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Henry Ancrum: A Tale of the Last War in New Zealand, Volume 2

Chapter XV

page 183

Chapter XV.

Just as Henry Ancrum and Celia turned to enter their whari, Ihaka came up to them.

"Have you heard the news?" he said.

"No," they both answered, in a breath. "What is it?"

"Why, you know," he said, "that for some time past some of the Waikato, Thames, and other Maories have established themselves at Puke-hina-hina, near Tauranga, and are building a pah there, and that it is said the General is coming down with more troops, and that there page 184will be a great fight. You also know that lately some troops have been sent to assist the Arawas at Maketu, and that they have built a fort close to the Maori pah. Well, it appears that all the tribes about the East Cape have taken alarm at this, for they say that if they are not checked the General and the Pakehas may advance towards them and take the whole country; so they have assembled a large force, and are coming up the coast, and have written to us, and to all the Uriwera tribes, to join them on the way. This news has only just come, and there will be a great korero to-night. I, for my part, think it would be better for us to keep quiet, as, if our expedition does not succeed, the Pakehas are so near us that they might come and take our country, whereas the East Cape natives are far off, and might not be molested when they return home.

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But I am certain that I shall be overruled, and that all our tribes will determine to join in attacking the enemy."

"But," said Celia, "Henry need not go; he is an Englishman, and ought not to fight against his own countrymen. Surely he can stay behind here?"

Ihaka smiled. "Spoken like a woman," he said, "but not like Celia. Celia ought to know that although Henry's marriage has insured his personal safety it has not diminished the idea that he might be dangerous to the safety of the tribe if he should escape to the enemy; and they have also got an idea now that you care so much more for Henry than you do for anything connected with the tribe, that you would be happy to go with him. So I think you will find that they will insist on Henry accompanying our forces if we march against the enemy."

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"Well," said Celia, "if Henry must go, I will go with him."

Everything turned out as Ihaka had expected. The great korero was held, and the tribe determined to join the East Cape natives in their attack on the Pakehas; they also determined that it would be dangerous to leave Henry Ancrum behind, as he might escape in some coasting vessel, and tell the General all about their pahs, harbours, rivers, and roads into the interior of the country, and so, that he must go with them.

The next few days were passed by the Maories in making their preparations, and before a fortnight had elapsed they were joined by the natives from the East Cape, and by all the Uriwera tribes, and the whole force, numbering nearly a thousand men, proceeded on their way to attack the Pakehas and Arawas at Maketu.

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Maketu is situated on a block of land bounded on the east by the sea, on the north by the river Kaitura (which flows out of the lake Rotoiti) and the harbour of Maketu, where the said river empties itself into the sea, on the south by the river Whihi, and on the west, between the two rivers, by a deep swamp. It will be observed therefore that it is admirably situated for purposes of defence.

The march however of the East Coast natives and of their allies had been so rapidly conducted and such precautions had been taken to prevent any news on the subject reaching Maketu, that their forces arrived before daylight one morning on the bank of the Whihi river, before either the garrison of the fort at Maketu or their Arawa allies in the pah had heard anything about it. So much was this the case that actually three soldiers of the English garrison had page 188gone out duck-shooting that very morning to the Whihi river.

The Maories, as we have said, arrived before daylight on the further bank of the river, Henry Ancrum was with the advance-guard, which were lying ensconced in tall fern, perfectly concealed from view, and awaiting the time (a little after sunrise) when the tide should have gone sufficiently out to enable them to cross the stream at a place a little to their left. The Maories were obliged to keep perfect silence, in order that no sound might be heard by their enemies on the opposite bank.

The morning was chill and drear, a cold breeze came from the river and from the swamps on the left. Gradually the east began to brighten, and the prospect on the opposite bank to come into view. On the right, that is, at the mouth of the river, appeared a large hill rising precipitously page 189out of the sea to a great height, its top crowned by an old pah, now disused. From this hill the ground sloped downwards towards the left, and at a distance of about two or three hundred yards there was a cluster of wharies, from which the occasional bark of a dog was heard; further on were a series of undulating hills, with patches of potato ground in the valleys between them; and to the left stretched the extensive swamp we have mentioned. At last the sun rose out of the sea, and everything appeared gladdened by his appearance: the waters that had looked so dull and lead-like now caught the slanting rays as they rippled under the morning breeze, and appeared bright and joyous.

