Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/41

nists, Te Mai hara nui’s courage completely forsook him. He became very excited, and cried out, ‘Who can overcome them? Can these youths, inexperienced in the use of firearms, cope with those veterans?’ Then he got up quickly from the ground with the intention of running away, but Whakatuka, who was crouching beside him, seized him by the legs and pulled him down again. ‘Sit still,’ he said, ‘and keep quiet; wait till I stamp my foot, and then rise.’ Te Mai hara nui’s teeth chattered with fright as he sat cowering in the rushes, while being forcibly restrained from publicly exhibiting his cowardice. A great crowd of men, women, and children shortly appeared, following their advanced armed guard. As soon as the latter caught sight of us, they uttered a warning cry and fired. Then we all sprang to our feet and rushed forward. Those who had guns singled out the noted chiefs whom they recognised, and continued to fire till they fell. Tawha was the first who was shot. He was claimed by Tauawhara. When the Taumutu people saw that their leader was killed, they took to flight, and all we had to do was to follow and kill as fast as we could. As I ran along I saw in front of me old Upokohina, a first cousin of Te Mai hara nui, trying to escape. He was carrying one little child on his back and leading two others by the hand. He called out to the man who was pursuing him, ‘Do not kill me.’ Te Whakatuka, who was at a little distance, heard him beg for his life, and asked who it was. When he knew that it was Upokohina, he called out, ‘Keep him till I come up, and take him as payment for Tokomaru,’ for he wanted to avenge the insult offered to his friend Te Rehe and himself a few hours before. But Te Mai hara nui, who chanced to be close by, defeated his purpose, for, hearing Te Whakatuka’s words, he ran forward, crying out in a loud voice, ‘Spare my cousin!’ Upokohina sat