Invigorated by the hearty meal willingly bestowed upon a Maori boy on his way to school, they returned to the canoe; but the effort to reach the coast was beyond their utmost endeavour. Edwin felt they were now out of the reach of all pursuit, and might safely go ashore and rest, for Whero was ready to fall asleep in the canoe.
They were looking about for a landing-place, when, to his utter amazement, Edwin heard Cuthbert shouting to him from the deck of one of the little steamers plying up and down the river.
"By all that is marvellous," exclaimed Edwin, "if that isn't my old Cuth!"
He turned to his companion, too far under the influence of the dustman to quite understand what was taking place around him.
Cuthbert's shout of "Stop, Edwin, stop!" was repeated by a deep, manly voice. The motion of the steamer ceased. Edwin brought the canoe alongside.
"Where are you bound for?" asked his old acquaintance the captain of the coaster.
"Come on board," shouted Cuthbert.
The captain repeated his inquiry.
Whero opened his sleepy eyes, and answered, "Christchurch."
"I am a Christchurch boy," cried another voice from the deck of the steamer. "But the Christchurch schools are all closed for the winter holidays."