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Utu: A Story of Love, Hate and Revenge

Chapter XXVII. On the Poop—in the Forecastle—A Terrible Project

page 134

Chapter XXVII. On the Poop—in the Forecastle—A Terrible Project.

Un Sou for your thoughts, D'Estrelles,’ cried Captain du Freshe gaily some days later, slapping that personage lightly on the back, as, with arms crossed on the taffrail, he appeared lost in contemplation of the briny fluid beneath. An oath, but half suppressed, betrayed how the sudden salutation had startled its recipient, and the good-humoured Captain quickly apologised, mingling gall with his honey, however, by adding:

‘I really forgot for a moment, mon ami, how nervous you have grown.’

D'Estrelles angrily repudiated the imputation, declaring his nervous system perfect.

‘Yet you start, like a woman, at shadows.’

An ugly response followed, and then Monsieur d'Estrelles, who seemed in a thoroughly bad humour, divulged in no very studied language the chief subject of his recent musings.

‘This new el Dorado has not yet produced any gold,’ he said, morosely, ‘and I was just thinking, mon ami, that it was about time some serious attempt was made to discover whether we have not been decoyed out to these cannibal islands on a fool's quest.’

An angry flush rose to Du Fresne's brow, but controlling himself, on observing the haggard looks and bloodshot eyes of his passenger:

‘Monsieur forgets,’ he said mildly, ‘that several prospecting parties have already made careful explorations without success.’

‘Already!’ retorted the other, grimly. ‘Why, we've been lying here nearly a month, sufficiently long, one would think, to have explored the whole island. But, as I have already said more than once, prospecting parties in which the natives themselves predominate are a farce. It is to their interest to mislead us, and their espionage prevents all freedom of action.’

‘But you forget, mon ami, that in a country so new we must, for our safety, have guides, and further, we would without them always be in danger of in some way violating this incomprehensible law of tapu which seems so all-prevailing.’

‘D——n the tapu! The gold, if they know of it, is most likely tapu, but that would not hinder me from filling my pockets with it if I had the page 135 chance. Let us survey the country without native help—or rather hindrance—and if we find indications, defy the tapu and those who would enforce it. We have ships and stores, men and guns. A handful of men with muskets could easily put to flight a host of these savage. whose flaxen armour* would scarce repel our bullets. Let us imitate Cortes and Pizarro at least in their courage, it we fail of their success; or’—he added, sullenly— ‘let us weigh anchor and return to civilization. We have been here too long.’

‘God forbid.’ cried the humane commandant, ‘that I should seek to emulate Cortes and Pizarro, at whose inhumanity Europe even yet shudders.’

Pardieu.’ exclaimed D'Estrelles, with a sneer. ‘I understood you were ambitious. Monsieur, and desired to distinguish yourself by adding to French possessions.’

‘You are right, Monsieur. That I regard as a laudable object, and it is my purpose ere we depart to annex these islands in the name of His Majesty. But I desire to do so without strife and bloodshed, and even should we at the outset fail to find a golden treasure, they are a sufficiently fair possession in themselves to add prestige to the French name, and to gratify our Royal master.’

Pardieu.’ returned the other, angrily. ‘I am as reads as yourself to cry vive le roi, yet, nevertheless before His Majesty's gratification I place my own, and nothing short of gold will satisfy me, Du Fresne. 'Twas for that I came out to this land of savages and, pardieu! there'll be the devil to pay if I have to return without it.’

It is needless to detail the whole conversation. Suffice it that the Captain, whose temper was under excellent control, and who wished—while respecting the rights and institutions of the native—to mollify one who had a large stake in the venture, gradually talked his passenger into a better humour, and it was finally arranged that a picked party should set out before dawn the following morning for the head of the stream, upon which was situated the kainga of Takori. Native espionage would thus be avoided, and a long day's undisturbed fossicking in the gorges of the locality ensured, while the early habits of the natives would, it was reckoned, enable them to return past Takori's kainga unobserved, spite of the moonlight.

One stipulation the Captain made, and that was that Arnaud should be left behind.

‘If we are unaccompanied by natives,’ he said. ‘we shall not require an interpreter, and I mistrust the sleek rascal, whose extraordinary influence over some of these people I neither understand nor approve.’

* * * * * * * * * *

page 136

While this conversation was proceeding on the poop, another of very different character was going on in the forecastle, where several seamen were engaged in various duties. Somewhat apart from the others sat the sailor Pierre, his shock of red hair tumbling about and partly hiding his scowling visage. He was mending a sail, and. apparently uninterested in the noisy chat and frequent laughter of his comrades, worked away in sullen silence as if his sole object in life was to finish his task. He raised his head, however, as a shadow fell upon his work, and saw standing at his side the valet Arnaud, whose soft footsteps had, as usual, failed to announce his approach.

The giant returned his salutation roughly, and barely accorded him permission to take a seat by his side. But Arnaud's equanimity was in no way ruffled by his reception, and making himself quite at home, he, in a few well-chosen words, called the huge sailor's attention to the beauty of the lovely landscape around him. A deeper scowl and a muttered oath evinced Pierre's appreciation of the beauties of nature.

‘I know a sight that would please me better,’ he grunted.

‘I am coming to it, Pierre,’ answered the other in low, quiet tones; ‘and I wish to say to you, mon ami, that what you would do must be done quickly now, for we shall not be much longer here.’

‘Who says so?’ demanded Pierre, in surprise. ‘I have heard nothing of the kind.’

‘Probably not. But between ourselves, Pierre, there are indications that the natives are wearying of the excesses of our people, and of their reckless disregard of native customs and prejudices. We have some friends in and about the bay, but those a little further off regard us and our doings suspiciously, and lately some of our people have seemed bent on changing covert dislike into open animosity. Te Whatu Moana is our only real friend here.’

‘Te Whatu?’ interrupted the other. ‘I thought it was Naku-roa you were so fond of.’

‘Naku-roa is my personal friend, but I was speaking of our people. Te Whatu likes us genuinely, likes the pakeha for himself. Taranui likes us for our cognac. Others tolerate us for our presents, for we have not been niggardly. But there are some who watch our doings with hostile eyes, and any day our stay here may unpleasantly terminate. Therefore, I say if you would effect your purpose here you have no time to lose.’

Le aiable! Have I not been waiting for a sign from you?’ retorted Pierre, angrily.

‘Softly, Pierre. 'Tis indiscreet to attract attention. But, apropos of our subject, thirst you still for blood?’

The question was put too low to reach other ears than those of Pierre, and he answered in his throat:

page 137

‘I have sworn to have his life.’

C'est, bieu. See you von wooded cliffs away there frowning down upon the sea?’

‘Well?’

‘None of our people, save myself, have ever wandered so far from the attractions of the kaingas. It is a lonely spot. The only sound one hears is the wash of the tide and the rustling of the forest leaves. How, think you. Monsieur d'Estrelles would feel if, chained on the brink of the precipice, his hungry eyes should see frigates unfurling?’

Par de diable! I should not envy him. But, my good Arnaud, how shall we get him there?’

‘He sleeps at Motu Arohia to-night. At midnight the devil drives him out to promenade. You, watching your opportunity, must seize, gag, and bind him. I shall be in waiting with a canoe, and ere the moon begins to wane we shall have him at the foot o the cliff.’

‘But how is he to be got to its top?’

‘Thou hast little ingenuity. Pierre. From a tree on the brink hangs a rope which passes through a pulley fixed in its strongest to fork.’

‘Thou art a clever rogue, Arnaud.’

C'est bien, Pierre.’

* The Maori warriors sometimes wore over their chests defensive armour of dressed flax thickly woven.