her, but he made various excuses, and Waihoura expressed her fears that
she was not allowed to go on account of Hemipo, who objected to her
associating with her English friends.
Next morning the party set out on their return, leaving Waihoura
evidently very miserable, and anxious about the future. They had got a
short distance from the pah, when a chief with several attendants passed
them, and Lucy felt sure, from the glimpse she got of his features, that
he was Hemipo, especially as he did not stop, and only offered them a
distant salutation. Mr Marlow again expressed his regret that he had
been unable to move Ihaka. "Still, I believe, that he is pricked in his
conscience, and he would be glad of an opportunity of being released
from his promise," he remarked. "The chief considers himself, however,
in honour bound to perform it, though he is well aware that it must lead
to his daughter's unhappiness. I do not, however, suppose that he is
biased by any fears of the consequences were he to break off the
marriage, though probably if he did so Hemipo would attack the fort, and
attempt to carry off his bride by force."
When the party got back to Riverside, their friends were very eager to
hear an account of their visit, and several regretted that they had not
accompanied them.
"Who would have thought, Miss Lucy, when we first came here, that you
would ever have slept inside one of those savage's huts!" exclaimed Mrs
Greening. "My notion was, that they would as likely as not eat anybody
up who got into their clutches; but I really begin to think that they
are a very decent, good sort of people, only I do wish the gentlemen
would not make such ugly marks on their faces--it does not improve them,
and I should like to tell them so."
CHAPTER SEVEN.
THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE.
PROSPEROUS CONDITION OF THE SETTLEMENT--MR PEMBERTON AND HIS SONS GO
OUT SHOOTING.--WAIHOURA IS OBSERVED FLYING FROM HEMIPO, WHO FIRES AND
WOUNDS HER.--RESCUED BY MR PEMBERTON AND TAKEN TO RIVERSIDE.--VAL GOES
FOR DR FRASER.--ON THEIR RETURN, RAHANA, A NATIVE CHIEF, SAVES THEIR
LIVES.--IHAKA ARRIVES WITH HIS FOLLOWERS TO DEFEND THE FARM, AS ALSO DO
RAHANA'S, BUT NO ENEMY APPEARS, AND THEY, WITH WAIHOURA, RETURN TO
IHAKA'S PAH.
The little settlement went on prosperously, the flocks and herds
increased, and more land was brought under cultivation; the orchards
were producing fruit, and the kitchen gardens an abundance of
vegetables.
There had been outbreaks of the natives in the northern part of the
island, but those in their immediate neighbourhood were supposed to be
peaceably disposed, and friendly towards the English.
Lucy had been for some time expecting to hear from Waihoura, and she
feared, from the last account she had received from her, that the
marriage the poor girl so much dreaded with Hemipo, might soon take
place.
"I am afraid it can't be helped," observed Mrs Greening, who was trying
to console her. "After all, he is her own countryman, and maybe she
will improve him when they marry."
"Oh, but I mourn for her because he is a heathen, and a cruel bad man,"
said Lucy, "and I am sure she is worthy of a better fate."
Mr Pemberton and Valentine had shortly after this gone out with their
guns to shoot some wild-fowl which had visited the banks of the river.
The young Pembertons and Greenings had built a boat, and as the birds
appeared more numerous on the opposite side, Harry, who met them,
offered to paddle them across. While Harry remained in the canoe, they
proceeded up a small stream which ran into the main river. They were
approaching the border of the forest. Although the foliage, entwined by
creepers, was so dense towards the upper part of the trees that the rays
of the sun were unable to penetrate through it, the lower part was open
and free from underwood, thus enabling them to pass among the trees
without difficulty, and to see for a considerable distance into its
depths.
"We shall find no birds there," observed Val. "Had we not better turn
back and continue along the bank of the main stream?"
They were just about to do as Val proposed, when they caught sight of a
figure running at full speed through the forest towards them.
"It is a woman, I believe," exclaimed Val. "Yes, and there is a man
following her. She is endeavouring to escape from him. She is crying
out, and making signs for us to come to her assistance. She is
Waihoura!"
