harge, when he had
little doubt but that the Maoris would give way. The path made several
bends to avoid the steeper portions of the hill. It might easily have
been defended by a determined body of natives. As none showed
themselves, Jack began to hope that he should gain the position without
fighting. Suddenly looking upwards, he discovered that there were no
tall trees rising above him, and directly afterwards he found himself in
an open space, destitute even of brushwood, on the summit of the hill.
A line of palisades, partly broken down on the opposite side, convinced
him that the ground was the site of an ancient pah or village; and, as
it was of considerable elevation, he hoped at daylight, by obtaining a
good view over the country, to ascertain the direction he must then
take. It was not, he was certain, the position he had been directed to
occupy, and was, he thought, a considerable way beyond it. That,
however, without a guide, could only be ascertained in the morning. It
was more secure than would have been a spot covered with trees, but at
the same time the enemy might steal close up to it without being
discovered. He therefore saw the necessity of keeping a vigilant
look-out.

A short time before a detachment of military, after a long march, having
halted, had become scattered, the officers going to a distance from
their men, when the Maoris, who had been on the watch, fell upon them,
killed one of the officers, wounded another, and killed or wounded
upwards of a dozen men. To avoid a like misfortune, Jack kept his men
together in the centre of the space, and placed sentries all round. The
rest he allowed to lie down with their arms by their sides. As they had
had supper before marching, they were not hungry. Many cried out for
water, but unfortunately none had been brought. Although there was no
moon the stars were bright, and enabled objects to be seen from the
hill-tops at a considerable distance. Jack, though he sat down, did not
venture to go to sleep, keeping his eyes and ears open. Occasionally he
and Tom made a circuit of the ground, stopping every now and then to
listen, but no sounds reached their ears.

"I really don't think the enemy can have discovered us," observed Tom;
"or if they know where we are, they consider it too hazardous to attack
us."

Jack was inclined to be of Tom's opinion; so, directing the look-out men
to keep a vigilant watch, they retired to the centre of the