Part 93 (1/2)

Ngati seemed more satisfied after a while, and they sat down in a narrow valley they were ascending to finish the eggs, whose shells were thrown into the torrent

”I should like to knohere he's going to take us,” said Je as it is into safety,” said Don ”Forlow, Don seized the Maori's ar the while down the way they had co fro the white-tipped tail feathers of a bird in his hair

Ngati saw the danger instantly, fell flat on his breast, and signing to his co the rocks and bushes,for every point likely to afford shelter, while, in an agony of apprehension as to whether they had been seen, Don and Jem followed painfully, till the chief halted to reconnoitre and make some plan of escape

It was quite time, for the Maoris had either seen them or some of the traces they had left behind; and, carefully exa which they had cli rapidly on

Don's heart sank, for it seeht was the wall-like side of the gully they ascended; on his left the sheer precipice down to the awful torrent; before the quickly and stealthily on

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN

A DANGEROUS PHASE

Ngati took all in at a glance, and signing to his co on for a short distance, trailing his spear, till they ell behind a pile of rocks

Here he gave a sharp look round at the _cul de sac_ into which they had been driven, and without hesitation crept to their left to where the rocky wall descended to the raging torrent

To hier, as he passed over the edge and disappeared, but to Don it was like seeking death

”We can never do it, Jem,” he said

”Must, Mas' Don Go on”

Don looked at him wildly, and then in a fit of desperation he lowered hirasp him by the loins, and, as he loosened his hold, he was dropped upon a rough ledge of rock, where he stood giddy and confused, with the torrent rushi+ng furiously along beneath his feet, and in front, dilih up, behind so rocks, and disappeared below

The noise of falling water now increased, reverberating froainst his face, and, hurried and startled, Don stood upon the wet, rocky shelf, holding on tightly, till Ngati laid his hand upon his shoulder, passed round hi to hiht was of Je behind him, there was his coo on, just as a faint shout arose from somewhere above; and this seemed to nerve hiati was passing round a corner, holding tightly by the rock, which he seeerous in the extreed kind with a perpendicular ht, and on the left, space, with far below the foao

To stand still see it to his coht, Don reached the corner, but hesitated again, for there seereat brown hand carasp his fir hi on

He was just in the most perilous part, well out over the torrent, when his left foot slipped, and a horrible chill ran through hi into the chasht hand, and strove to press his breast against the rock, but the effort was vain; his right hand slipped frolided over the wetfor awaters, and then felt hiati was standing

The Maori took it as a et up, and passed his hand round the rock once h Don as he watched for Je and unnerved, it see another's peril wasoneself

But in spite of his wounded shoulder Jem caged froati held him firmly by his injured arm

As soon as he was in safety Jem passed his hand across his wet forehead and bit his lip, whilst once ati led on