Adventure, August 1917 — page 135: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Rotorua Rex MORE canoes crowded, gunwales and outriggers, were bowling along inside the reef in the direction of Moitapu to land for the main attack. Lou- don jerked the signal string as he grasped his rope, the natives hauled in and he was soon back in the crater with his news. Rotorua was already dealing out the weapons, the handling of which had put fresh heart into his men. It was noon and the crater basked in its hour of sunshine. Mrs. Gower, her arms about her thin knees, sought a sunny spot, as did the natives. Loudon dispatched the sergeant to relieve Serena and, when she re-- turned, held conference with her, the widow and the king. ‘“Ha!” cried the king as he learned of the canoes. “They go Moitapu but tonight they no can come along. Look—” he hun- kered down and scratched an illustration to his talk in the dirt—‘‘this Moitapu, where they come along sunset. This-way, trail go in valley with veribig pari (precipice) both side. Here one veribig crack with big tree for bridge. Now come pari one time more, this-a-time all same front. They climb um slow. No can do after sun go down, maybe when moon come they start. Bime- by they come along this-a-way. I think white men try to come by ridge all same time. “Maybe Toruki he give white man plenty kanaka along he think he drive us out of this place. We see bimeby. Me, I can think all same Toruki.. Maybe I think more quick. Before sun come up we go to pass, hide in bush. Some men we leave with gun here. Bimeby Toruki come and walk quiet along pass. Then we run down and kill. Tomorrow, Missy Hargrave, I show you one big fight.” The crapulous, ease-loving sovereign had vanished. Rotorua stood erect, his head lifted, the sun gleaming from his muscular back, every inch a king, repeating his plans to his men in their own language while they brandished their weapons and shouted back at him in sonorous chorus. “T drive them over pari, rua. “TI drive them into sea.” His great body swayed as he broke into a chant, roaring out the deep-chested strophes while the warriors grunted their ecstatic approval. Serena, cross-legged on the short turf beside Loudon, softly translated the metrical stanzas: ” cried Roto- 133 I, Rotorua, the Heavenborn Lord of Hapai, I, Rotorua the smiter, I, Rotorua the king; I am the rock of the reef, deep-seated! My enemies come as the waves, proud-crested, Boasting and shouting and eager to conquer. Toruki leads them, Toruki, my nephew, the wizard. Cunning and boastful and brave in bis numbers; Spomeine presents to all when he taketh the king- om. See, like the waves to the reef they are mounting, They darken the heavens and rise and curl over. Lo, they are broken! They smash and surrender! Backward they rush in defeat! Rotorua, Heavenborn Lord of Hapai, has arisen! Up, like a rock mid the surf he arises, Unshaken, unharmed while his enemies scatter. I, Rots have conquered! ‘Toruki shrinks sea- ward; Broken he goes and is drowned in the surf of his making! He ended and a great shout went up, crashing back from the cliffs, scaring the doves that flew scattered above them like wind-tossed leaves. Rotorua resumed his seat, his eyes flash- ing with the spirit of his improvisation and they perfected their plans. It seemed cer- tain that the attack would be divided into an attempt, or a bluff, at carrying the ridge to cover Toruki’s rush from therear. Roto- rua hoped to smash Toruki’s main force from ambush. The sergeant with half a dozen of the na- tives who were fairly good shots, would hold the notch and the knife-edge until word was sent for them to come on and form the rear-guard in the advance to Moitapu or they themselves were beaten back to the crater by superior force. Loudon and Serena were to act as sharpshooters and back up Rotorua’s attack. The king told off the various squads of his tiny army. First the javelin-throwers, to be followed by the carriers of the great flesh- tearing spears for use against the groups that would form as soon as Toruki’s men saw they were attacked. Then the club- men, covered by rifle fire as long as it lasted. Loudon felt hungry and knew that he only echoed the rest. ‘“‘Miss Hargrave,” he proposed, “‘if we’ve figured this out right there’s plenty of time before us. Suppose you and I go out with the shotgun and tackle those doves. We can all fight better for food.” The girl got to her feet. ‘‘We’ll make a match of it,’”’ she said. “The three of us. And look out for aunt or she’ll wipe the eyes of both of us.”’ Comiclsoo CO 5}