Chapter XI
Hori's Escape

Ron was moved to deep admiration by his Maori friend's dauntlessness of purpose. It was clear that Hori would meet death in preference to having his secret sympathy with the white people revealed; and it was evident, too, that he considered that the dream he cherished of being his tribe's leader would never be realized if it became known that he had assisted the pakehas when the hands of his father and his brothers were raised against them.

"And the news would get about," Ron reflected. "Maoris have an uncanny way of smelling out things. I must see what I can do for Hori—it frightens me to think of him in the hands of those bloodthirsty Ngatiporou."

The day wore on, and Ron was kept busy, going hither and thither with messages; but his way never led in the direction of the plateau whereon the Ngatiporou were making their encampment.

Dusk fell at last, soft and blue, and soon afterward the stars began to peep forth. The big page 141camp-fires were lit, and the Rangers took their ease, smoking and exchanging experiences of the day. From the Maori lines came the sound of singing, soft baritone voices raised in waiata, ¹ whose cadence had the poignant sadness that always seems to dwell in Maori music.

Ron's senses thrilled to the wild beauty of it all—the untamed country that lay around, the scent of the bush, the sound of running water, the line of camp-fires along the ridge, and the half-naked figures of the natives who squatted beside each blaze. He lay stretched at full length, not far from the spot where Captain Barry and the Hawke's Bay chiefs were questioning their prisoners, and listened to the talk between captor and captive.

Now and again he raised his head, the better to hear some especially interesting revelation. It was thus that he learned that Te Kooti had been wounded during those weary days before Ropata arrived. The rebel chief had nearly been captured too, during the actual skirmish; but a woman had carried him on her back out of danger, by way of the river-bed. Ron heard another fact that came as a surprise to him. Te Kooti and his men, when they came down from the hills on their murderous

¹ Songs.

page 142errand, had been forced to it, literally by desperation. They had been starving in the mountain fastnesses to which they had been hunted by the settlers; and on their way down toward Turanganui some of them had been so famished that they had died on the road. Small wonder, thought the boy, that they had been like a pack of wolves.

And when the plunder they had collected at Turanganui was exhausted the Hauhaus would again be faced with starvation, while they would be hunted from peak to peak until they either died or surrendered. Hori too, had he not been taken, would have starved with his people, would have been hunted with them, perhaps would have died with them—and all for an ideal. More and more, Ron found himself marvelling at Hori.

His mind came back to Hori's present necessity. He was convinced that his friend would make some desperate move to escape, and in that case he would be certain to meet with speedy death at the hands of Ropata's warriors. Hori must be aided, in order to save him from himself. But how? He lay revolving various schemes over in his mind while—the questioning of the prisoners now being ended—Captain Barry discussed the position with Renata and Tareha and planned a further advance against the rebels.

When at last the lengthy conference was finished and the chiefs had departed Captain Barry called Ron over to where he sat.

"Well, what did you think of your first fight?" he asked.

"It was jolly good, sir," answered Ron shyly. "But there wasn't enough of it."

"Have patience, Ronald," said the soldier. "You will see enough fighting soon to more than gratify your thirst for adventure—and it won't be very pretty fighting, either," he added with a sigh.

"Do you mean Ropata's ideas about the prisoners?" asked Ron.

"That, and other things," replied Captain Barry gravely. "But I don't mean to talk about that now. I have called you to ask what it was you were going to say to me to-day when that Maori youth stopped you. You only got as far as the one word 'Remember!'"

"I am very sorry, sir," answered Ron slowly. "I was going to tell you something, but I thought of a promise I had made, and then I knew I couldn't finish what I was going to say."

"It is quite right to abide by your promises. But was this not a matter of life or death? The Ngatiporou would have killed that youth out of hand."

Ron was silent.

"You are still unwilling to tell me your secrets, I see," remarked Captain Barry at length. "Well, suppose I tell you what I have discovered for myself?"

Ron looked up quickly. There was a quizzical note in the soldier's voice, and his usually stern mouth was smiling a little.

"First," he said, "I know that some mysterious Maori who is known to his friends as the Weka sent a reassuring message into Roro about two lost children; then I know that this same Weka saved the lives of your brother and sister. I know, too, that a few nights back a weka called three times, and that afterwards you received the news that Te Kooti was going to surprise the supplyparty from Turanganui. And lastly—but, after all, I do not know, I only guess this—I think that some one to whom both you and I are indebted—perhaps a weka—is at present in the clutches of that fire-eating chief of the Ngatiporou—Ropata—and that I would give a great deal to see him safely liberated. Now, what do you think of my powers of guessing?"

"I think you are a wonder, sir!" exclaimed Ron, with boyish admiration.

