THE FIRST ALARM.
One morning Mr. and Mrs. Renshaw went down to spend a long day with the
Mitfords. The latter had sent up the boat over-night, and they started
the first thing in the morning. For the two or three days previous Jack,
the young native, had more than once spoken to Wilfrid of the propriety
of the hands keeping near the house, but Wilfrid had failed to obtain
from him any specific reasons for the warning.
"Bad men come down from Waikato," he said. "Much talkee talkee among
natives."
"But what do they talk about, Jack?"
Jack shook his head. "Jack no hear talkee. Men come to hut and talk with
father. Other Maoris on land steal in and talk too, but no talk before
Jack; always turn him out or send him on errand. But Jack hear sometimes
a word, and think that trouble come. Young master better not go far away
by himself, and tell two white men to keep close to hut. Perhaps nothing
come, but better to be on guard."
"Very well, Jack; I am obliged to you for the warning. I will tell the
Grimstones not to go out to the outlying clearings, but to occupy
themselves with what they can find to do near home."
Jack nodded. "That best, Master Wilfrid, but no talk too much with me.
If my people thought I speak to you then trouble come to Jack."
Wilfrid nodded, and without saying anything to his father and mother
told the Grimstones to keep near the house. "After you have done
shooting of a morning," he said, "instead of bringing your guns into the
house as usual take them down with you to the place where you are at
work, so that they will be handy in case of necessity. Most likely there
is no danger whatever; but I have heard a rumour that some people from
Waikato have come into this neighbourhood, and if so no doubt they are
trying to get the tribes here to join the Hau-Haus. I do not think that
there is much chance of their succeeding, for the natives have always
been very friendly, and there has been no dispute about land or any
other grievance; but when one knows how suddenly they have risen in
other places, it is better to take precautions."
After breakfast on the morning when his father and mother had started,
Wilfrid strolled out on to the verandah, and stood for some little time
hesitating what he should do. The Grimstones had just started to look up
some cattle in one of the distant clearings, one of the native hands
having reported the evening before two of the animals were missing.
"I will go not far till they come back," he said to himself. "The garden
wants hoeing. Weeds grow as fast here as they do at home. That will be
just the job for me." He was about to turn to enter the house, when he
saw four natives emerge from the trees and make towards him.
"Marion," he said through the open door, "get the guns down from the
rack, and see that they are capped and ready. There are four natives
coming towards the house. I daresay they are friendly, and are probably
only on the way down the river to look for work, still as we are alone
you cannot be too careful."
Hearing Marion reply "All right, Wilfrid!" the lad leant against the
door in a careless attitude, and awaited the coming of the natives. As
they approached he saw they were all strangers to him, although he knew
most of the natives in the neighbourhood by sight, for these not
infrequently came in to barter a pig or a sheep for tobacco, sugar, or
other things necessary to them. The natives as they came up gave the
usual salutation of good-day, to which Wilfrid replied.
"We are hungry," a tall Maori, who by his dress appeared to be a chief,
said.
"I will get you something to eat," Wilfrid answered.
The Maoris would have followed into the house, but he stopped and said
sharply, "We do not allow strangers in the house. Those we know are free
to enter and depart as they choose, but I have not seen any of you
before. If you will sit down on that bench outside I will bring you
food."
He soon reappeared with a dish of maize and boiled pork, for a supply
was generally kept in readiness in case any of the natives should come
in.
"Shuffle about and make a noise," he said to Marion as she got the dish
from the cupboard. "They cannot know who are inside, and if they mean
mischief--and honestly I do not like their looks--they will be more
likely to try it on if they think that I am alone."
The Maoris took the food in silence, and as they ate it Wilfrid was
amused to hear Marion stamping heavily about inside, and occasionally
speaking as if to her father. He could see that the men were listening,
and they exchanged words in a low tone with each other.
Presently the leader of the party said, "Drink!" Wilfrid went in and
brought out a pitcher of water. "Gin!" the chief said shortly. "I have
no gin to give you," Wilfrid replied; "we do not keep spirits."
The natives rose to their feet. "We will come in and see," the leader
said.
"No you won't!" Wilfrid said firmly. "I have given you what food there
is in the house, and you are welcome to it; but strangers don't come
into the house unless they are invited."
