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Chapter XIII. A War Dance.

As unity of desire or interest is the surest bond of sympathy, I was able to enter fully into the wishes of the Maoris to prosecute the search for their missing comrade. Anxiety to ascertain the fate of Lode made us all warmly second the proposal of Te Kahu that the expedition should again start out on the following morning. This time Tamana, the brother of the missing man, accompanied us, otherwise the party consisted of the same persons as on the previous expedition.

We fully determined that the search should be a thorough and complete one, and went prepared for a camping out. The first night we spent in the vicinity of the cave we had previously visited. At daybreak the following morning Gordon, Richards, and I were astir examining the drawings and writings on the walls of the cave. We copied several figures and not a few of the characters with the view of some day thoroughly studying them, in the hope that these might throw some light on the history of the Maori, and perhaps solve the long-debated question of his origin. While we were busy with this work, Te Kahu and several other Maoris entered, and seemed in some degree horrified. They evidently considered we were com-page 111mitting an act of sacrilege—that our copying these sacred pictures and writings was a profanity for which we were liable to punishment. This, no doubt, accounted for the silence with which Te Kahu met my former enquiries on the subject. Now he seemed indisposed to say anything about them, and made haste to get us to return to the camp for breakfast. I noticed he paid particular attention to where we put our copies of the pictures, and this stimulated me to be a trifle careful that no opportunity was afforded him to appropriate them.

After breakfasting we returned to the canoe, and were soon shooting down the stream to the music of a chant from the rowers, led by Te Kahu, who for the first time in my hearing took the lead in the song. Towards mid-day we had gone down the river as far as we had reached on the day we encountered the hostile natives. A sharp lookout was kept for any similar occurrence, and very soon we were able from the river to survey the country for a considerable distance on each side. Presently, far away towards the east, we saw smoke rising in a part where the land was covered with dense bush. Immediately on seeing it, Te Kahu, as he gazed away towards the object, muttered—

"E Waikato!"

At once he gave orders for the canoe to be run ashore.

"Will not that be Rimana's fire?" enquired Gordon.

"Too big! too big!" answered Te Kahu shortly, at the same time gazing intently in that direction.

While the party were landing from the canoe, Te Kahu stood silently contemplating the distant upcurling of the page 112smoke, and I could see that he was debating what was best to be done. Without a doubt, if the fire was really the camping ground of the Waikato natives, there would be at least a full war party.

I saw that Te Kahu looked anxiously around examining his followers and their arms; then he surveyed us and our rifles. He was evidently calculating the odds. Were we sufficient to cope with at least 140 picked warriors of the enemy?

In the breast of this rough warrior there was only one impulse at work. No thought of retiring ever crossed his mind. He must meet and engage the advancing party if they were, as he supposed, now on their way towards the pa. That the exploit was a hazardous one did not influence him. His path of duty was clear, and if by a gigantic risk, or even the full sacrifice of himself and his little band, he could check the advancing foe and prevent any injury to his hapu, he would be happy. As he stood there, with his head bent forward and eyes gazing far away towards the smoke of the enemy, he looked a perfect picture of the noble warrior athirst for the impending action. His lips moved uneasily, his eyes dilated, and the hand which grasped his mere clutched the weapon firmly, and moved as if eager for the fray and impatient at the delay which must ensue before it would be raised to strike.

After a moment or so he appeared to have made up his mind how to act. Turning to his men, he addressed a few words of enquiry as to whether they were all willing to follow him. Without a waver came the answer—

"Ake! ake! ake!" (for ever).

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Then Te Kahu approached Gordon, and, pointing to his rifle, asked—

"How many spears is the pakeha worth?"

Gordon smiled grimly as he replied that we five (for Jars had one of our guns) were equal to fifty men with the usual Maori arms.

We then took counsel together, and decided that it was advisable to remain inactive until the sun had set, when, under cover of darkness, we might advance towards the camp. Te Kahu suggested that probably the enemy would advance immediately on nightfall. This thought decided us that as soon as it became dusk we should proceed.

