POHUTU THE INDEPENDENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 287, 3 December 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

POHUTU THE INDEPENDENT

<£otb» Finlayson, Tbe Cottage, 6, Clonbcrn Koad, Remuera, 5.E.2.; aged 14.)

Hone sat blinking on the front step of the whare, and gazing out past the straight-limbed boys fishing in the shallows for koras, to the placid stretches of the blue lake. Further down the track sat an old man, puffing at a lazy pipe, his. chin blue with tattoo' markings. Ever and anon Ins eyes strayed towards the group of women cooking the midday meal in the sack-covered boxes over some steam hole, and to the doge that hovered near. Suddenly he looked up and called out to Hone in Maori. The boy at once got up and came down to him. "Well," said the old man again, "where's your Pohutu this morning?" "Ho isn't mine yet," answered the lad somewhat sullenly. The old man chuckled gleefully. "He'll take a lot of coaching before you get him to follow you about." He fell to musing once more. Hone gave a disgusted grunt and lumbered off down the track. However, as soon as the old man moved into the hut, he inquired of some of the children playing around the lake if they had seen the pup. They had not. Pohutu was a sandy-coloured dog, one of the many which inhabited the native village. They were no one's property; they picked up their food anywhere and anyhow, but constituted a firm barrier against chance intruders. Most of them had friends among the Maori boys, who gave them shelter and warmth, but Pohutu had local fame for his independence, and never, even during the coldest night, had he crept to somebody for comfort.

Thus it was that Hone wished to have Trim at his beck and call, but hitherto Ids advances had been fruitless; in fact, the only return he got were the jeers of Us comrades. He was still stung by the old man's •words, and resolved to find the puppy <Hiat very day. Suddenly he wa-s roused by a commotion some distance away. Quickly.he aped along the path to where a crowd of •nildren were watching two dogs, who "wore spinning round together like dancing dervishes. Hone seized a stick and forced tliem apart. One of them limped away and the other, a sandy-coloured pup, gave him a roguish look, then bounded into the bush. Hone, when he recognised that puckish glance, jumped over sonic fallen logs and rushed after him. Ho only just managed to keep him in .eight, but after a quarter of an hour's fhase, panting, he sat down. A moment, and he sprang to his feet, hut Pohutu was gone. S-ilently he listened for some sound, but all he heard was the tui calling from some age-old tree, and the drip, drip of some spring falling from a rock. Was that all? For a minute Hone waited tensely for the sound to be repeated. A faint yelp reached him. He raced in the direction of tlic noise, then came to an abrupt stop, as lie gaped at a yawning hole made through the crec.pereovcrcd ground. As he peered down, lie realised that he was standing on tlic edge of a large, over-grown pit. An indistinct whine reached his ears, Hone shivered. How far down was it?

lie was a nimble climber. If be weighed down the branch above bim and ticii a fiiix rope on to it, be could .carry the dog in one arm and ,climb with the other. From somewhere about his person lie produced IJu> rope'and, tying it (securely, gently lo\v,ered himself. I'oliutu was mi light weight, and more thini once he thought that they would fall. 1111 i at last he grasped the tree and hauled himself up. I!o set the dog down and patted him, then started for home. To his .surprise the ilojr. winch was unhurt, followed him all th" way. close at his side. Xear the wliare the "hi man was sitting in his usual position. Hone sat down beside him and greatly daring, whi>tled for I'oliutu. To his everlasting pride the (leg ran towards, him and then sat down at J/is feet, looking up into his eves. "The "Id man stared open-mouthed, whilo the boy got up and casually walked down to the lake, the dog at his heels. Pohutu the Independent had found a master and the village marvelled.