The native laid his hand on Wilfrid's shoulder to push him aside, but
four months of chopping and digging had hardened every muscle in the
lad's body. He did not move an inch, but jerked the Maori's hand off his
shoulder.
With an exclamation of anger the native drew a heavy knobbed stick from
the girdle round his waist, but before he could raise it to strike
another figure appeared at the door. Marion held a gun in her hand which
she raised to her shoulder. "Drop that," she said in a clear ringing
voice, "or I fire!"
Taken by surprise, and seeing the rifle pointed full at his head, the
chief instantly dropped his club. At the same instant Wilfrid sprang to
the door, exclaiming "Go in, Marion!" and before the natives had
recovered from their surprise the door was shut and barred.
They had not been deceived by Marion's attempt to personate a man, and
their sharp ears had told them while eating their meal that there was
but one person in the house, and that it was a girl. They knew that
there was no other about, having watched the house for some time, and
had therefore anticipated that the work of murder and plunder would be
accomplished without difficulty. The instant the door was closed they
bounded away at the top of their speed to the shelter of the bush,
expecting every moment to hear the report of a rifle behind them; but
the Renshaws had not thought of firing.
"Well done, Marion!" Wilfrid exclaimed as soon as the door was fastened.
"I was on the point of springing upon him when I heard your voice behind
me; I think that I could have tripped him backwards, but if I had done
so the others would have been upon me with their clubs. Now, let us
close and fasten the shutters, though I do not think we need have any
fear of their coming back. In each case we have heard of they have
always fallen on the settlers suddenly and killed them before they had
time for resistance, and I do not think there is a chance of their
trying to attack us now that they know we are ready for them. I expect
that they were passing down to some of their people below, and seeing,
as they thought, a defenceless hut, thought it would be an easy business
to plunder it and knock on the head anyone they might find here. Now
that they have failed they will probably go on their journey again."
"I was horribly frightened, Wilfrid," Marion said when they joined each
other in the sitting-room after making all the fastenings secure.
"You did not look frightened a bit, Marion; and you certainly gave that
fellow a tremendous scare. Didn't he drop his club sharp? And now, what
do you think we had better do? The first thing is to get the Grimstones
in. Those fellows may have been watching for some time and saw them go
out."
"But they have got their guns with them, Wilfrid. The natives would
surely not think of attacking two men with guns when they have nothing
but their clubs."
"No, they certainly would not think of doing that, Marion. But the
chances are that they have got guns, and that they left them in the bush
when they sallied out, as they wanted to look peaceful and take us by
surprise."
"I did not think of that, Wilfrid. Yes, perhaps they have guns. Well,
you know, it has always been agreed that in case of danger three shots
should be fired as a warning to those who might be out. If we fire and
they hear it they will hurry back."
"Yes, but they might be shot as they make their way down to the house;
that is what I am afraid of."
Marion was silent for a minute. "Do you know where they have gone to,
Wilfrid?"
"They have gone in the first place to the clearing with those two big
trees standing in the centre, but I cannot say where they may go to
afterwards, for they had to look for four or five of the cattle that had
strayed away."
"I can slip out from the window in the men's room and get into the bush
and work round to the clearing, Wilfrid, and fire three shots there;
that would bring them to me at once. You see, the natives couldn't cross
the clearing here without your having them under your gun."
"No, Marion," Wilfrid said decidedly; "that is not to be thought of. If
they saw you going they could work up through the bush on their side to
the top of the clearing, and then follow you. No; I think I will fire
the three shots. We have talked it over several times, you know, and the
Grimstones have been told that if they heard the alarm they must make
their way cautiously to the top of the clearing and see what is going on
before they venture to make for the house. As soon as I see them I can
shout to them to keep to the bush on their left till they get opposite
the house. Everything is so still that one can hear a shout a long way,
and I feel sure I could make them understand as far off as the end of
the clearing. It isn't as if we were sure that these fellows were still
hanging about ready to attack us; the probabilities are all the other
way. They would have murdered us if they could have taken us by
surprise, but that is a different thing altogether to making an attack
now they know we are armed and ready."
