TOLD BY READERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

TOLD BY READERS.

RESULT OF FORTNIGHTLY SHORT STORY COMPETITION.

From a very heavy batch of entries containing much good work, the entry of Cecil Lyall, 18, Franklin Road, Ponsonby, age 14, was chosen as winner of the 5/ prize. The stories of the following children were highly commended. Mary Smee, Madge Keir, Ernest Ramsbottom, Marguerite Lusher, Dulcy ■ Bauman, < Marjorie Morton, Doris Brown, Katherine Smith and Shirley Roberts.

NGAIRE

[(Winning entry by- Cecil Lyall, IS, Frank lin Road, Ponsonby; Age 14.)

A cold, grey dawn was breaking in the eastern sky. Outside the chief's whare in a small Maori settlement stood a sad little group of anxious natives waiting for news di their beloved leader, for Wiore, chief of the Kiateas lay dying.

Eventually an aged tohunga emerged from the wliare, and lifting a thin, brown arm> to subdue the low murmur which arose as he appeared, spoke:

"My people, there is yet one chance for pur chief. Our gods, say that .one vessel of water from Te Ranika would cure him." The old man's quavering voice ceasea", and his keen black eye swept the strained faces of the Maoris before him, then he continued, "But, the man or woman —" lie paused, "who will undertake tha perilous journey into the heart of the bush must be prepared to give his or her life for our chief's." Again the Tohunga stopped, and he etood waiting for someone to volunteer to undertake the hazardous journey.

Then, as he waited, a groan burst from the lips of the assembled Maoris, ifor each man and woman realised that he was not brave enough to risk his lifo for his chief's.

The old man's eyes blazed. He turned from the people, and, was re-entering the door of the whare .when the screen was flung violently aside, and a young girl of remarkable beauty stepped forth with a leather water bottle in her hand.

Fiercely she eyed the people, then bitterly she cried: "Since no man or woman-here loves his chief well enough to risk his miserable life for him, I his daughter, will go!"

Then a y.oung brave advanced to the girl's side. "I will go with you!" he cried, but Ngaire, the chief's daughter, turned to him and replied scornfully, "NoI I myself will go!" The young man, whose name was Rewi, looked at her for a moment, then hurried from her side into the bush.

"I Avill go with her," he muttered, and then, going to his wharo he packed some cooked food in a strong woven basket, and lay. down to rest. Meanwhile, Ngaire was receiving the tohunga's blessing, and listening to his directions. "When you reach the lake, Ngaire, fill' the "bottle, "then hasten back the way you came until you reach the iree hung Tvith white rata. At the foot of the tree you will find a spear, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and very beautifully carved. Cover it with leaves, and return to the camp. Give the water to me, and, without speaking to anybody, return to the tree, and, Ngaire, you must wait there with the spear in your hand until sunset. Be not alarmed if a huge and ugly Tiki comes and mounts guard over you, but wait patiently and show no' signs of fear. One will follow you on your journey, for the water, and he will find you guarded by the Tiki. Now Ngaire"—the- tohunga laid Ms withered brown hands on her 'strong yoiuig shoulders, and looked into her clear brown eyes. "The young brave who follows you, loves you, ,and he will challenge the Tiki to battle, although the Tiki is stronger than. he. If the Tiki wins Ngaire you must kill yourself -with the spear—if the young brave wins, you must kill him and then yourself, or yoiu- father will die!" Ngaire gazed at Mm wide-eyed. "Kill the young brave too, Rakipif'" The old man .nodded, then told Ngaire to hasten on her way, or it would be too late.

Late that afternoon Ngaire saw a broad sunlit stretch of water before her, and she knew that she had reached lak« Te Ranika. SloAvly, she bent and filled the bottle, then turned. Rewi watched her from the bushes fringing the water's edge, but he dared not show himself for had he not followed her against her wish?

Then, as Ngaire hastened back by the path she had just recently traversed, Bewi, whp was keeping the girl in view, suddenly lost sight of her. Startled, he looked round, but no sign of Ngaire did he see.

Frantically Rewi searched the surrounding "bushj-'but m vain. Meanwhile Ngairo had returned to the camp where her father lay, and delivered the precious water safely into the old tohunga's hands. The old man blessed her, and told her to keep a stout heart through the ordeal she would have to face While Ngaire was making h cv wav slowly back to flic rata-co°v e red treJ Bern, worn out with his exertions was laving his face and drinking the ice-cold waters of a little stream which ho had found -vrMle he yr&& searching.

As Ecwi rested he saw the sun, like a ball of tire, sink below the tops of the tall kauri trees. It would soon be dark, so Ilewi determined to have one last search before he returned home.

So rising, he made his way through the trees, calling Ngaire's name out aloud from time to time.

Suddenly the young warrior broke into a little clearing, and there, sitting under a giant kauri hung with a mantle of white rata, Avas Ngaire. She was gripping a little spear, wonderfully carved, and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Puzzled, Kewl advanced. Ngaire held no water battle. Where was the precious water for which she was risking her life?

Then, a slight movement in the dense bush at the other side of the clearing attracted his attention. A Tiki, huge and ugly beyond all description, strode into the clear space and advanced towards the silent girl. In au instant Rewi had leaped towards the ugly god, and struck at him fiercely Avith his spear. The Tiki turned, his features contorted with rage at the impudence of Rewi's action. Then fiercely the two fought, swaying and grappling fiercely. White-lipped and tense, Ngaire watched. Even if Rewi won, she would have to kill him. Oh! The god's justice,was cruel. A sob burst from her lips, but, forcing her taut nerves to some degree of calmness, Ngaire rose and stood gripping the little spear—waiting. At last, as dusk crept through the trees, the Tiki staggered, and fell heavily—theii lay quite still. Ah! The girl gripped the spear till her knuckles showed white, as Rewi came slowly and unsteadily towards, her. His eyes were shining, and his arras outstretched. Tears rose to Ngaire's eyes, and she stood quite still until he reached the tree beneath which she stood. Then, with a sob, Ngairo raised the spear, and was in the act of striking when a spray of rata touched the hand which held the spear, and instantly the &now white flowers on the vine became blood red. Amazed, Ngaire lowered her hand—then everything became indistinct. She gasped, and clutched at Riwi —then all was silent in the little clearing. The breeze gently stirred the rata vine with its blood red blossoms, and an owl rose from the * spot where the Tiki had recently lain. •• * • That night two white wood pigeons fluttered to the ground in front of Chief Wiorc's whare, and from the moment tliat they touched the earth Wiorc's strength began to return, and he was soon quite Avell again. But only the old tohunga, learned in the ways of his gods, knew that the pigeons were Ngaire and Rewi, happy together in their new sphere of,life.