ADVENTURING IN THE HAU HAU COUNTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 26, 30 July 1938, Page 20

ADVENTURING IN THE HAU HAU COUNTRY

THE hills had drawn.,purple hoods down over their crags and peaks and the scarlet and1 gdld'rifte-of sunset-cloud had long since faded from the sky when the four riders dipped into the valley. Since the dawn of that morning Glen and Janet Morley, Terry and Mary Collins, had travelled-far. Following the river that wound in silver loops over flat country, reflecting alternately the majesty of snowy-breasted mountains and the verdant green of dense bush, they had eventually left the plain to guide their horses into the'heart of the ranges. Behind them lay the dingy memory Of monotonous city life —ahead loomed two adventurous weeks of camping, exploration,* and freedom. - • ■ , The chili; blue dusk, was gradually descending as the'four wanders pushed on, each- glancing 'about' for a favourable, camping site. They passed a Maori settlement, the rough T huts huddled together already stabbed the shadowy dusk with small orange lights. "What a pity," 'mused Mary, "that the Maoris no longer build their whares in- traditional style. Have you ever s"een anything uglier than a corrugated iron roof?"

"There's a ruined farmhouse amongst those trees," Glen answered

shortly, and the four peered into the gloom. "That makes the fifth one we've passed,", observed Janet,, "They must be relics of the pioneer days." "We could take shelter there for the night," suggested Terry, but Mary Interrupted hastily. "Oh; no! I hate buildings that are falling to pieces/ They give me the creeps. Let's camp out where we can see the stars." "Sentimentalist," scoffed her brother. But they went on till, presently, the four weary horses had topped the rise. Now the first faint stars were pricking the night sky. An icy wind had sprung up and suddenly, to the travellers, food and rest seemed to be the most desirable things on earth. "Look!" Glen pointed with his finger to the opposite hill. Etched against the sky was the grim outline of a deserted building. Even at that distance its cold and cheerless aspect struck the observer formidably, but Glen spoke firmly. "Ghosts or no, we are staying there tonight." Cheered by the prospect of a meal and sleep the four spurred on their horses, approaching the ruin with renewed 'vigour. "It's an old fort!" exclaimed Terry enthusiastically. "See the loopholes-, in the palisade?" . Only a bit of the walls remained standing but it was plainly evident that the falling timbers had protected a - garrison. The horses almost stumbled into a trench overgrown with thick grasses and it was when this had been crossed that Janet suddenly Jet out a startled squeal.

(Written for the Ring by "Lonesome," 17, City.)

(PART I.)

"I saw a light," she gasped. "Oh, stuff and nonsense," Glen said in exasperation. "Surely you're riot getting the jitters, too?" ■ > j isut the next instant his own eyes widened, as he, with the other three, saw outlined in the doorway of the main building the figure-of an old woman, She. stood regarding them with calm, grave eyes. Her brown, withered skin was softly illumined in the glow of the lamp which shed a mellow radiance from within, ~_,_* They stared a moment in a silence that was eerie with unspoken thoughts. It was very dark now. The remains of the buildings loomed up in'an uncanny stillness. ; , ' ' • ' - "Let's get out; of here. She's not real!" whispered Janet nervously, and then they all froze in their boots as the figure moved and a slow voice,said, "Good evening, strangers. Were you meaning to rest here?" As spokesman, Glen stepped forward, his voice a little shaky as he answered, "Yes, we did. We hadn't any idea the place was occupied. You gave us a scare." ■ "So I perceived," was the dry answer. The old woman moved forward, her silver hair glinting in the moonlight. The four eyed her curiously as she showed them where to stable their mounts and then led them to her own quarters. : . "They were dimly lit, with one lamp flickering on the walls which were roughly formed of hewn logs. The floor was covered with Maori mats and ancient war trophies adorned the walls. On a rock between the slit-like-window and doorway rested an old rifle.

"You must be very lonely here," Mary ventured to say when they Jiad supped and the two girls had laid out their sleeping kits in a y corner by the fire. ■~..•■■■•■■•■•■■..■■. • '• . '

There was no answer. The old woman sat staring into the fire, her brows drawn. She was smoking a pipe and her wrinkled face was bathed in the rosy-glow of the flames.; Her voice startled them.

"I suppose you wonder why I'm here at all, the only white woman in a brown man's country." The low tones trailed off as the old woman reflected. Then:—"Many years ago this garrison was the centre of a well-known community. Farms sprang up for most of the immigrants made their living on the land. It might have been a prosperous place, who knows?" She sucked her pipe once more and fell to musing. The boys had drawn up into the circle of firelight and their faces were intent "as if they sensed the tale about to unfold.

"That accounts for all the ruined homesteads scattered about the district," Janet said eagerly.

"Aye. Maybe you passed the old homestead in the valley. Most of it was burnt down.., Not even the Maoris would live in that now. They say that the old ghosts haunt it—the spirits^ of people who fought the Hau Haus. M The four gazed at the old face; the dark eyes were dreaming.

"You'd be all the better for the knowing. Though never realise the fight your grandfathers made to win this country fpr A you. T'was when the mad flame of war had been kindled in. the.-hearts "of the Maoris. The Hau Haus swept down on all peaceful white settlements, butchering man, woman, and chiML-■ It was not safe to venture into the bush alone. But men were brave and dauntless in those days, laying down their lives that they might blaze the trails for you who follow after.

"Word came across the plains that the Taua (war party) was coming. Only the O'Laerys up on the hill were unconcerned. 'Only a rumour,' they said, with a careless shrug of the shoulders. But the others were restless and uneasy. They stocked the fort with all spare food, strengthened the . palisades, and had ammunition placed ready.

"In the morning of the sixteenth a bush roamer came post-haste to the garrison. He brought news of the sacking and burning of a settlement further north. The Taua was moving on. They left behind them a trail of bloodshed and destruction^ All pakeha and even loyal Maoris were slaughtered.

"The wind seemed to bring a breath of disaster. I remember, it hung like a cloud over every homestead. The farms were deserted as the men hurried their families to the fort. But O'Laery still scoffed,. He was brave in his reckless way. His daughter, Tess, persuaded her mother to take refuge in the garrison, and he called her a coward. But she stood up to hini. She was only a slip of a girl, twelve years old, but she had,his dominant spirit and fearlessness. 'If you won't protect mother, I will,' she flashed. There was a glorious sunset that day. We noticed it as we sat huddled in groups behind the stockade. It was the last sunset for many of us. The sky was tho colour-of blood. The guards patrolled the stockade, gazin/» unceasingly with vigilant eyes out over the hills." . _ * (To be Continued.) I