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Chapter XIII
Missing!

Ronald Cameron was highly disgusted with the turn events had taken. He had gone out with the Rangers after Te Kooti athirst for adventure, dreaming of the thrill and the excitement of tracking the rebels through wild bush-paths to their mountain fastnesses. And here he was, marching pleasantly and placidly back toward civilization, when he had but touched upon the fringe of adventure's mantle!

He spoke his mind to Jock Abler as they marched along together.

"I shouldn't worry, lad," returned the bushman quietly. "I doubt but there'll be plenty for us to do yet. There are certain to be many different parties sent out against Te Kooti, perhaps right into the Urewera country."

"Do you think we'll be taken?" asked Ron eagerly.

"On the merits of the case, I should think you'd be sure of a place," the bushman returned quaintly.

Ron coloured. For all that he had pressed his page 169claims to be enrolled among the Rangers, he was possessed of a simple modesty. Word of his having been the means of saving the lives of the supply-party had got abroad among his comrades, and he had achieved much distinction in their eyes. Ron, conscious of his extreme youth, was not a little shy about it all. He tried to laugh off Jock's remark.

"Well, if it's only for a short while I won't mind taking a holiday," he said. "I'd love to see Mother and Isbel again; and I'll be sure to see them, for they'll still be at Turanganui."

"That's if they haven't been shipped off to Hawke's Bay," Jock suggested. "I heard that lots of the folk who were burned out were sent to Napier."

The Rangers made Turanganui that evening, after a good march. As they neared the settlement they were surprised to see that some of the settlers were back on their farms again. In one case an optimistic pioneer had even started to rebuild his home, while his family camped beside it in a whare of raupo and flax.

"It isn't considered likely that Te Kooti will come down this way again," was the information given to the Rangers at Turanganui. "Nobody even troubles to sleep in the blockhouse nowadays."

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Having obtained leave, Ron went hither and thither, eagerly seeking news of his family. At last he got it from Major Blair, who was just then in charge of the district.

"Why, your people are back on their farm," said Major Blair. "Stay, though—that isn't correct. Your father is there, but Mrs Cameron and the children have gone to stay with some friends up Arai Bush way. Your mother is not quite well yet, and she couldn't rough it while your father is building a new house. She has been gone two or three days."

"It would be Mrs Burgess that she has gone to stay with," said Ron. "She has been promising for years to visit her. They came out to New Zealand in the same ship."

He was bitterly disappointed. "It would be great to have one of Hughie's tight little hugs, and to see old Isbel bossing us round again," he thought. "Still, there's one comfort in it—Mother must be ever so much better, or they wouldn't have sent her up to Arai Bush. There's no chance of my getting up there, so I'll go out to the farm and get all the news from Dad."

Accordingly, before he turned in that night, he applied to Captain Barry for leave to visit his home.

"An excellent idea," approved the soldier. page 171"You'd better get Abler to go along with you, and maybe you two will be able to help your father get things straightened out on the farm. I'll see that you get notice before we make the next move against Te Kooti."

The following morning just before sunrise the two friends, having managed to borrow a couple of horses, set out on their journey. The spring was passing rapidly, and on its heels was coming the summer. The early morning air was cool and sweet, and the dew still clung to the branches and silvered the short grass that grew on either side of the road. In occasional patches of bush the torches of the rata-blossoms were lighted, making blazes of scarlet against the sombre green of the trees.

Ron and Jock urged their horses along at a smart canter until they came to the crossroads and swung to the right up the weary road that Isbel had traversed on that dreadful day that already seemed such a long while back. Here the horses were brought to a walk, and they picked their way along the rough road enjoying the cool breeze that blew across the swamplands. The two friends spoke but little, for each was busy with his own thoughts. Ron wondered idly once or twice what Jock found to think over so deeply; page 172for he had noticed that in moments of silence the bushman seemed to be beset with troublesome memories. He attempted to study Jock's face, but all his mental questionings were baffled by the inscrutable look in his friend's eyes.

They passed the whare upon whose table Isbel had scrawled her message, and half an hour later came in sight of "The Poplars."

Here Jock broke the silence. "I got word of Mistress Johnston yesterday," he announced, "She is much better, and is being cared for in Napier."

"Yes, I heard so too," answered Ron. "What an awful time she went through!"

"Yet, after all, she was one of the lucky ones," said Jock, and they fell silent again.

