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Rifle and Tomahawk

Chapter III — A Night by the Pool

page 41

Chapter III
A Night by the Pool

When Ron left Isbel and Hughie it was his intention to hasten back for the food-bag, and to return with corresponding speed to the friendly shelter of the cave. After ascending the cliff he stole along the path as quietly as possible. He made a much speedier journey than had been the case when he was carrying Hughie, and half an hour's travelling brought him to the stepping-stones.

He found the bag without trouble. As he picked it up his eyes sought to pierce the gloom of the thick bush that stood between him and the house, in order to ascertain whether the Hauhaus had arrived. All seemed quiet in that quarter. There was no sound except the ordinary ones of bush and running water. He decided that, if Te Kooti's savages were, about, they must have stolen up silently in order to take anyone within the house by surprise. He shuddered as he pictured what might have happened had Hori not come over that afternoon, and he felt thankful page 42that his parents had left when they did, as the business of conveying his mother to the cave must necessarily have been an extremely difficult one.

Food-bag in hand, he was just about to retrace his steps when a peculiar whistle sounded from up near the house. He would have known that whistle in a hundred.

"It's Jock!" he exclaimed to himself. "I quite forgot that he was coming in on his way back from Roro. And he couldn't see the fire from the short cut, if he came that way, and wouldn't know that there was anything amiss!"

Quick as a flash he answered Jock's signal, only, instead of whistling once, he gave two short, sharp whistles. This was an old signal between the two. They had used it when out pig-hunting, and he knew that Jock would interpret it as "Danger!"

Ron's heart was racing as he waited by the creek. He reasoned that Jock's quick ear would pick up the direction whence the signal had come, and that he would make his way to the creek as swiftly as he was able.

"I'll take him up to the cave," thought the boy, proud to thus be the means possibly of saving the bushman's life.

At length, ears listening intently, he heard some one coming toward the creek. He was just page 43about to whistle again, more softly this time, when the conviction seized him that it was no friendly ally who was approaching. He drew back behind a tree. As he did so the branches on the other side of the creek parted, and a Maori came out on to the bank. Ron could see him, standing with head bent, tomahawk in hand, alert for any further sound that might betray the whereabouts of the person who had whistled.

At the same moment a piercing scream sounded from somewhere in the vicinity of the house. Immediately it was answered by a chorus of savage yells. The Maori on the opposite bank grunted and disappeared into the bush.

"It was a Hauhau who screamed!" said Ron to himself. "Jock has accounted for one of them, at least. But now they will know that some one else beside themselves is about, and they will search the bush for him. Whatever happens now, I must contrive to find him and take him to the cave."

By now the noise on the hill was increasing in volume. Ron could hear the savages dashing through the various rooms, pulling the furniture about, searching for anyone who might be hiding in a corner, and uttering ferocious cries at finding themselves cheated of their victims.

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The boy thought quickly. He was convinced that Jock, supposing he were unharmed, would manage somehow to reach the creek; but the spot whereon he was standing was badly placed to enable him to observe the approach of anyone, friend or foe. On the other hand, could he but get. to the pool below the stepping-stones, he would be able not only to see clearly what was happening up at the house, but also to distinguish anyone going either up or down on the other side of the stream.

Very cautiously and slowly he retreated further into the bush; and having made a détour he came out a few moments later on the bank above the pool. The bank here was undermined, and overgrown with drooping vines and ferns. Ron lay down, and worming his way to the edge looked up at the house. The savages, disappointed of the victims they anticipated, were already thrusting fire-sticks in through the windows, and ere long the wooden building began to crackle. Yelling, and calling rough jests to each other, the Maoris ran round the house like men possessed, stopping now and then to fire their rifles in through the windows.

The flames leaped higher and higher. Ron gritted his teeth as he saw his beloved home going page 45up in fire, and the delicate vines of clematis and mingi-mingi he had cared for so faithfully drooping and wilting in the fierce heat. At the same time, it occurred to him that the bank whereon he now lay was too exposed to render him sufficient concealment if the Hauhaus should come searching the bush again.

After an instant's hesitation he slid carefully down the vines until his feet touched the water. Then he swung himself on to a comfortably wide ledge of papa underneath the bank and drew the greenery over his hiding-place. Here he felt safer, for while he could peer through the vines, there was little chance of anyone discovering him in his retreat.

The manœuvre was executed not a moment too soon. Almost immediately afterward he observed three of the Hauhaus stealing down the opposite slope. They went upstream and crossed by the stepping-stones, and presently he could hear them talking to each other on the bank above his head. They were so close that he had no difficulty in picking up their conversation.

"I tell you," said one of them, "there is no one about. How could they have known that Te Kooti was abroad?"

"What of the call I heard?" answered another. page 46"Clearly and shrilly from the stream did some one whistle!"

"A bird," said the first speaker; "or perhaps one of our own brave warriors calling to another."

"Who, then, killed Pene Rota?" demanded a third voice. "Was it a bird, or yet one of our own warriors that sent him to Te Reinga1 with a knife-thrust in his throat?"

So Jock had indeed killed a Hauhau! And, since the Maoris did not appear to know who was responsible for Pene's quick death, it stood to reason that Jock was alive, and somewhere in the surrounding bush. Ron's spirits began to rise.

Meanwhile the Hauhaus, after some further argument, moved away. By now the house was entirely enveloped in flames, and the yelling savages commenced to sing some kind of wild chant, whose frenzy chilled the blood in the veins of the watching lad.

