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Chapter XVI. Arrival of Matapere—His Treacherous Receptions—A Pitched Battle.

Fully a month passed, and we were beginning to chafe dreadfully, and plan means of escape. During this time no attempt had been made to interfere with us. Our captors were evidently undecided as to what course to pursue. They could not kill us without great loss to themselves, and I fully believe that it was only our unceasing vigilance that saved us. But what had become of Matapere all this time?

Our faithful ally became very uneasy at last; as he said, Days was urging the natives on to kill us, and every day their dread of our fire-arms diminished.

One night Potona, who had been absent all day, rushed into the hut in great excitement, telling us he had been a long way up the coast that day, and from a high hill had seen his father's canoes returning. They would arrive on the following afternoon.

He further informed us that Hetarpopo was meditating treachery against them, and that he must start off at once to warn them. We did not see him again till nearly noon the following day, when he entered, with a triumphant look on his face, and conveyed to us the welcome news that he page 106 had travelled all night, had seen his father, and prepared him for everything. He also said his father would use every means in his power to protect us.

Tidings of old Matapere's approach had by this time reached Hetarpopo and his party; and we could see an unusual amount of excitement and bustle.

Potona, after being absent a few minutes, returned, saying his people were in sight, and would shortly arrive. He informed us that Hetarpopo and his party were preparing for some mischief or other, but that he had warned his own friends in the village to be in readiness to assist his father in case of a fight. “What you do?” he abruptly asked, when he had finished.

We one and all of assured him we would fight on his father's side and behalf as long as we could stand.

“Why not take canoe and go away while fighting!” he asked. “No mind us.”

As we had been really the innocent cause of all Potona's troubles, we decided it would be a most ungrateful course to desert him and his people until they were out of danger.

He seemed very much pleased at our answer, and advised us to load our guns and be in readiness. He then left us again for a few minutes reconnoitre.

“Come with me!” he exclaimed as he rushed back.

We dashed out of the hut and made our way towards the river bank, where the canoes would land. There we found all the inhabitants of the village assembled, and fully armed with spears, clubs and hatchets.

Potona uttered a peculiar cry, and immediately he was joined by about three hundred of his friends. We placed ourselves at their head, by the side of Potona and quietly awaited the issue of events.

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On seeing us with our guns ready and prepared for fighting, Hetarpopo's people uttered a loud yell and shook their weapons at us.

Our party were posted just above our adversaries; and to get to us, Potona's father would have to run the gauntlet of Hetarpopo's men or else attack them where they stood, and leave us to assail their rear. Hetarpopo would thus be placed at a disadvantage, but his forces far outnumbered ours, and besides Potona's father was laboring under the disadvantage of having many women and children in the canoes with him.

On they came, straight up the river, making for the spot where we stood. If there had been any doubts as regards the hostile intentions of Hetarpopo they vanished now. As the canoes passed his party, they were saluted with a shower of spears and stones.

Not the slightest heed was paid, however, and now we had a full view of our allies as they swept towards us. In the bow of the foremost canoe stood an old man of most commanding appearance, with hair white as snow, tall and erect, it needed no one to tell us who he was.

“Matapere! Matapere!” was shouted on all sides.

Meantime Hetarpopo's men drew nearer and nearer to us, ready to make a rush in the confusion of our friends disembarkation. A few brief moments passed, during which I felt my blood rising, and entered into the general excitement.

As Matapere sprang ashore, we gave him a regular British cheer. At the same instant Hetarpopo's party attacked us, and now began a downright battle.

Our first volleys staggered our enemies, and before they could recover we had loaded again. Our own friends at page 108 first seemed rather afraid of our weapons; but seeing the damage they did to the foe, soon got over their dread, and went at them might and main.

We managed to cover old Matapere's and his followers' landing; and reinforced by them the fight became fiercer than ever. There could not have been fewer than twelve hundred men engaged, of whom about five hundred belonged to our side, and the remainder to Hetarpopo.

After at least an hour's hard struggling our enemies began to give way, and at last cried out for quarter. Strange to say the fighting ceased as if by magic. The two parties fell apart, and drew up at a short distance, where they formed into solid ranks, and faced each other; between them lay the dead, dying, and wounded.

