Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/75

 not wanting in courage, preferred to suffer robbery than to take human life. Having collected their swag downstairs, they further requisitioned Mr. E. Greenwood to help them to carry the plunder down to their boat, and assist in the stowing of it. When all was completed, Blue Cap produced his watch, and, turning to Mr. Greenwood, said:—“I give you twenty minutes, but if, before that time, you release any one up at the house, I will return and shoot you.” The threat was, of course, simply bluff to secure a good start, but was especially unnecessary in view of the fact that fully twenty minutes would have been absorbed in the journey from the beach to the house; and were so absorbed, so that immediately on arrival, without scruple as to any breach of treaty, Mr. Greenwood released his brothers and the men who had remained bound during his absence.

A man was immediately despatched to Port Levy to acquaint the whalers there with what had just occurred at Purau, as it was surmised that Blue Cap’s next objective would be Riccarton, where he would endeavour to repeat his exploit on the Deans Brothers. Now, the Messrs. Deans were