Puna's Sacrifice:

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22628, 16 January 1937, Page 9 (Supplement)

Puna's Sacrifice:

By Eileen Wilson

and Beth Brown proudly called themselves " amateur naturalists." They lived far away from civilisation in a- wild part of the country, so had plenty of time to study their hobby. Ruth sketched and painted the insects, while Nora took out a large exercise book and recorded tho habits, shape and size of tho particular specimen. After that they gave it it's liberty. Their elder brother, Charles, was onco heard to remark:

" They are always wasting their time in chasing beastly insects. A chap can't move without squashing a beetle or a bee. The house seems full of them!"

On a sunny day both girls were strolling beside a creek bank a few miles from homo. They had set their hearts 011 procuring a really good Red Admiral butterfly. Nora knew that a favourite haunt of the Red Admiral was among the koromiko blossoms, which grew plentifully on this creek bank.

They were chatting together when a faint cry was heard from the stream bed, in advance of them. They gazed at one another in surprise. To their knowledge, 110 one was likely to be about here, except themselves. The cry was repeated. Then, Nora, the more practical of the two, ran ahead. Round a bend in the creek, sitting on some rocks above a waterfall, was a Maori girl of their own age. Nora noticed that -she was sitting in a cramped position and her face was distorted with pain. " I have hurt my ankle," waited the Maori, lifting a tear-stained face. " 1 tried to pick those flowers," nodding toward some everlasting daisies, growing above the fall; " and I slipped and hurt my leg."

" We will have to carry her to the bank and then procure help," said Nora. " What is your name and where do you live?"

" I am called Puna Potnare. I live over the hills and I came hero for a walk."

" Wo are going to remove you to a more comfortable position 011 the bank, now, Puna. Do you think you can endure it?" Puna set her teeth, and nodded her head vigorously., The girls lifted her as gently as possible and carried her toward the bank. They found it difficult :o climb the sloping incline and could not avoid jarring Puna, but, although she winced and paled, she made no sound. When they reached the level ground in safety, Nora racod liomo for assistance, while Ruth remained with the sufferer. She tried to divert

Puna's attention from her ankle,, by narrating interesting details of insect life. Almost an hour later Charles and Nora arrived with two horses. Charles examined tho ankle and declared it only a slight sprain. Then they gently lifted the Maori girl on one of tho horses, Charles mounting behind to steady her. Nora mounted the other horse. They then started their two-mile' ride over the hills to Puna's home.

Atter that a friendship sprang up» between tho throe girls. One day, nearly six months later., they were wandering near a land-slide! searching for tiger beetles. The ground was particularly rough. Hanging over the cliff above were rocks that had become loose since the landslide occurred. Puna thought this a likely place and it proved to be so.

" Look! There's a lovely big dragonfly! ' exclaimed Nora suddenly. "I must have it. Where's the net 9'" " Puna has it,#' returned Ruth, a<) she triumphantly deposited a tiger beetle into the glass-lidded box. Nora took the net and pursued the dragon-fly. It flitted near the landslide and Nora leaped over boulders after it. She had difficulty in keeping it in sight. Soon it turned upward and toward one side. As it alighted on a tea-tree branch its pursuer cautiously advanced. Nora was adjusting the net when she was startled by a crv of terror from Puna. On turning, the dragon-fly utterly forgotten, what she observed filled her with horror. A large boulder, which, no doubt, had become loosened by the recent frosts, was descending down the slip in a direct line for Ruth, who, all unconsciously, was examining her tieiv beetle. Nora saw the brave Maori girlrunning desperately in her endeavour to reach Ruth first. Ruth suddenly became aware of her danger, at the mo ni eiit Puna reached her. With violent force she pushed Ruth beyond reach, but was too late to reach safety herself. The huge boulder thundered over her and crashed into the brooli below, bringing a shower of stones in its wake. With a sinking heart Ruth, bent over her friend.

" Oh, Puna," she cried with anguish " speak to me. You have saved m\ life."

Puna opened her eyes, then recog nising Ruth, smiled wistfully at hoi Then she wearily closed them and \yit a sigh her form relaxed and lay quiet When Nora reached them, feeling sick with apprehension, she found Ruth sobbing as if her heart would break, over the motionless form of Puna Poniare.