THE STORY OF DICK DARVEL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1043, 4 February 1911, Page 13

THE STORY OF DICK DARVEL.

-r « ■ AN EPISODE OF THE OLD MAORI DAYS. In the days of old, when New Zealand lay in her swaddling clothes, and tender Mother England rocked her cradle and administered to her infantine needs, and in days >v*hpn her internal affairs were sadly in need oi'a strong sedativo to. quiet the chaotic rebellion of her nativo constitution, there dwelt in tho heart of this primeval land one Richard i)arrcl, as sound and resolute an Englishman Us ever breathed the breath of pioneer. Tho month was October, and shrub and bush 'smiled and rustled in the blaze of sweetest bloom. Towering ratas winding their twisted ways through th\r) canopy of deepening green. which hugged their giant forms,'proudly'tossed their scarlet heads under the serene blue sky, and stately fernery spread undulating waves of delicate filigree, across a rugged carpet of cool, glinting moss. In the lap of all this primeval grandeur lay Dick Daxvel's humble bushmaii's hut, where sang his young English wife, with a heart as light as the birds without. About the door laughed and played his two sturdy youngsters ; and below in the valley where virgin forest grew- heavy and luxuriant ■dreamed and slaved Dick Darvel himself, with the courage of a true pioneer and the perversity of an ox. ' So amply engrossed was Dick Darvel m Ins struggle with .soine giant tree, .which stood in his rond to fortune, that he wa-s quite oblivious of the approach of -a canoe, silently skimming tho broad waters, of the quietly flowing river within a stone's throw of his right, until a shrill, penetrating "cooee" aroused him from his toil. "Hulloo!"' shouted Dick in return, and in another moment there came'into view the very picture of hardy young manhood and good humour, dressed in tho rough, picturesque garb of a bushmail. ; "Well, Dick!" shouted the new-comer, "how is tho farm progressing?" "Slow, but sure, Jerry," returned Dick hopefully, as he let his eyes wander over the chaos of foiled timber around him. "Well, I'm not so sure about the 'sure,' " said the young man gloomily. "Why," returned Dick, "you're not feeling stumped, aro you?" | "No, Dick, but I didn't bargain for any of these throat-cutting monkey tricks that these Maori devils are getting a strong inclination to try on us." "Well," said Dick, with a thoughtful, •uneasy glance towards'the hut on the hill, "more than once of late, now that you mention it, I have suspected their friendship, and ever since Ben Johnson shot orio of . their sheep-worrying mongrels, they have shown more dislike. Only the other day old Chief Hono Heke landed on these banks with more than twenty followers, and if mischief wasn't their game,' there was something so like it 111 their prowling that ever since I havo kept my rifles primed and ready." "Ah!" interjected Jerry, "now you've hit tho ,nail on the head, Dick.. This same old varmint has been poking his noso into every, corner of the settlement. _ Several.of the outback people came in yesterday, and old , Angus M'Pherson set out this morning to give tho tip to those who are not in tho know. I tell you what it is, Dick," the young bushman broke off suddenly; "if there's anything,in this.scare we're: in for. a pretty warm time, and if the authorities don't soon wake up we'll all be jolly well,quartered and roasted before they as much as, saddle up." "No, 110, Jerry :iny lad, not so long as our poivder.-and lead holds out. But

still there may; bo nothing in the scare," ■ ho added hopefully, after a short pause, in which Jerry rose to take his .departure. "And if tho worst comes to the: worst," he said, as they reached the water's edge where the young settler's canon Jay mo,pred. amongst the overhanging foliag£, "they'll find thoy'vo struck something, a littlo liarder than putty, I'm thinking." That there was real cause for anxiety Dick more than believed, and as he sat quietly at liis evening moal more than once glanced at his. helpless wife and children with serious intentions of packing them oft to somo safer locality. However, mentally computing tlie safety of a few days longer, ho kept his fears to himself, and soon after his wifo and children had retired to rest ho made, fast tho heavy slab door with unusual care, and, after carefully seeing to his rifles and anrtnimition—of which he had a goodly store —ho took himself off to bed. It was long'-past midnight when Dick Darvel was aroused from his uneasy slumber by some noise, Which in the first moment of his waking'was ' not quito clear to him, but that something unusual was afoot on the outside he felt convinced. He strained his ears to catch any 'repetition of the sound. In another moment the sound of stealthy, prowling footsteps fell upon his straining ears. Making* his way across to the little low-set.window, he was on tho point of looking out "when a face, hide'ously distortedwith transforming ■ colour and lines, was pressed against a small square of glass, and a pair of glittering eyes peered into the' dark room where Dick Darvel lay crouched in a corner. It took him but a moment to realise what this horrible visitation meant, as with fast beating heart he recognised in tho gloating, paiuted savago without a Maori on tho warpath.

