ter?"

He leaped to his feet, and Don, Jem, and the New Zealand savages about
them did the same, for half-a-dozen of Ngati's followers came running up
with news, which they communicated with plenty of gesticulations.

"What are they a-saying on, Mas' Don? I wish I could speak New
Zealandee."

"Two boats' crews are coming ashore from the ship. I wish you two was
brown and tattooed."

Jem glanced wildly at Don.

"Come on," said the Englishman. "I must see if I can't hide you before
they come. What?"

This last was to a fresh man, who ran up and said something.

"Quick, my lads," said the Englishman. "Your people are close at hand."

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

LEFT BEHIND.

Tomati hurried out, followed by Don, but the latter was thrust back into
the hut directly, Tomati stretching out his arms so as to spread his
blanket wide to act as a screen, under cover of which Don and Jem were
half pushed, half backed into the large gathering hut of the tribe,
Ngati giving some orders quickly, the result of which was that Don and
Jem were hustled down into a sitting position and then thrown upon their
faces.

"Here, I'm not going to--"

"Hush, Jem. You'll be heard," whispered Don.

"Yes, but--lookye here."

There was no time to say more. The first lieutenant of the ship, with a
middy, Bosun Jones, and about twenty men came marching up, to find a
group of Ngati's men seated in a close circle, their blankets spread
about them and their heads bent forward, grunting together, and not so
much as looking round.

The men were halted, and the lieutenant addressed the tattooed
Englishman.

"Well!" he said; "where are our two men?"

"Ask the sharks," said the renegade, shortly.

"Humph! Yes. I suppose we shall have to. Poor wretches! The captain
thought we'd have a last look round. But mind this, if they turn up
here, you and your men will detain them till we come back. I shall hold
you responsible."

The Englishman grunted after the fashion of one of the savages.

"I suppose you don't want to come home, eh?"

"No; I'm comfortable enough here as an emigrant."

"An emigrant, eh? Look here, Master Tomati, if I did my duty, I suppose
I should take you aboard, and hand you over to the authorities."

"What for?" said the Englishman, surlily.

"Escaping from Norfolk Island. That's right, isn't it?"

"Look here!" said the Englishman; "do you know, sir, that this is one of
the worst parts of the coast, a