I was just on the point of rising when up rushed Tim swinging a tomahawk over his head, who with his eyes blazing yelled out: “Hould on, Mr Dick, hould on, sor,” and before I could say a word sank his weapon into the dead man’s head, sending the contents of it spurting all over me. “Faugh, Tim,” I said, starting to my feet. “It’s a dirty fighter you are; give me something to wipe my face with.” “Och, be the howly Saint Bridget, it’s kilt ye are, Mr Dick; oh, wura, wura, where’s the doctor, bad luck to him,” whined Tim. “Killed be d----d,” said I. “But he has blinded my left eye.” And seeing the row was over I quickly gave the order: “Load all the carbines, boys, and take cover.” No sooner was this done than Tim was alongside me with a couple of bandages and a pannikin of water, when, tenderly raising the flap of flesh that hung over my eye, in a moment I knew that the sight of it was all right and the relief of mind was immense. It did not take my kind-hearted comrade more than a minute to replace the flap and twist a bandage round my head, when I was quite fit to attend to my duty. First of all I looked out for any enemy; there was none in sight though the noise of the rear-guard action was drawing much closer, and I was delighted to see the Colonel’s party already past the danger point as I was now able to judge how lucky we had been in capturing the hill, for our loss must have been very heavy had the enemy succeeded in gaining it, because the hill completely commanded the only footpath. I next turned my attention to our own casualties; one friendly native was dead, poor Buck, wounded desperately, was lying on his back with his head on a blanket, and as I knelt down beside him, taking his hand, he opened his eyes and murmured: “Good-bye, Master Burke, struck bed-rock, panned out, shift my pegs,” and with a sigh or two the gallant English yeoman drew his pegs and started for another gold rush. The remainder of us, although more or less chipped, were all fit for another scrap if called upon to face one, while nine dead Hau Haus cumbered the ground. Setting Jack to sew up our poor comrade in his blanket, while Tim and one of the Maoris dug his last claim, with the rest of the men I was keeping a bright lookout, when the Colonel with thirty men joined me. “Well done, Burke,” said he, “by gad, you fellows have done well. Not much hurt I trust? Well, my boy, you wanted to gain bush-fighting experience, gad, you are getting it. I’ll leave you six more men and take the others on to the rear-guard. In case you are attacked hold this place to the last, but retreat when the rear-guard get round that corner, we shall be able then to cover you. So-long,” and he was off.