Crawling on all fours back to the room whero he had left his wife peacefully sleeping, he quickly roused her, and, aftor wliisperingly explaining their situation, left her, struggling to dress herself in the dark, while ho returned to the living-room and set about barricading the window and door with heavy, wide flooring slabs, which, not being nailed—as is the custom in these rudo huts—he had no difficulty in raising. Then he reached down two handy rifles, which ■he laid .on the table. I

By this time lie could hear a low murmur of many voices rising with the counds of the river beneath, and hardly had ho finished Mocking up the wide, gaping fireplace than a fierce, blood-curd-ling screech pierced the night. Following this unearthly screech, which sent tho terrified young mother 'towering to the bedside of lier children, the tramping of a hundred naked feet encirling the hut could bo heard, and as Dick Darvel jumped away from ouo of the holes he had made and seized the nearest rifle, a battering crash from without- fell upon tho door. Crash! spako Dick Darvel's trusty jilie in return, and a wild cry of defiance came from without. Calling to his distracted wife, as tho onslaught on tho door without was'repeated, he pressed the remaining rifle into her unsteady hands, and with words of hopeful, affectionate encouragement bade her uso it as effectively as chance allowed. Having long since learned to use firearms, and being urged and directed by the calm, determined voice of her husband, sho lost sight in a great measure of her terrible position, and as her distraction gradually gave way to a courageous determination, sho used tho rille on the savages without with the deadly effect of a practised hand.

Demoralised to some extent by the unexpected repulse, and having expended tho little ammunition they at first controlled, tho savages retired, a short distance, whore the- sheltering" woods gave them cover, and fed.their wrath with the weird chant of their nerveshatterinc death sons.

Through the long hours of darkness, made hideous with the yells of the Maories and. several half-hearted attempts of a few more bold than the rest Dick Barrel and his faithful wife held their humble fortress with a spirit and pluck worthy of any romance that ever brain hatched and exaggerated.

i U '\ l we P Gt ' al)ovo the* distant hills, but the relief ul,icli Dick Darvel hopefully expected would arrive oil the lungs of tho morning was not yet apparent ami his heart was sorelv troubled as lie mentally calculated lii's little store of ammunition left from the images of the night, ami counted themustering hordes passing to and fro in the thicket beyond. It was after beating off a fierce ?"■?<*> Vick, with' the asoLa f u : lfo ' was strengthening; ono side of Ins trusty stronghold, that the sound of chopping fell upon tho mOH* 1 "? us , to , k l lon ' lvllat tllis might mean, he looked through one of the peep-holes, and then started back with a gasp of horror. In a direct .line, somo twenty or thirty yards distant from his point of observation, towered a huge rinm tre n which the baffled Maoris were bent on +l,„ 1 S cH ft 0 Sround, and which, in. the act ofi falling was designed to splinter tne fortress into a thousand fragments. flic danger and completeness of this new plan he easily understood. Wearied and demoralised, he sank into a rough wooden seat and surrendered himself to the fate which ho had-fought defeat 1 throus ' lout tlle ni S ht to

I .But in another moment, with a cry ! Of hone winch brought his wife running to his side, lie jumped to his feet, caught up a pick and shovel which stood m a corner, and began to dig with such vigour that his purpose was soon laid bare to his wondering wife, and as suddenly as she grasped his intention so suddenly did'she fall to with the idle shovel and throw back tho clods which ho broke from the ground. ? holo deep enough; to hold himself, wife, and children was a large order in such a short time. But 'in tins piece of strategy he saw a glimmer of success, and with all the strength at his command he fought,like one demented to achieve his purpose. At last, finding himself sunk to the waist and warned by a loud crackling report from the mutilated tree, without, he shounted direction to his wifo in gasping breathe to pack ready all the heaviest slabs she could lay hands on a "d then bring tho children from the adjoining room. _ livery time the tree reported progress "i loud, angry creaks, did Dick Barrel apply his fast waning strength with redoubled energy. Ho knew frorn' long experience of hush-felling that these re-[ ports wero mere preliminary snaps, and' his trained car waited for the approaching sound when the tree would speak in earnest before the last shriek would bring it crashing about his cars. "Quick, in with you!" ho gasped; presently to his waiting wife and children, as his straining ears detected-' what he had so strenuously listened for:. and although the living grave he had scooped out was not nearly deep enough to his satisfaction, he lowered away ■his wife and children.