The bluff precipitous old hill we have mentioned was brilliantly lighted on its eastern side, and only retained its original solemnity towards the west, where it threw page 190a long ghostly shadow. The early beams appeared to waken all the inhabitants of the wharies, and the voices of men, women, and children succeeded to the barking of the dogs.

The sun rose higher and higher: it was now broad daylight, the tide was going out rapidly, and the time had nearly approached when the Maories could cross the river. It was at this moment that the three Englishmen we have mentioned were seen descending the side of the hill by a zigzag path to the beach; a Maori was with them, but he evidently only came to point out one of the canoes under the cliff, which they had probably hired from him, as, as soon as they had entered it, he left them and again ascended the winding path to the wharies above.

Henry Ancrum watched the canoe with intense interest; to his dismay the men in it page 191paddled slowly up the stream. He saw they had fowling-pieces with them, and he immediately concluded that they were going duck-shooting in the swamp up the river to the left; in doing so, they must pass close to the spot where the Maories he was with lay in ambush. He considered they were dead men. He held his breath in horror. The canoe came nearer and nearer. The men were paddling slowly — they were chatting gaily to one another. It was too dreadful. The Maories cocked their guns; in a few minutes more their hated foes would be under the very muzzles of their pieces.

At this moment, a young Maori, almost a lad, probably from want of experience of firearms, in cocking his piece, let the hammer slip from his finger and fall on the nipple, and the piece exploded.

The other Maories saw at once that their page 192foes would take the alarm from the report of the gun, and might perhaps escape them; they therefore fired a volley at the canoe. The distance was not very great, but perhaps from the circumstances we have mentioned, the aim might have been hurried. Strange to say, not one of the three men in the canoe was hit. They (the said men) immediately jumped out of the canoe into the water, which was a little above their waists, and held the canoe between them and their assailants. Their next thought, the only thing that could be done under the circumstances, was to run for their lives. They were close to the river's bank, on the side opposite to the Maories, and only the swamp was between them and the hills. Off they started. The Maories had to make a détour to their left to follow them, as the water was still too deep in their immediate page 193front, to enable them to cross the river there; but they were soon in hot pursuit.

Henry Ancrum joined in it, as it occurred to him that if one or more of his countrymen were overtaken, he might be able to induce the Maories to spare his or their lives, and only take him or them prisoner.

The three soldiers had as we have seen a good start, they were active, strong young men, and the race was for life or death. Away they flew. Sometimes they had to leap a deep channel, or holes in the swamp; at others, they had to wade for yards nearly up to their middles in water; but the obstacles which delayed them delayed also their pursuers, and at last the dry ground was reached. Just at the point where they gained it a promontory of land jutted out towards the swamp, and there were two valleys or rather ravines, one on each side page 194of it; the soldiers took the one to the left, as being the nearest way to the fort. The Maories who had kept up, and were still pursuing them, only some twelve or thirteen in number (the rest having given up the chase), followed them.

Henry Ancrum was rather behind the rest; when he reached the place where the two ravines branched off, a sudden impulse seized him; he did not know how it was at the time, he never in after life could explain even to himself how it was; but a sudden impulse did seize him to escape, and he darted up the right ravine at his full speed. He had not gone far when he heard a shout on his right hand. Still he ran on at a headlong pace, and in another instant he found himself surrounded by British soldiers. The fact was, a party had been sent out in the early morning to cut wood for fuel; they were returning page 195towards the fort, when they heard the firing, and immediately proceeded in the direction from which it came.

Henry Ancrum's appearance and clothing were so like those of a Maori, that at first he was in danger of rough treatment; but he immediately explained that he had just escaped from the enemy, and pointed out the danger their brother soldiers were in. The men at once rushed off to the assistance of their comrades, and reached the head of the left ravine just as the three tired soldiers were toiling up its centre.

The succour came just in time, a few minutes more and it might have been too late. The Maories were close behind their expected prey, eager for blood; but seeing their new enemies, at once halted, then rapidly retreated, and the fugitives were saved. A few shots were fired at the flying foe, but apparently without effect.

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The whole party now returned to the fort, where Henry Ancrum was at once taken to the commanding officer, who happened to be an old friend of his, and who received him as one risen from the dead.