Lulu Liardet.

New Zealand Graphic, 25 December 1899, Page 22

Lulu Liardet.

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Written by

C. E. MATTHEWS. Welling ton.

CHAPTER I. Xi BJpFY J PI vsjl|hlS Colony of New Zealand was (W| yet in its infancy when John Dilby [La II /Jsnj and I, Robert McMahon, landed XiSg? on its shores. Australia had first ♦jlpy kgll] attracted us. but arriving in SydXi Ip!’) v§j|| ney in the height of a scorching *;lS] «i»X »i»J. .bfeill summer we soon became disgusted x Err'A-,* with the heat and general discomf° rt °f t ' lat beautiful but too sultry town - Hearing that a barque about to start for New Zealand was in want °f hands, we offered our services to the skipper, and as at that time v it was exceedingly difficult to obtain men of any sort, we were shipped without any questions being asked. We both had some previous

knowledge of the sea, so were soon able to pick up our duties and perforin them satisfactorily. After a very rough passage across the Tasman Sea, we at length dropped anchor in the beautiful Waite-

mala, the Queen of New Zealand harbours, on whose shores the Northern metropolis has since sprung up. My friend and I had intended leaving the ship at the first New Zealand port, but, to our surprise and disgust, Captain D would not allow us to go ashore, and when he discovered us trying to get away in a Maori canoe that happened to be alongside, promptly clapped us in irons as the surest means of retaining our services. We only remained at Auckland a week, the greater portion of our cargo being for Wellington, and when we were well under weigh Dilby and I were released, but were forced to return to our work whether we liked it or not. On reaching Wellington we laid our plans more carefully, and succeeded in making our escape in one of the ship’s boats. We had descried the other island on cur way through the Straits, and decided to make for it, judging that once there we would be secure from pursuit. We started from the ship at midnight in a dead calm, but at daybreak, when we were well out in the Straits, a light breeze sprang up, and, setting a sprit sail we had brought with us, we bowled along merrily over the long rollers towards our goal. As the day advanced the wind increased, and the sea rose to such an extent that each successive wave threatened to swamp us. By this time, however, we were well under the land on the other side, and looked anxiously for some suitable spot to beach our boat, but not an opening could we see until, just as we were thinking nothing could save us from being dashed against the foot of one of the cliff-like hills that descended abruptly to the water’s edge, a gap, like a veritable gate to Paradise, appeared before us. This opened out into a fiord, or sound, and in a few minutes we were floating peacefully in smooth water between two ranges of wooded hills. In a beautiful bay some little distance from the entrance we discovered a cluster of huts, and as we were both hungry and tired after our battle with the elements, we lost no time in landing. As our keel grated on the beach, several women, all of whom appeared to be Maoris, half-castes, or quarter-castes, came out of the huts and advanced towards us. One of the latter immediately attracted our admiring attention; she was the most perfectly beautiful girl I had ever beheld, tall and supple, with the head and bust of a Greek goddess, eyes of the deepest liquid blue, nose, chin, and brow so delicately chiselled as io rival the loveliest creation of the sculptor’s art, a mouth imperious, yet tender, and skin whose slight hint of duskiness enhanced rather than diminished her beauty. The loose, flowing robe she wore gave the finishing touch to the picture. Long as this description has taken, a brief minute sufficed to imprint her image on my soul, and from that moment I knew that for weal or for woe I loved this beautiful girl as it is given to few men to love. The women entered into conversation readily enough, and we ascertained that this was a whaling station, and the absence of the men was accounted for by the fact that they were all away in pursuit of some whales that had been seen from the look-out station the day before. Our goddess, who appeared to be the leading spirit in the little settlement, and who had hitherto held aloof, now asked us to accompany her,

and, nothing loth, we went with her to the largest hut. which we found in charge of her mother, a handsome half-caste. A rough, but plentiful, repast was soon placed before us, and. needless to say, we did full justice to it CHAPTER 11. When we had satisfied the pangs o! hunger, a few skilful questions elicited all Mrs Liardet (for such we found was our hostess’ name) and her daughter Lulu had to tell us of the origin of the settlement. It appeared that some years before a whaling ship, commanded and owned by Captain Liardet. had struck

on a sunken rock near the entrance of the Sound, and had become a total wreck, though not before the greater portion of the ship's provisions, whaling gear, etc., had been carried in the boats to the bay where we had landed. Finding that it was an excellent site for a whaling station, the Captain decided to remain there, and had little difficulty in persuading his men to throw in their lot with him. Mrs Liardet and Lulu were at first the only women in the small community, but before long the men provided themselves with Maori wives, and, consequently, the population had considerably increased.