As he spoke, the savage stopped, then levelled his rifle and fired.
Waihoura shrieked out, and running a few paces further towards them,
fell.
"I must punish the villain," exclaimed Val, dashing forward.
"Stay, my boy," said Mr Pemberton, "he deserves punishment, but not at
our hands,--let us try and assist the poor girl."
They hurried to where Waihoura lay. The bullet had wounded her in the
shoulder. Meantime the savage had retreated, and when they looked round
for him, he was nowhere to be seen.
"We must take the poor girl to the house and endeavour to obtain
surgical assistance for her," said Mr Pemberton.
They lifted her up and bore her along towards the river. Valentine
shouted for Harry, who quickly came up with the canoe.
Waihoura was too much agitated to speak, or to tell them by whom she had
been wounded. Still her countenance exhibited an expression rather of
satisfaction than of alarm. Harry having secured the canoe, ran on
before his father and brother to prepare Lucy for the arrival of her
friend. Waihoura was carried into the house, and placed on the bed she
had formerly occupied, while Harry ran on to get Mrs Greening to assist
in taking care of her.
Left with Lucy and Betsy, Waihoura soon recovered her composure.
"I have escaped from him," she said, in her broken English. "I have
done what I long intended. Hemipo came for me to my father's pah, and I
was delivered in due form to him, and so my father's honour was
satisfied. I went quietly for some distance, as if I was no longer
unwilling to accompany him, and then, watching my opportunity, I ran
off, hoping to make my escape without being discovered. He saw me,
however, and followed, though I was already a long way off. I hoped to
reach the river and swim across to you, when he was nearly overtaking
me. Just then, as he caught sight of your father and brother, in his
rage and disappointment he fired at me, and would have killed me had
they not come up to prevent him."
Such was the meaning of the account Waihoura gave Lucy, as she and Betsy
were endeavouring to staunch the blood which continued to flow from the
wound. As soon as Mrs Greening arrived, she advised Val to set off and
obtain Dr Fraser's assistance.
"We may be able to stop the blood, but the hurt is a bad one, and if the
bullet is still in the wound, will need a surgeon to take it out," she
observed.
Valentine required no second bidding. Harry, indeed, had already got a
horse ready. He galloped away, taking the shortest cut across the
country to the fort. Valentine had to spend some time in searching for
Dr Fraser, who had gone off to a distance, and when he returned he had
a patient to whom it was absolutely necessary he should attend.
"I'll not be a moment longer than I can help," exclaimed the doctor. "I
felt great interest in that pretty little native girl. There's one
comfort, that the natives seldom suffer from fever through injuries.
You ride back and say I am coming."
"I would rather wait for you," answered Valentine. Though he was sorely
annoyed at the delay, it enabled him to give his horse a feed, and to
rest the animal, so that there was not so much time lost as he supposed.
At length the doctor was ready, and they set off to take the way by
which Valentine had come. They had gone rather more than half the
distance, and were approaching a defile between two high hills, covered
thickly with trees, and wild rugged rocks on either side. They were
just about to enter it when a Maori, who, by the way he was dressed,
appeared to be a chief, was seen hurrying down the side of the hill
towards them, and beckoning to them to stop.
"He wishes to speak to us," said Valentine, "shall we wait for him?"
"I hope that his intentions are friendly," observed the doctor. "These
fellows have been playing some treacherous tricks to the settlers in the
north, and it is as well to be prepared."
"His manner does not appear to be hostile," observed Valentine. "I will
ride forward to speak to him."
Valentine had not gone many paces before he met the native, who
hurriedly addressed him in broken English.
"Go back and take another path," he exclaimed. "If you go forward you
will be killed, there's a bad chief, with several men, lying in wait to
shoot you. I have only just discovered their intentions, and hurried
forward to give you warning."
"Can you tell us who the chief is?" asked Valentine, not feeling very
willing to believe the stranger's statement.
"His name does not matter," answered the young stranger. "He supposes
me to be his friend, and begged me to assist him, so that I do not wish
further to betray him, but I could not allow you to suffer."