Surely lie had out things too fine, ha thought, as a deep, splitting crack from the swaying tree and a loud yell of victory went up from tho assembled savages. 11l the course of this fearful speculation , and the wild, victorious shouts that made his blood'run cold, he quickly overturned the heavy table across the shallow pit where his wife ' and children lay huddled and fearful, after ' which, working his body through a liarrow aperture left for the purpose, he, further covered his crowded retreat by; overturning tho stack tif stout tiiuher'l which his wife had pilsl',j_handy ,to hisj. touch. "Thank God!" he breathed, inj husky, trembling voice, as this last' effort was accomplished; and then, amidst the splitting, crashing noises of, the falling tree without, his overwrought brain and body gave way. It was yet early evening when Dick Darvel regained consciousness and collected his scattered thoughts. That he was still in the land of the living, that, his noble wife and helpless children were also in the same satisfactory position, was as much as a dozen- laughing voices could: convince him, as he sat propped up on a rough but comfortable couch among his rescuers. "Why, Dick," cried Jerry, as he eagerly shook Dick Darvel's trembling hand, "you ain't annoyed on account of your'resurrection, arc you?" "Thank you, Jerry! God bless you all!" said Dick Darvel in a choiring voice of gratitude, as he shook each , friendly outstretched hand of those gathered around liim. "Come on, Mrs. Darvel!" Jerry was presently heard shouting at the door of the adjoining room; and sho rushed to his side anil twined her faithful arms round her husband. .."Come away, mates," whispered one rough fellow, whose eyes were already swimming. "Aye, aye, mate," they whispered in chorus; and, solemnly tiptoeing out of the room, they gathered together ones, more round a steaming billy of tea. — T. Henry Walther, in the "Standard of Empire."'

Dr. Annitage Robinson, Dean ofc Westminster, is to be transferred to tho; Deanery of Wells. This leads the "Morning Post" to say:—"The Deancry of Westminster is the most dignifiedoffico in the Church of England. By long tradition its occupant must be a man of great scholastic eminence, 0110 capablo of expressing the knowledge and of influencing the thought of his age. It is as fitting in theory as it is true in fact that the great Deanß of Westminster' should in themselvesreprescnt the typical qualities that distinguish tho ''Church' of England—learning, sobriety, tolerance. Never before has the need for those qualities .been so evident, nover before has the numerating and unifying influence of the Church had a more vital value in national life. The successor to Dr. Robinson will have a great opportunity, and if the man can bo found abloto. obtain and hold the attention of Churchmen us somo of liis predecessors-: have held it, he may accomplish a work 1 of greater magnitudo than theirs., Westminster is (ho ideal pulpit fro in which to send forth a message to the people. The packed and ever-changing congregations of tho Abbey represent every class in tho community and every portion of the country. Tho tone and spirit of Westminster can penetrate to remote country churches, and is felt in every part of the Empire. Great though its - place in Church life/ .the Abbey has not yet been used as fully and effectively as might be to influence tho groat masses of tho people who have newly como to the power of reading and the possibility of thought. The most pressing need of the Church, and, therefore, the first duty of Westminster, is to develop and utiliso the faculties that popular education ought to give to the people, to stir popular interest in the literature and the history of-the Church and of tho State, to make all men realise their place as links in tho long succession of generations that has built up the English" character and tho English nation." "Pa. what makes the cost of living so high?" "The cost of living so high, 111 v sou." ■ " The palmy days—tho time of parental spankings. "What do you do when a tyro bursts, Cholly?" ''Aw, I light a cigawette." A tariff is a sort of a national hobble skirt. Lady from the Bargain Sales: "What is the next train for Brixton?" Booking Clerk: "To-ten." Lady: "Make it tirothree and I'll take it."