Part 89 (2/2)

But on the other side of the torrent was freedoht, and without hesitation he tightened his hold on the spear, and followed the great Maori as he stepped boldly into the rushi+ng stream

It was a new sensation to Don as heso hard against him, that but for the support of the spear-shaft, he must have been swept away Sturdy even as Je; for his short, broad figure offered a great deal of surface to the swift current, while the rugged stony bed of the river varied in depth at every step

They had a tower of strength, though, in Ngati, who, in spite of the wounds he had received, see, he clung tightly to the spear, and soon fought his way back to a perpendicular position

But even towers of strength are soive way It was so here They were about half-way across the river, whose white foaht to enable thee block of lava, over which the water poured in trereat depth, and, in spite of his vast strength and efforts to recover himself, he hirled here and there for a few moments by the power of the fall

Both Don and Je, and drew upon the spear-shaft, to which Ngati still held But all at once there was a sharp jerk, quite sufficient to disturb Don's balance, and the nexta swift current of water, that ran through a narrow trough-like channel, and Don and Je water, a sensation of hot lead in the nostrils, a curious strangling and choking, with the thundering of strange noises in the ears Next a confused feeling of being knocked about, turned over and beaten down, and then Don felt that he was in swift shalloater ast stones

He rose to his feet to find, as soon as he could get his breath regularly, that he had still hold of the spear-shaft, and that he had been swept down nearly to the sandy level, over which the river ran before joining the sea

Aover the soft, dry sand, following Ngati on the further shore, the great chief plodding on in and out a of those in search was continued, but between the, thundering, and plashi+ng as they leaped in and out a the rocks toward the sea; and now that they were safely across, Don felt hopeful that the Maoris would look upon the torrent as i still on the sa and feeling bruised and sore, Jeht I was going to be drownded after all, Mas' Don,” he whispered

”I knocked ainst a rock, and if it wasn't that est stuff, it would ha' been broken”

”You had better not speak much, Jem,” said Don softly

”No, oing across, it ran just as if so hard I didn't knoater could push like that”

”I expected to be swept away everyto be drownded, and if I'm to be drownded, I don't want it to be like that It was such a rough-and-tumble way”

Don was silent

”Mas' Don”

”Yes”

”But, of course, I don't want to be drownded at all”

”No, Jem; of course not I wonder whether they'll follow us across the river”

”They'll follow us anywhere, Mas' Don, and catch us if they can Say, Mas' Don, though, I'ot old 'et so to eat”

”I hope so, Jem”