CHAPTER XXIII.

Otago Witness, Issue 1449, 30 August 1879, Page 21

CHAPTER XXIII.

Written for the Otago Witness. (BY THI JLVTHOMSS OT « AMR FIFTT YIAM.")

The Hau-hanu. " Saw ye ever the like o' that ?" exclaimed Mrs Saunders, as she rescued little Wiremu. "Eh ! but you'a a wonderfu' wean !" she added, as, having dried the baby and put on his one garment —a little shirt—she led Robbie away to change his thinga. Esther could not command her voice sufficiently that day to explain the difference of colour to the " wonderfu' wean." A fortnight after they reached W , Nellie was married. Harry had been impatient of the delay, but Nellie would have no one but Mr Scott perform the ceremony, and so they had to wait until he was licensed. They were married in the house, for the very good reason that there was neither church nor chapel in W ; and Esther was the one bridesmaid. Nellie looked beautiful in her pure white dress, her bright, sweet face and sunny hair crowned with a fragrant wreath of myrtle and orange blossom (supplied by the garden, and twined by Esther's deft fingers) j and Harry looked like a man whom any woman might be proud to call husband. "How he is altered," was the thankful thought of Mr and Mrs Pcott, many times during those days. No longer weak and irresolute, drifting aimlessly on the tide of circumstances ; but strong, vigorous, and earnest. Living to purpose and working hard at his profession, the practice of which was not by any means confined to W —. Doctors in the country are few and far between, and Harry was liable to be sent for at any moment to anywhere within a radius of thirty miles. Accidents were of frequent occurrence ; and perhaps, after a hard ride through two or three rivers and any quantity of bush, he would arrive to find the sufferer beyond all medical skill: either dead or dying for want of the help which had come too late. Mr Scott gave up all idea of accepting a call (should one be made) to take charge of that country district, for he found that his parishioners, like his son's patiants, would be scattered far and wide; and that he would. have to ride about twenty miles every Sabbath, and preach three — often four—times, in as many different places. In the summer it was not so bad ; but in winter, when incessant rains flooded the rivera, and rendered the toads —in many cases mere bridle-tracks—al-most impassable, the work was trying, even to men in the full vigour of life. So it was arranged that the settlers of W should erect a small schoolhouse, in which Mr Scott would instruct the rising generation on week days and their elders on the Sabbath. The minister had a small private income j in Sootland it would have m«a»t

