IN PIONEER DAYS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 15 June 1935, Page 10

IN PIONEER DAYS

SEARCHING FOR FUGITIVES. In a small clearing surrounded by towering trees and a wealth of luxuriant foliage, stood a square log hut. it was not very finely built; the corners jutted out, and the cracks between the thick hewn totara logs were stuffed with clay. There were but two windows, furnished with heavy shutters, for these were the pioneering days, when no settler’s life and home were safe from marauding Maoris, but the whole had a homely effect, and this was increased by the two children working together in the vegetable garden round the house. They were a boy and a girl, both gardening industriously, one excavating with a spade, the other down on her knees sprinkling seeds in the newly-turned soil. The boy, tall and well built, with fan

hair and blue eyes, was Robin Ellstead; the girl, his twin sister, Pam Ellstead. They were so much alike in feature that sometimes even their own mother had difficulty in telling them apart. It was their birthday and their father and mother had driven into the little township, lo miles away, on an expedition which the twins guessed was for presents, and therefore they waited eagerly for their return. Before setting out, Robin’s father had told him of a rumour concerning a tribe of marauding Maoris. “It may, or may not be true,’’ he had said, “but keep your eyes open just in case.” After cautioning Robin what to do if lie saw any sign of Maoris he and Mrs Ellstead drove off.

While working vigorously, for the planting season was nearly over and there were a lot of seeds still to be sow’n, Robin had entirely forgotten his father’s warning, but he recalled it when, glancing round the fringing hush, he caught sight of two eyes observing him stealthily from behind a tree- trunk. Without appearing to be occupied with anything else than his digging, he kept the eyes under observation. “This is getting serious,” he thought. He told his sistei of what he had seen.

“What shall we do?” she whispered,

“We must get into the bush ana hide while this one goes to tell the others about us,” he whispered. “They have no good intentions towards us, or why did he hide himself!”

With a loud “Come on, Pam, let’s get into the shade for a while!” they began to walk in the direction of the trees, opposite to where Robin had seen the watching eyes. Without any sign of fear they went on, and had just reached the outer fringe when a savage yell echoed across the clearing and three Maoris leapt out from the. trees and began to run after them.

“Run!” cried Robin to his sister. They ran, tripping over dead branches, hurling themselves through green foliage. “We must hide—up in a tree—” gasped Robin. “Here’s one that will do! Quick —You go first—.”, Pam scaled up the tree and disappeared. Robin followed. He was half-way up the tree when his sister’s face appeared above him. “Here, look what I’ve found!” He reached her, and then before his eyes appeared a yawning cavity. “It’s hollow,” said Pam. “Come on in!” “They’ll never find us

here,” whispered Robin. “Why, it’s just the very thing we wanted! We can hide here for ever so long!” With that they settled down to wait until the Maoris should have left the clearing.

Some of the Maoris (for the three had now been joined by others) still roamed the woods searching for the fugitives. Robin saw one pass six inches from his nose, all unconscious

of the nearness of his prey. The rest were looting, shouting and quarrelling, ! making a terrible tumult, so that j the twins doubted not their fate had they fallen into the hands of the savages. At last after long hours had passed Pam whispered, “Mum and dad will be here soon!” “By joye,” so they will,” Robin replied. “I had forgotten, and it they’re not warned they’ll run right into the middle of these Maoris.” After some moments’ thinking Robin : said, “I’ll have to go and warn them —do you mind waiting here?” “I’ll come with you,” said Pam decidedly. They had gone about two miles when they heard the noise of horses’ hooves. A moment later their father drew up, with ten men at his back. The Maoris, at ithe sight of the unexpected white men (Mr Ellstead had had confirmation of the rumour in the township and had hastened to recruit aid), turned and ran, leaving their loot behind. They were pursued and captured, and never again did Robin and Pam have to seek shelter in their hollow tree.