As I have said, the men were all away on a whaling cruise, but were expected back at any moment, and Lulu proposed that we should go up to the look-out station to see if the boats were yet in sight. We both agreed readily enough, and, after a toilsome climb, reached the summit of the hill on which the station had been placed. But we were well rewarded for cur exertions —a magnificent panoramic view lay outspread before us. On the other hand lay the waters of the Strait, stretching like a sheet of glass to the opposite coast, not a ripple disturbing the mirror-like surface, while on the other glimpses of the winding sound appeared like shining silver lakes among the hill tops. On one of these lake-like expanses Lulu's sharp eyes soon discovered three boats, with three large objects (which she told us were whales) behind them moving slowly along. She said that at the rate they were moving, and with no wind to heip them, it was unlikely they would arrive at the landing till long aftet dark; but as it would be necessary to have everything in readiness for the “trying-out” on the following day. she must hurry back in order to see that nothing was forgotten. On our return a few rapid orders, some in Maori and some in English, sufficed to set everything in motion, and Lulu was once more at liberty to do the honours of the place in her graceful, high-bred style. As she had foretold, the evening was well advanced before the boats put in an appearance. The women all rushed down to the water’s edge to meet them, and Dilby and I, who had remained near the huts, heard the three keels grate on the beach. A few words of hurried conversation between Lulu and the man in command of the largest boat followed, and then a wail

of agony and the sound of a fall told us that something was amiss. Moved by a common impulse, we ran towards the spot, and soon knew what had happened. Captain Liardet had not returned with the boats. Three days before, just as they were preparing to leave a bay at the head of the Sound, where they had camped, it was discovered that the Captain was missing. For two days they searched through the dense bush in the neighbourhood, but not a trace of him could they find, and had reluctantly been compelled to return without him. It appeared that Liardet was a man of solitary habit, never fraternising much with his crew. On this occasion. as on others, he had wandered off by himself, and his absence had excited no alarm until the time for departure approached and he had not returned. Poor Lulu had fainted on hearing the sad news, and it was her cry we had heard; but she soon recovered, and hastened to their home, where her mother was preparing supper for the absent man. Unwilling to intrude upon them in their sorrow, we held aloof for some time, but at length Lulu came out, and. seeing us in the distance, beckoned us to approach. We found that although the two women were much cast down, they had not altogether given up hope, and had already decided to make another search for the missing husband and father. CHAPTER 111. Next day Lulu and her mother attempted to persuade the mate, Judkins, who was now in command, and the men to return to the spot where the Captain had disappeared and make another attempt to find him, but their appeal was in vain. With an unanimity that argued some preconcerted arrangement, they one and all refused, and the poor women had, perforce, to fall back upon us to assist them in carrying out their project. Seeing the predicament in which they were, placed, and the interest I, at all events, already felt in one of them, we did not hesitate a moment in promising them the help they needed. Our first task was to provision our boat, and this we had no difficulty in doing, as the station had received its stock of stores a few days prior to our arrival. By daybreak everything was in readiness, and, deciding to lose no more time, we all embarked and soon left the settlement well astern. It was almost dusk when we reached our destination, which we had no difficulty in finding, as Lulu had been there on a previous occasion. Knowing that nothing further could be done until daylight, we pitched our tent, lit a fire, and prepared to spend the night as comfortably as possible amid our strange surroundings. My friend and I, who were thoroughly tired out with the exertions we had lately undergone, soon tell asleep, and did not awake until a shower of small stones upon our faces apprised us of the fact that someone else was less sleepy than ourselves. Lulu had adopted this novel method of awaking us. Alter a hurried breakfast, we began our search in earnest. For a time the task appeared hopeless, dense bush grew almost to the water’s edge, and there seemed small chance of following a trail through the tangled supple-jacks and other undergrowth. At last, however, we happened upon a beaten track, evidently worn by generations of wild pigs. We followed this for some distance, without finding anything to encourage ns. but, just as we were beginning to think that any trail there may have been had been trodden out some time before, we discovered, trampled into the mud. a red cotton handkerchief, which, upon examination, proved to be one Mrs Liardet had given to the Captain before he left on his last trip. We now knew that we were on his trail, but, as it was now mid-day. ami we did not know how much longer the search might continue, we decided to leave the women ami return for a supply of provisions. This we did. and before darkness set in we were back once more with all necessary supplies and prepared to spend another night in "the primeval forest’s dark recess.” We were soon asleep, but about midnight I was aroused by hearing a strange noise and feeling a hot breath on my face. I'wo fiery eyes glared into mine, and for a brief space I was transfixed with horror at this frightful apparition, then roused to action by feeling something hard and wet thrust into my face. I sprang up with a yell of terror. A succession of grunts and squeals followed by sounds of the stampede of numerous fourfooted animals, explained the nature of my nocturnal visitant I had been awakened and thoroughly scared by an inquisitive porker. The noise made by inysell and the pigs had thoroughly aroused my companions but a few words of explanation made them laugh

