cured the services of a guide, a friendly native, who
professed to know the country, and undertook to conduct him to a
position whence he could observe the fort, and either move on to attack
it, or, should the Maoris take to flight, capture or shoot them down if
they refused to yield. The force destined to attack the enemy in
reverse, which had furthest to go, started from the camp late in the
evening. The men had had their supper, and were ready for any amount of
fatigue they might be called on to endure. Tom marched alongside Jack
for the first part of the distance. There was no necessity for keeping
silence, as no enemy was near.

"I wish this business was over," said Tom. "There is little honour or
glory to be gained. It is excessively fatiguing and unsatisfactory
work."

"It has to be done, at all events," observed Jack. "As to honour and
glory, these Maoris are no despicable foes, and fight as bravely as any
men can do, though not always in the most civilised fashion, it must be
allowed. It is to be hoped that they will in time discover the
hopelessness of their cause, and sue for peace. It is sad to think how
many brave officers and men have already lost their lives, and if the
enemy holds out many more, too, probably will be killed. I am sorry,
too, for the Maoris themselves, who, from their ignorance of our power,
venture so boldly to resist it."

"It is satisfactory, at all events, to find that when they discover how
hopeless is resistance, that they are inclined to become friends, as
they have just shown," observed Tom.

The party were marching along a native path towards the south-east. On
the left were hills covered with brushwood; on the right a more level
country, partly wooded, with wide open spaces, in which grew in rich
profusion the tall New Zealand flax. The shades of evening were
gradually closing around. Jack was well aware that should the enemy
discover the advance of his party, his position might become critical in
the extreme. He therefore kept his men well together, and pushed
forward as rapidly as the nature of the ground and the darkness would
allow. Having proceeded some distance, he ordered them to maintain
perfect silence, and to tread as lightly as possible, so that their
footsteps might not be heard at a distance. He sent Tom with four men
ahead, directing him to fall back should an enemy appear. Thus the
little band marched on, climbing hills, diving into valleys, n