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Chapter XVI. We Are Caught in a Trap.

Straining our ears we heard the thud of galloping horses and shouts in the street. The old gentleman hurried to the top balcony that commanded a good view, and called on us to follow him. The night was beautifully fine, and we could see plainly the red glow of a fire in the forest some distance away.

"Here comes a horseman from the forest, apparently from the direction of the fire." said Miss Munroe.

"Yes, and in a deuce of a hurry too" returned her father.

The horseman approached at a gallop, and when he was passing the house, Mr. Munroe called out, "what is the matter?"

"Fire! murder!" was the hoarse response as the man dashed past.

"Join your men at once, my boy," said Mr. Munroe hurriedly, "you may be wanted at any moment when fire and murder are on foot."

I hurriedly took leave of my friends and ran down the street, but not before Miss Jessie had murmured something into my ear page 71about taking care of myself. I waved my adieu, and soon got to my quarters, where I found the men getting ready for a double quick march.

"I sent a man after you a few moments ago, Sergeant," said the Captain. "Look sharp and get fifty men ready; acting-corporal Stone will be left in charge here while we are away. Those devils have been up to some mischief!"

In a few minutes we had left the township behind us, and had entered a road which lay through a dense scrub. Trees of enormous size were on either side, which met overhead and completely shut out what little light the stars afforded us. On the way Andrews hurriedly whispered that the Maoris had attacked the house of a German settler named Gustave Hirch, murdering some of his family and levelling his house to the ground. It was the intention of our captain to intercept the rebels, and we had taken a much shorter route to the scene of the outrage so as to arrive with all possible speed. The men pushed forward in gloomy silence, each breast filled with a dire thirst for revenge. The inoffensive German was well-known in Wairuara, and the attack on him was entirely unprovoked. No sound was heard save for the regular tramp of the men, and the gaunt trees glided past us like phantoms in the indistinct light.

Suddenly a man's voice rang out in the darkness, given in a stern tone of command. "Patua te pakeha" (kill the white man.) Instantly the trees above us become a blaze of light, and a deadly volley of rifle shots was fired into our midst. Before we could recover from our surprise a second volley was poured into us, which completed our discomfiture, and the men broke and fled in all directions. We could not return the fire, as it was impossible to locate the position of our enemies, owing to the page 72extreme darkness. If the Maoris had set a trap for us they had succeeded beyond their greatest hopes, for we were utterly routed without even firing a shot. It was afterwards ascertained that they had skillfully concealed themselves in the trees, and after delivering their fire they had immediately slipped down from their perches and made off.

I felt the blood dripping from the fingers of my hand, and became conscious of a severe pain in the upper part of my left arm. While I was binding a handkerchief round my wounded limb to stop the bleeding. I heard a groan close to me in the darkness, and a voice said:—

"Holy Moses! What's the matter? Am I kilt intirely."

I recognised the voice and answered.

"Is that you, Doolan?"

"Yis, Sergeant, what's left of me. Thank God there is someone left by me while I am dyin'."

I felt him all over, and asked him where he was hurt, as I could find no wound.

"I don't know where, sir; but it's dyin' I believe I am."

With some difficulty I got him on his feet, and discovered that beyond a severe fright he was quite uninjured.

"I believe I am all right after all, sir," said he shaking himself, "but I know that I got a regular knock over. Ah, here is my cartridge box all knocked to babby rags. That stopped the bullet from killin' a good man, anyhow."

I could not help laughing at his odd manner, and said, "you had better come and help to find the Captain."

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We fortunately had plenty of matches between us, and at once commenced searching about the road. The light thus afforded revealed a good many of our poor fellows lying dead in all positions. Doolan presently called out.

"Here's the Captain sir, as dead as a door nail."

I went over and found the Captain lying on the ground, his face covered with blood. At first sight I thought it was all over with him, as his body was doubled up and two dead comrades lay across his chest. I opened his tunic and put my hand on his heart.

"Get some water quick, Doolan; he is still living" I said as I supported his head.

Doolan fortunately had water in his bottle (a small cask-like bottle used by soldiers on the march, and fastened to their belt by a strap) and I washed the blood off the captain's face. To my intense relief I found that the bullet had only grazed his temple, a wound that is painful for a time, but not dangerous if the skull be not fractured. When the cold water touched the wound it roused him to a half consciousness. He muttered something feebly, felt for his sword, and I could just catch the Words:—

"Charge! Chester, charge! On! Stanley, on!" when he sank back insensible.