Australian Tales and Adventures.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2023, 28 January 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Australian Tales and Adventures.

No. 13. retrTbution.

- By R. P. Whitworth.

There probably never was, nor ever will bo so warlike, and withal, so cruel and treacherous a race as the Ngatirhuanui. an offshoot of the ferocious and powerful Taranaki tribe of Maoris, who, with their eub-tribee occupied the vast territory of that part of the West coast of the North Island of Now Zealand lying between the head of the Wanganui river to the South, and the Waipa to the North. Dwelling in a territory of rugged mountain and wild forest, they were as rough and Ravage as their surroundings, ami being cannibals, were almost constantly engaged in warfare with other tribes, or even among themselves, in order to keep up the supply of victims tor their inhuman feasts.

Among their chiefs none were so dreaded tor the ferocity of his disposition, and the barbarity of hie practices as Uel<. the notorious Rangutira of a elan inhabiting a tract of oonntry between the Mokau nv >r and Kawhia. He was a truculent bloodthirsty and rapacious monster, whose sole delight seemed to be in deeds nf violence and fiendish cruelty, and whose pame was known throughout the land, especially as the deadly enemy of the whites, who, at the period to which this story refers, had already begun to immigrate in considerable numbers to the rich river flats lying inland of Kawhia harbor.

Peace had been declared between the Maori and the I’akeha, by the treaty of Waitaogi, signed by the Mokos (copies of the tattoo marks) of the principal ohiets. and the new settlers were, as a rule, on good terms with their dusky neighbors. Flourishing homesteads were beginning to dot the primeval bush, and the intruders (for so they were still considered by the Maoris) were at least tolerated, and but rarely interfered with partly on aeoount of the trade they did with the natives, partly from a wholesome terror of their fire-arms.

Bat Hekd and bis savage followers bated the interlopers with a hatred that was not only bitter but fanatic, and no white man ever fell into their power who escaped deaU and even torture. Murderer, even of his tvk countryman was the one feeling in the heart of the Ngatirhuanui, and murder with torture was invariably the lot of those who became their prey. They went about as devils, with hot hatred in their minds, seeking whom they might devour. The tortures they inflicted on their hapless victims were too revolting to particularise. One of the most common was to bind a prisoner hand and toot with withes of flax, and leave him naked in some swampy place, exposed to the attacks of the hordes of mosquitoes and other insects that infested it. Sometimes be was left to die a lingering death of agony, sometimes a blow from a mere, a thrust with a pointed stake, or a fire lighted on his abdomen made a sharper but briefer and mote mercifu end to his Bufferings. At that time settlement had extended inland from the bay to where the present village of Te Kopua is located, and a few miles, three or four maybe, an immigrant named Pierce Maskell had taken up a selection, on which be lived with his wife, two children, and his wife's brother, a young fellow of about twenty. He had been for some months in undisturbed possession of his land, being on friendly terms with the natives in the neighborhood, many of whom had frequently visited him, and had been made welcome and hospitably treated. In fact, he was so well liked by the surrounding Maoris that more than onoe they bad warned him, when there were rumors abroad that the ferocious lieko and his gang had left their fastness in the mountain to the eastward to make a raid in the district. He had never, however, been molested, and although he alwaye kept a bright lookout tor visitors, welooma or unwelcome, as the oasa might bo, ho at length began to grow careless and to treat these reports with something like contempt, as being the idle fancies of an ever fanciful race.

Hie house was strongly built of logs and pine boards, and waa to some extent fortified, his fire-arms were always kept loaded ready for use, and ae be waa a brave, and perhaps a somewhat reckless man, he did not deem it necessary to adopt more than ordinary precautions against an attack. But Hekti waa no lees cunning than he was ferael and bloodthirsty, and he had determined to wreak his vengeance on Maskall, who by venturing farther into the wilderness than the other settlers, bad seemed to defy him and his ferocious horde. It was a bright day in February. The time was about one o’clock in the afternoon. Fierce Maskell was at work laying the flour of an outhouse at tbs toot ot the boms clearihg, some fifty yards or so bom tbs boose, JiuW, his wife wu sitting at the door sewing

in the warm sunshine, the two :hildrcn, boy and a girl, respect ively tbrue and tw-i years of age ware playing with a kitn n in the fern a little distance away, and .fee, Mr: • Maskell'i brother, was out in the bu-h a quarter of a mile away, fellin'.; the Mapu timber that grew on the river hank. All was peace. All happiuc.-.H. The j-t black tuis Hew from tree top to tree in", me gorgeous huedKi’cas screamed amid the mica foliage, and the Kakurikia--sweep at ot ’,ew Zealand songsters woke tho for..si eolicu' with their eloquent mu-io. Suddenly the sharp thud ami ring of .IjiV axe ceased, hut that was in.thing. I’erhap

ho was lighting his pipe, perhaps hj« hj.. 1 gone to the river for a drink, perhaps hj was coming up to the home.

All at once, in an instant as it were, then, was a rush of dark forms from the thick hu-ii that bordered the clearing, an car-pi rein ■ yell, one, that once heard, can never I” effaced from the memory while life or rear m remains.

Pierce Maskell, before he had time to think, fell, bis brains dashed out by a erueaing blow of the murderous mete, and half a do//11 painted warriors were racing in the direction of the house.

