AS MAN-EATERS GO

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 303, 4 October 1938, Page 7

AS MAN-EATERS GO

By J. HALKET MILLAR. :: Author of “The Bayly Murder Case.’’

A Story of Adventure Among the Maoris.

All Rights Reserved.

CHAPTER 29. What immediately followed I do not know. Once I had a vague feeling of being lifted in strong arms and being borne past clinging vines, but darkness descended upon me again and I remembered nothing more till I opened my eyes and found myself lying on a bed of scented mosses, while above me was the rocky roof of a cave.

As I regained my full senses I stared about and thought that indeed I must be in some other world, for my wondering eyes looked into the tearbrimmed eyes of Ngaere. Her soft young arm was about my neck. I lay. still lest T should break the spell, but she smiled and pressed a small gourd of water to my lips. “Ngaere, my love,” T whispered. “Is it you?” “Yes, ’tis I,” she said gently, and bowed her head while a tear fell from her lids and splashed upon my hand. I tried to rise, but a great sleep seemed to come upon me, and I dropped in a heap and again lay insensible. * * * * When once more I became aware of my surroundings, Ngaere was standing near the mouth of the cave, and with her, Raumati. At that moment tho sight of no other human beings could have given me so great a joy, and as I struggled to raise myself on one elbow they turned and came hurriedly toward me. 4 “How did we come to this place?” I asked, when the' first rapture of our meeting had passed. “Strange things have happened White Heron,” replied Raumati, and he turned to smile at the beaming Ngaere as she knelt by the side of my rough couch. “At first 1 thought we had come to another world,” said I. “Tell me about all that has happened.” “To the Taipo alone we owe our salvation,” replied Raumati, “for he it was who brought us to this place of refuge.” “Surely he must be a very material spirit, Raumati!” “He is! And stronger than even you or me. In his long sinewy arms he lifted you as one might lift a child, and . . . .” he paused, “he speaks the language of the pakeha!” “I am impatient to hear; pray go on,” I begged, for he was tantalisingly slow I thought in coming to the point. “When the Taipo rushed down the side of the hill toward us, I was paralysed with fear of him, and my weapons dropped from my hands. I could not even raise a cry to warn my white brother, and while you, too, gazed at the Taipo, the white men struck us and stretched us senseless on the ground. When I came back to a sense of things real, I would have risen and fled had my legs obeyed my thoughts, for there, bending over your fallen body, stood the dreaded Taipo. You have seen him; I need not tell of what I saw. Every moment I expected to see fire flash from his eyes, and already I was a dead man. He turned you over upon your back; when he turned to me, I shrank away. Then he spoke, and even in my terror I knew he spoke the White Heron’s tongue. I began to doubt as to whether he was a spirit, as no fire darted from his eyes as the people had said.” He paused, and at his abashed countenance I could not refrain from laughter which quickly subsided when the throbbing of my temples reminded me that J was no longer as I was when I had set out from the' pa. “Many were tho questions he asked when he learned that I, too, could speak some of his own words, and he it was who sent me off to find Ngaere while he carried you hei’e to the cave.” “Were you with the tana?” I asked, turning to Ngaere. “No,” she answered. “Why do you ask?”

"I cannot understand your presence here. You must have been close at hand else you could not have reached here since yesterday.” It was now their turn to laugh, and they exchanged glances that puzzled me.

" Since yesterday!” exclaimed Ngaere. "So many days have passed since you were brought here,” and she held up both hands, displaying eight fingers. I could only gasp when I understood her meaning and began to realise that I must have been a sick man indeed. Till then I had not noticed how weary I was, though my mental powers were almost normal. Our mutual astonishment having passed, I listened while Raumati told me how he had hurried south to the pa at Oromahoe; how he had found Ngaere in the cultivations; how she had dropped everything and sent a message to Hiwa that she was well and in no danger, how the tivo had set off for the cave, where they found the Taipo nursing me as a man nurses his friend, and how the strange being had encouraged them to be of good cheer, cautioned them not to communicate with the natives, and had then left the cave. They had not seen him since.

