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Rifle and Tomahawk

Chapter XIV — The Secret Tunnel

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Chapter XIV
The Secret Tunnel

Ron's boast that lie knew of a way into Ngatapa pa had been no idle one. It had been this piece of information that Hori had given him on the night when he had crept into Ropata's camp and cut the thongs that bound his Maori friend; and it had been the knowledge that he alone possessed the key to Te Kooti's stronghold that had made him so disgusted when the order had come for the Rangers to retire, for he had thought that the secret might have given him a chance to distinguish himself in the war with the rebels.

But if his knowledge had been important before it was of the most significant value now. If he could manage to gain access to Ngatapa he would in all probability be able to garner some news of Isbel's fate. He considered that there was more than a chance that his sister was still alive; the Hauhaus could have no reason for carrying away the bodies of any pakehas they had slain. Unless—unless—Ron thought of Kereopa the Bye-eater, page 183and a shudder ran through him. Somehow, by hook or by crook, he must contrive to get into Ngatapa.

There was, of course, Hori to be considered. If Hori was still with the Hauhaus he could be relied upon to do all that he could to prevent any harm coming to Isbel. But Hori was only a youth, whose counsels would not carry much weight with Te Kooti, if, indeed, he dared advance any opinion at all. But Ron thought that if he could only see Hori somewhere he would at least be put out of the awful suspense of wondering whether Isbel were alive or dead. He scanned the deep forest between him and the Maori stronghold, as though endeavouring to pierce the gloom of the trees. Hori might at that moment be lurking somewhere in the underbrush, seeking an opportunity of conveying his news of Isbel. And Isbel, herself might be a prisoner within the palisades of that terrible mountain pa, stronghold of Te Kooti the ruthless!

The Constabulary, the Rangers, and Ropata's contingent had arrived before Ngatapa that morning. The force numbered roughly six hundred and seventy men. They were encamped on a ridge about a mile from the pa, and could look over rolling, ferny hills, right up to the eyrie of the page 184rebel chief. Colonel Whitmore, Ropata, and other leaders had been holding a council of war, during which many plans for the attack had been discussed. Scouts were even now out in the bush.

While Ron moodily waited for Captain Barry to be free of the apparently interminable discussion that raged in Colonel Whitmore's tent he saw Jock Abler come out of the scrub. The bushman had been on a scouting expedition, in which Ron, much to his disappointment, had not been permitted to take part.

Ron stood up and moved to his friend. "Any news, Jock?" he called, as the bushman came up toward him.

"Not a sight of a Hauhau between here and Ngatapa," responded Jock. "Have you had word with the Captain yet?"

"I haven't seen him since he went into Colonel Whitmore's tent," Ron complained. "He told me to wait because he had something to say to me; and I've missed going out on scout duty while I've been waiting for him. It isn't much fun having to sit here kicking my heels when I don't know how things are with poor old Isbel."

"I know, lad," replied Jock. "Still, you can't make a move without the Captain's authority. And I guess he won't do anything until he has page 185talked the matter over with Ropata. He thinks the world of that same little chief."

"I wonder if Ropata's men will stick by him this time?" Ron asked.

"I should say so" replied Jock. "He's brought nearly four hundred warriors with him, including some of the Arawa tribe, and I never laid eyes on a more determined set of fellows. Did you hear what happened between him and the Colonel?"

As Ron shook his head Jock continued. "Evans told me. When Ropata came back from Waiapu he was ill, and Colonel Whitmore started sending messages to hurry up his movements. At last he said he would take Ngapata by himself if Ropata shrank back."

"That sort of bluff wouldn't have much effect on Ropata, I should say," declared Ron.

"It didn't. Ropata only said: 'Be it so. I tried to take Ngapata. Now it is the pakehas' tried And he halted his men there and then!"

"Was that why Colonel Whitmore went to Ropata's camp yesterday morning?" asked Ron.

"Yes. 'Tis said he went to explain himself to the chief. Ropata asked him if he had taken Ngatapa. The Colonel said no, he hadn't, and that he wanted Ropata's help. Ropata told him page 186that he would be with him at once. But mark me, Ron, that same Ngatiporou chief will take Ngatapa when and how he pleases. He won't be hurried into anything; and, after all, why should he? He's a Maori and knows more about Maori warfare than the whole of the rest of us put together. Of course, Captain Barry is on Ropata's side, but he won't have much say in things because the Rangers aren't in the regular Constabulary."

"It would be a dozen pities if the attack should fail because the leaders aren't able to agree," Ron remarked gloomily.

Jock nodded. "It won't fail," he declared confidently, "but Ropata will be the man to direct it, and the whites will just have to fall into line and knuckle down to his superior strategy."

