The Death-dealing Curse.

Now the tohunga recited in quick, sharp tones his magic death-dealing incantation, the “Karakia whakemate.” It invoked the Powers of Darkeness, “The day of lowering sky, the day of retribution.”

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Its burden was, “Let this evil man, the worker of witchcraft, be destroyed, be utterly destroyed. Let him go unto the Night, the Great Night, the Long Night, the Night of Black Darkness!” The wizard ended his curse, “Thou art done forever with this world!” on a long breath with a quick forward jerk of his hand, and his glassily-set eyes projected until they seemed to start out of his head.

* * *

This ended the ritual. The priest resumed his ordinary air and tone and said to Rupe: “Carry the boy back to your home. He will recover now. Before many days you will hear more news.”

The Rupe household returned to their kainga. The boy began to recover fast, and in a few days was well. Faith had worked wonders. As for the enemy who had—according to Hupini—wrought the evil deed, the curse fell quickly. Hupini had told Rupe his name; it was that of a relative of his who lived at Parihaka, and who had some reputation as a tohunga and a caster of spells. In a week news came from Parihaka that this man had died suddenly; cause unknown. In the minds of Rupe and his household—and also in that of the to hunga—there was no doubt whatever as to the cause of death. That was the old pakeha-Maori's story. For his own part, he had no doubt whatever as to the guilt of the Parihaka dealer in magic and spells. And he was firmly convinced also that it was the superior spiritual power, the mana tapu of Hupini, that had prevailed over the inferior knowledge and skill of the secret enemy. Fatal projection of thought, the victory of mind over matter and distance, or whatever the pakeha wise men may call it, it was undoubtedly a power that certain tohunga Maori once possessed, and that not very long ago.