Capt Sheen, Adventurer

Evening Star, Issue 12279, 20 August 1904, Page 2

Capt Sheen, Adventurer

ij\. HISXOKICAIi KUMAiNUEi uo ZEALAND. Bt Cearles Owen. . CHATTER XVIII. Taiuaiharanui boro himsvlf pioudly. Stretched to his full height, ho stared into tho malicious eyes of le Rauparaha,, unmoved by their triumphant {.'.cam. llic latter was suppoited nn either Ride by Rangihaeata and To Pehi'y son. Nga Roimata clung to her mother, who faced her husband's foes, courageous as himself. I bit vainly on the rope in my mouth, and made a desperate effort to get. free, of tho coils' that bound rue. Not a sound broke ] the rilence. After tho first astonished moment, Tamaiharanui, with lightning glance, *aw tiiat escape was hopeless, and awaited tii-a attack of bis enemies with calm and silent dignity. Te Rauparaha was the first to speak. "Te koura unulinnga a Tama!*' he exulted, "Area* rtia —n-akan rua."+ "Tho dog in caught!" said Kanjiihaeata. At the same moment Te Hiko. son of Te Pehi, stepped forward and tore Tatnaihaxanui's lips apart with such force that tho blood dropped from his mouth and huug in beads down the kiwi mat which was fastened over his left shou'der. "Teeth that devoured the flesh of my father!" he tanuted. "Cursed mouth of a shark! Your body shall be ripped open by the tooth of a shark, and your children shall be the slaves of my people i" Te Hiko's eyes burned with brutality and lust i»3 be fixed them on the weepimi iNtga Roimata. 1 strained at. my bonds. an I writhed till every muscle gave, out. " Has the pakeha, taura? " Te Rauparaha ofked Stewart. ' The brute left the cabin, returning immediately with a set of iron*. Instruct', d lvtho two white, scoundrels, the Maoris plaa'd thefs on the unresisting Tamaiharairn. They then threw him on the imU.ii tk-ir. und went on deck, leaving the fear ot his wife, Te Who, Nga Roimata. and myself, imprisoned. 1 signed to To \\ he. and sire understood. With lager finger.; siie undid the ropes that bound ami gagged me. To examine the iron-: on Tamaiharnniia, was th« work of a moment ; bin. j■->■■ i •>'■■'■ I expected, we were powerless U> aid him without tools. "I tried to wain yon; that"* why they Tuound me," I said. "The. helly »f the waka is filled with votir enemies from Kapiti." Tamaiharanui ut'eTed a deep groan as he looked on the tc:<rful faces of, his wife ami tliild, and Foresaw their fate. "Leave the bonds," he said, stoically, .vurveying liintsciF. hr.und hand and foot. "Leave the badges of the slave. To. Ran. pa.raha has conquered." I turned to the cabin po; tholes. Opev; to seaward, they wire so surdi there* was n< ho|ie of exit that way. As the chief already ltidised, even it wo got the irons off, is cape was iniposiibL. At this r.*< meiU ; Mt.ori voice, between us and the shove. l'<J!cd tho brie, showina: ibe renews wen near. It penetrated to the cabm, fo!l,>v.c by Sheen's? answer. "He kokonga whare. kit?a,"s murmuT'-d r Tamaiharanui; "but not. ih.' 3ica.it of the pakehau That, is truly a dark-) place."' HS-epded in a drop. gutrarai growl. "AnajVAnc !" ' wailed Te Who. "Alew! onr'f'-ople aro betrayed; th n deck.? of the waka. w;h be- led : Te Raupaialua ha.i tif.lv conquered ' ■'•'. She sheltered her face with her Lands, in a gesture of despair, whi'e tho graceful iNga Hoimnla nestled funnily to her side. In my endeavor to < undulation Ibroky ike agony of silence that (m-ned. " Your daughter? " I <»=l;ed. "Takti hei piripiri," he an-v-.red, : n heartrending. tortes., "t.-.'.ku !■ i lao'duiokh tflku hei tawhiri, taku kaiitar;:!nea."t "My God!" I cried, in angui.-.ai. "Can 1 tint save her?" j As he grasped the mcai'.i::;- < r : r iy voids, i his fine eyes kindled, rh--?i ."'^u.rifd into supreme tenderness?. I "There is one refuge for tie- fatheries"." j 1? Slid; "there is pca<e with the spirit--) j of our ancestors. Nga Roiinata, go te/ thv ! mother! There slia.ll \.