THE ESCAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20602, 28 June 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE ESCAPE.

' By NORMAN SANSON, Tapahi. Hukerenui (age 15). (Original.). " Komate! Komate!" These words, mingled with many others of a savage nature, fell softly on the ears of John Stauriton, He was the seventeen-year-old son of Mr. Staunton, a pioneer settler who was bravely making himself a home in New Zealand. What could it mean, wondered John. ' It might be a haka or war dance in the pa. Creeping close to the wall of the pa be peered ' through a crack. The shouting had stopped; a chief was speaking. John knew very little Maori, but he heard almost enough to paralyse him with fear and surprise. As soon as he know the intentions of the natives he ran as he had never run before, until he reached the homestead. " Quick!" bo shouted to his parents. "We must fly for our lives. The Maoris are. preparing to attack us—they want to kidnap . Dolly to-night!" Dolly was his sister, a pretty child of five years. " They, want to make her their queen when she grows up. ; There is no danger for the other houses; they will just come hero." He told them how he had found this out, and hasty preparations were made for the departure. " John," said Mr. St&unton presently, '• mother and I will take Dolly over the range and go down stream in the canoe. We'll get to the township quicker that way. You go to the village and tell the people where we are, and that there is no danger either for - them or us, as wo have started early. We will pick you. tip at the river junction." "- - - Within an hour John had delivered his message and reached the spot wheje he wa3 to meet the canoe. Almost opposite the river was joined by a tributary, the banks being very high and ■ almost inaccessible. >" After waiting a short time he heard the splash of .' a paddle round a bend. But he also heard something which mado him spring up-and listen intently. -It was . the sound of natives shouting wildly! " They must be chasing the others'!" he muttered. ' ' Just then the canoe camo suddenly into view. Mr. Staunton was paddling with all his strength. They drew in toward the bank, but John pointed down tho river and cried "Don't stop!- Go ahead and I can come down later. You might come back a bit and meet mo." He had hardly finished speaking when there was a shout on tho high bank opposite, and a party of Maoris appeared. John dropped among the bracken, having barely missed being seen. Splash! Splash! Srveral spears fell near thp canoe as it sped along, but they had been thrown too hurriedly to be of accurate aim.

John watched breathlessly. Would the Maoris be able to cross the smaller -stream and follow tho canoo 7 Several of them camo down tho first cliff, half climbing, half falling. Plunging into the water they swam quickly to the other side. But it was harder climbing up than down. By this time tho canoo was out of sight. Although it delayed them a great deal tho natives persevered until they climbed tho cliff with the aid of ropes and footholes cut here and there. But John knew that there was not much danger of their overtaking the canoo. This proved to be correct, for in half-an-bour tho natives returned, and by their disappointed expressions he knew- they had been unsuccessful - ■

After they had gone he rose up and looked about. Dusk was- jnst falling. He was wondering what to do when .he saw a log floating in a backwash. Why not float down the river on it? ho thought? Pushing it into the current he straddled it started paddling with his hands and feet. He kept on for what seemed many hours, his legs becoming greatly numbed with the cold. He was almost giving up in despair when he was overjoyed with sooing the dim outline of the CMioe ahead.

" Hullo!" he shouted, " I thought I was never going to find you." He climbed into the canoe, very glad to be •with his Bister and parents again. The canoe was started on its downward course again, and with John to take another paddle their speed was increased. Even so it was nearly midnight before tho township was reached.* A week later a small detachment of soldiers went out and defeated the Maoris at the pa, so the" Stauntons were able to return and live in peace in their happy home. .