open space,
and sat down close to the rest of the people.

"It has occurred to me," said Tom, at length, "that if our guide means
treachery, he will find out the Maoris and bring down a body upon us;
and it is quite possible that we may even now be attacked before
morning."

"I have little doubt that he did intend treachery; and that he thought,
on deserting us in the valley, that we should bivouac where we then
were, from failing to discover this hill. If so, the Maoris will be
disappointed," answered Jack. "Whether they will venture to attack us
when they find that we have gained this position, is the question."

Scarcely half an hour had passed after these remarks had been made, when
suddenly, from amid the dark wood on every side, bright flashes of flame
burst forth. The crack of rifles was heard, and bullets came flying
over where the men lay. The sentries returned the fire. Two of them
the next instant were seen to fall. Had the rest of the men been
standing up, many of them must have been hit.

The sound of musketry made the party spring to their feet; and Jack,
directing Mr Norman and Tom to hold their ground with half the men, led
the other half towards the side of the hill from whence the firing
appeared to be thickest. As he gained it he ordered half of those with
him to fire a volley down the hill, aiming at any objects they could see
moving, then to lie down or seek cover behind trees. As soon as the
smoke had cleared away he caught sight of a number of dark forms
advancing up the hill.

"Now is your time, my lads!" he sang out.

The men in reserve, while the first half were re-loading, fired at the
approaching foe. Several must have been hit, but the next instant not a
man was to be seen, they having evidently sought cover by springing
behind the trees.

What has now been described occupied scarcely a minute of time. Jack
did not forget that the enemy were on the right and left of him, and
might at any moment gain the level ground and get between him and the
rest of his party. He therefore thought it prudent to fall back,
intending to hold the position on the side where the hill was steepest,
and which might be defended by a few men, while the main body were
occupied by the enemy in front.

His position was dangerous in the extreme. Completely surrounded as he
was by apparently a large force, he might find it difficult to hold out
until the arrival of reinforcements; indeed, it was a