," James Allen said, "and that will keep us
going until things get settled; and I should certainly like to lend a
hand in punishing these treacherous natives. It is horrible to think of
their stealing upon defenceless people at night and murdering men,
women, and children. It is as bad as the Sepoy mutiny. And now the
troops have been almost all withdrawn, and the colony has been left to
shift for itself, I think it is no more than the duty of all who have no
special ties to aid in the defence against these fanatical Hau-Haus."

"Very well, then, James; we will march side by side, and when you see me
give out you shall carry me."

"That would be worse than fighting the natives," James Allen replied
with a laugh. "If I were you, Mr. Atherton, I should engage ten natives
to accompany me with poles and a hammock."

"That is not a bad idea," Mr. Atherton said calmly, "and possibly I may
adopt it; but in that case I shall have to go as a free lance, for I
fear it would scarcely be conducive to military discipline to see one of
an armed band carried along in the ranks."

None would have thought from the cheerful tone of the conversation that
the party were beleaguered by a bloodthirsty enemy. But Mr. Atherton
purposely gave a lively tone to the conversation to keep up their
spirits. He felt, as he expressed himself, perfectly confident that
they could beat off any attack in the daytime; but he knew that if their
assailants were largely reinforced, and the place attacked by night, the
position would be a very serious one. Even then he was convinced that
the assailants would not be able to force their way in, but they would
assuredly try to fire the house; and although the solid logs would be
difficult to ignite, the match-board covering and the roof would both
readily catch fire. However, his hope lay in preventing the natives from
firing it, as it would be difficult in the extreme to bring up burning
branches under the fire of the defenders.

"It is a pity now, Wilfrid," he said to the lad after breakfast was
over, and they had taken up their place together at one of the windows,
"that we did not dissuade your father from putting that boarding to the
logs. You did not intend to have it at first, and now it adds a good
deal to our danger. The only thing I am afraid of is fire, though I own
I do not think that there is much chance of any of them getting up with
a lighted brand under the fire of our rifles. If the natives we