Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/48

 Rauparaha and his men were camped round their fires at night. He then made his dispositions carefully, and, drawing up his canoes, crept cautiously through the bush, and with his men surprised Te Rauparaha at daylight. Well knowing the latter, Tuhawaiki singled him out and chased him towards the beach. Perceiving that he was gaining he threw down his musket and caught hold of the mat Te Rauparaha was wearing. Te Rauparaha (whose body was well oiled) slipped the mat over his head, and, eluding Tuhawaiki’s grip plunged into the sea, and, coming up carefully among a thick layer of kelp, kept his mouth and nostrils just clear for breathing, and was effectually concealed. Tuhawaiki failed to find him, and he escaped, his own men eventually picking him up. I can remember my father saying, “But, Jack, why did you not shoot him? You could easily have done so.” He replied:—“Mr. Hay, I wanted to take him alive to punish him for the tortures my peoples suffered at his hands.” Te Rauparaha was so scared by this event that he never ventured south again. The pursuit was not a failure except for the escape of Te Rauparaha, for Tuhawaiki recovered his own people, who