Page:Adventures of Kimble Bent.djvu/200

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172
THE ADVENTURES OF KIMBLE BENT

Those of the Hauhaus who were in or near the stockade gathered under Kātené and danced in their ferocious joy a dance of victory, and this is the ngeri (war-song) they shouted all together as they leaped in that terrifying tutu-waewae:

"Kia kutia—
Au—au!
Kia wherahia—
Au—au!
A kia rere atu
Te Kawana ki tawhiti,
Titiro mai ai!
Ae—ae—au!
"

("Squeeze close—
Au—au! (imitating the bark of a dog)
Spread out—Au—au!
See the Government soldiers flee away,
And turn and fearfully gaze at me.
Yes, yes—au!")

The puffy clouds of smoke now drew away from the pa, as the Hauhaus followed their defeated foes into the dark forest. With appalling yells they rushed at their white enemies, tomahawking those who had fallen to make sure of them, as Tutangé had done with von Tempsky.

"Ka horo! Ka horo!" they yelled. "They are beaten!" And thrusting their bloody tomahawks into their belts they recharged their guns, and, leaping from tree to tree, fired heavily and incessantly at the gallant little rear-guard who were