Taking three of the rifles, Wilfrid opened one of the shutters at the
back of the house and fired them, with an interval of about five seconds
between each shot, then he stood at the window and watched the upper
end of the glade. "Dear me!" he exclaimed suddenly, "I am sorry we
fired."
"Why?" Marion asked in surprise.
"Because Mr. Atherton is sure to hear it if he is at home, and will come
hurrying over; and if these fellows are still there he may come right
into the middle of them."
"I do not think he would do that, Wilfrid," Marion said, after thinking
for a moment or two. "Mr. Atherton is not like the Grimstones. He has
been in all sorts of adventures, and though I am sure he will come to
our help as soon as he can, I think he would take every precaution. He
would know that the natives will be likely to come from above, and
therefore be between him and us, and would come along carefully so as
not to be surprised."
"I hope so, I am sure," Wilfrid said; "for he is an awfully good fellow.
Still, as you say, he is sure to keep his eyes opened, and unless they
surprise him I should back him against the four of them."
In a quarter of an hour they heard a shout from the edge of the
clearing. "There are the Allens!" Wilfrid exclaimed as he leapt to the
door. "I forgot about them, although of course they are nearer than Mr.
Atherton. All right!" he shouted; "you can come on." The two Allens ran
across the open space between the wood and the house.
"What is it, Wilfrid?" they exclaimed as they came up. "You fired the
alarm-signal, did you not?" Both were breathless with the speed at which
they had run. They had been engaged in felling when they heard the
shot, and had thrown down their axes, run into the hut for their guns,
and made for The Glade at the top of their speed. In a few words Wilfrid
explained what had happened, and that there was every reason to believe
that four hostile neighbours were lurking in the bush on the opposite
side of the glade. The Allens at once volunteered to go up to the head
of the clearing to warn the Grimstones. Returning to the point where
they had left the forest, they made their way among the trees until they
reached the upper end of the clearing; then they sat down and listened.
In a few minutes they heard the sound of breaking twigs. "Here come the
men," the elder Allen said; "the Maoris would come along noiselessly."
Two or three minutes later the Grimstones came up at a run, accompanied
by their two dogs.
"This way," James Allen said.
"What is it, sir?" Bob Grimstone gasped. "We were a long way in the
woods when we thought we heard three shots. We were not quite sure about
it, but we started back as fast as we could come. There is nothing
wrong, I hope?"
"Fortunately nothing has happened," James Allen replied; "but four
strange Maoris came up to the house, and would certainly have murdered
Mr. Wilfrid and his sister if they had not been prepared for them.
Whether they are in the bush now or not I do not know; but we have come
up to warn you not to go up the clearing, as, if they are there, they
might pick you off as you did so. We must come down under shelter of the
trees till we are opposite the house."
In ten minutes they reached the house. Just as they did so Mr. Atherton
appeared at the edge of the wood which they had just left.
"Thank God you are all safe!" he said as he strolled up to the house.
"Your three shots gave me a fright; but as I heard no more I was
relieved, for the signal told that you had not been taken by surprise,
and as there was no more firing it was clear they had drawn off."
"But how did you get to that side of the clearing, Mr. Atherton?"
"I followed the wood till within a few hundred yards of the clearing, as
I made sure if there were hostile natives about they would be at the
edge of the bush. Then I got down into the river and waded along the
edge. The bank in front here was not high enough to hide me, though I
stooped as much as I could; but I reckoned that all eyes would be fixed
on the house, and it was not likely I should be noticed. And now, what
is it all about? I am sure you would not have fired the signal unless
there had been good cause for the alarm." Wilfrid related what had taken
place.
"Well done, Miss Marion!" Mr. Atherton said when he had finished. "It
was lucky for your brother that you did not go with your father and
mother this morning.
"It was lucky," Wilfrid agreed; "but at the same time, if I had been
quite alone I should have closed the shutters and door as they came up,
and kept indoors. I only ventured to meet them outside because I knew
that Marion had a gun ready to hand to me the moment I wanted it."
"Yes; but you see there was not time to hand you the gun, Wilfrid, as
it turned out, and you would have been knocked on the head to a
certainty if your sister had not come to your rescue."
"That I certainly should; and I know that I owe Marion my life. What do
you think we had better do now?"
"I do not think we can do anything, Wilfrid, beyond trying to find out
whether the fellows who came here were alone, or were part of a larger
party. Where are your natives?"
