One night, when retreating with a weak force, he had the Waikatos at his heels.

He held them back by lighting enough watchfires for a large host, and by arming and dressing his women as fighting-men.

Again, when he was duck-hunting near the coast of the South Island, his enemies, led by the much-libelled "Bloody Jack," made a bold attempt to surround his party.

Most of his men were cut off.

Rauparaha, lowered down a sea-cliff, hid among the kelp by the rocks beneath.