THE TREASURE OF THE CAVES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 84, 9 April 1932, Page 16

THE TREASURE OF THE CAVES

(Chapter 11. of a New Zealand Serial by N. F. Hoggard.) IT was dusk. In the confined space m the tiny cabin of the yawl, four heads were bent over the dead white man's' diary. Above the three boys and their oddly assorted companion- flickered an oil lamp, which was barely strong enough to enable them to decipher the faint writing before them. After some discussion the boys had finally decided to help the pakehaMaori m his search for the treasure. Adventures like' this didn't crop up every day, and even if there was no truth at. all in the story they had heard, no possible danger could result. There was another fortnight yet before the cruise ended, and spending that time in searching: for treasure was infinitely better than quietly cruising. "Then it's settled," said Eegiuald. "At daylight to-morrow we'll start." It seemed to Morry that the pakeha-Maori smiled ever so faintly. A sudden distrust crept into his heart. Glancing at the others to see if they had noticed anything, and seeing that apparently they had not, he tried to convince himself that it was his imagination playing "him tricks. After all what reason on earth would the man have in deceiving them? Everything eventually was settled for an early start in the morning and the pakeha-Maori paddled shorewards in his little canoe, which he beached and was soon lost to sight in the bush. After he had gone the boys chatted among themselves, and Morry said: I suppose we are taking no risks trusting a stranger like this, you chaps* Alter all," he concluded, "The three of us can take care of ourselves as far as a fight is concerned."

Harold laughed. "Good heavens, don't you chaps get scared now! A treasure-hunt beats a quiet fishing cruise any day." "You actually believe there is a treasure?" said .Reginald. "I'm rather doubtful, you know. It's some years' since it was hidden there, and lots of things might have happened. The Maoris may have discovered it to say nothing of earthquakes having destroyed the burial caves." "Cheerful blighter, 1 don't think," was Harold's comment, "icvwav I m off to bed now. Time we all jolly, well turned in." Morry and Reginald soon followed his example, ,and treasure-hunts and pakeha-Maoris were blotted out by soothing slumber, as the yawl rocked to a gentle swell.

Some slight sound awoke Reginald. Ho could not at first place it Perhaps he had been mistaken. It was still dark, and the sound may have been only the rather weird cry of some night bird.- Then he realised what it was Through the open porthole, faint but unmistakably human voices drifted on the night breeze from some where on the shore. ' '

In a flash his senses were alert. Had the pakeha-Maon been ivino-y \\ere there others ashore with him* He had decided to wake the others when the voices faded, and though lie listened intently for a repetition he heard nothing but the soft lapping of water. An utter stillness brooded ami in his .^.-in-,1 ini.rcrin.ifHH, it «., m ..|, n .-.v bn.le.l pvil. H,» dropped off into

a 11-ui.lji^ sk-p iij.iwio-. i,, ;, ~u.n.. m- sil u ~i,l lsi: u-. In:,!!- clu,sed by a tohunga who had features ■.•x;ictly the same as the pakeha-Maori, chased into a gigantic cavern lit by flaming brands which threw into relief obicets on ledges .... casket?, hundreds of them in the b'urhl caves.

He awoke next morning with a splitting headache. "Hullo," said Harold, "you look pretty bad. You're quite pale. Hope you're fit for the treasure-hunt." * .

Oil, I m all right. Had a bad dream last night, and have a bit of a headache. Be as fit as a fiddle after breakfast," Reginald remarked -jocularly At first ho had intended mentioning the voices and the dream to the others. Somehow his enthusiasm for the whole venture had dwindled and gladly he would have prevented the others from going, had he thought'talking of any use. He had decided, however, that he would only be laughed at for his fears—in broad daylight they did seem rather groundless—and perhaps, also, he had imagined the voices. So he kept silent They had hardly cleared the breakfast things away before the pakeliaMaori put in an appearance. Harold and Mony chatted with him but Reginald said very little. He brightened up a little, however, when the stranger's canoe was tied securely to the cabin roof, and the sails were billow ing to a fresh breeze as their little craft gathered way The pakeha-Maori grew strangely silent now, and the boys gazed curiously at his brooding features, features which, to Reginald at all events, had assumed a cruel, cunning look. Apparently the other boys noticed it too now, for they cast uneasy glances at Reginald at the tiller. "Not far to go now," said the stranger wherfthl^fwas^ *"*'*** "' ">'' * thOU«Ut >'°U **" The man mumbled something, evidently in Maori, wider his breath, and such a repellant look lit up his features that the boys did not press the question ihen suddenly the man was smiling, as friendly-looking as when they had ill'S t 1116 C 111 111. ■ * (To bo Continued.)