Part 29 (1/2)
”You think they come Moa's Nest?” queried the savage.
Bray nodded again.
”Wahika fetch tribe--go to pah;” and he made a movement as if to return.
But Bray pointed forward; and, in obedience, the man led on.
Twice over Bray stopped, panting, thinking that they had reached the summit of the ridge; but there were still higher crags to climb; and on they slowly made their way, often along the edges of dangerous chasms-- places where in calmer moments he dare not have set his foot; but, with thoughts concentrated upon his object, he pressed on.
If he could but save Katie, he would be content; and then thought after thought crowded through his brain--thoughts that at another time he would have shuddered at; but now, in this time of temptation, they found a home.
”Hah!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the guide suddenly, as he helped his companion to the top of a huge ma.s.s of vine-clad rock.
And, looking in the direction pointed out by the savage, he could see, far below them, the home of Martin Lee bathed in the peaceful moonlight, and with nothing to indicate impending danger.
”In time, so far,” exclaimed Bray; and, pointing to the long low buildings that glistened beneath them, the native nodded, and they began rapidly to descend.
What Bray wanted in agility, he tried to supply by daring, and he boldly followed his guide, now leaping, now swinging down by hanging rope-like creeper, and more than once falling heavily; but he was up and on again directly.
And there was need of haste; for slowly and cautiously a band of some thirty men were making their way up towards the peaceful home. Their progress was necessarily slow, from their ignorance of the locality; and they more than once lost ground by searching for a settlement up some pleasant-looking ravine, or it would have been impossible for the warning to have arrived in time to prevent a surprise.
The Moa's Nest at last, though; and half-a-dozen fierce dogs ran out, raging round Anthony Bray, and hardly kept at bay by Wahika's club; so that it needed no summons to rouse Martin Lee from his bed, and to bring him to the window.
”What!” he exclaimed, as Anthony Bray told his tale; ”a piratical party hanging, burning? Nonsense, man; you have been dreaming!”
”As you will,” cried Bray fiercely; and, stepping back a few steps, he picked up a stone and flung it through Katie's window.
”Here, Kate!--Miss Lee! wake up! Quick! there's danger!” he exclaimed.
”He's mad!” cried old Lee. ”Here, stop him! What are you doing? But who's that? Wahika?”
”Yes; Wahika,” answered the savage. ”White men come s.h.i.+p--kill and burn. Open door--here directly!”
”Here, stop, Bray! I beg pardon!” exclaimed the old man excitedly; and in another minute he had opened the door and admitted the new-comers.
Men were aroused, and the dogs called in; and then a hasty council of war was held.
”Sure they are not natives?” said Murray to Bray.
But the latter stood knitting his brow without giving any reply.
”Did you not say, friend Murray, that there were convicts escaped from Port Caroline, and that a schooner had been seized?” said the calm voice of Mr Meadows.
”Yes; but surely they cannot have sailed all round here,” exclaimed Murray.
”Why not, if your vessel could anchor two days since in Kaitaka Bay? I see no impossibility. There could be no other marauding party here, my friend. I don't like bloodshed; so you must make a show of being prepared with such arms as you have, and then we will parley with them.
I will be the amba.s.sador of peace. Perhaps a little tea and tobacco will make them take their departure.”
”They'll take their departure when they have slain all here, and turned your home into a heap of ashes, as they have mine!” exclaimed Bray fiercely. ”If you have any respect for your women and your own lives, you will at once try to put the place in a state of defence.”