“Why, what do you mean, Jem?”
“Only as he may turn hungry some day, as ’tis his nature to.”
“Of course.”
“And then, ’spose he has us out in the woods at his mercy like, how then?”
“Jem, you’re always thinking about cannibals. How can you be so absurd?”
“Come, I like that, Mas’ Don; arn’t I had enough to make me think of ’em?”
“Hssh!”
The warning came from Ngati; for just then the breeze seemed to sweep the faint roar of the torrent aside, and the shouting of the Maoris came loud and clear.
“They’re over the river,” said Jem excitedly. “Well, I’ve got a spear in my hand, and I mean to die fighting for the sake of old Bristol and my little wife.”