<> no slaverv for I thee. Better, far bcUu-. thn short lullaby j that precedes the ovci!:'i!ii:L: slumber.'' * I "Wp shall ne'er sre a'.-a.in the bills o[ j Aknroa," lauisntrd. \ A death cry on (lie deck overhead, ac- j coinpanied by a yell of triumph, brcke on \ ««ir Mrs, sending o. shiver to my heart- it ! was followed by another, and cMiotber, in j quick suceewtiori. j "Ane !" moant:d the dislrtiught wo- j man. ' j "Lis/tcn,'' esclaimed the chio!'. j Tbon he delil)erately turned to his trem- j liiiiifr wife. *'F, kui,"** ht em.mTif.ded. "Lf t. her 1 . jjo to her arc stoi-! " "What do yon mean?" T d-nwnded. "Nga Roimaia never h-a the sl".ve of my enemie«." hj" said pvondiy. "Her beauty shall not ho a feast, for Te ,Rauparahft." "You will not kill her!" T died, nnpealinglv. " Peace, pakelia," he "if you are ihe friend of Tan;aiharan;'i." As I t!t;rm that L'i;M-h ferure. mv mind revolted at tho thought that Te Raiiparana'a mde h.a.tal sboidd eve--) ri,vch her. I Moreover, thtre were thr (a.ha.r ehiei's to bo I reekonefl with. No indi:;nity i'.iey could j subject her to would too '»r;::t 'for \hn i satisfaction of their tevenrefuj Inst. ' would be at tho mm-y o"f tha.' re'entlws hordo upon the briq. 'To the e.VH:!;.- t-ar-that had just hefnin. wh:,t woiild be her fate? The fridittid din above us increased, dying shriek on shmdc, !!>■,• «u('lo of vij.'drou3 feet and the heavy thuds as men .fell KfefesSv or irrappled tcrethrr on ihe. deck. This girl had brought release to me. Her fdngnlar furauty had in some mysi'ii.ius . way broken the power of Sheen's nnh-vo- I lence. And I coidd not save her! Then> •was only one escape. Hcv maidej honor could yet be saved by death. This i.mrh wan certain! In face oi' it what rkdit ha:!. T. to interfere? Tamailiaranui had turned his back 115 I'm ns. ITie mother caltnlv approa'di-d N::a. Roimata. a detemuimd look upon ha d :;k face. Transfixed with hoirov. I stood >i?(a.Te. A streak of sunshine peeped through the porthole. It seemed a mockery! In the girl's nvect eyes there 3urke<l the. feat of death, and with a low T>aine<T cry she cringed back, as if seeking an escape. llierc was no wavering in the steadfast purpose of To Whe. no softne-.-on her palo face as, unrelenting, siie Btretcheil out lier quivering fingers and circled the shapelv throat. The rest must inmain nntold. When all won over, and I had steadied myself sufficiently, I ventured to lift my head from my hand;;. Tamaibaranni .'-rood like a rock, with tight lips imd downcast ores, while tho agonised mother cast herself beside the lifeless body, uttering wail on wa.il over the livid and distorted features of my 01100 beautiful Nga Roimata. " Auo 1 Av.e ! Auc ! .Ane 1" sho wailed, tearing her breasts with her naiß "My child!" My child! I have clasped thee like the rata .vine, and jt is well 1 Mv sweet-voiced huia! .Sleep in peace! We will follow thee on tho pbbing tide, the swiftly ebbing tido of death. Atle Aue ! It *i« best, it is best!" I heard steps on the companion, a booted tread followed by the pad-pad of hare feet. Then the barred cabin door was unfastened, and the blackr/uard face of Captain Sheen appeared. He was followed by the exultant Te Hiko and To Raupuaha. Sheen tools in the situation at a glance. I was ireo, with the ropes that had bound me lying on tbe floor. B«%ide nic lay the body <>f the strangled Ncra Roimata. from which To Whe had raised herself to her knees. "Good God:'' he gapped, agape with nstorushment. "Come in! Are yon.afraid?" I challenged. " You treacherous dog, disgracing * The crayfish pulkd out of his hole after long pulling bv Tama. Double tongue I Double heart! §Th<J corner of a whare may be searched. *The wail of the Maoris—untranslatable. ■frPart of a Maori love rong equivalent to **l!i)!y necklace of scented moss, my necklace of fragrant fern, my necklace of odorous shrubs, #ty sweet smelling necklet Tnra- | snea." TararaeA i 4 a spear gras*, acepliylla, r:. ■ *(rnarrp*i.

