only nine miles away. It was with the utmost difficulty that they crossed the Arahura, both holding on to a strong stick, Maori fashion, so being of mutual assistance one to the other. Having crossed when the tide was out the going on the beach was good and shortly after midnight they reached their objective. The next morning they could see the pa on the opposite side, but no sign of life. After waiting for some time, hoping against hope that the Maoris would put in an appearance, Whitcombe said: “You perceive, Jacob, there is no one to give us any assistance; we must get across somehow, or we will starve to death.”
Lauper stated that the river was not fordable, but Whitcombe insisted on attempting to cross. He proposed building a raft, but this idea was discarded when they found two old canoes which they lashed together. They pushed out into the stream and the current, which was very swift, whirled them rapidly towards the sea. The canoes, filling quickly, began to sink. Whitcombe took off his coat and prepared to swim ashore, telling Lauper to leave the canoes or he would be drowned. He then made a great leap into the stream and Lauper saw him swimming with powerful strokes towards the south bank, which was still nearest to that portion of the river where the canoes had filled and capsized. Lauper, meantime, was in a desperate plight. A poor swimmer at any time,
