The Valley of the Moas

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 230, 28 September 1935, Page 8 (Supplement)

The Valley of the Moas

By Ernest L. Eyre.

CHAPTER 11. For some unaccountable reason the nioa, had acquired sudden courage, and was returning, accompanied by a mate. Scarcely twenty yards separated us from the birds, which darted into the open from the cover of the bush, and appeared to tower above ,us, their savage eyes sparkling like fire.

They rushed with lightning speed -at Charlie, who was nearest to them, aiul the foremost bird, with ai- tremendous clout of his powerful right leg, hurled the hapless hoy into the water, where he floated insensible for several seconds, and then drifted through the cavernous mouth of the dark river tunnel.

We bolted for our horses, the terrified three of us —luckily they were grazing peacefully close at hand— and, having hastily mounted them, galloped for dear life into the thickest bush we could find, tearing outclothes and limbs sadly in the process. Here we remained quietly for a long time, watching the moas, which were searching in all directions for us, but evidently were afraid to venture past our fire, which had, fortunately, blazed up again. The sun was setting ere the terrible birds vanished, and then, forlornly but cautiously, and with trembling hearts, we made our melancholy way out of the gap and into more open country. Poor Charlie's horse we had perforce to leave behind.

That long ride home for succour for our luckless chum I shall never forget. Mary was as white as a sheet, and it was a miserable trio indeed that rode into our homestead yard with the sad news. We could hear tile church bells ringing in distant settlements, as we met dad at

the gate. He knew instantly by our dishevelled and fatigued appearance that something serious had occurred, but he was not prepared for such terrible news. Mary had to remain at home to keep mother company, but Bob and I, tired as we were, begged to be allowed to join the search party which set out, two hours later, for the Valley of the Moas. All our male neighbours for a mile around had been hurriedly mustered by bush telegraphs, and, mounted on swift horses, Ave made an imposing

cavalcade. We hoys obtained fresh nags from our paddock. In anticipation of encountering the moas, three of the party had brought guns with them, and a couple carried revolvers. A supply of sandwiches, tea, sugar and milk completed our outfit. At about .one o'clock in the niorninjr we struggled through the darkness to Moa Valley, as we had

named the hollow. Bob and I were fairly reeling in our saddles with fatigue when we arrived at the site of jour dead campfire, and we were thankful to dismount.

However, in spite of tlie prevailing blackness, Charlie's father, who was distracted, lit a lantern, and endeavoured to work has way into the tunnel's mouth, but without success. It was a hazardous undertaking, better left till dawn, which we were compelled to await in anxiety and helplessness, and general misery. The chilly air of that upland region made the party of twelve men and boys shiver—e'ven though it was summer —so we grouped around a large fire which we had kindled, and ate a scanty meal, washed down by wclcome and liberal draughts of hot tea. Glad we were to see the red rose of dawn creep over the eastern ridges. Ere the first notes of the tui's bell-

like song died away in a totara tree, we were all gazing into the gloomy rock-passage where the creek ran. A hurried examination of the opening convinced lis that, to reach the interior of the mountain, a very great risk must be taken. Only a stronglunged swimmer could possibly hope to accomplish the task, and the question was this: How could he make a safe exit?

The men had all they could do to restrain Charlie Malory's dad from stripping off, and, poor swimmer as he was, from diving headlong into the yawning hole, where there were not more than fifteen inches to spare between the, surface of the water and the cave roof.

I remember tlmt I found some curious rock carvings—including canoes decorated on the waterline with birds' beaks, and with raised platforms at tlie bow—hidden behind some teatree and flax bushes which grew on the cliff surrounding the entrance, but I attached 110 importance to them at tlie time. Bob, who was always of an inquisitive turn of mind, had meanwhile clambered unseen by us up the steep crag; and presently we were astonished to hear him calling excitedly from the scrub-covered summit of the spur, 50ft above the cave. "Come and look down!" he shouted. "There's a funnel leading into an underground room; I can see the water shining underneath." In a minute or two we joined him, and"" were looking into the half-light of what appeared to be an enormous chamber, the inner roof of which was about 10ft below us. The shaft, which was circular, and lift in diameter, had evidently been constructed by man, as concrete still adhered, in places, to the sides. Tin mouth of it was partially choked by coarse vegetation, and after we had cleared it away, a looped rope was dropped to the shore of the silent but rapidly-moving waters of the creek. ■> Charlie's father volunteered to bo the first man to descend, and ho slid down the perilous, narrow aperture with a lighted lantern attached to his belt. Our hearts throbbed violently iis we watched the devoted man disappear from sight; we doubted we should ever see him again, as he might be drowned in the creek. Presently, to our unbounded delight, we heard him call, in a smothered voice, that he was safe on the shelving shore of the stream; so one by one, with the exception of three elderly but powerful men who were left behind to pull us up again, we all descended and joined him.

What will befall them in the underground river bed? Watch out for next week's instalment.