Ron could not subdue a feeling of elation as they neared his home. He knew the worst—that the house he had loved was gone, that the stock was probably driven off, that the garden was very likely trampled out of recognition. Yet there was something that thrilled him in the thought that they would start all over again, and rebuild their home on the ashes of the old. "After all, this is pioneering," he thought. "And I'm actually one of the pioneers. I wonder how many boys in this country fifty years hence will be able to say page 173that they've fought Maoris and helped build the house they live in? I'm jolly glad I'm alive now, because I'd be missing a lot of fun."

The sound of an axe ringing out merrily through the bush interrupted his thoughts. "That'll be Dad!" he exclaimed, and quickened his horse's pace.

They dismounted at the edge of the clearing and turned the horses out; and then, guided by the sound of the axe, they made their way through some tall kahikateas.

"Ron!" exclaimed John Cameron, pausing in his work. "And Jock Abler too! What on earth are you two doing here, when I thought you miles away over the Ford?" Happiness beamed from his face as he clasped the hands of his son and the bushman.

"Have you got anything to eat, Dad?" inquired Ron when the excitement of the meeting had subsided. "I warn you I'm as hungry as a hunter. Come, let's go and get some food and we'll tell you all about our adventures over a damper."

Accordingly, while they set about preparing a meal over a camp-fire, close beside a little whare that the father had built as a shelter, Ron's tongue worked fast, and the events at Makaretu and Ngatapa were retailed.

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"That's the trouble with the Maoris," John Cameron said, when he heard of Ropata's anger at the desertion of his men. "I've heard that Te Kooti's influence is so enormous that their fear of him is greater than their fear of their chieftain's wrath. What is this Ropata Waha Waha like? From what you say he must be a bonny fighter."

"He's all of that," replied Jock. "I doubt if ever I've laid eyes on a braver man. A bit ruthless, perhaps, but he fights like a Maori, and he's fighting a war of vengeance so he can't be judged by our standards. It was great fun, though, getting young Hori te Whiti out of his clutches. My, the chief was angry! You see, he thought Renata had done the job; and the old man was too proud to deny it, although if he'd liked he could easily have said it was Ron."

"But Renata promised he would not tell on me," argued Ron. "And he would never break a promise. I love old Renata," he added. "He has vowed that he will pursue Te Kooti while ever his eyes can see, and I bet he'll keep his word."

"He won't fight beside Ropata, though," remarked Jock.

"No, but he'll probably enlist his men as pupapas ¹ with somebody else," Ron declared.

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After their meal the two men smoked, while Ron went down to the pool. Here everything was the same. Not a leaf nor a fern had moved. There were the same friendly fantails, the same well-remembered tui songs. Somewhere, deep in the bush on the other side of the creek, a bellbird was singing, and the boy listened breathlessly. It was like a chime of silver bells, rising and falling in an ecstasy of sweet sound.

Ron delighted in the sweet peace of it all. "This is the life for a man" he said to himself. "I wouldn't live in a town for anything. Now to help get some sort of a house together for Mother and Isbel and Co. when the come back. It's good to know that Mother's health is so much improved."

When Ron got back to the whare he found that Jock had disappeared. "He went over to his own shack to get a couple of axes," the father explained. "I've only the one here. Ron, old man, this business has just about ruined us. It will mean starting all over again. Are you ready to rough it for a year or so until we can get on to our feet?"

"Rather!" exclaimed Ron. "I was thinking it out as I came along the road. Don't worry, Dad, I'm ready to do my share, and I'm certain Isbel will do hers."

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"She's a good girl," John Cameron replied; "and sensible, too. Anyone less balanced than Isbel would soon have had her head turned by all the nice things they said to her at Turanganui. By the way, I didn't tell you that Major Blair wrote a letter to the Governor about her. He says that she will get some sort of medal for her bravery, and the pluck with which she stuck to Hughie and got him into safety."

"Hurrah!" cried Ron. "Good old Miss Muffet—well, she deserves it if ever anyone did! Shell make the Camerons famous yet. I'm sorry she's not here; but she's probably managing the entire Burgess family by this time, and she will just be in her element." He was immensely proud of his gallant little sister.

Jock reappeared at the end of an hour, and soon three axes were ringing in the bush. By dusk they were all heartily weary, and enjoyed to the full their supper of eggs and bacon fried over the open fire. Jock had found his whore undisturbed, the Hauhaus having passed it by; and, in addition to the axes, he had brought over a good supply of stores, since John Cameron had carried from Turanganui only sufficient for his own needs.

