CHILD OF THE GODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 4 (Supplement)

CHILD OF THE GODS.

By IRENE CORNES, 11, Mnllam Street, Karori, Wellington (n«o 17 years).

Tlio sliip grated and shuddered with each roller that crashed on its leaning deck. Alice knew that it couid not last much longer. Very soon tho wrecked boat would slip down off tho rock and sink immediately. She clung hopelessly to the mast, and looked down at tho crying baby. She herself could not swim, but sho had lashed tho baby to a bit of broken spar, with tho prayer that ho might bo washed up safely on to tho beach. Thcro wero Maoris, sho had heard, in this new land, and perhaps somo woman would pick him up and take caro of him. Theso two were tho only ones left on tho ship. Tho others had been washed off after tho ship had struck, but by somo miraculous chanco Alice had managed to cling to tho mast, her baby in her arm.

Although tho ship was small, sho had como safely through all tho dangers on tho long journey from England. It was tho irony of fato that sho should bo wrecked on the very coast of (lie country wliero she was carrying her cargo of pioneers.

Alice looked at the dark cliffs and shivered. Thero did not seem much hope that— At that moment the ship rolled heavily, and began slipping down slowly off the rock. With strange calmness Alice threw her baby, tied to tho out on to the water, and saw him carried on the crest of a wave toward thoso black, menacing clifl's. A sudden, awful despair gripped her heart, and she flung herself after him. Slio felt herself struggling desperately against huge, black waters — then a wavo carried her under.

Tenahoo came down to his favourite fishing spot. It was still Loo rough to fish, but he was so used to coming each morning that ho always seemed to have missed something if he stayed away.

When ho came to tho sand-filled rift in the cliffs, he stared in amazement. A child was lying 011 tho sand—not brown like all the other babies ho had seen — but white, and dressed in strange, soft clothes. This must bo a child sent from the gods! He would take it home to his wife, and make it chief of tho tribe.

Ho untied the baby from the spar, and [licked him up. Tho child must liavo revived in tho warmth of his arms, for he looked up at Tenahoe's brown faco and smiled.

And that is why, in later years, Tenahoe's tribe were always friendly to the white men.