'Take a cast of your lead, sir,' said the former quickly; 'you're setting inshore. I can hear the surf. If you can't get bottom at twenty fathoms, you'll have to tow off; there's a sudden drop from twenty fathoms to a hundred, we're just on the edge of it.'
A seaman sprang into the fore chains, took a cast of the lead, and reported no bottom.
'You'll have to tow off, captain,' said Herrendeen; 'it's better to be sure than sorry.'
Two well-manned boats were at once lowered, and in a few minutes the vessel began to move ahead.
'We're all right now, sir, I think,' said the captain to Herrendeen, as he looked over the side, 'thanks to you;' and then, as he saw two figures on the after-deck evidently waiting to approach him and his visitor, he seized Herrendeen's arm and said hurriedly--
'Have you heard anything about Bully Hayes having been here?'
'Yes, all about it.'
'Anything about a boy named Wallis and a Maori half-caste?'
'They're here! The boy was in that boat of mine which was alongside just now; the Maori--Bill Chester you mean--is here too.'
'Thank God! thank God!' said the stranger; 'here are his father and brother;' and then, dragging Herrendeen with him, he called out in quavering tones--