it to you to read, and you did the same to me, that gets over them:
it's a wonder they can't understand. And lots of other things we know
are puzzles to them, and so they think us big. You consider it over a
bit, my lad; and if you decide to run for it, I'll see as you don't come
to no harm."

"And him too?"

"Oh, yes; he shall be all right too; I'll see to that."

"Shouldn't be too tempting for 'em, eh? Should I?" said Jem.

"Not for our tribes here," said the Englishman, laughing; "but I may as
well be plain with you. If we went to war with some of the others, and
they got hold of you--"

"Say, Mas' Don," said Jem interrupting the speaker, "I don't like being
a sort of white nigger aboard ship, and being kept a prisoner, and told
it's to serve the king; but a man can go into the galley to speak to the
cook without feeling that he's wondering which jynte of you he shall use
first. No thankye; it's a werry lovely country, but I want to get home
to my Sally some day; and if we cut and run here, I'm afraid I never
should."

"You turn it over in your own minds, both of you, my lads. There, my
pipe's out, and I think we'll go. Stop here long?"

"Do you mean the ship, or here with the boat?"

"Here with the boat," said the Englishman, holding out his hand.

"Till our party comes back," said Jem.

"I may see you again," said the Englishman; and shaking hands, he said a
few words to his companion, and then began to wade ashore.

The savage smiled and shook hands in turn, after which he patted Don on
the shoulder again.

"My pakeha," he said, sharply; "Maori pakeha--my."

He followed his leader; and Don and Jem watched them till they
disappeared amongst the abundant growth.

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

DON'S DECISION.

"It's tempting, Jem," said Don.

"Yes, Mas' Don; and it's untempting, too. I had a book once about
manners and customs of foreign parts, but it didn't say things so plain
as you've found 'em here."

"Yes, I'm afraid it won't do, Jem. Even if we got away from the ship,
it might be to a life that would be worse."

"That's it, sir, as I said afore, `out of the frying-pan into the fire.'
Wonder how long they'll be 'fore they come back."

"Not till sundown. I say, shall we try it or sha'n't we?"

Jem scratched his head, and seemed to be hesitating.

"I don't know what to say, Jem. If they treated us well on board, I
should be disposed to say let's put up with our life till we get b