As he spoke Captain Barry approached the two friends.

"Ah, Ronald," he said kindly, as the boy sprang up and saluted, "this is terrible news about your sister. I have been discussing it with Ropata, and he considers it more than likely that she is alive. But he thinks, too, that there is something very mysterious about the whole business. Have you thought of any clue that might assist us?"

Ron's face betokened that he had not.

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"Well' resumed Captain Barry, "we have matured our plans for the attack on the pa. The assault will be made to-morrow. Now, in the meantime I am going to give you and Abler a roving commission. It is just possible that a certain weka might call this evening; and if you two are at liberty to come and go, it is possible that you might get some word of little Miss Isbel."

"Oh, thank you, sir." Ron's blue eyes shone with delight.

"Likely you'd tell the Captain now what you told us back at the farm," interposed Jock. "About the secret entrance to the pa."

"What's that?" cried Captain Barry sharply.

"It's quite true, sir," said Ron. "The night we released Hori he told me of a way he knew in and out of Ngatapa, and he gave me Te Kooti's password."

"And where is this secret entrance, and how is it that I haven't heard of it before?" asked Captain Barry.

Ron explained. "About half a mile to the left of the cliff that we climbed with Ropata there is a wall that looks like a precipice. There is a little tunnel runs into it, gradually going upward for about twenty yards. Then it comes out on a page 188ledge of the cliff, screened by big bush. Nobody could climb the rest of the way because it's sheer cliff-face, but the Hauhaus have a rope fastened at the top that just reaches the ledge, and with the aid of that it would be easy to climb up and get right inside the pa itself. Hori told me that one, or even two, men might do it, but it would be impossible for more to get up that way because a sentry examines the rope every now and then. I didn't mention it to you before because I forgot it in the excitement that night, and then afterwards it didn't seem much use except for scouting purposes."

"I can see that," Captain Barry replied thoughtfully. "Well, Ronald, what do you propose to do? Have you any scheme in your mind?"

"I did think of trying to meet Hori, sir," admitted Ron. "He will tell me if Isbel is still unharmed, and I thought that between us we might try to rescue her."

"Then you two had better get off as soon as possible," Captain Barry exclaimed. "Would you care to take Evans along with you? What about inviting me to come too?"

Jock spoke slowly. "Ron and I have been in one or two tight places together before this. We know each other's ways and each other's bush-page 189craft . I think that if the lassie is to be rescued from the hands of yon fiends the fewer men engaged in the business the better. That's if you are agreeable, sir," he added, somewhat shyly.

"I can see plainly that you don't want me!" laughed Captain Barry. "And on the whole I think you are wise. If the two of you can't do the job then I don't believe that the whole of the attacking force would make a success of it. Be off with you then; and I will be very disappointed if I don't hear some good news of Miss Isbel before morning."

"We'd better make straight for the tunnel," advised Ron, when Captain Barry had departed.

But Jock, methodical in all matters, insisted that they first put up a small quantity of food. "The job might take longer than we expect," he said. "So we'd better be well prepared for it. If we start in half an hour's time we ought to strike the foot of Ngatapa just about dusk."

Accordingly they packed some biscuit and other provisions easy of transport; and, having seen to their knives and their rifles, they left the camp as quietly as possible.

They made their way through the bush in preference to taking the path that led to the pa. They reasoned that Hori, were he about, would page 190more likely be concealed in the forest than venturing along any trodden path. Until they reached the base of Ngatapa Mountain there was small need for any caution, for Jock had been over the ground thoroughly some hours before, and, as he had said, had seen no sign of any Hauhau scouts.

But when they reached the cliff they stole along as carefully and as silently as they could. A stream tumbled over a rocky bed at the bottom of the precipice, where they expected to find the tunnel, and they followed the bank, providentially discovering a narrow ribbon of path through the tangled scrub that lined the banks of the creek.

Now and again Jock stopped and drew aside the masses of fern and creeping vines that hung down the wall of the cliff, seeking to find the entrance to the tunnel. At last he stopped with a muttered word of satisfaction, and, stealing up beside him, Ron saw him draw aside a tangle of bush-lawyer and supplejack that made a natural curtain across the cunningly devised entrance to the pa.

Having satisfied themselves that they could find the place again without trouble, Jock and Ron then crossed over the creek, and selecting a heavy clump of fern, settled themselves down comfortably to await any developments the next page 191hour or two might bring forth. Ron could scarcely conceal his impatience. Nothing, he thought, but the importance of somehow contriving to communicate with Hori would have prevented his immediately setting about exploring the tunnel and finding the rope that was his sole and precious means of attempting to discover his sister's fate. His thoughts travelled to his mother, and he felt keenly with her in the agony of mind she must be enduring. His father would be with her now, endeavouring to comfort her, and Hughie … He thought of Isbel and her devotion to the small brother, and a lump rose in his throat.