heartily at my discomforture, and in a few minutes kindly slumber had befriended us once more.

Next day we again made an early start, and before noon had covered many miles without discovering anything fresh. Just, however, as we were about to halt in order to partake of some much needed refreshment, we were surprised to see on a tree trunk near the track a small piece of white paper, which, on closer inspection, proved to be a leaf from a note-book, on which was written the following note:— "If those in search of me reach this spot, they are to proceed no further, but to remain here until my return, which will probably be within a week from this day.— Digby Liardet.”

This strange notice, which was dated feur days before, relieved Mrs Liardet and her daughter of a terrible load of anxiety, and it was quite a merry little party that sat down to the mid-day meal.

The instructions left by Liardet were so explicit that we decided to make no attempt to follow the trail further, so making ourselves as comfortable as possible we awaited his return.

CHAPTER IV. On the evening of the third day we heard footsteps approaching, and very soon two men, one a Maori and

the other a European, appeared advancing along the track. A glad cry from Lulu, and a gurgle of satisfaction from her more placid mother, followed by their both running towards the newcomers, assured us that the wanderer had returned. In the joy of meeting we were for a time forgotten; but presently I saw Lulu talking earnestly to her father, and from the looks cast in our direction I knew we were the subjects of conversation. Shortly afterwards they all came towards us, and from the friendly smile and hearty hand-shake with which Liardet greeted us it was evident that his daughter had lost no time in letting him know the position cf affairs. Die Maori, who had stood in the background while this was going on, was next introduced to us as Hone le Horo, and gravely shook hands with us all in European fashion. The Captain, who, from his speech, appeared to be a man of some education, and in every way superior to the general run of whaling skippers of that day. new proceeded to tell us his story. It appeared that soon after leaving the beach on the day of his disappearance he struck the rough bush track along which we had come, but had not proceeded far when he was startled to see a figure spring out from the trees near at hand and stand directly in his path. Upon a nearer approach the apparition proved to be Hone Te Horo, a native whose life he had once saved at the imminent risk of his own, and whom he had not met for some time. After the usual greeting, Hone said he had long wished to repay the debt of gratitude he owed his preserver, and now thought he had it in his power to do so. If the Captain would follow him to a place many miles away, he would show him a place known only to himself and certain members of his tribe where gold was "as plentiful as the pebbles on the seashore.” Liardet wished to return to the beach in order to enlist the services of some of his men. but to this the Maori strongly objected, saying that the pa of his tribe was near the foot of the valley they must ascend before they could gather the golden harvest, and although he would have little difficulty in taking one man with him. suspicion would be aroused among his tribesmen if their country were invaded by a large party; neither would he consent to the Captain returning to acquaint his followers of his whereabouts, so, as it was plainly a case of "now or never,” and Hone had proved himself thoroughly trustworthy on many previous occasions, he decided to rely upon him implicitly and see what came of the strange venture. It was past mid-day when they started, and before dark they had reached a low-lying flat expense of country at the head of a branch of the Sound where the water gradually shallowed, a broad band of mud flat being left uncovered at low water. Here they camped for the night, but at daybreak the journey was resigned, the country continuing flat until the pa spoken of by his guide was reached. On their approach the native dogs barked vociferously, and, roused from their mid-day slumber by the noise made by those curs, the occupants of the various whares came forth to view the new arrivals. Hone gravely rubbed noses with his friends, and when he had explained to them his relation to the Captain, the latter had to submit to a similar ceremony. Soon after leaving the pa on the succeeding day they reached the entrance to the valley down which flowed a creek of considerable size, and here the real work of the journey commenced. A stiff ascent lay before them, and before they had made much headway they found their progress so much impeded by the undergrowth that they betook themselves to the bed of the creek as being the easier road. Although the distance was not great, the day was well advanced before Hone at last called a halt, and, stepping to the side of the creek where the undergrowth was thickest, pulled aside some branches and disclosed the entrance to a cave, into which he passed, bidding Liardet await his return. In a few minutes he reappeared with a lighted torch, and told his companion to follow him. At first the latter could see nothing to attract his attention, but suddenly the Maori held his torch near the ground, and there, interspersed with the stones that formed the floor, were nuggets of all sorts and sizes. Upon closer inspection he found they were arranged in a series of rough circles, and it was easily seen that this was no freak of nature, but the work of human hands.

