"You remember that I came in late, the day after our arrival—on the day when I wished to go on with our journey?"
"Now I do remember. You looked as though you had been a long way."
"I had indeed. I went back on our tracks very nearly as far as the cave where Roland lay concealed, when we brought him away from the Gate Pah. I thought I might meet some of my father's people, who would have made short work of these bloodthirsty Hau-Haus. But he had gone off towards Opotiki, as a report had come of another rising. But luckily I met some one, and it will go far to save our lives."
"Who was it?" asked Hypatia, breathlessly.
"It was Winiata. He had heard of these Hau-Haus being on the march, and that Ngarara had persuaded Kereopa to follow us up."
"And what aid did he give you?"
"Merely this—that a body of Ngatiporu were following up this taua, led by the most dreaded warrior in all New Zealand, Ropata Waha Waha."
At the mention of this name, so well known throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand—
"In close fight a champion grim, In camps a leader sage"—