Before Mra, Maskell oould fully realize the terrible truth, they had reached the ppm, where the two children eat playing, and tm y too, poor innocents, lay victims to the dire barbarity of the savages. Oh I the pang ot sharp agony that shot through the mother s heart as aha saw lur darlings fall prone beneath the terrible patu (death blow), their lender skulls crushed in like paper, and their young life’s hk-od bedabbling their golden hair ami the carpet of bright green fern beneath. A second’s pause, a quick throb of the pulrc, an agonized scream, and Mrs. M.iek-di had darted into the house, and had bolted and barred the door, before the Maoris, drunk with blood, aud mad with slaughter, could reach it. Where was now tho tender mother ? Where the gentle wife? Where tho loving sister > Where the mild house-mistress ? Where tho weak, timid, woman? Clone. And in her plaoo, by the solitary hearth, stood awcless, undaunted, undismayed, and resolute, u new creature. No sign of weakness in that rigid form, none of fear in that while face uni tho linos of that contracted brow. Her tooth clenched, her eyes scintillating wilh will unwonted light, she stood, calm and collected, in the centre of the room, an embodiment of Nemesis. No he' dof the terrible iveiis that tang outside, not of the dark forms thru crowded round the little window, demanding instant admittance. No thought hut one Of vengeance, vengeance, on the murderer-]of all she held dear on oatlb. Vervicince, and then self-sacrifice. U’hat matter?

Wearily she passed her hand over her dry eyes, and then, reaching down her husband'* rifle and revolver that hung by the rude fireplace, she advanced with n firm njp towards the window. As she did so, the M.v.,rii-, -■ w..t by the fierce fire blazing in her eye.-, lull back. But too late. Two quick reports, and as many of the marauders were sped, one shot through the heart, the other in the throat. With a yell of rags the others fled to e .vei, but the unerring rillo rang out ific (hath knell of a third, who staggered, clutched at the air wildly, and fell backward, hit between the shoulders, dead. All this had taken less time in the doing than in the trdlic -. But the fray was not yet over. The savages had been r< pulsed, not defeated. They had bn; three mm at the fun fire it was true, but there worn u\<: ol tlio.r left, and surely five cunning Maori warrior; were morn than a match formic weak woman, even although she had firearms, aud they hud but their more's and shcrl spouts. Should they retire vanquish’ 1 before lbs arm of or ■ white faced Pakeha woman? Never. Wcm

wouH Hek" say 7 11.-kc who had scut them on this foray. What would the women id their tribe say ? Retire ? Never. Up to now ehe had been, and was, mistress of the position. Rut could she ntiuid the True, the enemy had retired, but ah-.

know them too well to imagine that tlr ir r>, treat was for good. Suppose, and what morn likely than that they would return, and under cover of the wallt of the house, set it o« Are. It was constructed of pine boards with a rat) n roof, and onoe alight, would burn like match wood.

But outside, at no great distance, was an outhouse or shed, strongly built of preen logs. The front of it was open. Could she but reach that, she might, perhaps, defy them. Hastily reloading the empty chambers of the revolver and the rifle, she cautiously unboiled the door, opened it, and fled rapidly aorosn the intervening space a distance nt about twenty yards. But her flight was observed, and the Maoris came leaping forward with deafening yells in pursuit. Again too late. She reached the shed, unhurt by the spears hurled after her, and facing the enemy, again stood at bay. For a time the Maoris, hidden behind the house, were silent, apparently in consultation. Then they approached her, waving a bunch of toi grass in token of amit). Surety, they thought, a woman with her wo dea l children and her dead husband lying i.i ;h<: bright afternoon sunlight before her eyes, must be overcome by grief and terror, and might be induced to believe in their promises.

But she knew their treacherous nature ton well to be so imposed on. A rapid shot which broke the aim of one of them, and scut the others flying to oorer, was her answer to their protestations.

There were but four left to take an active part, and these turned their attention to the bouse, which they knew was deserted. They took good care not to expose themselves to her fire, but tearing out the back window they entered, carried out every article they coveted and piled the plunder up at a little distance, demolished the furniture, chopped holes into the walls, and then set the bouse on tire. For a time all was silent after this, and she began to hope the Maorics had gone. Still she was afraid to venture forth for fear that their silence was but a ruse to draw her from her stronghold. And the sequel soon showed her that her fears were well founded, and that this was their villanous design, for as the sun got farther to the West, it cast tbcii shadows on the ground, and showed her their stratagem.

The wounded man had crept away into th" bush, and the others fearing that the smoke from the fire might bring help from the Kettle meat, at length started for the spot where they had placed the plunder, with the inten tion of carrying off, it and bad already loaded themselves, when she stepped from the outhouse. She had gone into it a woman, and had come forth a fury. The first intimation other presence was the crack of her rifle, which, heavy as it was, she bandied as though it had been a reed. 'Missing her aim, she clubbed her rifle, and dealt one. of the miscreants a blow which sent him staggering. Kor a moment the others wheeled and prepared to attack her, but as she advanced steadily, revolver in hand, the three could face her no longer. With yells of terror they rnshed away into the bush, where their wounded companion had proceeded them, and loet no time in leaving a neighborhood where they had met with, as they thought, a woman possessed of a devil. Two hours later a party of settlers from Te Kopua, who had seen the smoke of the fire, A and who had, enspeoting the truth, come to ' help, found, in the clearing, the bodies of the dead laid side by side on the tern. Seated beside them was a haggard atony faoed woman, with that awful tar away look in her eyes that telle so much. She said nothing, knew nothing. She lived, that was all. Better perhaps ilahe had not, tor the lift of life, the light of riunn, was qnnulM fox ever.