For some reason Hone carefully abstained from touching the precious metal, and Liardet. thinking it would be safer to content himself with a few samples until he could return with assistance and some means of transport, only carried away a few nuggets in one of his inner pockets. In order to allay all suspicion, they stopped at the pa for two days on their return journey, and then started for the appointed rendezvous.

Knowing how improbable it was that his men would trace him to the place where he had left his notice, he hardly expected to find them there, and was therefore doubly surprised to meet his wife and daughter, accompanied by two strangers. CHAPTER V. When he heard how the mate and the rest of the men had behaved, Liardet was terribly incensed, and swore they should have no share in the wealth he hoped to possess. As, however, he required assistance, and felt under some obligation to Dilby and myself, he asked us to share in the enterprise, but stipulating that half of the gold was to be his. He showed us the specimens he had brought with him, and, being satisfied that the find was genuine, we agreed to his terms. We had enough provisions with us to last for some time, so as nothing was to be gained by delay, we at once returned to the boat, the Captain having decided that it would be easier to perform the first part of the journey by water. Two days later we reached the mud flat covered bay already described, and having found an inlet well sheltered from observation, we hauled up our boat and pitched the tent for Lulu and her mother, who were unable to accompany us any further. This having been done, we continued our journey, being desirous

of taking advantage of the darkness that had now closed in to escape the notice of the Maoris in the pa. Thanks to Hone’s knowledge of the country, we were able to accomplish this successfully by making a long detour which carried us well beyond the pa to the point where the ascent commenced. After a heart-breaking climb, we succeeded in reaching the cave, where my friend and I soon felt recompensed for the fatigue we had undergone—within that small space lay enough virgin gold to provide a modest fortune for each of us. But our troubles were not yet over—we had to tievise some means of transporting it to a place of safety without being discovered by the Maoris. Owing to the nature of the country we had to traverse, each man could carry but a small load, so we decided that our only plan was to carry as much as we could for a certain distance, then return lor another load, and so on until we had conveyed it all to the place fixed upon; another stage could then be accomplished in the same way. and still another, until finally we reached the boat.

By this means we were able to convey the whole of the gold to the place where we had left Lulu without mishap, care being taken, of course, to travel only by night. We found that nothing had happened to dis-

turb them during our absence, but from the warmth of Lulu's greeting I knew she had missed me. and began to hope that, perhaps, after all, my feeling fur her was returned.

The me st arduous part of our undertaking was now over, and we were just congratulating ourselves on the successful termination of our enterprise when we saw Hone, who had ascended an eminence close at hand, bounding tow’ards us. A few words to Liardet in his own language explained his haste. On looking across the flat country we had traversed he had discovered a party of Maoris armed with spears, clubs, and a few guns advancing rapidly in our direction. No time was to be lost —by some means they must have discovered the desecration of their cave, which had probably been regarded as a sacred place, and were now coming to wreak vengeance on our heads. Launching the boat as speedily as possible, we placed the women on board, and while they pushed her off into deeper water we returned for the precious sacks. By dint of great exertion we had carried most of it on board, and were just staggering through the water with our last loads when a succession of blood-curdling yells rent the air, and, glancing around, I saw that the Maoris had discoverd us and were racing down the beach to cut us off. Unfortunately for myself, I was behind the others, and when they had reached the boat, which, owing to the shallowness of the water, was some distance out, I had still some distance to go. Dropping my load, I made a dash for safety, but before I had gone many yards I felt a sharp pain in my leg, which at once stopped my progress. A spear hurled by my foremost pursuer had struck me in the fleshy part of the calf, where it remained embedded. I

