l
into an ambush.

Happily Adair's party was accompanied by an assistant surgeon, who at
once hastened to attend to the wounded. He gave a favourable report of
Tom, whose wound he had dressed, as well as most of the other men who
were wounded. The hill being cleared of the enemy, Bird with a party
set off to obtain water for them, for all, even those unhurt, were
suffering fearfully from thirst.

In a short time Adair returned, having found it impracticable to force
his way through the bush in pursuit of the enemy. He brought in a
number of muskets and pouches, showing that a panic must have seized the
Maoris, who evidently fancied that the whole of the British force was
upon them. He, like Jack, had lost his way, and hearing the firing, had
directed his course to the spot whence it came.

From the summit of the hill they were now able with their glasses to
distinguish the pah it was intended to attack, which had been passed at
a considerable distance. Stretchers were at once made for the wounded,
and as it was impossible to carry the dead, graves were dug at the top
of the hill, where the bodies were interred. As far as they could
judge, the attack on the fort had not commenced, and they would still be
in time to perform the duty assigned to them. Jack's people, though
hungry and weary, and mourning for their shipmates, were still eager for
the fight.

Taking a survey of the country from the hill, they were able to select a
more open path than that by which they had come, towards the pah, which
could be seen in the far distance. They of course had to keep a bright
look-out, and to send out scouts on either hand to avoid a surprise
should the natives rally and again attack them. They were at length
much relieved by falling in with a body of troops sent round to join in
the assault on the rear of the fort. As the road to the river was
perfectly safe, the wounded were carried down to the boats to be
conveyed on board the ships of war, where they could be better attended
to than on shore.

Jack and Terence learned from the officer commanding the troops that the
attack on the pah had been postponed, and that they were still in time
to take part in it. They accordingly pushed forward until they got just
beyond gunshot, where they halted, expecting the signal from the
opposite side for commencing the assault. Jack and Terence advanced,
under cover of the trees, to a point whence they could obtain a good
sur