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Chapter XV. Treachery.

Jealousy, cruelest of all the passions that infest and debase the soul, had entered that of Hinema, and had taken possession of the once happy and confiding maiden: from the moment in which she sat by Mary's side in the canoe that conveyed them to the island, until their return to Wairauki, her bosom knew no peace, no respite from the consuming action of the fire that slowly burned up her better feelings, and turned her loving heart into a sullenly glowing cinder, smouldering on the ashes of bitter hate and black revenge. She asked herself for an answer to these strange feelings that so transformed her nature, but she asked in vain; she recalled to mind all the brotherly kindnesses she had received from Raukawa, but these remembrances were all unsatisfactory, giving page 91no clue to a higher love than that which a brother bears to a sister. In vain she exacted more from the everyday occurrences that brought her into the society of the man she loved so well and so devotedly at a time when she was not aware of the influences which he was unconsciously exercising upon her: she could not recall a word or a glance of more than ordinary meaning or of usual courtesy to herself from him; yet the presence of Mary, she felt, was an obstacle she would gladly get rid of, if with any semblance of propriety she could do so.

Thus torn with an inward anger, and harassed with the burden of discontent, sleep forsook her pillow; and when she sought the refreshment of rest, she gave way in secret to wild flights of inconsolable grief. Her appearance attracted the notice of Ena, who questioned her as to what had disconcerted her usually cheerful companion; but to all the entreaties and solicitations of her mistress Hinema was sullenly reticent.

Resolving to make trial of the state of Raukawa's mind towards her, Hinema determined on putting it to the test; and with this resolve, one evening, as he returned from hunting in the forest, she stood before him in a gully at the back of the pah. To bestow a gentle, but careless caress on the maiden was an easy task page 92for him, but as soon as the arm of the young warrior encircled the neck of the girl she burst into a passionate flood of tears. The youth, astonished at this unusual occurrence, started, and, holding her at arm's length, asked her what was the matter. It was some moments ere she could regain her equanimity; but on recovering herself, the youth repeated his former question, to which she softly answered, with many sobs, that nothing unusual had happened.

"Then," said he, "why this sudden outburst of grief? Surely some one has injured you, or a hidden grief preys upon your heart?"

"Yes," answered Hinema, mustering all her courage, and summoning to her aid all the subtle fascinations of her sex, "yes; a grief great and weighty has taken possession of me, for I have discovered, Raukawa, that you do not love me." For this answer he was not prepared: looking into the eyes of the girl, which were now raised to meet his, he, for the first time perhaps in his life, discovered that the being beside him was lovely to a degree, far beyond what he ever thought her before. She saw the expression of his countenance, and reading what was passing in his mind, followed up her conquest by repeating in a sweet, low voice, "The friends, of my childhood forsake me for the love of a stranger. Raukawa, I will page 93follow you through life, and through death; but you throw me aside, and love a poor frail paleface, a weakly girl, who can never love you, and who will leave you so soon as opportunity serves." At this the admiring glances of Raukawa gave place to an expression of contempt.

"Cease," said he; "Hinema understands not her words. The pakeha is free to love whom she pleases, and she is at liberty to go at any moment; as for you, Hinema, you are to me a sister, and nothing more."

Their further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the companions of the young chief, three youths who had been with him in the forest, and were returning laden with their feathered spoils. One of these young men entertained for Hinema ardent affection; but she had always carefully avoided giving him any hope of a return to his love. Seeing her agitated, he allowed his comrades to pass on homewards, whilst he remained with her. The evening was fast falling, as the youth offered to bear her company up the hill; taking her hand in his, which she now suffered him to retain, both walked forward. When they had proceeded a little way in silence, he ventured to ask her if Raukawa had treated her unkindly; but she answered in the negative. The youth, whose name was Horo, again pressed his suit. She listened to him page 94with seeming approbation: this emboldened the suitor, and from one stage of endearment to another the seemingly yielding maiden gave her wooer hopes of ultimate success.

Prompted by her jealousy, she had recourse to a series of stratagems by which she hoped to accomplish an end that seemed to be to her most desirable. Detaining her lover among the tall scrub that clothed the hill-side, she told him that since Mary came to the pah her own quiet and comfort had been rudely and ruthlessly torn from her; that she was compelled to do servile offices for the stranger; that Ena and Raukawa were entirely changed in their conduct towards her; that, in short, she was almost lowered to the degraded position of a slave. Horo listened with fixed attention to her. "But," she continued, "I am resolved on what to do. I will fly from the pah, and seek a home among the enemies of our tribe; they will shelter me."

"No, no!" exclaimed Horo; "speak not so wildly, nor act so desperately. Your distress moves me to pity: your words inflame my anger. Tell me, cannot some plan be devised by which we might get rid of the stranger?"

"Yes," said she; "if I could by any means communicate with the enemy, all might yet be well."

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"What do you intend doing?" asked he. "What would you do, were I to bring you to the enemy's camp?"

"That," said the girl, "I do not wish you to do. To bring me into the presence of the enemy might not be convenient; but if you would convey a message to them from me, you will do me a service which I wish to have done, and that speedily. Your reward will be—myself."

"Tell me," said he; "tell me what your plans are, and I will endeavour to carry them out."

"Go," she replied; "go this evening to the Ngatiraukawa. Tell their chief that if he will give you protection and a home, you will deliver into his hands, not only the stranger, but also, with her, the only daughter of Te Rangitukaroa; this will most assuredly be too strong an inducement for the enemy to refuse, or to neglect making trial of, at least. Are our prospects of the future of so cheering a nature as to warrant us to hope that the enemy will weary pursuing us, and that he will turn aside and let us live in perfect security? Have not your father and many of your friends and your brothers fallen before the might of the implacable Ngatiraukawa? For us there is nothing but death: if we escape that, there only remains to us slavery. Choose, Horo, page 96choose instantly: my love and a home, or slavery, or death."

"I have chosen," replied he; "ere the morning lights yonder hills with his beams I will be here. Meet me."

So saying, Horo turned and, plunging down the hill-side, was soon lost to view among the sombre shadows of the primitive forest.

Nothing but the deep stings of disappointed love in the festering wound of her bleeding heart could have driven Hinema to the desperate and heartless treachery she had thus quickly acted upon with such consummate skill, and such a dire energy of will. Entering the pah she was met by Ena, who did not fail to compliment her on her cheerful looks; and even Mary felt a relief when the girl tendered her usual services with so different a manner from that in which it was her wont to wait upon her, so perfect was the dissimulation she wore. Contemplating the net of danger which her ingenuity wove around the victims of her anger, her bosom experienced a respite from its virulent bitterness.