"There may be some truth in what the young man says, and we should be
unwise not to take his advice," observed the doctor.
Valentine warmly thanked the stranger, who offered to lead them by a
path he was acquainted with, which would enable them to escape the
ambush and reach the river side with little loss of time. He
accordingly led them back for some distance, and then striking off to
the right over the hills, conducted them through another valley, which
in time took them out on to the open plain.
"You are safe now," he said. "Ride on as fast as you can, so that your
enemy may not overtake you."
"I should like to know who you are, that we may thank you properly for
the benefit you have done us," said Valentine, "and I am sure Ihaka's
daughter, on whose account Dr Fraser is going to our settlement, will
desire to express her gratitude. She is sorely wounded, and I fear in
much danger."
"Wounded and in danger," exclaimed the young stranger. "How has she
received an injury?"
"She was basely shot at by a Maori," answered Val.
"The chief told me that it was your sister who was ill, and that you
having grossly insulted him, he was determined to revenge himself on
you." He stopped for a few moments as if for consideration. "I will
accompany you," he said. "If I go back I shall not be able to resist
accusing him of his treachery, and bloodshed may be the consequence."
"Come along then, my friend," said the doctor, "you are fleet of foot,
and will keep up with our horses."
The stranger, a fine young man, one of the handsomest natives Valentine
had as yet seen--his face being, moreover, undisfigured by tattoo
marks,--on this ran forward, and showed by the pace he moved at, that he
was not likely to detain them.
It was dark when they reached Riverside, but Lucy had heard the sound of
their horses' feet, and came out to meet them.
"I am so thankful you have come, doctor," she exclaimed. "Waihoura is,
I fear, suffering much pain, and we have been able to do little to
relieve her."
The doctor hurried into the house. His report was more favourable than
Lucy had expected. He quickly extracted the bullet, and promised, with
the good constitution the young girl evidently possessed, that she would
soon recover.
Valentine invited the young stranger to remain, and he evidently showed
no desire to take his departure.
"I wish to stay for your sakes as well as my own," he said, "and I would
advise you to keep a vigilant watch round the house during the night.
The man who has committed so foul a deed as to shoot Ihaka's daughter,
must from henceforth be Rahana's foe, and I now confess that it was
Hemipo who intended to waylay and murder you. I am myself a Rangatira,
chief of a numerous tribe. My father ever lived on friendly terms with
the English, and seeing the folly of war, wished also to be at peace
with his neighbours, and I have desired to follow his example. Among
our nearest neighbours was Hemipo, who, though one I could never regard
with esteem, has always appeared anxious to retain my friendship.
Hitherto I have, therefore, frequently associated with him, but from
henceforth he must be to me as a stranger. He is capable, I am
convinced, of any treachery, and when he finds that you have escaped him
on this occasion, will seek another opportunity of revenging himself."
This was said partly in English and partly in Maori.
Mr Pemberton, following the advice he received, sent to farmer Greening
and several other neighbours, asking their assistance in guarding
Waihoura, thinking it possible that Hemipo might attack the place and
attempt to carry her off. Among others who came up was Mr Spears, with
a cartouche-box hanging by a belt to his waist, and a musket in his
hand.
"Neighbours should help each other, Mr Pemberton," he said as he made
his appearance, "and so I have locked up the shop, and shall be happy to
stand sentry during the night at any post you may assign me. Place me
inside the house or outside, or in a cow-shed, it's all the same to me.
I'll shoot the first man I see coming up the hill."
Valentine suggested that Mr Spears was as likely to shoot a friend as a
foe, and therefore placed him, with a companion, in one of the sheds,
strictly enjoining him not to fire unless he received an order to do so.
From the precautions taken by Mr Pemberton, it was not likely that
Hemipo would succeed even should he venture on an attack, especially as
every one in the settlement was on the alert.
The night passed off quietly, and in the morning Dr Fraser gave a
favourable report of Waihoura. A messenger was then despatched to
Ihaka, to inform him of what had occurred. He arrived before sunset
with several of his followers, well-armed, and at once requested to have
an interview with his daughter. On coming out of her room he met Mr
Pemberton, and warmly thanked him for having again preserved her life.
