"Captain, we have discovered a Maori tribe south of where we are." The young officer reported as he stormed into the very musty smelling, cabin in which James the captain spent most of his time. James was sitting down at a polished wooden desk, working with maps and signing notes. The lamp that hung from the center roof of the small room flickered, it shed only a small amount of light, but it was enough for the Captain obviously. As the officer came in, Jame's head turned towards him. "Good work Taylor, but before we go explore, are they hostile?" He asked to his officer as he reached over for his musket, which leaned against the desk, along with several others.
Taylor looked at James, slightly concerned as he took the musket and quickly shook his head, "We have seen no sign of hostility, cannibalism or head shrinking." He said this with confidence, but he seemed nervous and fidgety. After all, he had just been on the first expedition he had ever been on, through an uncharted country.
"How far away are they?" James asked.
"Not far, only a days horse trek." was the reply he got. James nodded and looked at Taylor before smiling brightly, showing his dirty yellow teeth, "Go get your expedition team and go fetch a hearty meal. Robinson's team and I will go greet these people later."
Taylor nodded as he was dismissed from his captains cabin and quickly opened the door to leave. Only a couple seconds later, a large cheer was heard. Taylors expedition team sounded happy.
Several hours later, James and Robinson had organised themselves so they could go on the trip to find the Maori tribe. James thought to himself as he remembered Taylor telling him that he had marked the path, so finding the tribe should be easy enough.
James walked across the sands in slow, long strides as he made his way to the party. He walked up to his horse and patted it's dark black neck before grabbing hold of the saddle and hoisting himself up onto it's strong back. The horse stumbled backwards and nickered in annoyance at the mans pathetic mount.
"I hope everyone has gathered themselves, and I hope everyone has the gear needed for trade." He said as he looked behind him at the small team Robinson had gathered. There were 8 Young Men, including Robinson and himself. No one spoke up, and James took that to be a yes to everyone was ready.
James gave the horse a sharp kick in the sides to get it to start walking, they were leaving the small sandy bay that was surrounded by lush grass and thick native forests. They had sailed to this bay when they had first come to Aoteroa, and so far they had learned about 3 tribes in the surrounding area and had learnt some of their language.
The team was walking quickly over the sand, and they began to head into the forest, following the the slashes in the dark and healthy trees that Taylor had done to mark the path.
The walk was tiring, even though they were the ones riding the horses. But every now and then a horse would spook and they would all have to help calm it down before it spooked any of the other horses.
Eventually they saw light, torches, and a fence. They had been walking for a long time, and night had fallen upon the land an hour or two ago. The fence was roughly made and was there to keep the sheep that had been traded from getting out of the tribes property.
"Tena Koutou!" James called out, raising his arm and waving, "We are pakeha! Come to trade and greet." No one came out of the poorly made 'houses' and James began to wonder where everyone was.
Fffffshhhuuu!!!!! James gasped as a bullet shot right past his head and hit one of his men. The man fell off of his horse with a thump, groaning loudly before stopping and dying.
James grabbed his musket and began firing at the houses, the team did the same. Bang! Bang! Bang!
Then the Maori tribe began to retaliate and fire at them, "LEAVE!" One of the Maori people screamed from the house before another one of his men were hit. James would not leave until his comrades had been avenged. The fighting went for several hours, but eventually the Maori people stopped. They came out. There were 20 of them,and 5 had guns. Now there were only 5 men in the team led by Robinson.
James growled and turned, racing back through the forest. How could Taylor deceive him like this?
Too Be Continued ....
Taylor looked at James, slightly concerned as he took the musket and quickly shook his head, "We have seen no sign of hostility, cannibalism or head shrinking." He said this with confidence, but he seemed nervous and fidgety. After all, he had just been on the first expedition he had ever been on, through an uncharted country.
"How far away are they?" James asked.
"Not far, only a days horse trek." was the reply he got. James nodded and looked at Taylor before smiling brightly, showing his dirty yellow teeth, "Go get your expedition team and go fetch a hearty meal. Robinson's team and I will go greet these people later."
Taylor nodded as he was dismissed from his captains cabin and quickly opened the door to leave. Only a couple seconds later, a large cheer was heard. Taylors expedition team sounded happy.
Several hours later, James and Robinson had organised themselves so they could go on the trip to find the Maori tribe. James thought to himself as he remembered Taylor telling him that he had marked the path, so finding the tribe should be easy enough.
James walked across the sands in slow, long strides as he made his way to the party. He walked up to his horse and patted it's dark black neck before grabbing hold of the saddle and hoisting himself up onto it's strong back. The horse stumbled backwards and nickered in annoyance at the mans pathetic mount.
"I hope everyone has gathered themselves, and I hope everyone has the gear needed for trade." He said as he looked behind him at the small team Robinson had gathered. There were 8 Young Men, including Robinson and himself. No one spoke up, and James took that to be a yes to everyone was ready.
James gave the horse a sharp kick in the sides to get it to start walking, they were leaving the small sandy bay that was surrounded by lush grass and thick native forests. They had sailed to this bay when they had first come to Aoteroa, and so far they had learned about 3 tribes in the surrounding area and had learnt some of their language.
The team was walking quickly over the sand, and they began to head into the forest, following the the slashes in the dark and healthy trees that Taylor had done to mark the path.
The walk was tiring, even though they were the ones riding the horses. But every now and then a horse would spook and they would all have to help calm it down before it spooked any of the other horses.
Eventually they saw light, torches, and a fence. They had been walking for a long time, and night had fallen upon the land an hour or two ago. The fence was roughly made and was there to keep the sheep that had been traded from getting out of the tribes property.
"Tena Koutou!" James called out, raising his arm and waving, "We are pakeha! Come to trade and greet." No one came out of the poorly made 'houses' and James began to wonder where everyone was.
Fffffshhhuuu!!!!! James gasped as a bullet shot right past his head and hit one of his men. The man fell off of his horse with a thump, groaning loudly before stopping and dying.
James grabbed his musket and began firing at the houses, the team did the same. Bang! Bang! Bang!
Then the Maori tribe began to retaliate and fire at them, "LEAVE!" One of the Maori people screamed from the house before another one of his men were hit. James would not leave until his comrades had been avenged. The fighting went for several hours, but eventually the Maori people stopped. They came out. There were 20 of them,and 5 had guns. Now there were only 5 men in the team led by Robinson.
James growled and turned, racing back through the forest. How could Taylor deceive him like this?
Too Be Continued ....
