War to the Knife 27
"Now, Hinemoa was the most beautiful maiden in the tribe, and her
reputation had travelled far. All the young men had paid court to
her, but could get no mark or sign of favour. Among her admirers was
Tutanekai, but he was not certain of his feelings being returned, and
had not dared to pay her attention openly. So he used, lover-like, to
breathe his woes into his melodious instrument; and night after night,
as he and his friend sat on their balcony, the tender melancholy notes
of the lover's trumpet floated over the lake, and were audible amid the
sighs of the evening breeze and the plashing of the waves on the shore.
"After many moons, and when the summer was advanced, he found means
to send a message to her by a woman of her _hapu_, to whom Hinemoa
answered, 'Have we both, then, had such thoughts of each other?' And
from that time she began to think daily of the love which had sprung up
in her heart for Tutanekai, and to wander about by herself, and refuse
food and company, after the manner of lovesick maidens. All her friends
and relations began to say, 'What has happened to Hinemoa--she who was
formerly so gay?' They also noticed that Tutanekai shunned the company
of the young men, save only of his heart's brother, Tiki. Her feelings
at length became so uncontrollable, that if there had been a canoe she
would have paddled over to the point where her lover's trumpet, like
the voice of the sea Atua which none may disobey and live, seemed
to draw her very heartstrings towards his abode on Mokoia. But her
friends, thinking of this, had secured all the canoes.
"So it happened that on one warm night, when the moon was nearly full,
she resolved in her heart what to do. She tied together six empty
gourds to float around her, lest she might become faint before she
reached the island, and softly slid into the lake near this very point,
Wai-rerekai, which we are now approaching, and as often as she felt
tired she floated with the help of the gourds. At last, when nearly
exhausted, she reached the rock near the warm spring, which is still
known by her name. Here she bathed and rested, also warmed herself, as
she was trembling all over, partly from cold, and partly at the thought
of meeting Tutanekai.
"While the maiden was thus warming herself in the hot spring, Tutanekai
felt thirsty, and sent a slave to bring him water. So this slave went
to the lake close to where Hinemoa was, and dipped in a calabash. The
maiden, being frightened, called out to him in a gruff voice like a
man's, 'Who is that water for?' He replied, 'It is for Tutanekai.'
'Give it to me, then,' said Hinemoa. Having finished drinking, she
purposely threw down the calabash and broke it. The slave went back,
and told Tutanekai that a man in the bath had broken it. This occurred
more than once. Then Tutanekai in a rage went down to the bath, and
searching about, caught hold of a hand. 'Who is this?' said he. 'It
is I, Hinemoa.' So they were married, and lived happily," said Erena,
concluding rather abruptly. "Oh, the next trouble which occurred was
that Tiki, the friend of Tutanekai's heart, grew ill and like to die
because he had no wife, after being deprived of his friend and heart's
brother. However, he was consoled with the hand of Tupe, the young
sister of Tutanekai, and all was joy and peace."
At this happy ending the two Maori girls clapped their hands and
shouted, "_Kapai, Kapai!_" till the lake-shore echoed again. Then
dashing in their paddles, they rowed with such power and pace that
they were soon landed at the legendary point of rock whence Hinemoa,
love-guided, tempted the night, the darkness, and the unknown deeps.
* * * * *
The allotted days passed all too quickly. They had wandered through the
forest aisles and silent over-arching glades of Tikitapu; had stood
on the saffron-hued flooring of Sulphur Point; had revelled in the
life-renewing waters of the "Rachel" and the "Priest's" hot springs,
whence all who bathe in faith issue cured of earthly ailments. The Oil
Bath, the Blue Bath, the Spout Bath were successively tested, until, as
it seemed to Massinger, he had acquired a new skin, almost a new soul
and body, so exalted seemed every motion of sense and spirit.
At Whakarewarewa the great Pohutu Geyser, with its eruptive column of
steam and water, nearly eighty feet in height, had been visited; also
the grim and terrible Brain Pot, unknowing of the tragedy of which it
was to be the scene, concluding with the dread and noisome Dantean
valley redolent of the sights and sounds of the Inferno, even Tikitere.
But one more day remained, and the trio were engaged in debate as
to the manner in which it should be spent, so as to compress the
greatest possible enjoyment into the "grudging hours," when a party
of natives was observed to come through the fern-covered flat between
Whakarewarewa and the lake, and at once proceed to the carved house.
Here a number of the tribe, including the chief and certain elders, at
once assembled.
"News of importance," said Warwick. "Something is in the wind; I must
go over and see."
