e had begun
to compose in her praise, though as yet he had not got very far in them,
afforded a subject of amusement to his messmates.

Their visit on shore was, however, brought abruptly to an end, in
consequence of the two ships being ordered off to New Zealand.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

WARFARE IN NEW ZEALAND--BLUE-JACKETS FROM EMPRESS AND ORION LAND--A
DESPERATE ATTACK ON A PAH--THE PAH CAPTURED--A NIGHT MARCH--THE PARTY
LOSE THEIR WAY--GAIN THE TOP OF A HILL--BIVOUAC--ATTACKED BY A LARGE
PARTY OF MAORIS--A GALLANT DEFENCE--MANY KILLED--TOM WOUNDED--NEARLY
OVERWHELMED--JACK HOLDS OUT BRAVELY--SUCCOURED IN TIME BY ADAIR AND
DESMOND--ASSAULT ON THE PAH--DESERTED BY THE GARRISON--A NIGHT MARCH TO
ATTACK A VILLAGE--DESPERATE DEFENCE OF THE INHABITANTS--THE OLD CHIEF'S
GRANDDAUGHTER--TIM PROPOSES TO SPLICE HER OFFHAND--THE END OF THE
CONTEST--HOMEWARD BOUND--BILLY STRUCK BY MOON-BLINDNESS--A
THUNDERSTORM--BILLY RESTORED TO SIGHT--THE ORION LOST SIGHT OF--THE
EMPRESS REACHES SPITHEAD.

Each of the two ships carried a party of volunteers, who had been raised
to assist the New Zealand colonists and regular troops in putting down
the Maori rebellion, which had some time before broken out.

The part of the northern island of New Zealand in which the natives had
taken up arms, is a region of mountains, hills, and valleys, with lakes
and streams, and several rivers of considerable size, the Thames and the
Waikato being the largest. The ground is either covered with dense
forest or scrub, or long grass, and the thickly growing flax plant,
which afforded cover to the Maoris in their engagements with the British
troops. The rebels had frequently been defeated, but had fought bravely
on all occasions, and sometimes successfully defended themselves.

The commander-in-chief had resolved to attack a strong pah, in which one
of the principal chiefs, with a large body of followers, held out, and
the ships of war were ordered round, that the men of the larger ones
might be landed to co-operate with the troops, while the smaller vessels
and gun-boats proceeded up the river to bombard the enemy's
fortifications before they were assaulted. The Maoris had already shown
themselves to be both brave and intelligent foes, and that, savages
though they were called, they were in no way to be despised.

Jack and Adair were dining together on board the _Empress_. They
intended to land next day with about eighty men and several officers, to