Chapter IV.

‘There comes the waggon,’ shouted Harry. as he stood on the brow of the hill waving his hat. ‘There's farmer Greening and Val. Papa has sent for us at last.’

Harry was right, and Val announced that he had come for all the lighter articles, including Lucy and her companions, who were to set out at once with farmer Greening, while he, with a native, remained to take care of the heavier goods.

The waggon was soon loaded, leaving places within it for Lucy and Waihoura, Mrs Greening and Betsy insisting on walking.

‘Now Val, I hand over my command to you, and see that you keep as good a watch as I have done,’ said Harry, as he shook hands with his brother. ‘I must go and take charge of the sheep.’

Valentine smiled at the air of importance Harry page 52 had assumed. ‘There's the right stuff in the little fellow,’ he said to himself, as he watched him and young Tobias driving the sheep in the direction the waggon had taken.

Lucy was delighted with the appearance of the country, as they advanced, though she could not help wishing very frequently that the road had been smoother; indeed, the vehicle bumped and rolled about so much at times that she fully expected a break down. Waihoura, who had never been in a carriage before, naturally supposed that this was the usual way in which such vehicles moved along, and therefore appeared in no degree alarmed. She pointed out to Lucy the names of the different trees they passed, and of the birds which flew by. Lucy was struck with the beauty of the fern trees, their long graceful leaves springing twenty and thirty feet from the ground; some, indeed, in sheltered and damp situations, were twice that height, having the appearance of the palm trees of tropical climates. The most beautiful tree was the rimu, which rose without a branch to sixty or seventy feet, with graceful drooping foliage of a beautiful green, resembling clusters of feathers; then there was the kahikatea, or white pine, resembling the rimu in foliage, but with a light coloured bark. One or two were seen rising ninety feet high without a branch. There were numerous creepers, some bearing very handsome flowers, and various shrubs; one the karaka, like a large laurel, with page 53 golden coloured berries in clusters, which contrasted finely with the glossy greenness of its foliage. Some of the fruits were like large plums, very tempting in appearance; but when Lucy tasted some, which the farmer picked for her, she was much disappointed in their flavour. The best was the poro poro, which had a taste between that of apple peel and a bad strawberry.

Birds were flitting about from tree to tree; the most common was the tui, with a glossy black plumage, and two white feathers on the throat like bands, and somewhat larger than an English blackbird, which appeared always in motion, now darting up from some low bush to the topmost bough of a lofty tree, when it began making a number of strange noises, with a wonderful volume of tone. If one tui caught sight of another, they commenced fighting, more in sport, apparently, than in earnest, and ending with a wild shout; they would throw a summer-set or two, and then dart away into the bush to recommence their songs and shouts. There was a fine pigeon, its plumage richly shaded with green purple and gold, called the kukupa. Occasionally they caught sight of a large brown parrot, marked with red, flying about the tops of the tallest trees, and uttering a loud and peculiar cry, this was the kaka. Waihoura pointed out to Lucy another bird of the parrot tribe, of a green plumage, touched with gold about the head, and which she called the kakarica.

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As the waggon could only proceed at a snail's pace, they had made good but half the distance, when they had to stop for dinner by the side of a bright stream which ran through the forest. The horses, which were tethered, cropped the grass, and Mrs Greening unpacked her cooking utensils.

While dinner was getting ready, Waihoura led Lucy along the bank of the stream to show her some more birds. They saw several, among them an elegant little fly-catcer, with a black and white plumage, and a delicate fan-tail, which flew rapidly about picking up sun-flies, this was the tirakana. And there was another pretty bird, the makomako, somewhat like a green linnet. Several were singing together, and their notes reminded Lucy of the soft tinkling of numerous little bells.

They had seen nothing of Harry and Tobias with the sheep since starting, and farmer Greening began to regret that he had not sent one of his elder sons to drive them.

‘Never fear, father,’ observed Mrs Greening, ‘our little Tobias has got a head on his shoulders, and so has Master Harry, and with “Rough” to help them, they will get along well enough.’

Mrs Greening was right, and just as the horses were put too, ‘Rough's’ bark was heard through the woods. In a short time the van of the flock appeared, with a native, who walked first to show the way. Though ‘Rough’ had never been out in the country before, he seemed to understand its charac-page 55ter, and the necessity of compelling the sheep to follow the footsteps of the dark-skinned native before them.

‘It's capital fun,’ cried Harry, as soon as he saw Lucy. ‘We have to keep our eyes about us though, when coming through the wood especially, but we have not let a single sheep stray away as yet.’

‘Well, boys, our fire is still burning, and my missus has cooked food enough for you all,’ said farmer Greening, ‘So you may just take your dinner, and come on after us as fast as you can.’

‘We will not belong,’ answered Harry. ‘Hope. mother, you have left some bones for “Rough” though,’ said Toby. ‘He deserves his dinner as much as any of us.’

‘Here's a mess I put by for him to give when we got to the end of our journey,’ answered Mrs Greening, drawing out a pot which she had stowed away in the waggon. She called to “Rough,” who quickly gobbled it up. The waggon then moved on, while Harry and his companions sat round the fire to discuss their dinner. ‘Rough,’ in the meantime, vigilantly keeping the sheep together.

The remainder of the journey was found more difficult than the first part had been. Sometimes they had to climb over steep ranges, when the natives assisted at the wheels, while Mrs Greening and Betsy pushed behind; then they had to descend on the other side, when a drag was put on, and the page 56 wheels held back. Several wide circuits had to be made to avoid hills on their way, and even when over level ground, the fern in many places was so very thick that it was rather hard work for the horses to drag the waggon through it.

