“That is a strange thing the pakeha girl says,” remarked Rahana to Waihoura. “Is it according to the religion you desire to teach me?”
“Oh yes, yes,” exclaimed Waihoura. “I know that Lucy is right. She has told me that He who came to die and be punished that men might enjoy happiness hereafter, blessed His enemies, and did good to those who injured Him.”
“Then they shall live,” said Rahana. “I will set Hemipo free, and tell him that it is by the wish of the pakehas, and that he must henceforth be their friend and ally, and abandoning the cruel customs of our people, learn the good religion, which has made them act thus towards him.”
Lucy and Harry knowing the alarm their disappearance must have caused to Mrs Greening and their other friends, were anxious to return home immediately. Waihoura offered to accompany them, and begged Rahana that he would allow one of his canoes to convey them down the river.
“I will myself take charge of them, and I shall be proud to deliver them in safety to their friends,” he answered. “I will, however, first obey their wish, and set Hemipo and his followers free, after I have deprived them of their arms, which belong to my warriors.”
While the canoes were getting ready for the voyage down the river, fires were lighted, and fish and other provisions were cooked, some of which were presented to Waihoura and her friends, greatly to Harry’s satisfaction, who declared that he had seldom felt so hungry in his life; though Lucy and Betsy, still scarcely recovered from their agitation, partook of the repast but sparingly. Meantime Rahana had gone back to where he had left his warriors and their prisoners. He shortly returned, accompanied by another person. As they approached the spot where Waihoura and her friends sat, the light of the fire showed that Rahana’s companion was Hemipo. He looked greatly crestfallen, but recovering himself, he addressed Waihoura. Neither Lucy nor Harry could clearly understand him; but they gathered from what he said that he desired to express his gratitude for having his life spared, and sorrow for his conduct towards her, as also for having carried off her friends, and that if they would send a missionary to him he would gladly listen to his instruction. It evidently cost him much to speak as he did. She was glad when the interview was over, and Rahana told him that he might now depart in peace.
Waihoura and her friends were now conducted to the largest canoe, in which Rahana also took his seat. They had not proceeded far down the river when day broke, and the neighbouring woods burst forth with a chorus of joyful song, the sky overhead was blue and pure, the waters bright and clear, and the grass and shrubs, which grew on the banks, sparkled with bright dewdrops.
“See, see,” exclaimed Harry. “There’s a whole fleet of boats coming up the river.” Rahana, on observing them, went ahead of his flotilla with a flag waving at the bow of his canoe.
“There is our father, there is Val,” exclaimed Harry. The canoe was soon alongside one of the largest boats. A few words explained all that had occurred. Mr Pemberton and his companions had returned home the day after his children and servant had been carried off, when an expedition had immediately been organised to sail up the river and attack Hemipo’s pah, it being at once suspected that he had committed the outrage.
As there was now no necessity to proceed further, the boats’ bows were turned down the stream, Harry, with his sister and Betsy, having gone on board Mr Pemberton’s. Accompanied by the canoes, a strong current being in their favour, they soon reached “Riverside,” where the safe return of the young people caused almost as much satisfaction as the news which had just before arrived of the termination of the war.