their
helplessness."

"More do I; but what can we do? They won't stir to help themselves.
Only thing seems to me is to get away, and try and find some one who
will come and punish the brutes as brought us here."

Don's heart sank, but he knew that his companion's words were those of
truth, and after a little hesitation he touched Jem with his hand, and
then began to crawl slowly across the open space toward the fence.

He looked back to make sure that Jem was following, but the darkness was
so thick now, that even at that short distance he could not see him.
Just then a touch on his foot set him at rest, and he crept softly on,
listening to the low muttering of the men at the gate, and wondering
whether he could find the rough part of the fence to which Jem had
directed his attention.

As he crept on he began to wonder next whether the prisoners would miss
them, and do or say anything to call the attention of the guard; but all
remained still, save that the Maoris laughed aloud at something one of
them had said.

This gave him confidence, and ceasing his crawling movement, he rose to
his hands and feet, and crept on all fours to the fence, where he rose
now to an erect position, and began to feel about for the rough post.

Jem was up and by him directly after. Don placed his lips to his ear.

"Whereabouts was it?"

"Somewhere 'bout here. You try one way, and I'll try the other,"
whispered Jem; and then Don gripped his arm, and they stood listening,
for a faint rustling sound seemed to come from outside.

The noise was not repeated; but for quite half an hour they remained
listening, till, gaining courage from the silence--the Maori guard only
speaking from time to time, and then in a low, drowsy voice--Don began
to follow Jem's suggestion, feeling post after post, and sometimes
passing his arm through. But every one of the stout pales he touched
was smooth and unclimbable without some help; and thinking that perhaps
he had missed the place, he began to move back in the darkness,
straining his ears the while to catch any sound made by his companion.

But all was perfectly still, and every pale he touched was smooth and
regular, set, too, so close to the next that there was not the slightest
chance of even a child creeping through.

All at once there was a rustling sound on his left.

"Jem has found it," he thought; and he pressed forward toward where he
had parted from Jem, passing one hand along the p