"Not before tomorrow night. Their intention is, of course, to get into Orakau and strengthen the defences. There's only a sufficient number there now to hold the earthworks against a moderate force." "What do you think the general will do?" "Move to intercept them before they can get into the pah." "And is there time for the march?" "Barely. Don't be surprised if we have the order to start at daylight. I went back on their trail for the rest of that day, and found that they had only made one halt, having come right through from Maungatautari. Just at nightfall I picked up the tracks of Taranui, and got to his camp, in a cave that I knew all about." "Then you compared notes?" "Yes. He says it will be the biggest fight of the war; that Waka Nene and Patuone were on the march, with every warrior of the Ngapuhi and the Rarawa. Mannering and Waterton were with them, also Erena. Taranui said she never leaves her father. There were many other women, which makes me think that it is a more serious affair than usual." "Why should that be?" asked Massinger, heroically concealing his personal interest in this phase of the expedition. "Because they do not care to leave them at home. They have a notion that in case of defeat the Waikatos might double back and raid their villages." "What an absurd idea! Surely they can't imagine that, with the forces at our command, such a thing could be possible!" "Such things _have_ happened in old days," said Slyde. "Defeated tribe suffered horrors unspeakable. Ngapuhis felt no hesitation in inflicting when they were uppermost. Tribal custom. No grounds of complaint if they receive same in turn." "Fortunately, there's no slavery now; otherwise," said Warwick, "one could hardly describe the condition of a conquered tribe. The missionaries may be thanked for that. I have heard tales that would make your hair stand on end." "Much worse than could happen now?" asked Massinger. "Worse--worse a hundredfold. First of all, the old and helpless would be killed and eaten--yes, _eaten_ before their blood was cold. Any particular family among the captors that had lost relatives would have men or women handed over to them to torture at their pleasure; and great pleasure it seemed to be to prolong the agony and refine the cruelty. All the able-bodied men and women would be carried off as slaves--not only to be used as beasts of burden, but to be held degraded for life as having been slaves. Their lot was a hard one, though occasionally some lived through it, and were now and then freed. Others became distinguished, like Te Waharoa." "I have heard his history," said Massinger. "What a remarkable man he must have been!"