were wounded, two so seriously that th