is fighting; but other men as well have to
leave perhaps wives and children behind, and if only those without ties
were to go the force would be a small one indeed. It is a comfort to me,
Mr. Atherton, that you have made up your mind to go too. It sounds
selfish of me to say so; but I suppose all mothers are selfish when
their sons are concerned."

"I understand your feeling, Mrs. Renshaw, and it is quite natural. I do
think that everyone who can carry a musket ought to join in this
expedition, and I flatter myself that Wilfrid's rifle and mine are
allies not to be despised. Anyhow, Mrs. Renshaw, I promise you that we
will not do what are called rash things. We won't try to capture Te
Kooti single-handed, and I think that we can be much more useful
covering an attack than leading an assault."

Accordingly, two days later Mrs. Renshaw embarked on a coaster for the
Mohaka River, and Mr. Atherton and Wilfrid announced to Lieutenant
Gascoyne that they would accompany his force as volunteers.

"I am heartily glad to hear it," that officer replied. "I have heard
from Wylie of your defence of that pass against the Hau-Haus, and
yesterday I had a talk with Sampson, who is getting round now, and he
gave me the history of the affair, and from what he says you and Renshaw
must have killed at least twenty Hau-Haus, for Sampson admits that he is
not much of a shot and had a very small share in the total."

"Yes; we can both shoot indifferently well," Mr. Atherton said
carelessly, "and can both be trusted to hit a Maori if we see him within
about four hundred yards of us. I fancy that we may be of service to you
in keeping down the fire of the enemy if you are attacking a pah. There
is nothing cows fellows so much as finding that it is certain death to
raise their heads from behind shelter to take aim. Of course we shall be
ready generally to obey orders, but that is the special work we join
for. You see, Renshaw is but just recovering from illness, and my build
unsuits me for violent exertion. So if you want to storm a steep hill
you must not count on us being with you except so far as shooting goes."

"Well, I will take you on your own terms," Lieutenant Gascoyne said
smiling. "Mrs. Sampson told me yesterday how disinclined you were for
violent exertion, and how she had to help you along on that journey to
Te Mahia."

Mr. Atherton laughed. "There are exceptions to all rules," he said. "I
am a peaceful botanist, but I had to