Ron judged that the hour was late; and he began to wonder what poor Isbel, alone with Hughie in the dark cave, was thinking of his long absence. Of her safety he had no doubts whatever; else, leaving Jock to his own devices, he would have gone back ere this to afford her what page 47protection he could. And he had no fear that she would attempt to follow him back to the pool as she would not dream him leaving Hughie. In any case, there were now at least three stealthy foes on the bank somewhere above him, which fact alone made impossible any attempt on his part to reach the cave for some time. So, resigning himself to the inevitable, he settled down more comfortably on the ledge and prepared to wait until he had some sign or token of Jock's whereabouts.

Many a time in the next few minutes he regretted that he had never mentioned the cave to his bushman friend. Jock would probably think that he had concealed Isbel and Hughie in the bush, and aware of the man's determination of character, was sensible that Jock would keep on searching about until he found them. But why did Jock not come down to the creek? Was it because he was cut off by enemies prowling between him and his objective? These and many other surmises Ron kept turning over in his mind while he watched the roof of his home fall in, and heard the frenzied chant of the murderous Hauhaus rise higher and louder.

There was one thought that puzzled him exceedingly. Why did the Maoris not leave his home as page 48speedily as they had left "The Poplars"? He considered the matter until the answer came to him. Te Kooti's fiendish warriors knew that his mother and father were away. They knew, too, that they had only three children to account for, and they probably judged that Hughie, the baby, could not travel very far. So they had decided to remain in the neighbourhood until morning, and then, with the assistance of daylight, they meant to search the surrounding forest thoroughly.

"I must get Isbel and Hughie away before daylight," thought Ron. "But where on earth can I take them? Oh, I do wish Jock would come quickly—he would be able to suggest something. I don't see that I can wait for him much longer. And why have those three beauties who came over the creek not returned?"

Suddenly every muscle of his body stiffened, and he threw a startled glance across the water. Something or some one was in the pool below the opposite bank!

In another moment he was satisfied the thing was human; but friend or foe, which was it? Whoever it was, he must have slipped into the pool while Ron was looking up at the house. Could it possibly be Jock?

Almost afraid to breathe, Ron crouched be-page 49hind his ferny curtain and waited for some sign that would reveal the other's identity. Supposing the man should take it into his head to cross the pool, he must inevitably find Ron's place of concealment. On the other hand, if it was indeed Jock the sooner he acquainted him with the fact that he was near the better. They could then set out for the cave and could soon allay the anxiety that he knew Isbel must be experiencing.

But the trouble was that he dared give no sign of his own presence until he could be certain that he was making no mistake. He dared not leave his shelter under the bank in case the man opposite was a Hauhau. He knew, from report, that Te Kooti's braves were crafty in the extreme, and he feared a trap. Chafing at the delay thus caused, he kept rigid watch.

At last his patience was rewarded. The man in the pool dislodged a stone, which fell into the pool with a plop, and Ron heard a voice cursing softly in English. He waited no longer.

"Jock!" he called in a low voice, but one which he knew must carry over the pool. "It's I—Ron! I'm under the bank on the other side, behind the ferns. Can you swim over?"

The man commenced the crossing, swimming almost noiselessly, and a moment later Ron thrust page 50out his hand and guided Jock to the ledge. Behind the friendly ferns the two clasped hands.

"This is a bad business, lad," said the bushman gravely. "Where are your sister and brother? God grant yonder fiends did not get them!"

On that point Ron quickly reassured his friend. "I've hidden them in a secret cave up the gorge," he said. He then recounted the loss of the food-bag, and explained how, on returning to get it, he had heard the whistle and had answered it.

"And well for Jock Abler that you did, my lad!" answered Jock. "I had no idea that there was devilment afoot, but when I heard your signal I made for cover. Just inside the bush I fell over a Hauhau who was creeping upon me with his tomahawk. I just managed to draw my knife in time. I've been looking for you ever since, but the murderous varmints have been hunting me the while. Did three of them go over the creek looking for me some while back?"

Ron assented, and Jock nodded in a satisfied manner. "I gave them the slip when I got into the pool. Well, lad, we'd better get out of this and away to your sister. What's the best way? You know these parts better than I do."

"We'll have to climb up the bank and crawl page 51along until we strike the path," advised Ron. "I'll go first and guide you."

But even as he spoke Jock whispered "Hist!" There came a sound of footsteps, and the three Maoris came out on the bank above them. They were still arguing, and, seemingly, were undecided whether to rejoin the main party or to search further.

At length one of them recrossed the creek and went up the slope toward the house, while the other two sat down on the bank. The first Maori returned presently, bringing food and what appeared to be a bundle of rugs. He brought word also from their leader.

"It is Te Kooti's will that we stay here to-night," were his words to his companions. "He says this is a good place to keep watch, and when day comes we will hunt for those who have escaped us this night!"

All three proceeded to make a meal, with many ribald comments on their success of the night; while below them Ron and Jock, the latter wet to the skin from his sojourn in the pool, suffered much distress owing to the necessity of keeping as still as they could.

With the first light of dawn the Maoris were astir. More of them came over the creek, and page 52soon a dozen different parties were at work methodically searching the bush. Ere the sun was far up in the sky Jock and Ron had had more than one narrow escape from detection. But their good luck stood by them, and at what they judged was about ten o'clock they heard a bugle blown, and the searchers began to wander back.

When it appeared that all had returned another bugle-note was sounded, and shortly afterward the Hauhaus departed and the bush relapsed into its wonted quietude.

The two friends waited long enough to make certain that there were no stragglers about, then clambered out of their refuge. Hurriedly they followed the track that led to the cave, Ron's heart aching with sympathy for Isbel in the night of anxiety she must have passed.

As they reached the foot of the cliff he gave Jock's peculiar whistle, in order to calm any fears that she might be entertaining. Quickly stepping along the ledge of rock, he lifted the curtain of greenery and looked within.

But the cave was empty.

1 According to the Maoris, the leaping-place of spirits.