There was no doubting the fact that highly important intelligence had
been received. The whole tribe was astir, and buzzing like a swarm of
angry bees. When Warwick returned his face was grave and anxious.
"As I feared," he said. "The Governor has been obstinate in the wrong
place; he would not give way in the case of the Waitara block. Blood
has been shed. The Waikato tribes are massing their men, and threaten
to attack Taranaki. _War is declared._ Outlying settlers have been
killed. There is no going back now."
"This looks serious indeed," said Massinger, not, however, without a
certain alertness of manner which showed that the romance of war was
uppermost in his mind. "What is to be done? or where must we go?"
"It has come at last; I was certain that it would," said Erena. "What
a terrible thing it is that men should be so foolish, so selfish! But
we must do something, and not talk about it. I am for making across to
Hokianga, and must go and prepare at once."
"Her idea is a good one," said Warwick, as the girl ran down to her
end of the camp and called up her women. "We can get over to Horaki
and go down the river by boat. The neighbourhood will be quiet as yet.
We can trust the Ngapuhi, with Waka Nene to keep them steady, to be
loyal to England. He never wavered in Heke's war, and is not likely to
do so now. We must take leave of this chief, and get away without loss
of time. But who comes now--with a following, too? This looks like a
_taua_."
Here a fresh excitement arose, while shouts of "_Haere mai!_" and
other words of welcome, more strongly emphasized than usual, denoted
the arrival of a personage of importance. A comparatively large
body of men, well armed, and superior to the ordinary natives of
the district in height and warlike appearance, had come in sight.
They marched regularly, and as they came up, all carrying muskets
and cartridge-pouches, they presented a highly effective and martial
appearance. Their leader was a white man.
At this moment Erena, who had been busied with her female attendants,
reappeared. The moment she caught sight of the contingent she uttered a
cry of joy, and, turning to Massinger, said--
"This is indeed most fortunate. We shall have no more trouble about
routes. Yonder is my father. Let us go to meet him."
As she spoke Massinger noticed that the leader of the party, after a
few words of greeting to the chief, had turned in their direction, and
commenced to walk slowly towards them. As they approached one another,
Erena seemed anxious to explain to him the fact of her father's
appearance at Rotorua at this particular time.
"He has, no doubt, had news of the likelihood of war, and has been to
some portion of the tribe at a distance on some message for Waka Nene.
He ranks as a war chief in the tribe since the old war, and has much
influence."
By the time the explanation was concluded they were almost face to
face, and Massinger was enabled to note the appearance and bearing of
Allister Mannering, perhaps the most remarkable man among the by no
means inconsiderable number of distinguished persons who from time to
time had elected to cast in their lot with the children of Maui.
Massinger, in later years, always asserted that never in his whole life
had he been so much impressed by the personality of any living man as
by the remarkable individual who now stood before him. Tall beyond the
ordinary stature of manhood, but of matchless symmetry, and moulded not
less for activity than strength, there was a compelling air of command
in his eye which every motion confirmed. His __EXPRESSION__ was grave and
stern, but as he approached Erena, who ran to meet him, a wave of
tenderness crossed his features like the ripple on a slumbering sea.
Then he folded his daughter in his arms with every token of paternal
fondness.
Whatever somewhat belated explanation of the position Massinger was
arranging in his mind, was arrested by the meeting between father and
child. After a short colloquy Mr. Mannering advanced, and with perfect
courtesy expressed his pleasure in welcoming him to Rotorua.
"I see that Erena has, with the help of Warwick here, done her part in
showing you some of our wonders. Like her historic ancestress, she has
a strong will of her own, but had I not the most thorough confidence
in her prudence, as well as in the honour of an English gentleman, you
will acknowledge that I might have cause for disapproval."
Here his steady, searching gaze was fixed full upon Massinger, who felt
how poor a chance an unworthy adventurer would have, standing thus
before him. But he met his accost frankly.
"I am indeed gratified to have met you, Mr. Mannering," he made answer.
"I owe much of the charm of this month's travel and adventure to your
daughter's companionship. It will be a lifelong memory, I assure you."
"You are neither of you to say any more about it," interposed Erena,
with a playful air of command, hanging on her father's arm and menacing
Massinger. "I am sure _I_ enjoyed myself very much; so we are all
pleased,--which ends that part of the story. But oh! father, is it
true that the war has commenced? If so, what are we to do, and how is
Mr. Massinger to get back to Auckland? I thought of going straight to
Hokianga."
"Exactly what we are to do, not later than tomorrow morning. That is,
I am going, you are going, also my _taua_, whose only prayer is to
fall in with some of the Waikatos, not more than double their number,
and have a good old-fashioned bloodthirsty battle. They are all men
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