Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/13

building in the pa, with the widest barge boards to the porch. They did not enter the pa until every one had retired to rest, when they made their way to the house indicated, and sat down close to the breakwind near the porch, where they waited till some one appeared to whom they could make themselves known. About midnight their sister came out, and after sitting a few minutes in the yard, rose to return to the house. Hoping to attract her notice without making any noise, one of them opened a parcel of tara mea scent, which he had concealed about him. She no sooner perceived the delicious fragrance than she approached the spot where her brothers were crouching, feeling her way towards them along the breakwind. As soon as she reached them they caught hold of her, when she gave a sharp cry, but they at once silenced her fears by telling her who they were. She was overjoyed by the discovery, and quickly re-entered the house to inform her husband. “Rise up, rise up, O Moki!” she cried, “here are your brothers-in-law, the sons of Pokai whao; they have returned, and are awaiting your pleasure outside.” Moki told her to bring the travellers in, and to prepare some food at once for them, but not to make their arrival known to the pa till the morning. Marewa knew how important it was for her brothers’ safety that they should take food under Moki’s roof, because it would ensure his protection in the event of their meeting with persons inclined to kill them; for in these stormy times it was the common practice for individuals to avenge their private wrongs, and in doing so it was quite immaterial whether they killed the person who had done them the injury, so long as they killed some one connected with him; unprotected people were therefore always in great danger of losing their lives. It was not surprising, therefore, that under the circumstances Moki’s wife displayed the greatest alacrity in providing refresh-