390 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap, XV. 
almost the same time and spot, were in advance of 
their party, and on the opposite bank of the stream 
when this occurred. 
It was then, apparently, that Mr. Thompson gave 
orders to fire, if any were given at all. Before he could 
be obeyed, however, the natives had fired a volley, 
which was instantly returned. The gentlemen were 
crossing while this went on ; Captain England, the 
last of them, wading through the water, into which he 
had fallen, holding on by the side of the canoe. Those 
of Mr. Howard's party who had reached the other 
bank returned at the same time. The firing was kept 
up briskly on both sides for a few minutes ; but in this 
skirmishing the natives had greatly the advantage, the 
bushes on their side being much closer and affording 
far better concealment. This, and their previous confu- 
sion from meeting in the canoe, may account for the 
greater loss of life among the Englishmen. 
Immediately after crossing, Mr. Patchett received a 
shot in his left side. He leapt up, then fell, mortally 
wounded, on the spot where he had been standing. Mr. 
Richardson came to his assistance, and bent over him 
to receive his last connnands. He said, " I am mor- 
" tally wounded ; you can do me no good — make your 
** escape." Northam and Smith fell at this time near 
the same place. Captain Wakefield, observing his men 
already retreating, as well, probably, as the disadvantage 
at which they were fighting, their enemies being almost 
invisible and themselves exposed, ordered them to retire 
to form on the hill. At this moment, " it is ascer- 
" tained that the natives were on the point of taking to 
" flight, when Rauperaha, seeing the retreat — for there 
" is no doubt that they retreated immediately — excited 
" his men, who, raising a war-cry, darted across the 
" stream in pursuit of the Europeans." These latter 