the race, that bred you! Com 6 in!" To Rauparaha stood on the lower steps of the companion, Te Hike immediately behind him. "Fiend incarnatol" I stormed, impelled beyond all bounds by the scent I had just witnessed. " You shall gi*e an. account for this villainy to the justice, of your country." Sheen's face sot like a flint. It confessed no feelings. The pitiable form upon the floor, the suffering man in irons, the poor bereft woman with the dark face, in which .grie-f was tending to madness, woto to him only pawns in the game of life, and affected him no more. That, such misery did not appeal to the enemies of Tamaiharatoui was not to be wondered at. Ina European the callousness was damnable. This thought, brought my Uncle Ronald's warning words to mind, and therewith came the recollection of the English home where. I had left- my mother. Did she still pray for me uight and morning, and was then' r. barrier between those prayers and Heaven's answer—the barrier of my own folly and weakness? At any rale, iieuci forth my will was to bo. my own. and I would die rather than lift a linear in support of Sheen's nefarious schemes. I was equally detormined that he and Stewart should be informed against nnd brought to justice. That was my iirrn rrseive : bat J knew, even us I spoke, that I wuf- a kol to give it utterance. "Sd -nui'iT loose, you yapping whelp." he said, stepping into the cabin. "is that your handiwork?" he snarled, pointing to the body of the Head girl. With nntfyo intuition the Maori woman underwood the question. ■• Auc '. Ane !" she wailed. Thru To Rmparaha strode past, isrnorin;.' the wailing woman, and faced Tamaiharanui. Tii one hand lie carried n, large rUhhro'..:. to which was fastened a lcnstli of stinn,: cord. Te Tliko followed him lifer Ins shadow. "Eater of Te Pehi!" cried Te Rauraraha. ; ; Shark of the land!" Tamaihuinnui made r.o answer, but looked into his enemy's oy«< with cjhu iiidiffcrenec—a look in which there was not eve: ; a hint of the despair he must havefelt. Sheen's attention was diverted from me by tb c action of the chiefs. " Th.e wise one is trapped." Te Ran paraha taunted; '• the emming bird is taken m a snaro; the shy fish is netted! Ugh! I came many times to Akaroa, but Tamaihaianni took refuse in distant pahs, behind the shelter of the paliisades. in the darkness of his whare. Rut now I have him ! Mine is he ringa whiti.ft How shall Te Ea.upa.rah>. tillinlt'y revenge himself on such a one?" To tins ihere wa.s no reply "Come. Te Tliko.'' said Te RaupArahn, "help me hook this fish." Together'they pot the hook tlirouch the loose >kin of the chief's throat and fastened the ,o:J to the roof of the cabin, so tightly that llv chin was drawn up as far as it would p:o. Stretched to his full height hi ' this manner, lie endured excruciating tortuie: but no sound escaped his lips, and he did not afford them their looked-for . j gratification of seeing lihn suffer. . ! '"The devils'" even Sheen admitted. • | '• Sn ar- we to stand idly hv nnd sne- it | done?" [ <,id. ' *

