CHARLIE'S CHRISTMAS EYE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 305, 24 December 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHARLIE'S CHRISTMAS EYE.

SECOND PFJZB

(Br Pw Hartley, Ponsonby.)

It was Christmas Eve of the year 1862 during which fche war was raging between bhe Maoris and fche English in New Zealand. It had been raining hard during the mornino , , bub towards the middle of the afternoon the rain ceased, and the sun bewail to shine amid bia.ck and threatening uloude. Mr Ford lived at Hamilton, on the Waikato River. Hβ had bub one child, Charlie, who was a fine, tall lad of /ifteen. Mr Ford bad been one of the early seitlers of New Zealand, and beinp a carpenter by trade he obtained v great deal of work in putting up houses and sheds for his neighbours. Ac (he bimo our story opeiis, Charlie was sitting by the window watching the clouds as they floa-ed pas-b in the sky. 'Father,' he said, 'I ihink, after all, you will bo at home to spend Christmas Eve with mother and me.' ' Yes! I believe I shall, Charlie,'his father replied. During bhe time of the war, Mr Ford often did duty as a sentinel, and all that day he had been expectine a letter from Colonel Hurst, demanding his services a3 sentinel for that nighc ; but, as the letter had nob come, he was congratulating , himself on beincr abe to ppend Christmas Eve with his family. JJpt ISlr For.fl rejoiced too soon, for just as he answered Charlie, aloud rap was heard at the door, and a soldier presented a letter from Colonel Hurst, who

