Withnighttheshotsandinsultsceased；themenofHaamauwithdrew；andvictory，onsomeoccultprinciple，wasscoredtoMoipu。Perhaps，inconsequence，therecameadaywhenMoipumadeafeast，andapartyfromHaamaucameundersafe-conducttoeatofit。ThesepassedearlybyTaahauku，andsomeofMoipu’syoungmenweretheretobeaguardofhonour。TheywerenotlonggonebeforetherecamedownfromHaamau，aman，hiswife，andagirloftwelve，theirdaughter，bringingfungus。SeveralAtuonaladswerehangingroundthestore；butthedaybeingoneoftrucenoneapprehendeddanger。Thefunguswasweighedandpaidfor；themanofHaamauproposedheshouldhavehisaxegroundinthebargain；andMr。
Stewartdemurringatthetrouble，someoftheAtuonaladsofferedtogrinditforhim，andsetitonthewheel。Whiletheaxewasgrinding，afriendlynativewhisperedMr。Stewarttohaveacareofhimself，fortherewastroubleinhand；and，allatonce，themanofHaamauwasseized，andhisheadandarmstrickenfromhisbody，theheadatonesweepofhisownnewlysharpenedaxe。Inthefirstalert，thegirlescapedamongthecotton；andMr。Stewart，havingthrustthewifeintothehouseandlockedherinfromtheoutside，supposedtheaffairwasover。Butthebusinesshadnotpassedwithoutnoise，anditreachedtheearsofanoldergirlwhohadloiteredbytheway，andwhonowcamehastilydownthevalley，cryingasshecameforherfather。Her，too，theyseizedandbeheaded；Iknownotwhattheyhaddonewiththeaxe，itwasabluntknifethatservedtheirbutcherlyturnuponthegirl；andthebloodspurtedinfountainsandpaintedthemfromheadtofoot。
Thushorriblefromcrime，thepartyreturnedtoAtuona，carryingtheheadstoMoipu。Itmaybefanciedhowthefeastbrokeup；butitisnotablethattheguestswerehonourablysufferedtoretire。
ThesepassedbackthroughTaahaukuinextremedisorder；alittleafterthevalleybegantobeoverrunwithshoutingandtriumphingbraves；andaletterofwarningcomingatthesametimetoMr。
Stewart，heandhisChinamentookrefugewiththeProtestantmissionaryinAtuona。Thatnightthestorewasgutted，andthebodiescastinapitandcoveredwithleaves。Threedayslatertheschoonerhadcomein；andthingsappearingquieter，Mr。StewartandthecaptainlandedinTaahaukutocomputethedamageandtoviewthegrave，whichwasalreadyindicatedbythestench。Whiletheyweresoemployed，apartyofMoipu’syoungmen，deckedwithredflanneltoindicatemartialsentiments，cameoverthehillsfromAtuona，dugupthebodies，washedthemintheriver，andcarriedthemawayonsticks。Thatnightthefeastbegan。