Captain Barry laughed, then resumed his wonted page 145gravity. "The one thing that I can't quite account for," he said, "is that this youth was caught spying out our position,"

"But I'm certain Hori wasn't spying!" exclaimed Ron eagerly. "For that matter, he knew all about our position. He——" and Ron stopped suddenly.

"Well?" inquired the soldier. "I might as well know everything now; it might make things easier for us all later on."

"He was in our camp lots of times, sir," said Ron. "He actually heard you give me the order to go to Turanganui about our supplies. I think that Hori must have been trying to see me when Ropata's men caught him."

"You think that?" asked Captain Barry.

"I am positive of it, sir," answered Ron decidedly.

Captain Barry sat apparently deep in thought for some seconds. Then he said: "Perhaps he had some important news for you."

"I have thought that he might have," admitted Ron.

"And news for you just now is news for me," mused Captain Barry. "News lying useless under guard of the Ngatiporou. What is this youth's idea in not allowing you to speak the truth about him?"

Ron told his officer all about Hori's dream of being the leader of his tribe, and Captain Barry nodded once or twice during the recital.

"I understand it all now," he said finally. "Your friend is very clever, Ronald—very clever and very courageous. We must do what we can for him. Come, we will go over to Ropata's camp. I have several matters to discuss with him. Ask Abler to go with us; and while I am with the chief you two make yourselves at home with his men. If you should see your friend pretend not to notice him; but keep your eyes open for the best means of getting into the camp later on when the warriors are asleep. No, don't thank me," he broke off. "From what I can see, this Weka is going to be as useful to me as he has been to you. Go, get Abler quickly."

Jock Abler, apprised by Ron of what was afoot, lent himself with zest to the adventure.

They found Ropata in an excellent humour. He was with his friend Hotene, whom he presented to Captain Barry as "a good man, a good fighter." Soon the three were deep in conversation, while Ron and Jock joined the warriors at the nearest fire and complimented them upon their prowess of the day.

Ron soon decided that the fierce Ngatiporou were page 147very likeable fellows, and the warriors approved highly of Ron. Ere long he and Jock found themselves passed along from fire to fire, and shaking hands with the wild-looking men, whose brown bodies glinted in the light of the crackling fires, and whose faces, now that the fighting was over, shone with friendliness and goodwill.

Ron's eyes were continually on the alert for any sign of Hori; and at last he descried him, a slim figure, lying face downward, apparently well pinioned, and trussed to a stout sapling. For a dreadful instant it occurred to him that Hori was dead; but presently the figure stirred a little and Ron breathed a sigh of relief.

While keeping up their talk with the warriors he and Jock carefully reconnoitred the position. They were quick to observe that by good fortune Hori lay rather toward the edge of the camp, close to where the Ngatiporou fires ended and those of the Hawke's Bay men began. That meant that just hereabout there would be no sentries posted.

Ron had a plan fixed in his mind by the time that Captain Barry called Jock and himself, and leave was taken of the Ngatiporou.

"Well?" asked Captain Barry, when they were well clear.

"I am sure I could crawl in and cut his bonds, page 148sir," Ron said. "But I can't go in these clothes. I must get hold of a piu-piu, and try to disguise myself as a Maori."

"A good idea," approved Jock. "But why can't I do the job, if I might be so bold as to suggest it?"

"You are too heavy, Abler," responded Captain Barry. "If it comes to that I would like nothing better than to attempt the adventure myself. But I do not doubt my slowness and weight would discover me, as yours would you. No, Ronald is the man for this particular bit of work, and if he cares to attempt it he has my approval."

"What about getting a piu-piu?" asked the practical Jock.

"Renata will lend me his," declared Ron. "And I know he won't ask any questions."

"Then slip over to him now," advised Captain Barry. "And in the meantime you, Abler, get back and watch the Ngatiporou camp, and bring word when everything is quiet there."

Jock saluted and turned away. Ron made his way to where Renata sat. By good fortune he found the old chief alone.

"Great Chief," he said tactfully, "this is a sad night. Here is Karauria's kinsman a prisoner of the Ngatiporou!"

"E! that is so!" sighed Renata, sympathy working his fine old tattooed face. "And my kinsman also, remember. What will Ropata Waha Waha do with my kinsman?"

"Kill him, I fear," answered Ron sadly. "So I have made a plan that none but you and I must know of. By to-morrow morn I shall have freed Ropata's prisoner and your kinsman; but to do this I must look like a Maori. I desire then that you shall lend me your piu-piu."

"E! You shall have it!" exclaimed Renata delightedly. "I have your promise that you shall free Karauria's kinsman?"

"I promise, Chief," answered Ron. He took the mat and stole away, leaving the old chief huddled in his blanket, gazing into the fire, chin almost on knees.

The evening passed slowly. In the tall trees on the other side of the river moreporks¹ hooted. The singing of the Maoris ceased, and the Rangers' voices were hushed. Gradually the fires died down, and silence lay over the camp.

