War to the Knife 30

War to the Knife 30

"In an hour or so," said Mr. Mannering, "we will stroll down to the

kainga. The head chief of our tribe, the celebrated Waka Nene, whom

you met on your way over to the Terraces, has returned. You will hear

what he says on the present state of things. No man in the island

can speak with more knowledge or authority. Warwick and I have a few

arrangements to make; meanwhile I dare say you can find something to

interest you among my old books. Erena will keep you company till I

return."

 

Massinger found ample _pabulum mentis_ among the varied collection

of books and papers, which not only filled the shelves around three

sides of the room, but won place on the mantelpiece, the window-sills,

and, indeed, on the floor. Old colonial works of the earliest days

of New Zealand, Tasmania, and Australia, the worn binding of which

denoted their archaic value, jostled the latest scientific treatises

or recently issued biographies and travels, besides magazines and

illustrated papers up to date.

 

"Here," thought he, "is another factor in the so-called solitary,

self-exiled life of this truly remarkable man--'never less lonely

than when alone,' with these companions of every age and all time at

his elbow. What a delicious place to read in! I can fancy him on this

couch, with his pipe and a favourite author, when the day is declining,

or beneath those o'er-shadowing ferns on the hillside, spending hours

in a state of absolute beatitude. The open window 'gives' on the broad

river, 'strong without rage, without o'erflowing full,' an occasional

sail fleeting by like a returning sea-bird. Canoes are racing home

after a day's fishing, the girls paddling for their lives, and

encouraging one another in the mimic contest with laughing reproaches

and warlike cries. The _dolce_ _far niente_ period to be succeeded

by a pedestrian expedition at the head of his faithful retainers, or

a yacht voyage to Auckland, where congenial companionship at the Club

and the news of the civilized world await him. How peacefully, how

happily, might life flow on under such conditions! How long might slow

o'ertaking age defer his approach! The only thing wanting to complete

this ideal existence, for a man of his temperament, is the excitement

of war; and this he is about to have."

 

The catalogue of pleasures open to a quasi-hermit of such various

tastes and accomplishments was interrupted by the entrance of Erena,

who had apparently completed her household arrangements, and was minded

to add the charms of her society to his mental indulgences.

 

"It is easy to see that I have been away," she said. "When the fit

takes him, my father surrounds himself with books, which he never puts

back, and reads day and night for weeks together. He is absent-minded,

and careless of the proprieties to a wonderful degree, so that I have a

month's work generally in putting him and the household to rights when

I return from a visit or an excursion."

 

"And do you often go so far from home as when I met you first?" he

said. "I suppose you are not afraid?"

 

"Afraid?" she said, with a look of surprise and scorn. "Of what, or of

whom? In time of peace who is there to harm me? When you saw me I had

been to see a cousin. She sometimes comes here to stay with me."

 

"I am sorry not to have met her. Why didn't you introduce me? Is she

of the same charming complexion as yourself--that clear brunette tint

which I admire so much?"

 

The girl laughed merrily. "Do you indeed? The truth is, she was rather

shy. She is a 'full Maori,' as we say, though she talks good English,

and is thought very good-looking. I would have brought her up, but she

went away the morning after. Her family sent for her in a hurry. But I

see my father coming up to take you to the chief, Waka Nene."

 

"The great chief of whom I have heard so much; I hardly noticed him

before. Now tell me about him. What is his general disposition?"

 

"He is a man who would have made a great field-marshal in any other

country. Very calm--generally, that is--looking always to the future;

slow in making up his mind, never changing it afterwards. He decided

many years ago that the religion of England and her laws were those for

him and his tribe to adopt, and in war or peace he has never swerved

from that policy."

 

"You said something about his being calm nearly always? Is he sometimes

the contrary?"

 

"He is usually most dignified; but he can be terrible when really

aroused. It is an old story now, but he once shot a native dead before

his own friends and relations because he had helped to kill a white man

treacherously."

 

"Indeed, that was judicial severity in earnest. How did it come about?"

