Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/179

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Stories of Banks Peninsula.

boat bigger; you might have to go a voyage in it.” “Chips” thought something was up, and took the hint, and built the boat fit for the sea instead of for the river, as at first intended. Te Hapuka didn’t like the evident friendship between “Chips” and his father-in-law, and the latter was so frightened that he used to go away and sleep in a fresh place every night, with a tomahawk by his side, being afraid Hapuka might take a fancy to destroy him. An uncomfortable month or two passed in this way, and at last one evening Hapuka announced his intentions with regard to the girl to several of the Maoris, and fixed the following evening for the abduction. A friend of “Chips’” worthy father-in-law told him what Hapuka had resolved on, and he at once went to “Chips” and said, “It is time for you and my daughter to be at Mohaka.” Thoroughly versed by this time in Maori warnings, and knowing the case was desperate, “Chips” got the boat ready for sea, though the weather was very bad. This fact was probably his salvation, for Te Hapuka never dreamt that the boat, which he looked upon as only fit for the river, could live in such a sea. “Chips,” his wife, and his faithful father-in-law and friend, passed a dreadful night, tomahawk in hand, fearing that every sound that they heard was the dreaded Te Hapuka, or some of his myrmidons, coming to tear them away from each other for ever. Great indeed was their relief when the grey dawn enabled them to steal down to the boat. The sea was by this time moderating, and with hopeful hearts they committed themselves to the Ngararora, whose rapid current speedily carried them out to sea. The passage was an uneventful one, and they arrived at Mohaka in good spirits. Te Hapuka was furious at first, and said he would take his warriors and burn down the Mohaka pa, and do all sorts of things, but remembering on reflection that the defences there