Midnight Webs Part 28

He knelt in the shade; but the moonbeams lit up all around, and gave a distinctness to every object that was almost equal to that of day.

Nearer and nearer came the sounds; the great fronds were being parted here and there; a long fine stem that had lent him its aid shook and rattled as it was clasped from beneath. In another instant his foe would be within reach; and he raised one of the heavy fragments, poised it, and, as he saw a figure dart beneath, he hurled it down; but only for it to go crashing below, wakening the echoes in the rifts and chasms. The next instant he was dashed back, and a strong hand was upon his throat, a knee upon his chest, and a weapon raised to slay him; when, with a wild cry of despair, Bray forced his feet energetically against the rock, and thrust himself away, so that he held his foe half suspended over the edge of the yawning precipice.

STORY THREE, CHAPTER FIVE.

AT THE FARM.

Mrs Lee was a very unimportant-looking little woman; yet she ruled at home even as Martin Lee ruled abroad; and after the supper that night, when Katie had occasion to attend to sundry maternal orders, there was plenty of free open discussion, in which Parson Meadows was invited to join.

"I've no objection to you at all, Edward," said Mrs Lee, "only that you will go away for a twelvemonth at a time; and if we let you have Katie, you will either carry her off, or else be making her a widow till you return again; and that's why I have set my face against it."

"Why can't you settle down here, my lad?" said old Lee, puffing leisurely at his pipe.

"Ay, and plough the land instead of the ocean," put in Mr Meadows.

"You are all hard upon me," said Edward, laughing. "Didn't I give up the navy?"

"Let him alone," said old Lee; "he'll come round in time."

"To be sure," said Mr Meadows. "And, after all, my young friend, it's a pleasant patriarchal life you would lead here--at peace with the world, nature smiling upon you, a glorious climate, and sickness a thing hardly known. Truly, yours would be a pleasant prospect. No need here to lock or bar your doors to keep out the thieves who break through and steal. Indeed, I should envy you if I were a young man--young as he who went out."

"Ah, poor Bray! I'm afraid he'll be rather nettled about your coming, Ned. I know Katie gave him no encouragement; but the old lady there took a fancy to him; and now she has turned her coat. Fickle ever!"

Just then Katie returned to take her place in the circle, seating herself by Edward Murray, with the innocent air of one who sought protection at the side of the stronger.

The night was wearing on, and early hours were the rule at the Moa's Nest; so old Lee slowly rose, pipe in hand, and made his customary round, stopping here and there for a few whiffs, till he was satisfied that sheep and cattle were well folded, horses bedded down, dogs loose and watchful; though no enemies were ever dreaded there--the old settler being on the best of terms with neighbour and native.

On returning, he encountered Mr Meadows a few yards from the door.

"The young folks seemed as though they could well spare me, friend Lee,"

he said; "so I strolled out to finish my pipe with you. Youth lasts but a while: let them enjoy the happy season. We are getting older than when we first met, ten years ago, friend Lee; and things have prospered with you."

"Ay," said the settler; "thank Providence, they have; for it's a sore job to work early and late, and see the toil all wasted. I've prospered well here, parson; and if things go on so, I shall die a rich man. I wish they prospered as well with you."

"They prosper well enough, Martin Lee. I've my own little home, and the people in my district are kind and hospitable when I visit them; and, somehow, this half-civilised sort of existence suits me better than the life at the old home. I have never regretted my large town curacy, and I hope I never shall."

They stood silent for a few moments.

"Your bonnie English bud is breaking into a fair and sweet-scented rose, Martin Lee," said Mr Meadows at last.

"What--Katie? Yes, yes, G.o.d bless her! But it gets to be a worrying time, parson, when the lads come wooing; and, though I took no heed to it, that young fellow Bray went out looking as if he'd like to make an end of us all."

"Be charitable, friend Lee--be charitable. The young man was hot and bitter and disappointed; and no wonder. A night's rest will do him much good, poor lad. Let's pity, and not condemn."

"Very well," said old Lee, smiling; "and now let's go in."

They re-entered the house just as Edward Murray exclaimed:

"There, I have it! Been trying to call to mind who he was for days past; but I have it now."

"And pray, who was he?" said Mr Meadows dryly.

"The head-clerk at Elderby's; don't you remember, Mr Lee? He was transported for life for forging a will--John Grant."

"And what about him?" asked the settler.

"Why, I met him at Port Caroline a few days ago, in a gang of men returning from work, I suppose; and he spoke to me by name. Strange we should meet again."

"Well, a little, perhaps," said Mr Meadows. "I remember his case now you name it. But the world is not big enough to hide yourself anywhere.

You are sure to encounter some one who knows you, or your relatives.

Good-night, and heaven protect you all!"

STORY THREE, CHAPTER SIX.

THE ALARM.

We must now return to the struggle on the brink of the precipice. With the energy of despair, Anthony Bray sought to grapple with his enemy, when the threatening weapon was withdrawn, and a harsh voice, with surprise in its tones, gave utterance to his name.

"What, Wahika!" exclaimed Bray joyfully; and he gazed with wonder in the blue-tinted tattooed face of one of the natives, who had often been upon his premises.

"Thought killed. Men come from sea kill all, and come kill him again for kill you."

"You thought I was one of the men?"

The New Zealander nodded.

"Where go to now? Come back pah?"

"No, no!" exclaimed Bray, as a bright thought struck him. "I want to go over the hill to the Moa's Nest. You can show me the best way."

"Much hard work; but Wahika show;" and, without another word, he plunged down again, with Bray following for a little distance; but, under the impression that the native had misunderstood him in his imperfect knowledge of the tongue, he called to him to stop, and pointed upwards.

The savage smiled at his eagerness, and shook his head, and pointed downward, then drew an imaginary line to the right, and then another, which led in the direction of the hill-top.

Bray nodded, and followed without another word; when, after a few turns and doublings, the guide hit upon the bed of a good-sized stream, and, first on one side, then on the other, led his companion up and up, at a rate which inspired him with the hope that he might even yet be in time.

Higher and higher they climbed now, pa.s.sing in among the trees at the side, and anon climbing over some huge block which arrested their progress, when the guide would stretch out a helping hand, or in some other way a.s.sist his less active and panting companion.

The journey was performed in absolute silence, till suddenly the native stopped short, and, facing round, he exclaimed, as if he had at length found out the object in view:

"You go tell at Moa's Nest men come?"

Bray nodded.