'•'V\rli. after nil. her- only a. savage..** he refiul'.l. "The dock's b'ack with 'cm. Ha! !>:'.' How they rolled 'cm over! I-ikf paying ninepins, only more csciting. Bah! I i:iit nought for savage?! - ' '• Th-A's rvi'Unt nnough !" "And less for mutineers'." "'Anyhow, your powar over me is "ono.' : lis '.yi's blazed with per.t-up raize. 'There's aiwavs foreo. bear in mind." he s.nid. " A ru'ifossion of weakness!:" T iiiciuired. derisively "V< i'r'.: a v.vvl-arm ami a rope." Ik threairrod. " You're not eapkiin." " S'.i.nv.-.-i!i.. is," '■Ycii'r" twin devils.'" ] rejoined: "'sh ci nm; ar.d hall* ;« dc-7tn of the other.*' " \\ :■'!'. sii.'ni order rour eoiugs. .■uiyivav." lie siki. "Wait tiil we get ml oi" these slowtiwavs. They mi>;ht h::jid over e\tra flax for :i. whit* skive."' "That's the threat roll us-:d to Oonlisheii." I I'toitert. " }.fs n whip that has no stim: for me. I'd 1» ihived alive before Til u;ovf. for you." " CoiuUhed was en anjd to you." he said. "He was op-en to reason. and tried to_(»l) 7 i:r- All tiie. same, t hop, you'll enjoy tli:; j>Uiv that's been prepared for your plenum nhoind this hvvs. Only, Id advis? you, iid .-!. fri,;r.d, not to come up on if you want to keep Your brcak3as!_down." " Vcii.M this he turned ar.d mounted the eom.p-ni,-.,. ( ~,,u | ,i t lrtr( ii y Kt/RV ; n ,| le e.'i.tin and £? e. (,! ;; , Ijxutal torturing of the - taoi! chief: much 10.4s witness the heap:; ot slain above The mas3:icrc, for such it was. <o!itiiiu.--l throughout the day. All who c-'iiie alaxml were killed instantly. "JTicn._ leaving the brig, Te .Rauparaha and the N,gatitou made a raid upon the pah, Takapuneke. when upwards of a, hunred were butchered. Apcm Puhenui, Panrini, and other leading men among the Ngnitnhu tribe v.-ere slain, either on the brig or while resisting the overwhelming at'.-ek up the shore. What followed I need not describe. Others have written. What good purpose could be served by an eye-witness recalling those horrors from their graves after the lapse of years. No further "punishment c;»i be visited upon the guilty Te llamTe. Hiko. am! the Xgatitoa in some measure must bo forgiven. Jt was the custom of their race to be revenged, to eat their enemies, to torture those they hated, and to rejoice in their death, Tarnai.haran'.ii. in like circumstances, would have, been equally ferocious. Even to regard it rvs a blot upon the greatness of Te ibuiparuha's character would bo manifestly unfair. Let a veil be drawn over the horrors of that unforgottcn day. He who would read of them must search the scant records rclatirjr to the brig Klixibeth .and her ghastly mid treacherous errand. Here I leave it, to resume the narrative of her doings when we were, once move anchored off Kopui, with only Tamaiharanui and his wife, of all Te liiupareha'a captives, left alive. CHAPTER XIX. Although enjoined to keep strictly to tin- cabin, I ww, left unbound. They knew it was urirecrssary to bind me. The escap" from the brig to the shore might he.vo biv.:i p"ssilile. but, the swim accomplished, f. would have been iu worse plight than ever. No mercy could have been cxjieetei! from the tribes round Akaroii, and, as frf as t!v> chiefs of the Ngatitoa were concerned, they looked on me with no irb-e.<Uy eyes. nor. indeed.' after my atteruntcd warniiig. could I expee- anv conyicieration fruvn' then'. On a biee.'.y spring morning the lirig cast euclior ..'nee more off Kapiti. 'i.'he only hope I had >rns that we might sight a ship, and. unliiielr though it was, tliat it | might be- Speering ?. Sheen had threat- I ened me. several times already, but the final danger would come when we were out. at sea. I felt certain he and Stewart would try to extract a promise, from nic npt to brenrhe a word of what had happened. Many expedients suggested themselves, among them the telling'of a lie. To that I would not stoop. A lie—the one I'd told .Spec-ring—lay too heavy on my conscience, for me hi tell another. In future, at all costs, no deviation from tii" right path should give Captain ftheevi occasion to leasscrt his banei'id inlluence over me. As the brig wist anchor canoes came oft from shore. Tiimaiharamii Was then taken ifpon de«k, where, surrounded by his enemies, he was taunted and gibed at. I came. ! up from the cabin for the first time sineo th"i a'Tful atrocities. For that matter, I htid no desira to see the sharnbtes where tha bloody work was done. Sheen ;tnd Stewart were engaged in close conversation, and there, was a look of ataiety on the Scotsman's face. Te Rauparaha stood , near by, the central figure of a group comj prising BiingihaMita, Te Hiko, Whiwhi, and some others of lesser rank. Tairiiiiharanui, bound and guarded, crouched at a. short distance from them, while ca-nbcS, full of excited natives, closed round the brig. The coirmsntiph ended, Sheeri stepped up to the chiefs Stewart, ai 'nil heels. , . "When can the .pftfcelia. get his fltw?" he asked Te, Rn'iparalia. Rangihaeata made a grimaee, and the -tt'J'he. hund quick at reaching auk

