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prisoners, he advanced by a forced march over the hills to Waikakahi.

The shadow of Moki’s form across his threshold was the first intimation Tu te kawa had of the arrival of the Ngai Tahu. The old chief, infirm and helpless, was found coiled up in his mats in a corner of his house, and Tuahuriri’s sons, mindful of their father’s last words, “If you ever meet that old man, spare him,” were prompted at the last moment to shield their kinsman, but the avenger of blood thrust his spear between them, and plunged it into the old man’s body. It may be necessary to explain here why the Ngai Tahu chiefs hesitated at the last moment to carry out the avowed purpose of the expedition. Tuahuriri’s injunction, and their desire to carry it out, were quite consistent with the Maori customs relating to feuds of this nature. Tu te kawa had spared Tuahuriri’s life, and therefore merited like protection at his hands. But Tu te kawa had killed Tuahuriri’s wives, and their death required to be avenged, but not necessarily by the death of the person who killed them; it would be sufficient atonement if one of his nearest blood relations suffered for the crime. This practice will be fully illustrated in subsequent pages containing the account of the Kai Huanga feud.

Having ascertained that Te Rangi tamau was away at Taumutu, and not knowing what course he might take to avenge his father’s death, Moki gave orders that a watch should be kept at night round the camp, to guard against surprise, but his orders were disregarded. Te Rangi tamau, whose suspicions were aroused by observing a more than ordinary quantity of smoke arising from the neighborhood of his father’s pa, set off at once for Waikakahi, and arrived there after dark, Waiting till the camp