"The three men are chopping, and Jack went out with the Grimstones to
look for the cattle."
"Was he with you when you heard the shots fired, Bob?"
"He was with us a minute or two before, and was following a track. After
we heard the signal we did not think anything more about him, and
whether he followed us or went on looking after the cattle I do not
know."
"If you go to the door, Wilfrid, and give a loud cooey it will bring him
in if he is within hearing. You may be sure that he heard the signal,
for his ears are keener than those of your men; but he would not rush
straight back, but would come cautiously through the woods according to
his nature."
Wilfrid went to the door and gave a loud cooey. A minute later the Maori
issued from the bush, nearly opposite the house, and ran in.
"That's just where the natives took to the bush," Wilfrid said. "Perhaps
he will be able to tell us something about them."
"I expect he has been scouting," Mr. Atherton said, "and his coming
boldly out from that point is a pretty sure proof that the natives have
made off. Well, Jack, so you heard our signal?"
Jack nodded.
"And what have you been doing since?" Wilfrid asked.
"Jack went through the bush fast till he got near house, then, as the
guns were not going off, he knew there could be no attack; but thought
black man might be lying in bush, so he crept and crawled. Presently he
heard man talk, and then saw four Maori walking fast away from house. He
only heard them say as he passed, 'No use now; too many Pakehas. Come
another day and finish them all.' Jack was coming straight to house when
he heard cooey."
"You have seen nothing of your father and the other two men, Jack?"
The Maori boy shook his head. "They chop wood; perhaps not heard
signal."
"More likely they heard, but thought it better to stay away," Wilfrid
said.
"No got guns; they not fighting-men," Jack said, as if in excuse.
"There is something in that," Mr. Atherton said. "The Hau-Haus have
always proved themselves even more merciless towards the friendly
natives than towards the whites; and these men, being unarmed, might,
even with the best disposition in the world, be afraid to come to the
house. At any rate, I am glad those fellows have made off. You see, they
were in a position to shoot any of us if they got the chance, while we
were scarce in a position to return the compliment."
"Why not?" James Allen asked.
"Because, although we could have now no doubt whatever as to their
intentions, they have committed no actual assault. They tried their best
to push their way into the house, and when Wilfrid opposed them one of
them drew his club; but they might say this was only done to frighten
him, and that they had no thought of using it. If they had fired a shot,
we should of course be justified in killing them; but were we to begin
the shooting, the whole tribe they belong to would take it up, and there
would be a cry for vengeance; and even if nothing were done at once, we
should be marked down to be wiped out at the first opportunity.
"We shall learn in a day or two whether the matter was serious or not,"
Mr. Atherton went on. "If there is anything like a general defection of
the natives in these parts yours will not have been the only place
threatened, and we shall hear of attacks on other settlers. If we do not
hear of such attacks we can safely put it down that these four fellows
were mere haphazard passers, like tramps at home, who were tempted by
the fact that the house contained only two persons. In that case we need
feel no further anxiety; for as you would be able to recognize them if
you met them anywhere, they would not be likely to come near this part
of the district again. At any rate I will set off with the boy here and
one of the dogs, and will follow up their tracks and see if they have
gone well away. I have no doubt they have done so; still, it will be
more comfortable to make certain of it."
"By the way, Bob," Wilfrid said, "don't you take those two dogs out
again. I don't think they would be any good for hunting cattle, and
would be much more likely to frighten and hunt them away than to help
you to drive them in. At any rate they were bought as guards, and are to
remain about the house. Shall I go with you, Mr. Atherton?"
"No, thank you, Wilfrid; Jack will be enough to help me follow the
tracks, for what he heard them say is almost proof that they have gone.
I shall go round to my own place when I have followed them fairly off
the land, but will come round here to-morrow morning, when we will hold
a general council of war. It is no use my coming back again this
evening, as your father and the others will not be here before that
time. It is possible that they will bring us some news from the
Mitfords. If there is any trouble anywhere along the river Mitford is
sure to be the first to hear of it. I will send a message back by Jack
when he has gone as far as necessary for our purpose."