The morning saw them at work early. They planned the house over and over again, each sug-page 177gesting improvements on the plan of the old. And every moment was a great joy to Ron, whose axe flew with such energy that Jock often begged him to take it more easily. "There'll be nothing of you left when we go out again after Te Kooti," he maintained. "And yon Captain told me to keep a good eye on you because he wanted you when the fun starts again"

But Ron, though he coloured, only laughed and swung his axe the harder.

Through the following days few people passed, and those who did had but small time to spare for a chat. They were all busied with their own concerns, the rebuilding of their own homes and the making of the fresh start that was inevitable if they were to pick up their fallen fortunes.

"Good men, all of them," said Jock. "All of them determined to succeed. There's nothing like having a stake in the country to make a man work. Ron, lad, take an older man's advice. In years to come many of the young people will be getting tired of the farms that bred and fed them, and will be drifting off to the cities to try their luck there. Stick to the land, and it will stick by you."

But he saw that his advice was beside the question. Ron's blue eyes were full of decision as he nodded his assent to the bushman's opinion. page 178"I think I'd rather own my own bit of land than be Governor of New Zealand," he said quietly.

The weather gradually became warmer, and Christmas approached.

"It'll seem a strange Christmas away from Mother and Isbel," thought Ron one day, as they rested after lunch. Aloud, he said: "I wonder when Captain Barry will send for us, Jock? It's queer we have had no word yet."

"Listen!" said his father suddenly."I shouldn't wonder if your recall would be pretty sudden now. Can you hear hoof-beats out on the road?"

Ron listened. Sure enough, a horseman was approaching at a sharp pace for" the uneven nature of the road. All three rose and hastened across the clearing to meet the oncoming rider.

"It's Evans!" cried Jock as they obtained a clear view down the road. "Now I wonder what it is that sends him here in such a hurry."

They had not long to wait ere they knew. As the rider dismounted and came forward to greet them they saw that his face was grave, too grave for him to be the bearer of any good news.

At first Evans attempted to soften the blow, but Jock's impatient "Don't beat about the bush, page 179man—we're all men here. Out with what you have to say!" seemed to decide him.

"Te Kooti was only burning scrub when we saw the fires on Ngatapa. He is still there, and has made the pa stronger than ever. Two days ago he raided down on the Arai Bush. His men killed two pakehas and a friendly Maori. But that isn't the worst of it. Your daughter, Mr Cameron, has been missing ever since the raid. It is feared that she fell into the hands of the Hauhaus, and that for some unknown reason Te Kooti has taken her as a prisoner to Ngatapa."

John Cameron staggered as if he had received a blow. Ron was stunned with horror. In silence they stared at Evans, who continued quickly: "Colonel Whitmore and the Constabulary have left for Ngatapa, with the Rangers following as soon as they can be got together. Ropata is bringing along a big contingent of Ngatiporou and Arawas. It has been decided to root Te Kooti out of the pa by one means or another. Captain Barry has sent me for Abler and the lad to join him as quickly as they can. There is not an instant to be lost!"

"This will just about kill your mother, Ron," said John Cameron soberly.

"I know, Dad," answered the boy, in little more page 180than a whisper. "Oh, poor, poor Isbel—my own little sister!" He turned away lest the men should see the tears that stood in his eyes.

"What's to be done about it?" queried the father, in hopeless tones.

"This," said Jock slowly. He had been thinking rapidly. "Ron and I will set back at once. It's our plain duty to join up with our company, but in any case the place for us both is by Ngatapa. No, friend, you could do no good by coming—you know that leg of yours would not stand by you if you were to play any tricks with it. You make the best of your way up to Arai and comfort your wife. Heaven knows she will need all the comfort you can give her in this trial. If anything can be done to rescue the lassie you will be sure that Ron and I will do it."

"There isn't a man in the Rangers who wouldn't be proud to lay down his life if he thought that by doing it he could save Isbel Cameron," put in Evans huskily.

"Thanks, my friends," replied John Cameron brokenly. "It makes me very proud to hear you speak thus of my little daughter. I have faith that you will do everything that you can—if Isbel is still alive," he added, in low tones.

Ron lifted his head and spoke very steadily. page 181"If Isbel is still alive and unharmed she can be got out of Ngatapa," he said.

The others looked at him in astonishment. Evans shook his head. "We know by what we saw that Ngatapa is all but impregnable," he said.

"I know that it is a very strong fortress," cried Ron; "but I have the key to it in my possession. I know of a secret entrance into the pa, and I know Te Kooti's password!"