great chW uttered a contemptuous grunt by way of answer. Sheen repeated his question.

"When the pakeLa tells (he truth." replied Te Rauparaha. enigmatically. "Isn't the rangy tira going to keep to his bargain?' .asked Sheen.

"May bo! May be not," returned Te Rauparaha, gruffly.

Sheen's" face reddened with the scowl that always foreshadowed his rising passion. "I speak for thn pakeha rengatira," he said, indicating Stewart. "The kirgnin is not yet complete. We will not give up Tamajharanui until the flax is delivered."

To Rauparaha broke into a- grim laugh, not al all pleasant to hen.r, for it conveyed a biting pcorn.

''Te pakt-ha ia a big man," he eav\, ironically, "a very big man, and the words lie speaks arc big also, like 1 his belly, but the.y are only word?. The JJgatitoa have u>ed liini as it comb to- clean their head?. Maybi bra father and mother ltarc been eaten. He is a liar, a sham, a bad fellow! He has indeed been a comb for flic Ngntitoa. who ; are at present masters of tl\i-> waka. 'fa- i nwiharanui shall be put as-hore )>y Tc Rauparaha on Kapiti. My followers will take him. and if the pakehas interfere they will bo eaten: the. bellies of the Ngatitoa, ore big. It is time tho pakehas left To-ika-a-Maui." At this astounding statement Sheen lost all control over biiwelf. "You dos!" he stormed, slcmping his foot. '•The paki'Ua is a dog," Rangihacata broke in, •' He forgetsi the price was paid a.t Waipounaiau." said "Whiwhi. " What does he ever rememheY except it he hw kai?" sneered To Rauparaba. All his discretion vanished, Sheen's liand •cuvihr hir- pistol. For the moment ho was face to tae<- with tho representative cif a despised race who was insulting lum with impunity. He levelled his pistol at Te Ratiparaha, and it fell clattering on the deck, knocked out of his hand by hawta before he could pull the trigger. "'M.;iui tiiii hanga! ''* mocked Te Raupaniha. A rmouldering anger showed on the. faces ot his followers and a spark only was needed io set the whole uiai-s ablaze. The crisis bad come. For a few minutes the. life of every white man aboard hung in the balance. "Maui tin- hamra," repeated Te. Rauparalia, in w:ont. "His father and mother were surely eaten'. Let. him ;done! ns take Tamaibaranni and leave the big wiika to the pakehas-." "He is not worth tho stroke of a warrior," <u:re«l Rangihaeata. ''Ugh! We should have, cooked hi« head at. first." "Take the roared bird. TnnKiirmrauui, and place him in the canoe of Te Rauparaha." raid Te Rniiparafta. Here Stewart, who had kept siler.ee, kit. ! it time to interfere. "This brig's mine.," he .-aid. in his bad Maori. "I'm innocent o' the pa.keh.iV daeiii's. "Wad the ruugatira rob me?" "It" a dog lives with a rat. - ' answered Te R-auparaha. lib mtar.iuj;. "he is judged as a Tat." "The vaimatira promised int. ilnx." persisted Stewart. "The pakcha will get no uVt," answered Te Rauparaha. decidedly. "The pakcha want? to:? many Words." added Ran^ihaeatu. "Wed, whit m.v ye to ytr iv-.miiv.cik? " said Stewart, turning roughly on Sheen. , •Sheen marts no answor.'b'rf lump; moodily over the side of the brier, his attention bent on tho crowd of canoes." I ? gt the tir-.-.t time he felt hi.iwif a beaten man. Under the direction of Te Ra-jjiarah-.i. T.Miir.linnuiU! was removed, and tlic return..'!,!? wf>r party, in li:-jrh spirits-, quickly fr;l'.ow:d him over the side into the transports. The order of its kind was as pood as that of an Endish rctjiment. T'b.u Ion;; war cancrs, with their steersmen, and fuller:* to mr-ik the stioke. were pa dsed to their fu'ievt capacity. They start/jo for Kapiti with jubilant shouts and chants of virtoiy, tire deriibic rows- of

