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Amongst the Maoris: A Book of Adventure

Chapter XXXIX

page 351

Chapter XXXIX.

Jack Returns to the Settlement, And Informs Bernard of His Discovery.

Hope Bernard did not, of course, find his father by the way he had gone to search; and after some days he returned to the pah, being unable to meet with any clue to guide him further. He was sorry to find that Jack Stanley was away, especially as he could not go in search of him. Hope had from the first liked Stanley, as most people did; but since the day he had saved his life, Bernard loved him with a peculiar feeling which he had never experienced towards any one else. He could not understand why Jack had so suddenly parted company with him. There was a certain strangeness in Stanley's manner which recurred to Hope again and again. He was half afraid that he himself might have done something to annoy Jack, and he was becoming very jealous of his friendship.

Each day as it dawned Mr. and Mrs. Grant felt sure page 352 would bring Jack Stanley; and as day after day came to a close and no Jack appeared, the Grants as well as Bernard became uncomfortable. When a week had passed away since Bernard's return, he declared he would go in pursuit of him; but he was overruled by Mr. Grant, upon the plea that when Stanley returned to the pah, he would be greatly disappointed at not finding Bernard; and that Bernard, if he went with the party of Maoris that should be sent, would be more likely to impede their progress than anything else; whilst his going alone was simply out of the question.

“He has his gun with him—so long as he has that, he cannot starve,” said Mr. Grant.

“He may have met with an accident, poor dear fellow!” said Bernard.

“Not much fear of that,” said Mr. Grant, speaking with a confidence he hardly felt. “It would be different were this a country where there are wild beasts. Our friend Jack could meet with nothing worse than a pig.”

“I remember his very nearly being done for by a pig on one occasion,” answered Bernard. “I do not feel at all comfortable about him.”

“I would not oppose your going if I thought that you could be of any use,” said Mr. Grant. “I am convinced that your best plan is to remain here, and let some of my men go in search of him. They will probably find him sitting at his ease making a sketch, and he will laugh well at us for having sent after him. I have known several page 353 artists, and they are all alike; they become so engrossed in their painting, that they forget everything and everybody.”

So the Maoris started in search of Jack, and kept along the river's bank until they came to a trace of the Pakea, which was a burnt-out fire. From this fire Jack had evidently wandered into the bush, and they kept upon the track which the broken ferns and undergrowth showed them until they lost it, and returned to the river's side, having made a détour which caused them just to miss the opening in the forest which led to Maitland's hut. Thus when Jack Stanley started for the settlement, his would-be discoverers were going away from him and from the pah, until, finding no further trace to guide them, they returned upon their steps; and two days after Jack had gone, they came upon the little hut, with Maitland sitting in a melancholy attitude in front of it.

Maitland could speak the native language very well; and in answer to the Maoris' questions about the Pakea Jack, whom they described very graphically as being upright as a pine-tree and with eyes like a hawk, he informed them that Jack had returned to the settlement two days before. After this he desired them to re-fill all his pots with water, which they readily did—offering him at the same time, in return for some tobacco which he gave them, a vile-smelling compound made of hinau berries, mashed up and kept until putrid, a delicacy which Maitland declined.

page 354

Jack, as I have said, started at night with nothing but the clothes he wore and his gun and ammunition. He was so possessed with the necessity of losing no time in making the pah and rejoining Maitland, that he ran instead of walking. He kept by the bank of the river, and fortunately it was soft and grassy, so that he did not know scarcely how tired he was, until, as day broke, he slackened his speed into a walk. His great fear was that Maitland would not have water enough to last him out— and he was right. Had not the Maori party come upon the hut when they did, Maitland would have been much distressed, unless he could have made his way to the river.

