'How did he hear of our arrival?' put in George. 'I can't say; and it is still a mystery to me how you come to be with these fellows at all. I am burning to hear your story. However, I will finish mine first. We have followed your trail for four days, and to-day, as you know, the fight began. I was sent back to Turanga for reinforcements; but as I heard on the way that Biggs was somewhere else, hurrying up the commissariat, I rode hither again. Of course I had not the least idea that the camp had meantime changed hands. That's my history, and a dull one it is. Now for yours.' He listened, absorbed, to the recital of his chum's adventures. 'I do envy you,' he said, as George wound up his narrative. 'You certainly have not lacked incident. Let me see this wonderful--_mere_, do you call it?' George handed over the club, which Terence examined with deep interest. 'It seems to me,' he said at last, 'that you will do well to take that old man's advice and hold fast to this club; for----' 'Oh, nonsense!' interjected George. 'How can there be any magic inherent in a piece of greenstone? The curious things which have occurred in connection with it are not inexplicable.' 'Explain, then, its return after your own eyes had seen it falling into the sea.' 'There must be an explanation,' said George doggedly. 'Say, rather, that, like all your unimaginative race, you refuse to believe in anything you cannot understand. If there is nothing exceptional about the club, why is Te Karearea so anxious to get it?' 'It is, of course, surrounded with traditions,' began George, and suddenly sprang up and darted round the tree in time to see a dark figure bounding away into the bush. Pursuit was useless, so George returned to their fire, expressing his conviction that the eavesdropper had been Te Karearea. 'As I said, he attaches importance to the club, if you don't,' was Terence's comment. 'More likely he came here to learn what he could about you,' George argued; 'for I don't believe in his protestation of ignorance of English.' 'All the same, you follow the old man's advice, and never let that club be far from you,' urged Terence. 'Well, it is a singular fact that the moment of my greatest peril was just after I had been deprived of the _mere_,' admitted George. 'Yet even that peril was averted.' 'Yes; and I do not understand why. From the moment of our meeting, Te Karearea has treated me with great consideration, and--though it may sound absurd--has sometimes seemed afraid of me. Not, of course, in a physical sense. There is something incomprehensible at work.' 'Perhaps he still hopes to convert you to his views.' 'He need not on that account fear me.' 'True. The great thing is the plain fact that association with the club has saved your life so far. I think----' He yawned widely. 'I think that you are more than half asleep,' finished George. 'Your bed is there, under the tree, and here is a blanket for you.'