Two of our little party, Hunter and Smart, were missing, and on searching among the heaps of slain, we found them apparently dead.

Here Potona stepped forward and ordered some of his men to carry them into the hut. Harry and the rest of us, that is Spanish Joe and Maloney, all that were now left, were about following them, when Potona laid his hands on my arm and requested me to remain. My companions, however went on to attend on their two comrades, and see if any life was remaining in them.

When they were gone, old Matapere advanced in front of his men, and calling Potona and myself to his side, addressed the opposite party. The old man's white hair was stained with blood, and he had a fearful cut across his temple, besides several minor wounds. Nor had Potona and myself escaped unhurt. We had fought side by side in the thickest of the battle, backed up by my companions. He had a severe spear wound in his thigh, while I had page 109 received a blow from a tomahawk which had laid bare the bone from my neck to the top of my skull.

“Hetarpopo, and Noettani and all your people,” began the old warrior, “listen to my words! When I left here, two seasons ago, my people and your people parted in friend ship. I had lost my son Potona, and was very sad and you sympathized with me. Our return has been long delayed. When I did come back, what did I find? Those who parted from us in friendship, were prepared to slay us, and but for my son and his white friends they would have succeeded. And who was the cause of this? That double tongued deceiver yonder,” pointing to Days, who having prudently kept out of harm's way until now, sauntered up to the side of Hetarpopo. “These men,” indicating myself and party, “were the true friends of our tribe, they spared my son, when he killed their comrades, because they did not wish there to be blood between them and us; and lo! what return did you make to them for sparing one of your head men? you listened to the words of a wily tongue, and would have slain them if you dared. And now let the reptile be sent on his way; defile not your hands by slaying him; and let there be no more division between your party and my party. I have finished.”

After this Hetarpopo, in a very subdued tone, made an explanatory and apologetical address, in which, with no very good grace, he confessed his mistake and expressed contrition.

Then Potona raised his spear and said: “Listen yet to me, men of Hetarpopo's people, and of my people. As Noettani has shown himself unworthy to be the head of our nation, I proclaim my father, Matapere Tolongoheke, head chief from this day.”

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“That's coming it strong,” I thought to myself; but Potona was evidently in earnest, and on the opposite party raising objections, threatened to appeal to arms, and drive Noettani and Hetarpopo into the sea. And I've not the slightest doubt, but he would have done it too, if they had not given way, though with a very bad grace. Noettani and Hetarpopo looked thoroughly crestfallen. But the day was against them, and they would only be second-class chiefs in future.

Each party now began to carry away their dead and wounded. Of the former there were about thirty all told, and nearly a hundred of the latter. Greetings and lamentations were heard on all sides.

I stayed not a moment longer than I could help, then hurried off to our hut, very anxious to learn the truth about my fallen companions. I was met at the entrance by Harry who shook his head despondingly.

Hunter was lying quite senseless from a tomahawk wound on the head, but on close examination, I did not consider it mortal. One look at poor Smart was enough. The poor lad had breathed his last. Oh, what fell destroying angel was following us wherever we went? Three of our original number had been taken away, and two of them by violent deaths. Would any of us live to carry the tale of our sufferings back to our countrymen? Such were the reflections that passed through the minds of the surviving members of our party, and which, though unspoken, were plainly enough revealed in our faces.

Late in the evening we were visited by Potona and his father. The former on seeing the state of affairs, swore he would kill the Yankee, for at his door he laid all the evil that had been done since we arrived at the village.

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We buried the lad next day; and were accompanied to the grave by nearly all the native people, who seemed much affected at our sorrow and grief; and expressed their sympathy as well as they were able.

On our return I asked Potona if there would be anything further to hinder us leaving them now, and making for the settlements. He said no, that we were at liberty to go whenever we chose, and that he would arrange for a canoe being placed at our disposal. But we were doomed to remain still longer with our savage friends.

Hunter was now in a raging fever, and it took us all our time to nurse him. Any attempt at removing him until he was out of danger, was not for one moment to be thought of.

Unless we got away soon the winter with its accompanying storms would return; and then we might make up our minds to a five months' detention at least.