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A Bold Stratagem

           Notasolitarynativeremainedatthefootofthemountain,andwhendarknesssetinovertheTaupovalleys,notafireindicatedthepresenceoftheMaoriesatthebase.Theroadwasfree.

           Atnineo’clock,thenightbeingunusuallydark,Glenarvangavetheordertostart.Hiscompanionsandhe,armedandequippedattheexpenseofKara-Tete,begancautiouslytodescendtheslopesofMaunganamu,JohnManglesandWilsonleadingtheway,eyesandearsonthealert.Theystoppedattheslightestsound,theystartedateverypassingcloud.Theyslidratherthanwalkeddownthespur,thattheirfiguresmightbelostinthedarkmassofthemountain.Attwohundredfeetbelowthesummit,JohnManglesandhissailorsreachedthedangerousridgethathadbeensoobstinatelydefendedbythenatives.IfbyilllucktheMaories,morecunningthanthefugitives,hadonlypretendedtoretreat;iftheywerenotreallydupedbythevolcanicphenomenon,thiswasthespotwheretheirpresencewouldbebetrayed.Glenarvancouldnotbutshudder,inspiteofhisconfidence,andinspiteofthejokesofPaganel.Thefateofthewholepartywouldhanginthebalanceforthetenminutesrequiredtopassalongthatridge.HefeltthebeatingofLadyHelena’sheart,assheclungtohisarm.

           Hehadnothoughtofturningback.NeitherhadJohn.Theyoungcaptain,followedcloselybythewholeparty,andprotectedbytheintensedarkness,creptalongtheridge,stoppingwhensomeloosestonerolledtothebottom.

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