"It was lucky," Wilfrid agreed; "but at the same time, if I had been quite alone I should have closed the shutters and door as they came up, and kept indoors. I only ventured to meet them outside because I knew that Marion had a gun ready to hand to me the moment I wanted it." "Yes; but you see there was not time to hand you the gun, Wilfrid, as it turned out, and you would have been knocked on the head to a certainty if your sister had not come to your rescue." "That I certainly should; and I know that I owe Marion my life. What do you think we had better do now?" "I do not think we can do anything, Wilfrid, beyond trying to find out whether the fellows who came here were alone, or were part of a larger party. Where are your natives?" "The three men are chopping, and Jack went out with the Grimstones to look for the cattle." "Was he with you when you heard the shots fired, Bob?" "He was with us a minute or two before, and was following a track. After we heard the signal we did not think anything more about him, and whether he followed us or went on looking after the cattle I do not know." "If you go to the door, Wilfrid, and give a loud cooey it will bring him in if he is within hearing. You may be sure that he heard the signal, for his ears are keener than those of your men; but he would not rush straight back, but would come cautiously through the woods according to his nature." Wilfrid went to the door and gave a loud cooey. A minute later the Maori issued from the bush, nearly opposite the house, and ran in. "That's just where the natives took to the bush," Wilfrid said. "Perhaps he will be able to tell us something about them." "I expect he has been scouting," Mr. Atherton said, "and his coming boldly out from that point is a pretty sure proof that the natives have made off. Well, Jack, so you heard our signal?" Jack nodded. "And what have you been doing since?" Wilfrid asked. "Jack went through the bush fast till he got near house, then, as the guns were not going off, he knew there could be no attack; but thought black man might be lying in bush, so he crept and crawled. Presently he heard man talk, and then saw four Maori walking fast away from house. He only heard them say as he passed, 'No use now; too many Pakehas. Come another day and finish them all.' Jack was coming straight to house when he heard cooey." "You have seen nothing of your father and the other two men, Jack?" The Maori boy shook his head. "They chop wood; perhaps not heard signal." "More likely they heard, but thought it better to stay away," Wilfrid said. "No got guns; they not fighting-men," Jack said, as if in excuse.