CHAPTER IV.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1902, 13 September 1884, Page 5

CHAPTER IV.

"Bewaie oi that man, brollies," George Baid to Bon&haw. '■ I have no liking for him." " He is a seoundr?l amoiig hia own people, and will do yours no good." 4fc " I already suspect him of bringing rum to the camp." "If that is so your tiibe is doomed. Beware of it." " What can I do ?" " Dismiss him from the camp, not to return on pain of instant death. Your tiibe is in peril, and why should it suffer for this heartleas villain. "It would be a disgrace to us to send him off. It would be a breach of hospitality. He would be punished by his white brothers if he went to town; outside it he would die." "In any event it would be bare justice." " I do not like him, but I cannot act so. Oh, brother 1 will not the power you talk of that sends the vnnd and the rain to the valleys and creek? , and holds the mist on the mountains, will it not protect us ? " " The innocent are protected, and the virtuous rewarded, and the evil j3unished ; if not here, heieafter. But we must act, and your position at present is to rid yourself of that man." A shade of gloom passed over the face of the king, and he looked in deep silence towards the giound, then he looked up at the clear and unclouded sky. " A hereafter," he muttered. " Innocence ; virtue rewards ; punishments.' 1 The shade suddenly passed away from his face, and he seemed satisfied. " The white man will stay, brother ; I cannot send him off to die." _ " So you won't be prudent, and throw hos- • pitality to the winds. Well, well, I say again •fesware." - -Vhile thus talking they came in sight of a £i>Ave camp. JF The king's approaching union with the 1 fairest girl in the camp had been sanctioned at the corrobboiee held the pievious evening. George sometime ago had called her Amoretta — half in jest and half in earnest — because of her beauty and loving ways. The name pleased the simple-hearted natives, and she was henceforth known as Amoretta. All the features peculiar to the natives were in her modified and subdued. In common with the other girls of the camp, her teeth ware bits of unstained ivory ; her eyes were fripged with beautiful long lashes, and her hair wa3 of a glossy jet. At first sight she was pretty; but, on further acquaintance, admiration for the exterior gave place to feelings of a higher and more enduring character. She was always cheerful and happy, and she made those around her cheerful and happy too. The happiness and deep sympathy that beamed fiom her eyes were infectious. Theze wn3 a charm in her very presence, and an inexpieesible delicacy in all she did and said. IWleeted from those around her was a halo of altoction and regard. " How is Amoretta ? I see her under the old bunya-buaya making dilly-bags and nicknacks for the children." " She is well. Her- dear hand is always moving." " You should be happy." " Two more moons and we shall he joined — man and wife — for ever." " Happy man 1 " "I would bo thrice happier but for the smoke of yonder fires and the sight of those strange ships. When I see them I fear the morrow." The camp presentee' a happy scene. Some of the natives were -working beneath the spreading bunya-bunyas ; others leisurely walking about or lying in the shade, while the majority and the noisiest of them were enjoying a " bogy " in the clear water of the creek. The bathers were laughing and shouting, and eeemed to enjoy themselves immensely as some new feat was accomplished, while those on the bank clapped their hands with glee: Suddenly the aharp report of a rifle struct harßhly on the ear, and its report echoed uj the vale. The camp was no longer tranquil. Bathers forsook the water, women their work, anc men their leisure attitudes. The warrion seized their spears and boomerangs; whil« the women, who Bhared with their husbandi the dangers of war as well as the pleasure; of peace, hastened after them with mori weapons. A native came rushing up the vale, an< told the king that one of them had been sho by two men on horseback. Bonshaw drew himself to his full heighi held aloft his spear, and seemed to mutter prayer for help. We get off to avenge th •death, followed by a dozen of the fleetest c the tribe, who were soon hid from view in th dense scrub.