 

"In this way. The natives at Whakatane first of all 'cut out' and

burned a vessel called the _Haws_, or _Haweis_, killing part of the

crew. They were headed by a chief called Ngarara, or 'the reptile'--

not so very unlike his namesake, our friend. He, however, was shot by a

Ngapuhi chief from the deck of the _New Zealander_, a vessel sent from

the Bay of Islands, to make an example of him. The tribe went to Hicks

Bay, and, taking the pah there, at Wharekahika, captured two Europeans;

one they killed, the other was rescued by a passing ship. A Ngapuhi

native took part in the murder; he was then visiting at Whakatane,

but lived with his wife at Tauranga. Waka Nene was on the beach at

Maungatapu when this native returned. He advanced towards him and

delivered a speech, _taki_-ing, or pacing up and down, Maori-fashion,

while the other natives sat around. 'Oh,' he said, 'you're a pretty

fellow to call yourself a Ngapuhi! Do they murder pakehas in that

manner? What makes you steal away to kill pakehas? Had the pakeha done

you any harm, that you killed him? There! that is for your work,' he

said, as he suddenly stopped short and shot the native dead, in the

midst of his friends. It was bold and rash, but all New Zealand knew

him then and long after as the friend of the pakehas."

 

"That was true Jedwood justice, which used to be described as 'hang

first and try afterwards,' but from his point of view it was the just

vengeance of the law."

 

"It seemed cruel," said Erena, who had told with flashing eye and

heightened colour this tale of the "wrath of a king." "But little was

thought of the poor white man killed by a stranger to the tribe for an

act with which he had nothing to do, and perhaps had never heard of.

What the Ngapuhi suffered for was, that if he had belonged to Ngarara's

tribe his act would have been justified, as _utu_ (proper vengeance).

It was for mixing himself up with the blood-feud of another tribe that

Waka Nene killed him; and his people saw the justice of it, and did not

interfere."

 

Mr. Mannering, arriving at the end of the story, announced two facts,

one of which was that the chief would be ready to receive them in half

an hour; the other, that a timber-laden schooner would leave the wharf

on the following afternoon, and no doubt would be happy to give Mr.

Massinger and Warwick a passage to Auckland.

 

"Of course, we should be too happy to put you up for as long as you

cared to stay with us; but, from what I hear, things are going from

bad to worse at Taranaki. The natives have scored what they consider a

success so far, and are confident that they can hold their own against

the regulars. More troops have been sent for, also artillery. Nothing

less than a campaign will satisfy either side now."

 

"If it were an ordinary time nothing would give me greater pleasure,

I can say most sincerely," said Massinger. "I could fish and sail,

ride and walk, and even take a turn at that mysterious industry of

gum-digging, of which I hear exciting reports. But as things are, I

feel in honour bound to report myself at headquarters. I am not wholly

inexperienced in military matters, if a yeomanry captain's commission

counts for anything."

 

"You will find that it has a solid value at present," said Mannering.

"The colonists are so keen, that any one who has ever heard a

bugle-call is looked upon as a veteran."

 

"Indeed, yes," laughed Erena. "We shall look in the papers for what

happens when Major Massinger goes to the front. Only, remember our

bush rambles, and don't despise the poor natives because they have no

uniform. Keep a good look-out among the tree-ferns and the manuka;

there will be the danger."

 

Upon which Erena, who seemed quite as much inclined for tears as for

laughter, retreated to her own dominions.

 

* * * * *

 

The great chief of the Ngapuhi stood near the carved porch of the

_wharepuni_, surrounded by the elders of the tribe. He was dressed in

his garments of ceremony, having a fine flaxen mat, worn toga-fashion,

across his breast. In his hair were the rare feathers of the beautiful

_huia_ which none save a chief may wear. His staff was in his hand,

which he shifted to the left as he extended his right hand in friendly

greeting to the pakeha.

 

"My word to you is again welcome," he said, fixing his calm,

inexpressive, but steadfast eyes upon the young man's face. "My pakeha

friend Mannering tells me that you depart to Waitemata. It is well.

My heart is sore because of the foolishness of the Mata Kawana. The

_runanga_ of the pakeha also is obdurate."

 

"The war has begun," said Mannering. "It seems a small matter, but this

land at Waitara will be dearly bought."

 

"A little fire will burn the forest when the fern is dry," replied the

chief, gravely. "Money was given to Teira for Waitara, but blood must

be paid. The chain of the surveyor is now red."

 

"Will not Te Rangitake listen to Wiremu Thompson and to Tamati

Ngapora?" said Mr. Mannering. "Their word is not for war. Trade is

better than fighting, better than too much land."

 

"He would listen, perhaps, but the people of the tribe will not. Then

there is the King business to bring more trouble. If the Waikato join

the Ngatihaua, it will be such a war as we have not seen yet."

 

"And the Ngapuhi?" asked Massinger, almost wondering at his own

temerity.

 

"The Ngapuhi," replied the chief, with stately dignity, "fought for

the English through the war of Honi-Heke; they fought with the Rarawas

against the Ngati maniapoto and the Waikato. They will do so now. You

have the writing of Waka Nene?"