This gave mo. food for much thought; the only solution that presented itself was that the Taipo was an Englishman, or at anyrate, an American. How and when he had come to this part of the world was a mystery. The best we could do in the meantime was to act on his advice till his return. That he would return, I had no doubt. Though I longed to be up and about, it was yet a full week before I was able to leave the cave. Our temporary habitat was high up in the range of mountains to the west of the fortress, and was within easy reach of that place, for Raumati made several secret excursions against the store houses there. My strength returning every succeeding day, we began to make short journeys among the hills and valleys. Those were days of restful quiet as v r e strolled at leisure in won-

drous scenes of sylvan beauty, communing with our own hearts, and I, at least, with the Great Father of all things and lost in the wonder of His exquisite works. In this rapturous adoration of the great invisible God, I fain would have had the fellowship of Ngaere—the years that were to come, however, were to bring this, with countless other blessings. Another week ipassed, bringing no sign of the "Taipo.” Neither did we see any natives, and we were emboldened to extend our walks. So it came to pass on a certain day we arrived at a spot something over half a mile from the cave, when Raumati, who was in the lead as usual, suddenly started back and held up his hand for silence. Ngaere and I had been gaily chatting, her unrestrained laughter penetrating far into the deep stillness of the forest.

A hasty glance he east about him and then went down on his knees, peering intently at the ground. I was at his side in an instant, and there, plain for the most unpractised eye to see, was the deeji impression of a shod foot. On first thoughts I took it to bo that of the Taipo, but when Raumati pointed out several other similar marks, afid not all made by the same pair of shoes, I began to have misgivings. "The white men!” I said, and anxiety spoke in my tones. "None other,” lie replied without looking up from the ground. There, plainly enough, were four distinct sets of marks, and our fears were confirmed. Straightening his back, Raumati walked ahead a few paces to a turn in the narrow track we were on, then returning to beckon us to join him. "These marks have been made not long since,” he said in a low voice as we reached hi 9 side. "AVould it not be better to return?” "It may be advisable to follow itliem. We may learn what the white men are about,’’ I suggested after a moment of reflection. "There are others with them,” lie went on, and showed me where several broad bare feet. had trampled across the tracks of the pakehas. This meant that the Men of Oromahoe were in the vicinity, and that their presence there boded us no good I was convinced. Half a mile further on we came to a place where a large company of natives had waited, the grass being trampled down over a fairly wide area. "They were here a short time ago,” whispered Raumati. When I asked him how he knew, he bade me lean down and watch the grass. Then T saw. Every now and then a blade would move and stand upright. It was simple enough when pointed out. I would have followed the tracks, but Ngaere laid a hand on my arm. "It is time wc returned to the safety of the cave, White Heron,” she said. "Should wo come upon this taua there would bo danger—and perhaps death.” "Rut surely you are not afraid to meet them ? Are they not men of your own tribe?” "That is true. I am not afraid for myself. It is for you I fear.” The appeal of her gaze was more eloquent than many words. So, to the relief of both her and Raumati, I turned back the way we had come. Smartly we retraced our steps and when the sun was at its zenith, we once more came in sight of the cave. We lost no time in clambering in. There a surprise awaited us. Before the cave was a narrow shelf of earth; as we reached it wo saw that the surface had been smoothed over, and scratched roughly in the soil were the words: "Keep to the clave.”

There could bo one person only who could have written that message, but though we searched the surrounding hill sides, we could find no trace of our benefactor. Going inside the cave, we were astonished to find two muskets standing against the wall, while on the floor lay powder and shot. Both pieces were in excellent order, welloiled and the barrels shone in the light. How the Taipo had contrived to keep these weapons so spotlessly clean puzzled me. While we sat discussing the happenings of the day, I casually turned my head to the mouth of the cave which looked cut accross an open space lying between us and the forest-clad valley. There I beheld a sight that brought me to my feet with a cry. Calmly standing in the bright sunlight, leaning on his taiaha, was none other than Mango, while behind him stood two of his men, all directing their gaze straight toward us! (To be Continued).