In order to be prepared for the probable fatigue of the night, it was thought wise to rest during the two hours intervening before sunset, so, planting a couple of sentries, we all lay down amongst the thick growth of flax.

In the anxiety of the moment, sleep was to me almost impossible; but not wishing to disturb any of the others, I lay still, thinking over the events of the past. I could not help reflecting how completely we were cut off from the world of civilisation, and how quickly the action of the last few weeks had caused me to forget the comforts and associations of my past life.

Had anyone prophesied the occurrences through which we had gone, and predicted that in the short space of a few weeks I should be identifying myself with the tribal warfare of the Maoris with as much interest as if the cause of quarrel were my own, I should have laughed him to scorn as a wild visionary. Yet here we were, on the eve of perhaps a fatal fray, calmly lying down in companion-page 114ship with the Maoris to steal a few hours of rest ere we entered on the attack. To me there came the stimulating thought that perhaps we might he able, by our assistance in the fight, to so win the regard of these people as to be able to get from them permission and help to leave their country and return to our own friends. This was one of the chief reasons why I had so willingly joined the present expedition, and, coupled with the desire to find our lost companion, Lode, it had lent me heart in contemplating the danger on which we were about to enter. I thought of the friends we had left in Dunedin, now probably filled with anxiety for our welfare, but never once did I despair of seeing them again soon. No misgivings came to me as to the result of our expedition. No forebodings of evil nor doubts of our success in the fight marred the confidence with which I was prepared for the engagement. With these thoughts passing through my mind, the hours of waiting slipped away. When the voice of Te Kahu called us to prepare, I was, in fancy, back again with my friends, and seated at the domestic board listening to the usual gossip of the day's doings from each member of the family. Recalled to the realities of the present, I sprang up, and found the time propitious for our marching. Te Kahu had been some time astir reconnoitring. The fire was still to be seen in the same spot, and everything indicated that as yet no advance had begun.

Keeping the fire always in sight, we proceeded silently on our march, and after a hard walk of about an hour and a-half were within rifle range of the camp. We had reached a spot where the enemy, if they desired to pass page 115beyond towards the river, would have to file through a narrow gorge, in which we could intercept them. Here, having them at a considerable disadvantage, we should be able to pour destruction upon them, and, by means of stones rolled from the hills overlooking the narrow passage, would soon either kill or turn them to flight. At this spot we halted, and arranged the order of warfare. Across the narrowest part of the gorge we decided to throw up as quickly and quietly as possible a stone wall, from behind which a few men could check the advance of the enemy. When they reached this wall, the whole party would be immediately under the steep faces of the hills on each side, and men posted on these would be in a position to deal hardly by them by merely rolling down stones, while at the same time they themselves would be comparatively free from attack.

Having arranged the order and had the wall erected, Te Kahu suggested that he should go forward and ascertain what was going on within the enemy's quarters, and learn if possible what were their intentions. Placing his men in position, with Jars and Richards and four picked men behiud the wall, to be reinforced by us on our return, Te Kahu, Gordon, and I crept gradually forward to overlook, if possible, the doings of the hostile force. The distance still to be covered was much greater than we had imagined, and it took us fully twenty minutes before we got near enough to see any figures around the fire. Keeping close together and creeping along slowly, with a sharp look-out for sentries or stragglers, we reached a part of the bush which directly overlooked the spot on which the fire was page 116burning. From here we could see full into the camp, and were not surprised to find that the party consisted of at least seventy or eighty stalwart warriors. These were all seated near the fire, in the form of a crescent, surrounding the side farthest from us. They appeared to be all stark naked. Their hair was drawn up to the top of their heads, where it was tied in the form of a knot, showing like a short tuft on the crown. The majority of them had feathers stuck in their hair. Their faces and bodies were besmeared with a dull red colour, and each man carried a long spear in his left hand, had several shorter ones or darts stuck in a belt, and in his right hand was a stone or bone mere. Presently a fearful yell was heard, and a tall, powerful Maori rushed in before the squatting crowd, who immediately rose to their feet. At this proceeding Te Kahu became quite excited.