paddle.9 kcqiincj perfect time. The b'.ue patch of sea that- lay between us and the shore was alive. ;uid in the midst the unfortunate Southern chief, with Te Whe. his wife, was carried towards his doom. How, tortured with red-hot- ramrods, he. met his at OU\ki is a well-known m:;iter of history which I need uofc relate. The f.ubst.'per.L bc-hiiviour of the two white seourdrr/.s, who were instrumental in his capture, has' hitherto trom' unrecorded, and is now mr.d" known for the, first time. No sooner was the deck clear of Maoris than Stewart turned on Sheen. '• Ye gloomy auld blastie !" he cried. Sheen looked to the priming of lr.s remaining pistol, and again stuck it osientsi-tkm>-h/iri bis belt. " Hide a wee, my man," Stewart «prol teeded, "an' gin ys dinca i-et yer crai_g thrawri bolyve." I'm muckle rnretu'en. Whit e.xiKxution did ye gang on a whilie afore 1 «;;>.in'.? Tell m'e that.'noa?" "What's U;;'.';- so!, to do with voa?" de-

innnded L-hi.";ii. '"'Arc ye f.;f ravin' I'm an inqueesitivc man'.'" nr.umuiorl "the Scot, "Gin .ye dao ye're. a leer, foibyc I'm fcuvin' the kintra wi' ;i ilo:i, i' lr.y lug because n' ye." " I don't care a hang whether you're inquisitive or not.'' Sheen, with a shrug. " I'm tliirildn' there'll he so mo bawbees awn for yer passage." insinuated Stewart. " Ye ken 'the bawbees buekle friendship." Sheen turned his buck and looked out to sea. Then suddenly faced about, his temper rising : " Enough of this damned drivel." he flared up. "' I'll pay you what's fair for ir<y passage." "An" the callaut wi' ye?" ,u:hc;l Stewart,

meaning mc. "That young cur!" cried Sheen. "We'll talk things over about him. Damrip lr.m from the yard-arm's my advice; he's less use than ornament." He eyed me maliciously. My share of tho treusuie, conveyed from plnce to place, and concealed with'difficulty, was now part hidden iu my mattress ancf part sewn into my cloths:-:. ' His desire to possets himself of it, together with his ruge at my rßvolt, alone were incentives enough to compass l my death. Stewart was a. bully and ;i rascal of the blackest type, but from iear of (in: gibbet he stopped short at tbe murder of Europeans. "Hoot, toot!" he f=aid, "ye. shouldna' Speak rae lichlly o' a human life. A bit frolic, like we'had at Akaroa, I dinna' mind. It k:u' o' relieves the monotony o' esirtence. It's gey different wi' Mirrimy. His- name's m2l>b"' pir rloon hi some t:.ppennv biuk or ilber, sin" he'd hi sneered aboot.''