An hour, two hours passed, and the night became darker. Would Hori never come? Once a weka called from the darkness of the bush, and Ron almost jumped. He and Jock listened keenly for any repetition of the call, but none came, and they were perforce compelled to believe that it was just an ordinary bird-call of the night.

At length Ron whispered: "I can't stand it any longer, Jock. Something must have happened to Hori, or I'm sure he would have appeared before this. I'm going to try to get up to the pa, and see if I can't find out something for myself."

The bushman demurred at first. But his sympathy for Ron's impatience was sincere, and at page 192length he agreed. Between them they made their plans. Ron, who claimed it as his right, would go up through the tunnel, while Jock would remain at the bottom and give the danger whistle should anything untoward happen.

They crept to the mouth of the tunnel, and after clasping his friend's hand Ron pushed aside the curtain of greenery and began to crawl upward.

The tunnel was very narrow, and he had to go on his hands and knees for all of the distance. Also, it was pitch dark, and he was compelled to proceed with the utmost care, groping his way onward. Once the thought struck him that somebody might possibly be coming downward at the same time, and he half-giggled at the thought of what an unpleasant surprise the descending Hauhau would receive.

Suddenly he came to a place where the tunnel appeared to end. He felt carefully all round him. Hurrah! His hand came in contact with a ladder. In an instant he had set foot upon the lowest rung, and was climbing rapidly toward the top. Already he could feel the night air on his face, and, looking up, he saw the branches of tall trees against the starry sky.

He came out on the ledge, a little breathless. It was about six feet in width at this point, and page 193was completely overshadowed by the thick branches of some trees. He felt a deep admiration for the brains that had contrived this cunning pathway to the pa, while he groped along the rocky wall for the rope.

Ah! there it was, stout enough to bear the weight of a heavy man, knotted at intervals to assist the climber.

"Now for it!" said Ron to himself.

He was just about to take hold of the rope and commence his arduous climb when he felt it jerked out of his hands!

Somebody was coming down! Could it be Hori? Quick as a flash, Ron retreated along the ledge, away from the mouth of the tunnel, and flattened himself against the wall. Scarcely daring to breathe, he waited there.

And now he could hear voices above him, and a pebble, dislodged from the cliff, fell past him and was lost in the bushes below.

Then a dim figure swung itself down on to the ledge, and by its size he knew that it was not Hori. The Hauhau uttered a low, peculiar cry and disappeared into the tunnel.

Ron's anxiety was now for Jock. Would the bushman be alert to the situation? He longed to give the warning whistle, but he dared not, for he page 194was aware that another man was now coming down the cliff, and that behind him probably there were others.

It was as he had surmised. A second man appeared on the ledge, gave the same cry, and went into the tunnel; and then, flattened against the wall, Ron watched four more come down and disappear, one after the other.

He listened intently for any sounds of disturbance from below; but all was quiet, and he decided that Jock must have decided to make himself scarce until the danger should have passed.

Then Ron made up his mind quickly. He argued that no one would be watching the rope so soon after the Hauhaus had gone down. He must act now or never. He seized hold of the rope and began to draw himself up through the hardy bushes that clung to the wall of Te Kooti's stronghold.

It was hard work, that climb, and it was desperate work, for he knew not what might await him at the top. But anxiety for Isbel spurred him on, and so it came that at last, panting, he reached the summit of the cliff, and peered over the top before pulling himself into the scrub that grew thickly a little to one side.

He took rapid note of his surroundings. He was outside the palisade of the pa, but through page 195the roughly bound together stakes he could see fires burning, and the sound of voices was borne to him now and again. There must be a gate into the pa on this side, he decided; but it would doubtless be strongly guarded, and although he was possessed of Te Kooti's password he could not expect to get through it in his present guise. If he had Renata's piu-piu now, he thought wistfully, he might make the attempt at once. But without proper disguise the idea was madness.

Suddenly he drew in his breath rapidly. Instinct warned him that somebody was approaching. He crouched in the scrub and remained motionless while he satisfied himself as to the direction from which the danger was coming. Then there was a sound or two from below him and he knew. A Hauhau was coming up into the pa by the rope. Doubtless, Ron thought, it was one of the party he had watched going down a short while before.

With a little scuffle the ascending man drew himself over the top. But he gave no cry, as the others had done, to inform anyone behind him that the rope was free. That circumstance was what made Ron strain his eyes to scrutinize the newcomer.

Then Ron gave vent to a little chuckle of joy.

"Hori!" he called, in a low but distinct tone. "Hori!"