Part 38 (2/2)
”Is there no letter for et promoted!” asked Billy froood time,” answered Jack ”Perhaps you will have an opportunity before long of doing so the two lieutenants and Billy were able to come downstairs
Their promotion had had a wonderful effect on Toreat rate with their fair hostesses Aslieutenants lost their hearts, and even Billy Blueblazes, though still a midshi+pman, became more sentimental than he was ever before known to have been, thethe object of his adoration A copy of verses, which he had begun to coot very far in them, afforded a subject of amusement to his ht abruptly to an end, in consequence of the two shi+ps being ordered off to New Zealand
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
WARFARE IN NEW ZEALAND--BLUE-JACKETS FROM EMPRESS AND ORION LAND--A DESPERATE ATTACK ON A PAH--THE PAH CAPTURED--A NIGHT MARCH--THE PARTY LOSE THEIR WAY--GAIN THE TOP OF A HILL--BIVOUAC--ATTACKED BY A LARGE PARTY OF MAORIS--A GALLANT DEFENCE--MANY KILLED--TOM WOUNDED--NEARLY OVERWHELMED--JACK HOLDS OUT BRAVELY--SUCCOURED IN TIME BY ADAIR AND DESMOND--assAULT ON THE PAH--DESERTED BY THE GARRISON--A NIGHT MARCH TO ATTACK A VILLAGE--DESPERATE DEFENCE OF THE INHABITANTS--THE OLD CHIEF'S GRANDDAUGHTER--TIM PROPOSES TO SPLICE HER OFFHAND--THE END OF THE CONTEST--HOMEWARD BOUND--BILLY STRUCK BY MOON-BLINDNESS--A THUNDERSTORM--BILLY RESTORED TO SIGHT--THE ORION LOST SIGHT OF--THE EMPRESS REACHES SPITHEAD
Each of the two shi+ps carried a party of volunteers, who had been raised to assist the New Zealand colonists and regular troops in putting down the Maori rebellion, which had some time before broken out
The part of the northern island of New Zealand in which the natives had taken up arion of mountains, hills, and valleys, with lakes and streams, and several rivers of considerable size, the Tharound is either covered with dense forest or scrub, or long grass, and the thickly growing flax plant, which afforded cover to the Maoris in their engagements with the British troops The rebels had frequently been defeated, but had fought bravely on all occasions, and sometimes successfully defended themselves
The co pah, in which one of the principal chiefs, with a large body of followers, held out, and the shi+ps of ere ordered round, that the ht be landed to co-operate with the troops, while the sun-boats proceeded up the river to bombard the enemy's fortifications before they were assaulted The Maoris had already shown thees though they were called, they were in no way to be despised
Jack and Adair were dining together on board the _Ehty men and several officers, to assist the troops in the attack on the pah It was situated on a hill soun-boats were to convey the troops and tow the men-of-war's boats with the blue-jackets on board Besides the pah, strong entrenchht bank of the river to a lake on the opposite side of the pah, thus co up the road In addition to these fortifications, were two lines of rifle-pits, the erous style of defence to attack in the hands of a desperate enemy
Both soldiers and sailors knew that it was no child's play in which they were to be engaged, and that, savage as was the foe, ht be lost before he would be corave Adair laughed and joked, as was his custom
”If I fall to-ed to return home to be with her There is a letter for her, which I wrote last night, in my desk I have left you ood order, so that you will not have much trouble My letter contains chiefly expressions of my devoted affection and a few directions”
”Of course I will do everything you wish, should such a misfortune happen, but I do not believe that the bullet is cast that is to deprive you of life, Jack,” answered Adair ”You'll get your flag, as I hope to get h I know it is possible that a bit of lead may find me out, yet the chances are if it does it won't hit a vital part Still, in case such a thing should happen, you will bear h she knows that I love her as the 'apple of my eye'”
Gerald had come on board to see Toether The two young lieutenants were to join in the attack
At an early hour the nextthe expedition commenced the ascent of the river It was sufficiently wide and deep to float stea, it greatly ied that simultaneous attacks should be made both above the fortifications and below them The steamers which carried the troops destined to assault the southern end of the pah proceeded up the river
Jack and Terence with theirlanded on the north side of the fortifications, were directed to proceed close to the neck of land, and sweeping round, left shoulders foremost, to attack the entrenchuide conducted theunshot of the enenal was made for the soe, whence they could see into the pah about to be attacked It was a for palisades, which must be pulled down or escaladed before it could be entered Through his glass Jack observed a line of dark heads within the sun These were only the outer defences; within were other entrench a host of determined enemies, for it had been reported that the pah was held by nearly a thousand men
The blue-jackets cared very little for the difficulties and dangers before the forward for the signal to assault the works In theup to their destined positions, the object of the general being so coarrison could escape and give further trouble
Just then an officer arrived, directing Captain Rogers to keep his men in reserve This was disappoint the first in the fort
At length the gun-boats, which had got into position, opened fire on the fort Their shot, however, produced but little effect in the wide open space into which they fell, the ene numberless pits and holes in which they could protect theer steaet into position froe their shot at the pah
At length a rocket flew up fronal to attack It was answered by another at the south end, when the troops, rising from behind the cover which had concealed them from the enemy, rushed forward towards the pah, those who had just landed joining the fire froround, but, nothing daunted, they pushed forward to plant their scaling ladders against the palisades The first line was quickly gained More soldiers, as they landed, joined the first assailants, when the enemy retreated to the centre of the redoubt, where they seemed determined to defend themselves The troops on the south side were at the sa their way across the lines of rifle-pits, fro at them with deadly effect One pit after another was taken, the occupants of so heart, leaped out and endeavoured to make their escape across the lake to the east, the only outlet which now remained for them
The main body of the enemy held out in their centre fortification, which was of the strongest description In vain the allant party of artillery So high were the palisades that the scaling ladders could not reach the suh which an entrance round Other officers fell; at length the soldiers had to retire