" He'll swamp the whole business," persisttd Sheen, "the first tima he gets cars to blab it to." "H<; maun.listen to reason," Stewart remonstrated, loud enough for me to hear. "Y thf meantime, Dan. to gae back to tlu question o' bawbees:. There'll just hi yei passage inmr.'.v ;uad rav ;v.n wee bit. loss upo' "the flax, ye k.rti. We'll no a-rglc-b:irgle audit thai." "What is; it you want- me to do?' asked Sheen, wiih i. start. " Mak' up my bit. loss upo' the flax,' said Stewart. " No, I'm damned if Ido that, answered Sheen, with vigor. . _ "Mind ye. ye're a man that's wantit i' Aminerriky," "slyly insinuated Stewart. " Drop that !"' cried Sheen. "I jalousc they'd be gey blythe to ba'c a crack wi' ye attowrc there.' I " Drop it, I say." j "Whit for na?" "Because I'm not the sort o' man to I stand .useless threats," Sheen answered, bis voice stumbling with passion. "Hoo useless?" Queried StottiSrt. " Useless," repeated Sheen, " because you couldn't carry them out. that's how!" "Could I riO'?" | " Yon care too much for your own safety," retorted Slieen. ".You've not got a fool t-6 deal with in bid Ikn Sheen, find, though you iiscd a false name, I_kn6w" enough tb hate you haiiled over. Besides I have evidence of another transaction between us, damning ovidenec, too, so keep a sharp look-out ahead." ' There, was muttering thunder in his deep vbice 5 I know that he ttns greatly agitated; The Scotsman's blotchy face grew pais, " Tut,' 1 he ejaculated, '"' nee hairin, DaA. A bit 6' jawlhefrs atwfecn fteeh's just mnk's the air caller." "That may be," returned Sheen, "biit j ' *Maui the humbug (of iim»Uj devices!.

don't tov with edged tools. I'm quicktempered" nnd a. bit handy with weapons sometimes. Don't you flaunt your colors too often. You tak'e mo to Port Jackson, and when I'm safo landed I'll give you fiftv pounds for the passage." ""The deil'S owre gtiid wheri he's pleased," whined Stewntt, " tin' 1 got nac mair o' the cat nor the skin."

"That be hanged for u t4le, Jiffimy," said Sheen. "rift not so easily hoodwinked, li'uln'b you put Into Korareraka, before you came down here? Didn't you ship whale oil there? It isn't all ballast von carry, by what the crew say, or, if it's ballast, it's "saleable stuff. Why, Jimmy, you ought to take me free for tho sake of auld lang syne." The Scotsman bit his lip arid played with the button of his jacket. "Aweel." he admitted, "it were paid for wi' gowd ah' I'm no' muckle certain o' ony-profit. Hech, man, what a sorry loon te are."

" Yes." answered Sheen, " I don't go about with my eyes shut, and I never lose sight of an old friend." "Fifty notes is muckle siller," mused Stewart; " Got by ony o' th« wild cantrips V

Sheen burst out laughing. His good humor had returned, as it invariably did when he got his own way "Stow yorir curiosity, Jimmy," be said pleasantly, "I'll keep my own counsel."' Stewart was looking towar3s Kapiti. The canoes were landing their human freight, and across the expanse of sea the noisy welcome of the Maoris who had como down from the pah to welcome the warriors could be heard. " It's a fair guid morn an' be damned to them, the dark deevils," said Stewart, shaking his fist at tliem. " The best thing you can do is to weigh anchor and bo oh." counselled Sheen. Stewart- went forward where the crow were assembled, watching and talking. His conversation with Stewart had taken place in the stern, and I had listened, leaning over the railing apparently unconcerned. Very soon the brig was ;t maze of moving figures; very soon we weighed anchor and the sails were set. We. were heading seaward on tire course that Logan had steered when he left us stranded on that winter's morning many weeks before. Sheen and Stewart descended to the cabin. I Stayed on deck and meditatively scanned the receding shore, which would soon be nothing but, a memory. I thought of the treasure I had won; which clung uncomfortably about mo all tho time. As I did. so it flashed across my mind that after all my perils I might never enjoy it, that my fate might find me at yonder tossing yardarm, when far out on the lonely sea. 'Last of the partners to share the late won wealth, how long would Sheen brook my presence;' That was the question. (To be continued.)