Two hours later Jack returned with the news that the Maoris had gone
straight on without making a stop. Mr. and Mrs. Renshaw were expected
back at about ten o'clock. They were to breakfast early at the Mitfords
and to come up with their light canoe. They arrived, however, soon after
eight o'clock.
"Is all well?" Mr. Renshaw shouted as he stepped from the boat.
"All well, father," Marion replied, running down to meet them. "We had a
little unpleasantness yesterday, but nothing of consequence. What brings
you back so early? You must have started before daylight."
"Bad news came in yesterday evening, and we should have come straight
over if it had been possible, but Mr. Mitford would not let us leave
till morning. We have been very anxious about you."
"What is the news?" Wilfrid asked.
"The natives murdered two settlers at a farm some four miles from Mr.
Mitford's. Yesterday he received letters both from Poverty Bay and
Napier saying that the natives were in a very disturbed state, that
Hau-Hau prophets had been going about among them, and that in both
districts there had been several murders. Corps of volunteers are being
raised at Napier, and they have sent to Wellington for a company of the
constabulary. The settlers at Poverty Bay are also making preparations
for defence. Mr. Mitford was asked to get all the colonists on this
river to arm and prepare for an attack. Of course this news was very
alarming in itself, and when two or three hours later the news came in
of the murders in our own settlement we were naturally most anxious
about you. However, as we could not come over in the dark through the
forest, and as Mitford pointed out that the house was well prepared for
defence, and that you would certainly be on the alert and had the dogs,
who would give you notice of any body of men coming, we consented to
remain if he would send us home in the canoe at five o'clock in the
morning. And now, what is it that happened here yesterday?"
"It was nothing very alarming, father. Four natives came up and asked
for food, which of course I gave them. Then they wanted gin, and seeing
that I was alone tried to push their way into the house I tried to stop
them. The fellow snatched at his club. As he did so Marion appeared at
the door with a levelled rifle, and the fellows, who had no guns with
them, took to their heels. We gave the alarm-signal, and the Allens and
Mr. Atherton came over at once, and the Grimstones ran in from their
work. However, the natives had made their way off, and I do not suppose
we shall hear any more of them."
"I don't know, Wilfrid," his father said. "If it had been only this
affair I should not have thought much about it. The natives are often
rude and insolent, and these men might not have meant to do more than
help themselves to a bottle of spirits, but taken with these accounts
from Napier and Poverty Bay, and with the murders yesterday, I think it
is very serious."
"Mr. Atherton and the Allens promised to come over at ten o'clock,
father, to chat the matter over with you, and hear whether you had
brought news of any troubles elsewhere. So we shall have quite a
council. And now let us have breakfast. We were just going to sit down
when we heard your call, and I am sure you must be as hungry as hunters
after your three hours on the water."
Breakfast was scarcely finished when Mr. Atherton and the Allens
arrived, and were made acquainted with the news of the murder of the two
settlers on the previous day.
"It is clear," Mr. Atherton said, "that the affair here yesterday was
not, as I hoped, a mere incident, such as might happen anywhere if a
party of ruffianly fellows arrived at a lonely house which they thought
they could rob with impunity. This sad business you tell us of shows
that there is a general movement among the natives, the result, I
suppose, of the arrival of some emissary from the Hau-Haus. It is an
awkward business. What is Mr. Mitford's opinion on the subject?"
"He thinks it will be well that all settlers on the river capable of
bearing arms should be enrolled as a volunteer corps, and be in
readiness to turn out at a moment's notice. He is of opinion that all
those whose farms lie at a distance from the main body should drive in
their animals and bring in such goods as they can carry to his station,
as one of the most central. Huts could be got up there, and the animals
all kept at night in his large stockaded yard. In case the natives seem
inclined to make a regular attack the women and children could be sent
down the river in boats or put on board a ship and sent to Napier.
Fortunately, there is seldom a week without a craft of some sort putting
into the river."
"There is no doubt that this would be the safest plan," Mr. Atherton
said, "but it would be a serious thing for the settlers to abandon their
crops and houses to the natives unless it was certain that the danger
was very great."
"That is my opinion," Mr. Renshaw said. "I am certainly not disposed to
have the results of our labour destroyed without a struggle."
