o time changes were made,
the other two natives taking their share. Had they been alone the
natives could have made the ten miles' journey under the two hours, but
Mr. Atherton reduced their speed directly after they had started.

"I have not been killed by the Hau-Haus, Wilfrid, and I do not mean to
let myself be killed by friendly natives. Three miles an hour is my
pace, and except in a case of extreme emergency I never exceed it. I
have no wish, when I get back to England, to be exhibited as a walking
skeleton.

"It is good to hear you laugh again, lad," he went on as Wilfrid burst
into a shout of laughter, to the astonishment of his four bearers. "I
was afraid six weeks back that we should never hear you laugh again."

"Oh, Mr. Atherton!" Wilfrid exclaimed a few minutes later, "were there
any other of the Poverty Bay people there last night; and have you heard
what took place and whether many besides those we know of have lost
their lives?"

"Yes; I am sorry to say it has been a very bad business. As we heard
from Butters, Dodd and Reppart were killed, and there is no doubt that
their shepherd was also slaughtered. Major Biggs, poor fellow, has paid
for his obstinacy and over-confidence with his life. His wife, baby, and
servant were also killed. The news of this was brought by a boy employed
in the house, who escaped by the back-door and hid in a flax bush.
Captain Wilson, his wife, and children have all been murdered. M'Culloch
was killed with his wife and baby; the little boy managed to escape, and
got to the redoubt at Taranganui. Cadel was also killed. Fortunately
Firmin heard the sound of musketry in the night. He started at dawn to
see what was the matter. He met a native, who told him that the
Hau-Haus were massacring the whites, and at once rode off and warned
Wylie, Stevenson, Benson, Hawthorne, and Strong; and these all escaped
with their families, and with Major Westrupp got safely to the Mahia
people.

"The boy who escaped from Major Biggs's house reached Bloomfields, and
all the women and children there managed to escape. How they did it
heaven only knows, for the Hau-Haus were all round. That is all we know
at present, and we hope that the rest of the settlers of the outlying
stations round Matawhero succeeded in getting into Taranganui. Whether
the Hau-Haus will be satisfied with the slaughter they have effected, or
will try to penetrate further into the settlement or attack Taranganui,
remains