"E Haka!" he muttered through his clenched teeth.

The warrior who had rushed in front of the others uttered another fierce, savage yell, and jumped up into the air with most demoniacal gesticulations. This he repeated three times, then the whole party followed his example, making the ground around us shake with the force of their stamping. They then all broke out into the awful sounds of a war song, accompanying their voices with most grotesque grimaces—rolling their eyes, with only the whites showing; protruding their tongues, as if each were striving to outdo his neighbour in the length of this organ, or the diabolical expression of face, he could exhibit.

All the while the song proceeded they kept time with wild gesticulations, jumping and stamping, as if with one page 117mind, striking their chests and thighs, and shaking their heads at intervals, with excellent precision. After a time this wild demonstration gradually became less emphatic, and finally ceased, and the whole party squatted again as if nothing had occurred. Then they broke out into a slow, wailing chant, which gradually grew in intensity, until each seemed to be yelling at the top of his voice, from which it then gradually died away, until only the merest whisper was heard. This seemed to complete their weird performance, after which they appeared to be ready for the expedition. As they clustered together, we plainly saw that our estimate of their numbers was an incorrect one, and that there must be a full war party of 140 men.

As soon as the singing had ceased, Te Kahu motioned to us that we must return. He had heard enough to satisfy him that the march forward was about to commence. Noiselessly we followed him by the way we came. After going a short distance, Te Kahu stopped and placed his ear to the ground, as if to ascertain the whereabouts of the advancing force; then he arose and pushed on again. The enemy were coming in the direction of the gorge. Presently Te Kahu stopped suddenly. Something close in advance had arrested his attention. With a motion to us to remain still, he advanced some distance with cat-like tread. Then he stood still, and motioned us to follow quietly. When we came up he pointed to a black figure moving stealthily along in front of us. This was a scout from the advancing foe. To let him reach the gorge and discover the preparations made for the reception of his comrades would be fatal to our enterprise. I raised my page 118rifle as if asking Te Kahu should I fire. He shook his head, and placed his hands over his ears. It would make too much noise.

"Mataika! Mataika!" he exclaimed, and grasped his mere firmly.

I comprehended his meaning. The chance of his being the first to draw blood in the coming fight was in his favour. He eagerly embraced the opportunity to be the slayer of the first man killed in battle. With such odds against his side, it would be a wonderful encouragement if he could draw the first blood. The gods would then be with us, and each of his men would thereafter be a hero of valour.

Recognising the truth that Heaven has no prize beyond an opportunity, we readily accepted Te Kahu's feelings in the matter. He handed us his heavy spear, and, armed with his noble mere, he crept forward towards his prey. We followed quietly and breathlessly, watching every movement of both figures. The first walked on stealthily, never thinking of danger from behind; the other took every chance afforded him to advance on his victim. Shorter and shorter became the distance between the two men. The slightest pause or movement of the first man was seen by the other, and frequently Te Kahu stepped behind a bush as his enemy stopped in his advance to examine his surroundings. They were now close together, and another moment would end our suspense. Then the scout pressed forward, and Te Kahu with cat-like steps ran up behind him. Just when not more than two yards separated the men, the first turned quickly and saw page 119his follower. To hesitate now meant an alarm. With a terrific bound forward, Te Kahu threw his whole weight upon his antagonist, and dealt him a heavy blow with his mere. The moment was well chosen, and the aim perfect. The man was felled before he could realise his position or utter a word. Another blow and the scout was beyond power of thought or call. Without a moment's hesitation Te Kahu struck the head of the fallen man from the body, and lifting the trunk upon his shoulders, bore it quickly into a dense undergrowth near by. All trace of the scout was removed from the path of the advancing army, and Te Kahu bore his head to our men as evidence of the death of the Mataika, and a sure omen for the success of our arms that night.