"Who is there?" he asked.
"Open the door," a native replied, "we have a message for you."
"You can give me the message here. I shall not come down until I know who you are."
"The message is that you are to open the door and come out. Te Kooti wants you."
Mr. Atherton could just make out the figure of the speaker in the darkness.
"That is my answer," he said as he fired.
A fierce yell from twenty throats rose in the air, and there was a rush towards the door, while two or three shots were fired at the window. Mr. Atherton had, however, stepped back the instant he had discharged his rifle, and now, leaning out, discharged the chambers of his revolver in quick succession among the natives gathered round the door. Shrieks and yells arose from them, and they bounded away into the darkness, and again several musket-shots were fired at the window. By this time the settler and Wilfrid had both joined Mr. Atherton, having leapt from their beds, seized their arms, and ran out when the first shot was fired.
"It is Te Kooti's men," Mr. Atherton said. "They have come at last. I expect there will be a few minutes before they attack again. You had better throw on some clothes at once and tell the ladies to dress instantly. We may have to leave the house and try to escape across country."
Wilfrid and the settler gave the messages, and then returned.
"How many of them do you think there are?" Wilfrid asked.