about noon
Thence we passed into North Island Channel , with the mysterious North Island on our starboard hand ; and as the boat buzzed merrily along I kept the telescope focused upon the wide , flat plain that formed the southerly half of the island , upon the off-chance of catching another glimpse of some of its weird inhabitants . But we saw nothing . Then , rounding the southern extremity of North Island , we entered the North-west Channel and , with West Island close aboard on our port hand , hauled up to the northward , keeping a sharp look-out for the trees of which I was in search . It was about noon when I spotted a clump of those trees growing all together at no great distance from the shore , and we at once headed for them and grounded the boat upon the beach . Looking well to our weapons , to ensure that they were in working order , Billy and I each shouldered a rifle and made our way toward the clump of trees . The grass was waist - high and very matted , rendering the going rather difficult , but the distance was a mere trifle , and in about ten minutes we were at the trees . I looked well at them , and came to the conclusion that if they were not actually yews they were of very similar character , sufficiently so at least to justify me in testing their quality .