War to the Knife 18

War to the Knife 18

CHAPTER VI

 

 

The dawn light awoke Massinger, who, since his arrival in New Zealand,

had cultivated the virtuous habit of early rising, considering it to be

one of the necessary attributes of a hardy colonist. Like others who

have been educated by circumstances to the practice, he found so many

advantages accruing from it, that he resolved to continue it. Hence,

though a sufficient sleeper in the early watches of the night, he began

to be automatically awakened at daybreak.

 

A glance around revealed the unfamiliar circumstances of his

environment. Of the various groups which had constituted the village

community on the previous night, by far the greater number were silent,

or slumbering in the _whares_. An occasional figure raising itself from

the recumbent position showed that he was not the only wakeful one in

the _kainga_. Half-forgotten tales of Indian warfare, recurred to his

memory, where the hero, desiring to escape from captivity, looks upon

much the same scene as that which lay before him. He could not but

feel that he and Warwick were entirely at the mercy of the warriors

who composed the greater part of the _hapu_ there assembled. The turn

of a straw, in the electrical condition of the political atmosphere,

might lead to bloodshed, involving a declaration of war. The first

reverse would doubtless throw the Maori people into such a state of

wrath and exasperation, that, even against the policy of their chiefs,

irresponsible members of the tribe might be tempted to sacrifice

isolated parties of the invading race.

 

The prospect of a journey by unknown paths through a trackless

wilderness, with however fair a goal, did not look so alluring as when

associated overnight with the witchery of Erena Mannering's eyes and

wonderfully expressive countenance, which hardly needed the translation

of her thoughts into words.

 

However, the die was cast. He had given his sanction to the affair; and

Roland Massinger was not the man under such circumstances to go back an

inch from his word. Before dressing for the day, he took advantage of

the proximity of the river for a bath, a preliminary step which, when

circumstances permitted, he never omitted. While descending the slope

which led to the river bank, he was joined by Warwick, who came leaping

along the steep descent like a mountain deer. Arrayed in a pyjama suit

only, which indicated the symmetry of his magnificent figure, his

employer could not avoid admiration at his grand and striking presence.

Taller by several inches than himself, his muscular development was

exceptionally fine, while his activity, as evidenced by the constancy

of his pace, and the ease with which he mounted and descended the most

precipitous hills, clearing the smaller running streams with hardly an

apparent effort, was truly abnormal.

 

A sure and deadly shot, he made excellent practice with the navy

revolver which he carried in his belt. So that, in addition to his

general knowledge of the people and the country, Massinger rightly

judged that he might have searched far before finding so perfect a

pathfinder; at the same time, a comrade of courage and resource, on

whom he might rely in the hour of need.

 

By the time they had fully refreshed themselves in the rushing tide

of the Huka, they discovered that a considerable body of spectators

had gathered on the higher terrace which commanded the spot which they

had chosen for their ablutions. As they passed through the crowd now

collected between them and their _whares_, from time to time such words

were heard as, "_Kapai te Pakeha, kapai!_" "_Kapai te Rangatira!_"

but all was in the nature of compliment to the travellers, and more

particularly the pakeha, or white stranger. Warwick they appeared to

regard as akin to them, and therefore not possessing the charm of

mystery. Food was then brought, more than sufficient in quantity, and

by no means to be despised by men whose appetite had been sharpened by

a toilsome day's journey and the eager air of this antarctic wilderness.

 

The traveller had bread, and even butter, in his packs. With these

aids, and, of course, quart-pot tea, the repast, if wanting in

delicacy, was yet ample and satisfactory. After its completion, and

the lighting of the after-breakfast pipe, he felt fully equal to the

inauguration of the expedition, and awaited somewhat impatiently the

appearance of the tutelar divinity.

 

"How about the maiden fair? Do you think she has changed her mind,

Warwick?"

 

"Another woman might, but not Erena," said the guide, with an air of

conviction. "Before long she will come round the corner of that hill. I

dare say she'll have some of her people with her. She's an aristocrat

in her way."

 

"I should think she was," said the other, with an air of entire

conviction. "She should be a most interesting study. Are there many

more of the intellectual daughter of the soil sort, in these woods and

forests? She is like Rosalind in the forest of Arden, but there does

not appear to be an Orlando so far. I shall be anxious to see the other

damsels."

 

"There will be two, if not three, with her today. One of her male

cousins is a fellow whose company I'd rather not have now, or at any

time; said to be an admirer of hers, which makes him more objectionable

still. Here they come, however, with Erena marching ahead like a queen!

Three girls, and a young fellow who's been educated at sea, with this

sulky brute Ngarara--confound _him_ very particularly!--bringing up the

rear."

 

As Warwick had foretold, the little party came round the corner of the

mount and made straight for the centre of the village. By this time the

grey mare had been brought up and saddled. Upon her the various packs

were placed, to the great interest and excitement of the youth of the

community, who gathered round and commented freely upon the _personnel_

and otherwise of the expedition. Discovering by experience that, with

some additions, the mare was sufficiently weighted, and that riding in

such a country was more trouble than it was worth, her owner elected

to travel on foot, like the rest of the party. This would leave him

more at liberty to examine the botanical and geological features of

the strange region upon which they were entering. The position, too,

would be more dignified than riding at a foot pace, pushing his way

through entangling thickets. Besides all this, he would, in right of

his position as head and paymaster of the expedition, be entitled to

take his place alongside of the most interesting personage. Thus, in

the daily march, he would enjoy the original converse of an unspoiled

daughter of Eve, fresh from Nature's bosom, unhackneyed by the

artifices and conventional deceits of the children of the world.