"From henceforth she is free to choose whom she will for a husband," he
observed. "I gave her, as I was bound to do by my promise, to Hemipo;
but she escaped from him, and as he has proved himself unworthy of her,
though war between us be the result, I will not again deliver her to
him."
Lucy, who overheard this, was greatly relieved. Not knowing the customs
of the Maoris, she was afraid that the chief might still consider
himself bound to restore Waihoura to her intended husband.
"I must go at once and tell her," she said. "I am sure that this will
greatly assist her recovery."
"She knows it. I have already promised her," said Ihaka. "And I will
remain here and defend her and you, my friends, from Hemipo,--though
boastful as he is, I do not believe that he will venture to attack a
pakeha settlement."
Rahana, who had hitherto remained at a distance, now came forward, and
the two chiefs greeted each other according to their national custom, by
rubbing their noses together for a minute or more. They then sat down,
and the young chief gave Ihaka an account of the part he had taken in
the affair.
"We have ever been friends," answered Ihaka, "and this will cement our
friendship closer than ever."
They sat for some time talking over the matter, and Rahana agreed to
send for a band of his people to assist in protecting their friends, and
afterwards to escort Waihoura to her home.
Till this time, the only natives who frequented the settlement were the
labourers employed on the farm, but now a number of warriors might be
seen, with rifles in their hands, some seated on the hillside, others
stalking about among the cottages. They all, however, behaved with the
greatest propriety, declining even to receive provisions from the
inhabitants, both Ihaka's and Rahana's people having brought an abundant
supply. Though scouts were sent out in every direction, nothing was
heard of Hemipo, and it was supposed that he had returned to his own
village--either being afraid of meeting those he had injured, or to
hatch some plan of revenge.
Dr Fraser, who had gone home when he considered Waihoura out of danger,
returned, at the end of a fortnight, and pronounced her sufficiently
recovered to undertake the journey home, to which Ihaka was anxious to
convey her, as she would be there safer from any design Hemipo might
entertain, than in the unprotected cottage at Riverside. Lucy, although
she would gladly have had her remain longer, felt that this was the
case. The Maori girl warmly embraced her before taking her seat on the
covered litter constructed for her conveyance, and willingly gave a
promise to return to Riverside as soon as her father considered it safe
for her to do so. The young chief had constituted himself her chief
attendant, and when they set out placed himself by her side, which he
showed no intention of quitting. It appeared that they had hitherto
been strangers to each other, but Lucy, having observed the admiration
with which he had regarded Waihoura the first time they met, pleased
with his manners, could not help hoping that he might become a
Christian, and a successful suitor of her friend. She watched the party
as they took their way along the road, till they were lost to sight
among the trees; and from the judicious precautions they took of
throwing out scouts, she trusted that they would, escape being surprised
even should Hemipo be on the watch for them, and would reach their
destination in safety.
As soon as they were gone the settlement returned to its usual quiet
state.
After the character they had heard of Hemipo, Mr Pemberton considered
it prudent to keep a watch at night, and to advise the Greenings, as
well as his own sons, to carry arms in their hands, and never to go
singly to a distance from the house.
Day after day passed by, till at length they began to feel that such
precautions were unnecessary, and by degrees they abandoned the habit,
only occasionally taking their guns when they went out to shoot birds,
or when the traces of a wild pig, which happened to stray from the
mountains, were discovered in the neighbourhood. Few countries in the
world are so destitute of game or animals of any description, or of
noxious reptiles, as New Zealand; the only reptile, indeed, being a
harmless lizard, while the only wild beasts are the descendants of pigs
originally introduced by Europeans, which having escaped from their
owners to the forests where they roam at large.