Wilfrid looked alike surprised and pleased. "I am glad to hear you say
so, father. It would be an awful nuisance and loss to have all our crops
destroyed and our house burnt down, and to have to begin the whole thing
over again. I don't see what would have been the use of getting
everything ready for defence if we are all to run away directly there
is danger; but I think it would be a good thing to send the animals down
to Mr. Mitford's, as he is good enough to offer to take them. We might
send down the three natives to look after them, as of course they will
have to go out to graze in the daytime, and keep Jack here. I do not
know about the other men, and one doesn't seem able to trust the natives
in the slightest; but I feel sure of Jack, and he would be useful to us
in many ways in the house, besides being able to scout in the woods far
better than we could do."
"I think that you are right, Mr. Renshaw," Mr. Atherton said. "I should
propose as an addition that the Allens here and I make this our
head-quarters while the scare lasts. We could run up a light shanty with
a few hours' work just behind the house. The Allens could go over to
their work during the day and return here at night, and I should wander
about the woods with my gun as usual. I do not think we need fear any
attack in the daytime. If it comes at all it will be at night or at
early morning. The natives will know from the men who were here that you
are well armed, and will try to catch you napping. We won't be any more
trouble to you than we can help, and with the addition of our three guns
I think we could defend ourselves against any number of natives. What do
you think of my proposal, lads?"
The Allens said at once that they thought it was an excellent one, if
Mr. and Mrs. Renshaw were willing to have the trouble of them.
"It will be no trouble at all," Mrs. Renshaw said, "and will be a very
great comfort. With seven men to protect us Marion and I shall feel
perfectly safe, and it will be in all ways pleasant to have you here
with us. I do not see that you need build a hut outside at all. There
will be no difficulty in making up beds here and in the kitchen, and
then we shall be all together."
"But I do not propose that you should cook for us, Mrs. Renshaw. If we
had a hut of our own our boys could do that for us. You see, we are
coming up here for our own defence as well as yours."
"I should not think of such a thing," Mrs. Renshaw said decidedly.
"There is no more trouble in cooking for nine than there is for six;
and, as I have said, it will be a real pleasure to us to have you
stopping here."
"Very well. Then in that case, Mrs. Renshaw, we will accept your
invitation. I will bring over my belongings to-day and store them in
your loft above, and the Allens had better bring over anything they do
not want burnt by the natives. I still hope that these outrages are the
work of a few ruffians, and that the natives in general will not allow
themselves to be persuaded into hostilities against us; still, if the
worst comes to the worst, I am convinced that we can hold this house
against quite as strong a force as they are likely to bring to attack
it. There is one precaution I should advise you to take at once, and
that is to lay in a store of water. I daresay you have got some empty
molasses and pork casks, that is if you do not burn them as soon as you
empty them. If not we must set to work and make a strong wooden tank. In
case we were really besieged, it would be fatal to us if we were caught
without a supply of water."
Fortunately there were three or four empty casks. These were taken down
to the river and thoroughly washed, filled with water and rolled up to
the house. While this was being done, Wilfrid, with the Grimstones and
the natives, had gone out and driven in all the animals from the
clearings, and as soon as they were brought in Wilfrid with the natives
started to drive them to Mr. Mitford's. Mr. Atherton went over to his
hut, and before night his two natives had brought over all his most
valuable property, and the next day his hut was completely stripped. The
Allens only brought over a few things. Their furniture was rough and
heavy, and they contented themselves by carrying it out into the forest
near and hiding it in the undergrowth. Wilfrid returned to The Glade in
the evening. He said that many of the settlers had come in, and were
erecting shelters of hides, canvas, and wood near Mr. Mitford's house.
The men were all being enrolled. Officers had been appointed, and the
natives were likely to meet with a stout resistance if they ventured on
hostilities.
Mrs. Mitford had sent an earnest invitation to Mrs. Renshaw and Marion
to take up their abode with her. Mr. Mitford had approved of their
intention of holding the house. He knew its capabilities of defence and
thought that, unless taken by surprise, they would be able to hold it.
"It will be a sort of outpost for the colony," he said, "and will add to
our safety; for if any strong body of natives were approaching they
would probably attack you before coming on here. The instant we hear
that you are attacked we will come up to aid you. We shall be able to
muster in all something like fifty mounted men--a strength sufficient to
meet any number of natives likely to assemble in these parts."