So I very gently turned her head round down stream and quietly made back again for the bank which I had left.She had got nearly to the shore,and I could again detect a darker line in the water,which was now not over her knees,when all of a sudden down she went up to her belly in a quicksand,in which she began floundering about in fine style.I was off her back and into the water that she had left in less time than it takes to write this.I should not have thought of leaving her back unless sure of my ground,for it is a canon in river crossing to stick to your horse.I pulled her gently out,and followed up the dark line to the shore where my two friends were only too glad to receive me.By the way,all this time I had had a companion in the shape of a cat in a bag,which I was taking over to my place as an antidote to the rats,which were most unpleasantly abundant there.I nursed her on the pommel of my saddle all through this last stream,and save in the episode of the quicksand she had not been in the least wet.Then,however,she did drop in for a sousing,and mewed in a manner that went to my heart.Iam very fond of cats,and this one is a particularly favourable specimen.It was with great pleasure that I heard her purring through the bag,as soon as I was again mounted and had her in front of me as before.
So I failed to cross this stream there,but,determined if possible to get across the river and see whether the Irishman was alive or dead,we turned higher up the stream and by and by found a place where it divided.By carefully selecting a spot I was able to cross the first stream without the waters getting higher than my saddle-flaps,and the second scarcely over the horse's belly.After that there were two streams somewhat similar to the first,and then the dangers of the passage of the river might be considered as accomplished--the dangers,but not the difficulties.These consisted in the sluggish creeks and swampy ground thickly overgrown with Irishman,snow-grass,and spaniard,which extend on either side the river for half a mile and more.But to cut a long story short we got over these too,and then we were on the shingly river-bed which leads up to the spot on which my hut is made and my house making.This river was now a brawling torrent,hardly less dangerous to cross than the Rangitata itself,though containing not a tithe of the water,the boulders are so large and the water so powerful.
In its ordinary condition it is little more than a large brook;now,though not absolutely fresh,it was as unpleasant a place to put a horse into as one need wish.There was nothing for it,however,and we crossed and recrossed it four times without misadventure,and finally with great pleasure I perceived a twinkling light on the terrace where the hut was,which assured me at once that the old Irishman was still in the land of the living.Two or three vigorous "coo-eys"brought him down to the side of the creek which bounds my run upon one side.
Footnotes:
{1}Project Gutenberg note:the edition of the book from which this eText was transcribed contained a number of other,unrelated,pieces.
These have been transcribed and are available as separate eTexts.The pieces on Darwin are in the eText "Pieces on Darwin"and the minor pieces written whilst Butler was at Cambridge University,England,are in the eText "Cambridge Pieces".--DP.
{2}See Preface.
{3}August,1862.--Since writing the above,matters have somewhat changed.Firstly,Ewes are fully worth 30s.a head,and are not to be had under.Secondly,The diggings in Otago have caused the value of wethers to rise,and as they are now selling at 33s.on the runs of the Otago station (I quote the Lyttelton Times,which may be depended upon),and those runs are only very partially stocked,the supply there must in all probability fall short of the demand.The price of sheep in this settlement is therefore raised also,and likely to continue high.All depends upon what this next spring may bring forth upon the Otago gold-fields.If they keep up the reputation which they sustained until the winter caused the diggers to retreat,the price will be high for some few years longer;if they turn out a failure,it MUST fall before very long.Still,there is a large and increasing population in Canterbury,and as its sheep-feeding area is as nothing compared with that of Australia,we do not expect sheep here ever to fall as low as they did there before the diggings.Indeed,they hardly can do so;for our sheep are larger than the Australian,and clip a much heavier fleece,so that their fleece,and skins,and tallow must be of greater value.Should means be found of converting the meat into portable soup,the carcase of the sheep ought,even at its lowest value,to be considerably higher than 10s.Nothing is heard about this yet,for the country is not nearly stocked,so that the thing is not needed;but one would,a priori,be under the impression that there should ultimately be no insuperable difficulty in rescuing the meat from waste.It is a matter which might well attract the attention of scientific men in England.We should all be exceedingly obliged to them if they would kindly cause sheep to be as high as 15s.or 17s.seven years hence,and I can see no reason why,if the meat could be made use of,they should fall lower.
In other respects,what I have written about sheep on terms is true to the present day.
{4}The above is true to the present day (August,1862),save that a higher price must be given for the goodwill of a run,and that sheep are fully 30s.a head.Say 8000pounds instead of 6000pounds,and the rest will stand.8000pounds should do the thing handsomely.
End
