e--that is, in the food line--than this did.

Taking it all round, however, the place as a foraging ground was not a
success. We chased a goat of very large size, and beard voluminous as
a Rabbi's, into a cave, which may have been the one the Halsteads took
shelter in, for we saw no other. One of the Kanakas volunteered to go in
after him with a line, and did so. The resultant encounter was the
best bit of fun we had had for many a day. After a period of darksome
scuffling within, the entangled pair emerged, fiercely wrestling, Billy
being to all appearance much the fresher of the two. Fair play seemed to
demand that we should let them fight it out; but, sad to say, the
other Kanakas could not see things in that light, and Billy was
soon despatched. Rather needless killing, too; for no one, except at
starvation-point, could have eaten the poor remains of leathery flesh
that still decorated that weather-beaten frame.

But this sort of thing was tiring and unprofitable. The interest of
the place soon fizzled out, when it was found there was so little worth
taking away; so, as the day was getting on, it was decided to launch off
and start fishing. In a few minutes we were afloat again, and anchored,
in about four fathoms, in as favourable a spot for our sport as ever
I saw. Fish swarmed about us of many sorts, but principally of the
"kauwhai," a kind of mullet very plentiful about Auckland, and averaging
five or six pounds. Much to my annoyance, we had not been able to get
any bait, except a bit of raw salt-pork, which hardly any fish but the
shark tribe will look at. Had I known or thought of it, a bit of goat
would have been far more attractive.

However, as there was no help for it, we baited up and started. "Nary
nibble ermong 'em!" growled Sam, as we sat impatiently waiting for a
bite. When we hauled up to see what was wrong, fish followed the hook up
in hundreds, letting us know plainly as possible that they only wanted
something tasty. It was outrageous, exasperating beyond measure! At last
Samuela grew so tired of it that he seized his harpoon, and hurled it
into the middle of a company of kauwhai that were calmly nosing around
the bows. By the merest chance he managed to impale one of them upon the
broad point. It was hardly in the boat before I had seized it, scaled
it, and cut it into neat little blocks. All hands rebaited with it, and
flung out again. The change was astounding. Up they came, two at a
time, do