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Chapter III. On the Trail.

The scene opens on a rolling plain, flanked by the rocky "spurs" of the ever-present mountains; a plain of unequal surface, broken by "terraces," and water-courses, and of varying width—irregular. Here the river runs almost level with the land, coursing around tiny islands, and flowing in many ana-branches, or "back-waters," as they are termed. Amidst these the native flax flourishes in wild luxuriance, and even the cantankerous Tumatukuru attains considerable magnitude. The pale green waters, untainted by earthly pollution, roll smoothly over a pebble-strewn channel, which spreads so widely from bank to bank, as to allow of the traveller crossing on horseback—sometimes even on foot—at certain well-known fording places.

On the Eastern bank stood two tents, between which blazed a huge fire. At the rear of the uppermost tent, a horse was tethered out, and near at hand, on the ground, lay a pack-saddle.

Around the fire were a number of men, blue-shirted and hirsute. Miners these, no doubt. In truth they were none other than the Prospectors and their pursuers. The former, impeded by the pack-horse, had page 134been overtaken by Barney Roche's party; and thus brought to bay, they had camped for the rest of the night.

"Well, boys, you have trapped us fairly, and I throw up the sponge. I am going to turn in, and in the morning I'll show you the road to Fox's. Throw some more scrub on the fire, Tom, to keep it alive. We shall want to make an early start."

The speaker was a cheery-faced Englishman—one of the Prospectors.

"Begorra, thin,—(and the voice was the voice of Barney)—the divil a turn-in I'll take. We got a hoult of yez now, and I don't mane to lose sight of yez again this blessed night;—barrin' I think it's mornin' already."

And indeed a faint flush in the Eastern horizon heralded the advent of day.

There was one spectator of this scene of whose contiguity none were aware. It was the Senior Partner. Ensconced in a flax-bush within a few yards of the fire, he quietly marked the proceedings of both parties.

The Englishman entered the tent as if to rest; and "Tom" continued to heap the green scrub on the fire with such zeal, that the distant rocks glowed in the fierce light, and a huge volume of smoke ascended to the heavens. And still, in friendly fashion, he laughed and chatted with the pursuers, as he bustled about now fetching more fuel, now stirring up the fire, till it roared and crackled, and sent forth fresh clouds of blinding smoke.

The Senior Partner slightly shifted his position, so as to bring the Prospectors' tent more within the range of page 135vision. Then he saw the cheery Englishman crawl from the rear, and fasten the pack-saddle on the horse. Next he proceeded to load up, always keeping under cover of the friendly smoke. This completed, he freed the animal from the tether-rope, and moved away up the plain, or "flat."

The Senior Partner, still sheltered by the flax plants, followed at a safe distance.

"Wé-ká! wé-ká! wé-ká!"—Three times the plaintive cry of the "wood hen" was heard. It was a preconcerted signal. The Englishman had forded the river.

Then "Tom" yawned and stretched himself, and said, "I'm tired out. Good night, boys. Be sure you wake us early in the morning."

And having thrown on another armful of scrub, he also disappeared within the tent. A few minutes after, he emerged, as the Englishman had done, at the back, and hurried to the river. From amongst the bushes he drew forth a "mokihi," on which he crossed the river in safety and re-joined his comrade.

For the benefit of the unlearned in such matters, let me here explain that a 'Mokihi' is constructed of 'Koradies;'—Anglice:—the flowering stalks of the flax,—three faggots of which, lashed firmly in a point at the small ends, and expanded by a piece of wood at the stern, constitute the sides and bottom of the frail craft, which, propelled by a paddle, furnishes sufficient means of transport for a single individual.

The Senior Partner watched awhile, and noted the course taken by the Prospectors. "The Lord hath de-page 136livered them into my hands," he said. Then he prepared to follow them.

The task was not an easy one. Close to the bank there was a deep channel, wherein the cold smooth river glided all too swiftly for any but an expert swimmer to venture the passage. In vain the American, unacquainted with the fording place, sought for shallower waters. But he was not to be beaten. That would have been 'a circumstance' such as had never occurred to his imagination.

A little way beyond the tents, was one of the small islands whereof mention has been made. Here he resolved to make the hazardous attempt.

At first he cut a quantity of the broad flax-leaves, each five or six feet in length. Of these he made a line, knotting the blades together by a series of 'sailor's hitches.' The centre of the line he fastened to the stem of a Tumatukaurow bush; one end he secured around his waist, the other he held free in his hand. Then he boldly let himself down into the stream.

Twice he essayed to cross to the island, and twice the current carried him away, and drove him baffled back.

"Guess it's got to be done, anyhow." That was all he said.

Loosing the flax-line, he made a careful survey of the locality. At one point the curvature of the land forced the stream against the island; whereas his previous efforts had been made where the waters swept inwards towards the bank. Here then he made the next experiment. He made fast the flax-line again, and for the third time he ventured into the river. As he had calculated, the current now aided his endeavors, page 137but the strain on the line was excessive. He struggled on, half-swimming, half-floating, till within a yard of the island. Then suddenly a knot in the body-line gave way, and he had only the loose end to hold on by.

He made a desperate effort. Inhaling a huge draught of air he plunged forward. The action caused the line to slip from his grasp, severely lacerating his hand as it passed through his clenched fingers. Already the remorseless flood was sweeping him away, when he clutched a low-bending bough of Manuka scrub, and by its aid drew himself ashore on the island.

His troubles were now over. On the far side of the island, the waters, though swift, were shallow. Here his length of limb stood him in good stead. Without hesitation he waded through the stream and safely reached the farther bank.

Nothing suspecting, Barney and his friends waited patiently till the morning sun shone full on the smouldering embers of the fire. Then he went over to the Prospectors' tent.

"Now, boys!" he cried, "it's time yez were stirring."

Of course there came not any response to this civil adjuration.

"Be my conscience, thin," quoth Barney, "but it's mighty sound ye're sleeping."

He parted the folds of the tent and peeped in. The tent was empty and bare. One object only met his gaze. It was a hieroglyyhical drawing in charcoal on the back of the tent,—a skeleton sketch of a human figure with out-stretched digits, pointing an impossible thumb to a supposititious nose. Barney viewed it page 138aghast. Soon he gave vent to a howl of anguish. He danced an impromptu measure around the tent, and administered to the front pole a kick, which hurt the pole not at all, but hurt his own foot very much.

"Och! by this and by that," he cried, "they've chated us entirely.—Ah! the deludherin' hounds! Shure they're gone, the divil knows where. The curse of Cromwell on thim, the dhirty spalpeens, that they are! What'll we do now, boys?"

The only answer to which melancholy query, was a chorus of maledictions, couched in the most terse and vigorous phraseology of the Three Kingdoms.