Surprised By Rebels

On one occasion Mr. Goldsmith and a friend were driving some cattle for the troops from Patutahi to the forces situated beyond Ngatapa. They had reached Ngatapa when they saw some Natives riding down a hill-side. “We didn't like the look of them at all,” continued Mr. Goldsmith, “but my friend said they couldn't be Hau-Haus since they had horses and we knew—or thought we did—that the enemy were all on foot. Nevertheless, we decided to be on the safe side and halted for a time, watching these strangers. They approached rapidly—too rapidly for our ease of mind—and so we took cover in the bush at a moment when they were hidden from us. Lying there concealed, we could hear them beating around in search for us. So close were they, for a time, that we could hear them talking and then knew for a fact that they were hostile. They moved some distance away and we took the chance of a dash for our lives in the direction of Patutahi. When we were sighted, the chase was on. The Hau-Haus were well mounted, having apparently captured some stray horses on the Flats.