j required Mr Ford to be on duty in two hours. •So you will nob be able to spend Christmas Eve with us, fatter,' said Charlie. • No, but never mind, I will be at home all day to-morrow.' Mr Ford got ready at once, for he was always ao his post in plenty of time. Mr Ford had been away a few hours when Charlie, as ho was sitting by the window talking to hie mother, observed a man running towards the house in great haste. Charlie rushed out to meet him. 'Is your father ab home ?' panted the man. 'No,'replied Charlie,''he went out on duty a couple of hours ago, 5 'Out on duty!' exclaimed the man. ' Well, he' 3 not there now, anyhow ; Colonel Hursfc has just been round to your father's post, and he says he can't find him anywhere. Besides, he wanted to see him quickly ; he has an important letter to sand to Captain Murray at Fort Jackson. He says he can trust him better than any other person.' •I coald take the letter,' exclaimed Charlie. ' You, , said the man;' why, Colonel Huret wouldn't give it to you. , 1 We'll see if he won't. I'll ride down on Spot, and teH him I'll take the letter for him. , Charlie rushed inside and told his mother he was going a message for Colonel Hurst. He then ran to the stable and saddled his horse Spot, and rode down to ohe Colonel. 'If you please, sir, I could take your letter to Captain Murray,' said Charlie, presenting himself to the Colonel. At first Colonel Hurst would not hear of his going, but afc last Charlie persuaded him to let him go. ' Well,' said the Colonel, ' the letter is a very important one. It is this:' " I have just heard that a large army of Maoris is going to attack Fort; Crane tomorrow. Captain Lindsay is stationed therewith a small garrison, but it is not nearly strong enough to contend with 80 large a band as will probably attack them to-morrow. There is also a large stock of firearms and ammunition in the fort which is too valuable to allow the Maoris to get hold of; and as I cannot leave this place myself, I have written this letter to Captain Murray, telling him to abandon Fort Jackson, which is only a small fort of not much value, and go to the assistance of Captain Lindsay. I have also sent another messenger to Captain Lindsay, warning him of the attack and telling him to prepare for it.' ' Now, my boy, you had better start ; good-bye.' ' Good-bye, sir," replied Charlie as he rode off. Fort Jackson was five miles due east of Hamilton, while Fort Crane was nine miles due south. After Charlie had started he began to think about his father. ' I wonder,' he said to himself, ' where father can be. lam sure ho would not desert his post, yeb it seems strange that Colonel Hurst could not find him. , Charlie rode on, mile after mile, and he reckoned he would soon be an Fort Jackson. After riding for about an hour aifd a half he emerged from the bush, and he could see Fort Jackson in the distance. 'I will soon be there,' he remarked to himself. But just then he saw, or fancied he..saw, some one in the bushes, a little way to the left of him. 'My word, I believe that's a Maori!' ha ejaculated, but as no Maori appeared, he concluded that he was mistaken. At last he reached his destination, and was shown into Captain 1 Murray's tent. Charlie delivered liis letter, and after staying with the Captain for a short time, he started for home. Charlie was half way through the bush, when, he saw smoke rising from some distant fires. He wondered what it could mean, and he determined to find out. So dismounting, he, tied Spot to a tree, and crept up quietly towards the fires. What was his astonishment to see a group of a dozen Maoris sitting on the ground, while another was talking excitedly in low tone 3 to them. They all had their weapons in their hands, whilst in the centre of the group was a white man bound hand and foot. .. ' My word,' muttered Charlie to himself, 'I do believe that's father.' In a few minutes the captive turned his face around, and Charlie's suspicions were confirmed ; it was his father beyond doubt. Charlie was kneeling behind some big bushes with thick foliage, where he was entirely screened from the piercing eyes of. j. the natives. He was a clever boy. but it puzzled him to know what to do in the dilemma in which he was now placed. Should he go and inform Colonel Hurst of his father's capture?' but -perhaps by that time the Maoris would have gone away from the place which they now occupied. While Charlie was thus thinking he observed the Maori chief approach his father. ' White man,' said the chief, in broken English, ' to-morroiv we attack Fort Crane, we fail you die ; we win, you live.' Charlie's heart almost stopped beating as he heard these words. There was no time to be lost; he quickly and quietly withdrew to where his horse was tied, and mounting , , he started off as rapidly as possible to inform Colonel Hurst what had hapjpened. He had ridden but a short distance when ha noticed something lying in the pathway. Dismounting, he found ib was a dead body, and it was also that- of a Maori in full war dress. A sudden idea struck Charlie ; he quickly donned the Maori's dress, and taking his gun with him rode back towards his father. Charlie's ff.ee and hands were sunburnt almost as dark as a Maori's, and with the war dress on, he would be sure to be taken for a Maori, in the darkening twilight. Tying up his liorao at a short distance from the Maoris,he suddenly rushed in among them shouting in feigned terror, ' Pakeha ! pakeha!' The' Maoris were so terrified to think. the Europeans were upon them that they rushed pell-mell after each other into the j bush, forgetting their captive in their I frenzied terror. Charlie, as if to enforce his statement, fired off his gun at theretreating Maoris, who thought he was with them. With a yell the Maoris disappeared in the bush, leaving Charlie alone w'ich his father. 'Quick, father, come with me,' said Charlie, cutting the flax with which his arms and legs were bound. Charlie and his father hurried to where the horse was tied, and both mounting it they were soon dashing ofFtowards Hamilton,fearful lest the Maoris should discover the trick and pursue them. But they neither saw nor heard any Maoris, and in le3s than an hour were safe at Hamilton. Charlie told his father how he came to find and rescue him. Mr Ford went at once to Colonel Hurst, and explained that he had been at his post about five minutee, when he fancied he saw some one in the distance, and as he was trying to discern what it was, he was suddenly seized from behind and gagged before he could give the alarm. It was Maoris who had captured him, and they carried him to where Charlie found him. He also told the Colonel how Charlie had rescued him, and the Colonel gave Charlie great praise for his bravery. Mr Ford spent Christmas Eve with his family after all. The Maoris attacked Fort Crane the next day and were beaten, but Mr Ford did not die through it. He gave Charlie a splendid gold watch as a Christmas box, and also for his bravery in rescuing him from the Maoris.