es of even the
principal trees and shrubs that meet their eye at every turn. There is
not one settler in a hundred can tell you the names of a score of trees
in the island. While I have been away I have tried to get the native
names of many of the trees that are mostly to be met with, and only in
one or two cases could I get any information, although some of the
settlers have been living for years among them."

"And now, Mr. Atherton, about what I was saying just now, do not you
think it would be more pleasant for you to erect a fresh hut close to
ours instead of living by yourself away in the woods? It would be a
great pleasure to all of us to have you with us. Your society would
brighten our life here. We should have the assistance of your rifle in
case the natives broke out again. You would, of course, live with us,
but you would have your own hut to retire to when you liked to be alone.
What do you say?"

"I say that it is a very kind offer, Mr. Renshaw, and it would certainly
be very much more pleasant for me than living out there by myself at
the mercy of a native cook. On the condition that you will allow me to
pay my share of the expenses of housekeeping I will gladly accept your
offer."

"The expenses of housekeeping are next to nothing, Mr. Atherton," Mrs.
Renshaw laughed; "but if you make it a condition we must of course agree
to your terms, and you shall be permitted to pay your quota to the
expenses of the establishment; but I warn you that the amount will not
be a heavy one."

"Heavy or light, I shall be glad to pay it, Mrs. Renshaw. The
arrangement would be a delightful one for me, for although as a
traveller I have necessarily been much alone, I am a gregarious animal,
and fond of the company of mankind."

And so two days later a party of natives were set to work, and a hut was
erected for Mr. Atherton twenty yards away from the house, and was soon
fitted up as his other had been. Wilfrid had at once taken up his own
work at the farm, but was now his father's right hand, instead of
having, as before, everything on his shoulders.

The natives in the neighbourhood had now settled down again. From time
to time news came that showed that the Hau-Hau rebellion was almost
crushed. Colonel Whitmore, having finally completely subdued the Hau-Hau
tribes in the north of Wellington and Taranaki, had marched with a
strong force divided into four columns and severely punished all the
tribes that had joined Te