 

He walked forward and greeted the forest maiden, who smiled frankly and

held out her hand, which he took with becoming _empressement_. In one

comprehensive glance at her, before he relinquished it, he noted the

details of her dress and equipment. Her figure, statuesque in every

curve and line as the Venus of Milo, was scarcely concealed by the robe

which, thrown across the chest and upper arm, revealed in part the

outline of her classic bust, while affording full play to every motion

of the arms and hands. A species of kirtle, coming below the knee, left

her lower limbs free and unconfined. Her feet were bare, the smallness

of which, as well as the delicate moulding of the limbs, betrayed her

British ancestry.

 

Perfectly attired for travel through the steep ascents, the treacherous

morasses and dense woodland of her native land, as with sparkling eyes

and gladsome __EXPRESSION__ she walked forth at the head of the little

party, Massinger thought he had never before seen a more perfect

presentment of the nymph of the legends of Hellas.

 

"We must say good-bye to the chief," she said; "it is _tika_--due and

proper respect. Besides, if we leave without the paper he promised me

we may have trouble."

 

They accordingly marched up to the chief's abode, upon which the

venerable warrior walked forward to meet them. He spoke a few words to

Warwick, who replied in his own tongue.

 

"Is the pakeha's heart strong to journey to the hot lakes and the

burning earth, and does he not fear the warriors of Te Heu Heu who will

be in his path?"

 

"The pakeha is a _toa_," replied the guide. "He fears no man. With his

_tuparra_ he can shoot men as far as he can see them, and he has a

pocket-gun, which carries six men's lives, in his belt. So have I."

 

"No doubt the pakeha will fight," said the chief, "but bullets come

from the bush sometimes. The hearts of my people are not sore, and I

pray that peace may be kept. Here is the paper which I promised to the

white rangatira. It will show Te Heu Heu and his people that he is not

a man to be treated like a runaway sailor; and if they have doubts,

Erena must speak to them. Her voice is like the flute of Tutekane, and

they cannot but listen."

 

So the expedition departed on its way, Roland and Erena walking ahead.

One of the younger Maoris, at a word from Warwick, took the bridle of

the grey, and followed in the rear; while the others of the party,

including the surly Ngarara, who regarded Roland with a fixed and

sinister gaze, took up the trail and plunged into the forest.

 

Their path led for some miles along the course of a narrow but swift

and deep rivulet, until at length it became necessary to cross it at

a gravelly ford. Then he saw the advantage which Erena possessed in

being without shoes and stockings. She calmly waded in without damage

to her attire, and tripped up the opposite bank. While Massinger was

speculating as to whether he should unlace his boots, and so save the

necessity of going in wet ones for the remainder of the day, Warwick

made a sign to one of the men, who without further ado "made a back,"

as in schoolboy days, taking him up thereon and across the stream, as

if he had been one in good earnest. This feat accomplished, the party

proceeded as before, through the primeval forest. It began now to be

apparent that the difficulties of the way were likely to increase

rather than to diminish.

 

The flax swamps appeared to become deeper and more treacherous, the

hills to be higher, the path less easy to distinguish, the thickets

more dense, and the thorn bushes more clinging and obstructive. Through

all these obstacles and hindrances the Maori maiden seemed to glide

like a disembodied spirit, keeping up a pace the while which taxed

Massinger's powers more shrewdly than he would have believed possible.

He was a good pedestrian, proud of his speed and stamina, but he had to

confess to himself that this damsel and her attendants made the pace

considerably better than he would have believed possible through such

a country. Uphill or down made no difference, apparently, to them.

Warwick marched in the rear, and kept an eye on the man who was leading

the packhorse, any accident to which, in flood or marsh, would have

made a serious difference in the comfort of the party.

 

Massinger was not, therefore, displeased when, after scaling a higher

hill than they had as yet encountered, Erena pointed to a wide expanse

of champaign--more extensive, indeed, than he was beginning to think he

was likely to see again--and said--

 

"Here we stop for an hour. I dare say you will like a rest."

 

He did not care to acknowledge that he had been nearly outpaced by

this young woman and her wildwood friends, but looking at her before

he answered, he noticed a mirthful twinkle in her dark eyes, which

convinced him that she comprehended fully the humour of the situation.

 

"I am afraid you have been trying whether this pakeha can walk,"

he said, as she smiled archly. "Your country is not easy, and I am

scarcely in training. But in a few days I will match myself against any

of your people to run, jump, or walk for a wager."

 

"You must not do that with these natives," said she, gravely. "You

would lose your _mana_, as we say, if you, a _rangatira_ of the

pakehas, engaged in contests of sport with the common people. However,

some day you may have a chance of trying your speed against them.

Warwick will tell you the same thing."

 

"Between your instructions and his, I shall soon know everything that is necessary for my good."