stooped to pull it out, but as 1 did so 1 felt a crushing blow on the head which knocked me senseless. CHAPTER VI. When I returned to consciousness I found myself a prisoner, bound hand and foot, in a Maori hut, with a sentinel squatting before the open door. It required very little consideration to convince me that I had been carried to the pa we had taken such trouble to avoid, and I knew' that my position was one of great danger. The natives at that time were only half civilized, and seldom hesitated to deal summarily with any white man caught in an act of what they considered sacrilege. Soon, however, the excruciating agony I suffered from the wounds in my head and leg caused me to forget all else, and I groaned aloud. To my intense surprise a sympathetic voice, the voice of the woman I had lately learned to love with such fervid intensity, spoke from the other side of the whare. The dear girl, who, although I could not see her distinctly owing to the semi-darkness that prevailed, was evidently bound like myself, endeavoured to sooth my pain with cheering words. But for a moment I forgot all my suffering in wonderment at her presence, and could not rest until she told me how she came to share

in my captivity. In answer to my eager questions, she tcld me that when I had been struck down the others, giving up all hope of rescuing me in face of such fearful odds, began to row away as fast as possible in spite of her frantic appeals to them not to abandon me. Determined that I should not be thus left to my fate, she sprang from the boat and dashed through the shallow water to my assistance, but before she could reach me she was seized by the advancing natives, and, in spite of her struggles, soon securely bound. Our friends made good their escape, and the Maoris having no canoes in which to follow them, returned to the pa where we were now awaiting our fate. Lulu made very light of the part she had taken in the events of the last few hours, but when she had finished her story I knew at last that my love was returned—such devotion could only spring from one cause. In spite of our position, this knowledge made me happier than I had felt for days, but as we were both securely bound I could not take advantage of a lover’s privilege except in words, and at such a time words are but a poor satisfaction.

Soon, however, my wounds began to ache and burn afresh, and until delirium came to relieve me I suffered the tortures of the damned. I suppose I must finally have fallen into a deep sleep, for I remember nothing more until I was awakened by the discharge of firearms not far away. Following this came the sound of running feet, and I knew that the Maoris were rushing in force to the scene of the disturbance. Presently all was quiet once more, but while I was wondering what had happened I was startled to hear from the direction of the doorway a voice calling softly to Lulu and myself. Lulu answered for both of us, and then Hone, for it was he, advanced to where she was lying and cut the flax ropes with which she was bound. He then performed a like office for myself, and while doing so explained that the noise I had heard had been caused by Liardet and Dilby firing their rifles several times in rapid succession on the other side of the pa in the hope that the Maoris, thinking they were attacked by a hostile force, would all rush to the spot, and thus leave the coast clear while he crept to the place where he thought we were confined and released us. The ruse had succeeded perfectly, even our guard having forsaken his post. We had now to get away as fast as possible and rejoin our friends at a place agreed upon, but, to my dismay, upon trying to walk, I found my leg so stiff and sore that I could hardly move it. Knowing that every minute’s delay increased the chance of our recapture, I urged the others to leave me to shift for myself, but their only answer was to seize an arm each and hurry me off. They half led, half dragged me along until at length, after much exertion on their part, and much suffering on mine, we reached the rendezvous, where we found our friends awaiting us. Between them they succeeded in carrying me across the intervening stretch of country to the inlet where they had left the boat, and soon afterwards we were well beyond all reach of pursuit. We arrived safely at the whaling station, to the evident disgust of Judkins and his followers, who had taken full possession. My wounds gave me considerable trouble for some days, but with Lulu as ministering angel I was soon on a fair way to recovery. While we were considering the best means of transporting our wealth to a place where it could be converted into coin of the realm, a small schooner arrived in the bay, and we had very little difficulty in persuading her skipper to allow us to charter her to carry our “baggage” to the nearest port. The gold did not realise as much as we expected, and as we considered our share insufficient for our future wants, Dilby and myself entered into a partnership and invested our capital in a business which has grown with the colony, until at the present time our firm is known throughout the length and breadth of the land. But I need hardly say that before this eventuated a still more auspicious partnership had been entered into between myself and the girl who had dared so much for my sake, my first and only love—

LULU LIARDET.

(For Letterpress, see page 21 ]