Unhappily, although many of the natives lived on the most friendly terms
with the English, and had made considerable advancement in civilisation,
a large number still, at that period, retained much of their former
savage character, and, instigated perhaps by evilly-disposed persons,
from time to time rose in aims against the English, and though inferior
in numbers to the settlers, were enabled, in their mountain fastnesses,
to resist the attacks of well-trained troops sent against them. They
sometimes descended on the unprepared settlements, murdered the
inhabitants, and committed many fearful atrocities. Of late years,
however, finding resistance vain, they have submitted to the English
Government, and as they possess equal rights and privileges with the
settlers, and are treated in every respect as British subjects, it may
be hoped that they will become, ere long, thoroughly civilised and
contented with their lot, so infinitely superior to that of their former
savage state. At the time, however, that the occurrences which have
been described took place, although cannibalism and their more barbarous
customs were almost abandoned, still a number of the tribes were hostile
to the English, and also carried on a fierce warfare among themselves.
Our friends at Riverside were destined shortly to feel the ill effects
of this state of things.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
CARRIED OFF.
DISTURBANCE AMONG THE NATIVES.--VOLUNTEERS FROM THE SETTLEMENT.--MR
PEMBERTON AND VAL CALLED AWAY.--THE SETTLERS, TO THEIR DISMAY, DISCOVER
THAT THE YOUNG PEMBERTONS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OFF.
Lucy had made tea, and her father and brother, who had come in from
their work, had just taken their seats, when Mr Spears, announced by
Betsy, popped his head in at the door.
"Beg pardon, Mr Pemberton, for intruding, but I thought you would like
to have this letter at once," he said, handing an official-looking
envelope. "I have sent several others of similar appearance to a number
of gentlemen in our neighbourhood, and I suspect they mean something."
Lucy observed that her father's countenance assumed a grave expression
as he read the document; after requesting the bearer to sit down and
take a cup of tea.
"More disturbances among the natives?" asked Mr Spears. "I hope,
though, that they will keep quiet in these parts."
"Yes, I am sorry to say that they have risen in much greater numbers
than heretofore, and matters look very serious," answered Mr Pemberton.
"The Governor has requested me to assist in organising a body of
volunteers to co-operate with the loyal natives in this district, and to
keep in check any of the Maoris who may be inclined to rebel, while the
troops are engaged with the main body of the insurgents. I am afraid
this will compel me to be absent from home for some time."
"May I go with you?" exclaimed Harry. "I should so like to have some
soldiering."
"No, you must stay at home to take care of Lucy and the farm," answered
Mr Pemberton. "Val, you are named, and though I would rather have left
you in charge, we must obey the calls of public duty. Farmer Greening
will assist Harry; Paul and James will probably accompany me."
"Put my name down as a volunteer," exclaimed Mr Spears. "I'll have my
musket and cartouche-box ready in a trice. I shall be proud to go out
and fight my country's battles."
"Take my advice, Mr Spears, and stay at home to look after your shop
and the settlement--some must remain behind to guard it," said Mr
Pemberton.
"I am ready for the field, or for garrison duty," answered the little
man, rising, and drawing himself up. "I must go back with the news to
the village; the people are suspecting that there is something in the
wind."
Mr Pemberton and Valentine soon made the necessary preparations for
their departure, and early the next morning, in company with several
other settlers, set out on their expedition. As the natives in their
immediate neighbourhood had always appeared very friendly, they had no
anxiety about the safety of Riverside.
Time passed on; news reached the settlement that the volunteers had on
several occasions been engaged, and that the insurgents still made head
against them. Lucy could not help feeling anxious at the prolonged
absence of her father and brother; but as they wrote word that they were
well, she kept up her spirits, hoping that the natives would soon be
convinced of the uselessness and folly of their rebellion, and that
peace would be established. She also received visits from Mary Osburn
and other friends, and Mrs Greening never failed to look in on her two
or three times in the day, while her husband kept his eye on the farm,
and assisted Harry in managing affairs. Lucy had hoped that by this
time it would be safe for Waihoura to pay her a visit, and she had sent
a message inviting her to come to Riverside. In reply, Waihoura
expressed her thanks for the invitation, but stated that as her father
was absent with many of his people, taking a part in the war, she could
not venture to quit home. She also mentioned that Hemipo was supposed
to have joined the rebels, as he had not for some time been seen in the
neighbourhood.