Then Ron discarded his clothing and donned Renata's piu-piu. Evidently the Ngatiporou had kept late watch, for it was two hours past midnight

¹ The morepork is a small owl.

page 150when Jock came up with the word that Ropata's camp was still.

The conspirators made their way thither cautiously, coming to a halt in a convenient patch of bush. Here the two elder men waited, while Ron, too warmed by excitement to heed the chill of the night air on his bared chest, went forward, knife in hand.

When he neared the embers of the first fire he put the knife in his belt and commenced crawling forward with all the caution he could muster. Before him lay the task of passing between two sleeping warriors, and he dared make but slow progress. It seemed to him years before he got past them; and just farther on he found a group of sleeping men, to go round whom he was forced to make a considerable détour. A man on the outside stirred as Ronald passed him; and the boy relaxed his tense muscles and feigned slumber for a few moments, until he was fairly certain that it was safe to proceed.

At last he found Hori. He was sure that his friend would not be sleeping. He would be lying awake, thought Ron, sizing up his chances of escape. Slowly, and with infinite care, Ron wormed his way up to the recumbent figure and lay beside it.

His surmise was correct. Hori was wide awake. His head was pillowed on his arms, but that he had been very alert to Ron's approach was proved by the fact that almost before the pakeha lad reached him he thrust out his pinioned hands and uttered a low grunt of satisfaction as he felt the bonds severed. To cut the ropes of flax about his feet and those that tied him to the sapling was the work of an instant; and Ron lay gathering up his strength for the arduous return journey.

Hori breathed into his ear, "My brother!" and Ron felt a glow of satisfaction at having been able to return in some measure the service that Hori had rendered him and his.

"I will not return with you," Hori whispered softly. "Two of us would be certain to be detected. Do you, my brother, go back by the way you came. I will lie still until you have had time to get past the fires. Then I will make my escape. Do not fear for me—I can easily elude these pigs. They are drunk with victory and will not think to look to my bonds until dawn. Go quickly, Roni."

But Ron demurred. "I'd like to see you safely out of Ropata's clutches, Hori."

"Because you think I was foolish to let myself be caught this morning, do you think I will do it page 152again?" asked Hori. "My capture was no accident, Roni—I was lying there to draw off the Ngatiporou from the pursuit of my father. He was badly wounded, and I do not think that he can live; but because he was a chief and still alive Te Kooti's men carried him away with them, and I went back to cover up his trail."

"I thought you might be waiting to see me—that perhaps you had news," Ron whispered.

"In a manner, I have. But it is of little importance as yet, although you might be able to use it later. Listen, my brother!" and Hori bent forward and muttered a few words which caused Ron's eyes to shine delightedly.

"Now, go back," said Hori. "It will not be long before we meet again."

The two lads clasped hands for a second, and then Ron turned and commenced worming his way back toward the bush. He had to go with the utmost care. He passed the big group successfully and was just about to crawl between the two warriors who were lying by the fire nearest the bush, when he was horrified to see one of them sit up and look intently in his direction.

Ron's mind was instantly made up. He was positive that the man had observed him; and to lie calmly on the ground while the warrior had page 153time to grasp his rifle and fire on him did not appeal to him. So, darting up as swiftly as an arrow, he shot forward and was past the fire before the man was aware what had happened. As he gained the shelter of the bush he heard a shot behind him, and in a few seconds the Ngatiporou camp was in a state of wild excitement. He heard the warrior urging on the pursuit; and in his haste, just then, he blundered into a thick clump of bush-lawyer, whose thorns caught at his piu-piu. Tearing himself free, he sped swiftly through the trees. Before the pursuit had reached the other side he was with Captain Barry and Jock on the outskirts of the Hawke's Bay natives' camp.

There was no time for any speech. The alarm had communicated itself to Tareha's men, who were running hither and thither, convinced that Te Kooti was upon them. In the sparse light of the dying fires Ron passed easily for one of themselves, and the appearance of Captain Barry and Jock Abler occasioned no surprise.

Leaving his officer to make what he could of the situation, Ron made his way back to where he had hidden his clothing. He dressed hurriedly, and, concealing the piu-piu beneath his coat, sought Renata.

He found the old chief still squatting by the page 154embering fire. Evidently it took more than a few shots in the dark to alarm Renata.

"Here is your piu-piu, Chief," said Ron quietly. "I am afraid I tore it slightly in a prickly bush I ran into yonder."

"Is Karauria's kinsman free?" demanded the chief.

"I cut his bonds with my knife," replied Ron, evading the point. He was saying to himself: "Oh, I only hope that Hori managed to escape!"

Just then, from the thick bush on the other side of the river, a weka called mockingly, three times.