A Romance of Maoriland.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1869, 6 February 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Romance of Maoriland.

CHAPTER I.—(Continued.) The old Maori took his gun, and, after securing the door of his whare, led the way down the ridge of the ravine in silence. It was a perilous path even to those who were acquainted with, its intricate windings ; but Bosco, who, old as he was, had been born and reared in the vicinity, now guided his companion safely to the western ledge, overlooking the sea. In a small, cirsular-shaped inlet, completely hid by the high, over-hanging clifls above it, a goodly sized yawl was seen rising and falling with tho motion of the waves. The Ferret and his companion embarked. After they had cleared the cove a large lug sail was hoisted, which, catch- j ing the breez?, sent the boat along at the ! rate of six or seven knots an hour. The Maori held the helm, and steered for a promontory opposite the Barrier, but far away in the distance, and on which a tiny speck of light shone over the dark waters. For over an hour there was a dead silence between these men; then the Maori spoke. "Is the Master not well that, he has sent you to report his arrival ? Why did he stay at Pukehina ?" "Ah ! that's it, Bosco," replied Sharpe evasively. "Masters do not always consult their servants as to what they intend to do. They order, and we obey. You will have an opportunity of nskiug the boas that same question two or three hours hence. Perhaps he may answer you in a more satisfactory manner than I can. One reason, no doubt, is that he has not been very well. The voyage was a rough one, and Master Hilton is°a bad sailor." The Maori gave an unmistakable crunt of dissent. " The young eaglet always loved the sea," he said in his quiet tone. " Mnny a time has he tempted me forth with bribes of tobacco when the winds roared, and the waters were white with foam. Hiltou Fernbrook hath changed indeed, if the rocking of a great ship taketh away his health and strength." " Bosco, you are a Maori, and therefore cannot understand the changes which may come to one by travelling. The master of Fernbrook has been absent five years." "Tut! Twenty years cannot change •men's likes and dislikes,'" replied Bosco. " Argued like a Maori." cried the Ferret, laughing his discordant laugh. " The boss is not changed a bit, in spite of all the queer things he has seen. He loves old Rita and Bosco, and bears in his regards all the old domestics who served his father before him." "Ah ! Bosco loves the boy," grunted the old fellow in a mollified tone. " When he was no higher than this thwart I marked him with the eagle of Te Piipa. Let him travel where he may, he will remember Bosco." " Certainly. Now I think of it, there is a tattoo mark on my master's left shoulder. " Nay, the eagle is upon his breast," cried the Maori quickly. "Of course, old man. What am I thinking about," responded the Ferret. See yonder? What light is that," he added suddenly, pointing to a red glare shining athwart the prow of" the cutter' " That is the Point Light," answered his companion. " From that peak it is twenty miles to Pukehina." " Good ! Here, take a nip out of this flask. Master Hilton will reward you handsomely for this job, Bosco."