both hands to
Harvey as if imploring help or forgiveness.

Roka drew back, and planted his left foot firmly in the sand, as he
placed the muzzle of his carbine against Chard's breast, and Chard,
grasping the barrel in his left hand to steady himself, bent his
dreadful face upon his chest.

*****

As the loud report reverberated through the leafy forest aisles there
came the sound of rushing feet, and Malua and the rest of the crew of
the Motutapu, together with the six Pikirami natives, burst through the
undergrowth, and gazed in wonder at the scene before them--Harvey lying
on the sand, Roka with his still-smoking rifle in his hand, standing
over the dead body of Chard.

Too weak from loss of blood to answer Malua's weeping inquiries, Harvey
yet managed to smile at him, and indicate Roka by a wave of his hand.
Then the Manhikian spoke.

"No time is there now to tell ye all. Run back, some of ye, to the _sua
alii_ Atkins, and tell him that I have killed the man Chard, but that
the captain hath escaped. Get thee each a rifle and follow him. He hath
fled towards his boat, which lieth on the little island with the high
trees. Follow, follow quickly, lest he drag the boat into the water
and sail away. Slay him. Let his blood run out. And tell the _sua alii_
Atkins and the white girl that Harfi hath been sorely hurt, but is well,
and will not die, for it is but a broken bone."

Five or six men darted off, while the rest, under Roka's directions,
quickly made a litter for Harvey, and placed him upon it.

"Art thou in pain, master?" asked the giant Manhikian tenderly, as the
bearers lifted the wounded man.

"Ay, but let me smoke so that the pain may go. And one of ye go to where
I fell on the reef and bring me the five pule,{*} lest when the tide
cometh in they be lost."

* Cowries.

Roka himself ran off, picked up the hat and shells and brought them
back; then he gave the word to march.

Half-way through the forest they were met by Atkins and Tessa, who were
accompanied by the entire population of the village, except those of the
young men who had set off in pursuit of Hendry.

"I'm all right, Tessa," said Harvey; "it's only a broken bone. Atkins,
old man, don't look so worried. You can set it easily enough. Good man,
you've brought some rum, I see, and 'I willna say no,' as poor Morrison
used to say."

Atkins, whose hand was shaking with excitement, for he thought that
perhaps Harvey was mortally woun