Jack could not run any more at that time; so he sat down and rested, and breakfasted upon some provisions he had brought. Although it had taken him three days to walk from the settlement to Maitland's hut, he had spent part of that time in wandering about and in sketching, so that it was not likely to take him so long in returning, particularly if he went at such a pace as that at which he had started. He rose after a short rest, and continued more slowly, walking on until night came. But even then he had no inclination for sleep. Tired as he was, he could not close his eyes even when he lay down, and it was perhaps as well that he did not sleep; for it was getting late in the season, and he had nothing on but his trowsers and a flannel shirt, both very much the worse for wear, and dirty enough to ornament a Maori.

page 355

It was at daybreak on the second day that Jack came in sight of the settlement. He had during the last twelve hours eaten nothing, for he was so tired that he did not care to take the trouble to shoot anything, and have to cook it afterwards.

As he passed into the village, already there were signs of reawakening life. One or two dogs barked at him, and cocks were crowing, and chickens running about. Jack walked straight to Mr. Grant's home.

Such a dirty figure as he was, no wonder the dogs had barked. There was no one stirring at the missionary's house, and Jack had nothing to do but to wait; so sitting down upon a log of wood which was in front of the hut, he placed his head against the wooden wall, and in another moment he was fast asleep. When Mrs. Grant opened the front door of the house—for she was in the habit of rising as early as her Maori servant-girl—the first thing she saw was Jack, and so sound asleep was he that he did not wake when Mr. Grant and the servant lifted him by the head and heels and carried him into the house.

They all three stood looking at him for a time, feeling sure there was nothing the matter with him by the soundness of his sleep, yet wondering why he returned in that peculiar manner. At length the Maori girl, who was of a practical turn of mind, took a wet sponge which was in the room, and wiped some of the dust and dirt off his face. Jack immediately started into an erect position, page 356 and, after staring for a moment at the missionary and his wife, asked,

“Where's Hope Bernard?”

“He is just come downstairs. I heard him this minute. I will call him,” said Mrs. Grant.

“No!” exclaimed Jack, laying his hand on her arm to prevent her doing so. “Let me go to him.”

They lived in a somewhat primitive fashion in the missionary's house, and Bernard had adjourned to the kitchen in order to get his boots, which he had left there the evening before. He was standing with his face towards the fire, whereon was boiling a kettle, preparatory for breakfast, when Jack walked softly up behind him and placed his hand upon his shoulder.

Bernard turned quickly round, and the two fairly hugged each other for a minute.

“Jack! where have you been?”

“Hope, I have so much to tell you that I do not know where to begin. But I think I must have something to eat first, for I have not eaten for I don't know how long, and I am famished.”

“Mrs. Grant,” shouted Bernard, running from the room, “can you let us have breakfast soon? Jack is starving.”

“In five minutes,” she answered, coming into the kitchen, and with her own hands beginning to lay the table, then rapidly making the tea. Jack was looking longingly at a loaf of bread which she had just put upon page 357 the table, and she, observing the glance, said, “I believe you are half starved. Do not wait for any one: begin to eat.”

“I have walked and run for two nights and a day, and have only eaten once,” said Jack.

“Why, what for?”

“I will tell you all, Hope, presently.”

Jack thought he had never eaten such delicious bread or such magnificent bacon as Mrs. Grant fried for him, or drunk such nectar in the guise of tea.

When breakfast was at an end, Mr. Grant rose, saying he had no time to spare, and shortly afterwards his wife followed his example, upon some excuse or other; for they both, kind souls, had the tact to see that Jack wished to be alone with Bernard.

As soon as they were alone Jack rose, and going up to Bernard, said,

“Give me your hand, Hope.”

The other did so, at the same time looking into Jack's face inquiringly.

“Hope Maitland,” said Jack, without heeding the astonishment in the face of his hearer. “Hope Maitland, my dear friend, I have learnt another lesson besides the knowledge of your real name, a lesson of God's own teaching: this lesson, Hope, —that love is better than revenge!”

As he spoke, Jack took from the bosom of his shirt the packet of letters and papers which he had always page 358 carried with him, and threw them upon the top of the fire, and the two stood there and watched them slowly burning.

“And now, Hope, sit down,” said Jack. “I have news to tell you: I have found your father.”