LOOKS DECEIVING!

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

LOOKS DECEIVING!

By BATHIA PI. R. LUTTRELL, D.M.8.G., Marocna, Wuimana, Bay of Plenty (age Hi years). (Original.) Crowds of Maori potato planters were at work in the fiekls. A hum ot conversation went on as the work continued. Ono old chief, however, was not showing much interest in his occupation. He was too used to it. Working very slowly and silently he puffed peacefully at his ancient-looking pipe. Suddenly a white man rode into the planters' midst. " Good day," ho said. " Good day," they returned. Ho rode along the line and stopped where tho old Maori was at work. " Hullo," ho said, "How's Maui?" "Kapai," returned the old Maori, abandoning tools and stopping work, evidently welcoming the break. "My word," said tho white man, " I can't help thinking what a fino animal it is, that horse. Have you decided to sell him to 1110 yet Maui? I'll pay you well." Maui looked in the direction of the fence where a handsome black horse was tied. Shaking his tail and stamping his feet in anger at the flies, his head just slightly arched, he looked a noble animal. Tho two men walked over to the horse, and placing his hand gently on its shoulder Maui said, " I tell vou, I tell you pc-fore—he 110 look well! " Anderson laughed. "Look!" he said. " He's as good a looking animal as I've seen—and a few horses I'vo seen in my day. I can see you don't want to"*part with him Maui. However, I'm going to have him. You can get a loan of him sometimes —perhaps." Saying this Anderson unhooked the bridlo and led him off. After a while he turned: "Does he buck?" he called. " Ho no buck," answered the Maori sullenly. " He doesn't bite? ' " He no bite. " " That's alright then." " But I tell-er you," cried the native angrily, " He no look well! " Anderson was laughing as he rode off. Three days later the potato planters were still at work when Anderson rode in among them. He was leading the black horse whose flanks wero steaming, a yelping dog was following and the man carried, a stock whip. " You come over here Maui, and see if you can find anything wrong with this horse," he shouted. " You old sneak! You didn't tell me it shied at every mortal thing, that it stumbled and fell over a small boulder- and acted like a mad thing. The way it's been going on it might be a hundred years old!"

Maui stood beside the horse, laying his hand softly upon its forehead and looked long into its huge, dark sightless eyes. " I tell you—he no look well! " he said.