‘This is a rough country,’ observed Mrs Greening, as she trudged on by her husband's side. ‘I didn't expect to see the like of it.’

‘Never fear, dame,’ answered the farmer. ‘In a year or two we shall have a good road between this and the port, and a coach-and-four may be running on it.’

At length the last range was passed, and they reached a broad open valley, with a fine extent of level ground. In the distance rose a hill, with a sparkling river flowing near it, and thickly wooded heights. Further on beyond, it appeared a bold range of mountains, their highest peaks capped with snow.

‘This is, indeed, a beautiful scene,’ exclaimed Lucy.

‘That's our home, Miss,’ said the farmer, pointing to the hill. ‘If your eyes could reach as far, you would just see the roof of your new house among the trees. We shall come well in sight of it before long.’

The waggon now moved on faster, as the fern had been cut away or trampled down, and the horses seemed to know that they were getting near home.

Mr Pemberton and the farmer's sons came down page 57 to welcome them, and to conduct them up to the house.

Lucy was surprised to find what progress had already been made. The whole of it was roofed over, and the room she was to occupy was completely finished. The building was not very large. It consisted of a central hall, with two bed-rooms on either side, and a broad verandah running entirely round it, behind it were some smaller detached buildings for the kitchen and out-houses. In front and on one side a space was marked off for a flower garden, beyond which, extending down the side of the hill to the level ground, was a large space which Mr Pemberton said he intended for the orchard and kitchen garden. On that side of the house were sheds for the waggons and horses, though now occupied by the native labourers.

‘They consider themselves magnificently lodged,’ said Mr Pemberton. ‘And they deserve it, for they worked most industriously, and enabled me to put up the house far more rapidly than I had expected. I believe, however, that they would have preferred the native wahré, with the heat and smoke they delight in, to the larger hut I have provided for them, and I have been sometimes afraid they would burn it down with the huge fire they made within.’

Farmer Greening's cottage, which was a little way round on the other side of the hill, was built on a similar plan to Mr Pemberton, but it was not so far advanced.

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‘You must blame me, Mrs Greening, for this,’ said Mr Pemberton. ‘Your husband insisted on helping me with my house before he would begin yours, declaring that he should have the advantage of having mine as a model. I hope, therefore, that you will take up your abode with us till yours is finished, as Harry and I can occupy the tent in the meantime.’

Mrs Greening gladly accepted the invitation; she thought, indeed, that she should be of use to Lucy in getting the house in order. The sitting-room was not yet boarded, but a rough table had been put in it, and round this the party were soon seated at tea.

‘Beg pardon, I hope I don't intrude, just looked in to welcome you and my good friend Mrs Greening to “Riverside.” Glad to find that you have arrived safe. Well, to be sure, the place is making wonderful progress, we have three families already arrived in the village, and two more expected tomorrow, and I don't know how many will follow. I have been helping my new friends to put up their houses, and have been obliged to content myself with a shake-down of fern in the corner of a shed; but we settlers must make up our minds to rough it, Mr Pemberton, and I hope to get my own house up in the course of a week or two.’

These words were uttered by Mr nicholas Spears, who stood poking his head into the room at the door-way, as if doubtful whether he might venture to enter.

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‘I thank you for your kind inquiries, Mr Spears,’ said Mr Pemberton, who, though he could not feel much respect for the little man, treated him, as he did everybody else, with courtesy. ‘If you have not had your tea come in and take a seat at our board. We have but a three-legged stool to offer you.’

This was just what Mr Spears wished; and sitting down he began forthwith to give the party all the news of the settlement. From his account Lucy was glad to find that two families, one that of a naval, the other of a military officer, who had just arrived in the colony, had taken land close to theirs, and were about to settle on it.

Although the midsummer day was drawing to a close, Harry and Toby, with the sheep, had not yet made their appearance. Paul and James went off to meet them, and take the flock where they were to remain for the night, so as to relieve the boys of their charge. There was a fine bright moon, so they would have no difficulty in finding their way. Not long afterwards Harry's voice was heard, echoed by Toby's, shouting to the sheep, and the two boys rushed up to the house.

‘Here we are, papa,’ cried Harry. ‘We have brought the sheep along all safe, and now Paul and James have got charge of them, we may eat our supper with good consciences,’

‘Mrs Greening quickly placed a plentiful meal before the two young shepherds, who did ample justice to it.

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‘We must get some cows, farmer, if we can procure any at a moderate price, when you next go back to town,’ said Mr Pemberton.

‘That's just what I was thinking,’ answered the farmer.

‘And some pigs and poultry,’ added Mrs Greening. ‘I should not think myself at home without them, and Miss Lucy and Betsy will be wanting some to look after.’

‘And a few goats, I suspect, would not be amiss,’ observed the farmer. ‘I saw several near the town, and I hear they do very well.’

Waihoura, who was listening attentively to all that was said, seemed to comprehend the remark about the goats, and made Lucy understand that she had several at her village, and she should like to send for some of them.

Supper being over, Mr Pemberton, according to his usual custom, read a chapter in the Bible, and offered up evening prayer; and after Mr Spears had taken his departure, and the rest of the family had retired to their respeetive dormitories, heaps of fern serving as beds for most of them, Mr Pemberton and the farmer sat up arranging their plans for the future. The latter agreed to return to town the next day to bring up the remainder of the stores, and to make the proposed purchases.

Although they all knew that at no great distance there were several villages inhabited by savages, till lately, notorious for their fierce and blood-thirsty page 61 character, they lay down to sleep with perfect confidence, knowing that the missionary of the gospel had been among them, and believing that a firm friendship had been established between them and the white occupants of their country.