genteel starvation ; here it was ample. Neither Harry nor his wife would hear of a separate establishment ; so the Manse and the doctor's house were combined in one. As soon as the wedding was over, Esther redeemed a promise she had made Mra Gordon ; viz : to write »oon and often. That lady, on her part, promising to keep Esther well-informed on affairs in Glasgow. How those letters were looked forward to on either side ! The thousands of miles between them seemed to dwindle away, as they read of each other's welfare. Meantime Mr Ross had selected a farm. It was situated on the opposite slope, and commanded a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean ; the sound of whose waves was heard continually, softened by distance to a gentle murmur. Robert Saunders superintended the building of the house ; which waß finished in time for the Rosses to spend Christmas in it. Mra Ross was now much stronger than it was at first expected Bhe ever would be again ; and able to get about the house and garden by the help of a pair of orutches. Since her accident, not a drop of strong drink had passed her lipg, and the desire for it had now almost vanished, though at first it had been well-nigh uncontrollable. ' But her own sincere desire, and earnest prayers for conquest, aided by the constant watchfulness and encouragement of her husband, Aunt Milly, and Esther, had triumphed, and the fetters which had so long bound her to a slavery worse than death, were broken at last. Esther, who for nearly twenty years had been motherless, was now daily realising the sweetness of a mother's love and sympathy. And Mrs Ross's love for her children was now tenderer and deeper than it had ever been — even when God first gave them to her, . to be trained up for Him. How had she fulfilled that trust 1 Flora often bitterly aßked herself ; and the answer was not far to seek. She had not striven to fulfil it. The sole aim of her life had been to gratify her degraded appetite, utterly regardless of consequences. And now one child "was not." All efforts to obtain information concerning Captain Euston or his wife, had failed utterly. Whether Isabel were living or dead, they knew not ; perhapß might never know. But • until she was heard of, there could be no peace for Mrs Ross. As Harry had said, the settlers of W— anticipated no trouble from the Hau-hau's. Great therefore was the consternation excited early on New Year's morning, by the sound of the ominous "Tat-too." It was as everyknew, a warning of danger, and signified that all the women and children were to be brought into the Block-house immediately. In a moment all was confusion The people tumbled out of their beds, and into their clothes. Mothers mar* shalled their flocks of squalling ohildren ; and all made for the refuge, leaving houses, stook, everything, to the meroy of the foe. Meanwhile the Volunteers formed— as well as they could in the darkness, on the side of the settlement nearest the bush, which waa the most likely point of attack. The Rosses were greatly alarmed. They had sat up in their new home to welcome the New Year, and had talked much of (Scotland and of Isabel. Not one thought had any of them given to the Hau-haus that night. It was impossible to get Mrs Ross to the Block-house in any other way than on a litter ; so one was hastily constructed, and, aided by two or three farm labourers, her removal was safely accomplished. Honor Brady was, through fright, almost as helpless as her mistress. "Ochone!" she cried, " it's kilt and eaten we'll be entirely, so it is ; an' I'll never see Old Ireland more ; nor my sisther eyther, which is the only relation I've got in the world, barrin' me mother, and she's been dead a year come Saint Patrick — howlly be his name !" " Be quiet, Honor," remonstrated her young mistress, as they stumbled along in the darkness. " There is no need to tell the Maoris where we are." " Arrah ! then, Miss Asther, is it quiet ye mane ? Would yez have me walk down the throats o' the spalpeens widout a word 1 Shure its not meself that'll make their work easy for them. It's pinance they'll do to the day of their deaths if they ate me ! Bad cess to ivery mother's son o' them." When they reached the Block-house, almost all had arrived, and the place waa crowded. Esther was thankful to find the Scott's there. They were an anxious company, for there was not one who had not some relative outside, and exposed to danger. Notice of the intended attack had been conveyed to the Block-house by a friendly native. But for that they would have been completely surprised, so secretly had the Hau-haus advanced. Tho time passed in great suspense ; a few shots were heard occasionally, but nothing was known of the enemy's position until daylight, when it was found, as had be suspected, that they were posted in the bush. The treacherous Hau-haus had expected to surprise the village ; they were disconcerted by the resistance, but not defeated. There was a sharp skirmiah, but the hitherto untried Volunteers behaved admirably, and the enemy was driven back into the bush with considerable loss. Later in the day scouts arrived, and reported that the band, who were led by a chief notorious for his atrocities, had " harried" a small village further up the country j barbarously murdering such of the inhabitants as were unfortunate enough to fall into their hands, and setting fire to every house. So the settlers of W — knew the fate of themselves and their families, if they were conquered; and the knowledge spurred them on to victory. Three times that day did the enemy make a sortie from tb,o bush, wi

as many times .were .they repulsed with loss.. " All' that nighti the Volunteers watched "with unwearying vigilance, knowing that it' was "the favourite time for Maories 'to t attapk v But they_ were cvi : dently dismayd' "by the determined resisfcan'ce,.they had. met with, and tho night pas'seel quietly.' Early next day the gallant little band of defenders were relieved by regular troops, who penetrated the bush', completely routed the Hau-haus, and :'captured their chief. Lieutenant Spo^tt', escaped.' unhurt, but several poor felloes were woun.ded, and three were kaied,;' ;, .' ' ' ' a gloomy opening to the New Year, but it was the last time W — was mqleßted by the Maoris, though the settlers', had' many a "scare." The most ludicrous happened to the Saunders'. By tnia time Robert had built himself a small house, and the grounds round it, up to the very verandah, he had planted with maize/now almost ready, iov reaping, and as tall as himself. One night Mary woke him softly : . -'^Robert," she whispered, "I dootthe Hau-haus hae come at last." j " l H,oots toots, woman ; what gars ye think' that V ''■,■' j " Div ye hear naething, Robert V listened ; there waa no wind, Uncertainly the' maize rustled strangely. I&'rose noiselessly and looked out. It was ja b. ngh t ' moonlight night, and there -4'just' before, hi?, eyes — were several dark ofejecW.ino'virig' among the corn. Robert had ;W cloubt they were Maoris. What cojfilcThe do V If he Btole-out to give the j^eigkbours warning, a tomahawk would grqliably; cleave his brain before he had gonejbeyond^the garden. Not daring to sMlce '&■ 'UgntV'tney, dressed, and sat down b^the' bed, where wee Robbie was peacefully .sleeping, 5 to wait for whatever might happen j Robert holding his, loaded rifle, determined. to sell his life as dearly as possible,'. v Rather to his surprise, nothing naypferied'. "Morning came, and gathering cb_ur'4ge hie ventured out, to return in five\min'utes,' looking slightly foolish ; the b'i^bfi-thifsty' Hau-haus haying 'resolved tnemselves^ia^fco'.a black mare and her fbkl^5 J wnich' v had ' broken into the maize let^'dulin'gtthVnighti,, '