Station Amusements | Page 4

as theirs, she often
managed to get quite close to a flock of sheep before they perceived
that she belonged to the dreaded race of dogs. When the timid animals
found out their mistake, a regular stampede used to ensue; and it was
not supposed to be good for the health of the old or young sheep to
hurry up the hill-sides in such wild fashion as that in which they rushed
away from Rose's attempts to intrude on their society. Nettle may come,
for he is but a tiny terrier, and so fond of his mistress that he never
strays a yard away from her horse's heels. Brisk, my beautiful, stupid
water-spaniel, is also allowed an outing. He is perfect to look at, but not
having had any educational advantages in his youth, is an utter fool;
amiable, indeed, but not the less a fool. Garibaldi, another colley, is
suffering a long penal sentence of being tied up to his barrel, on
account of divers unlawful chases after sheep which were not wanted;
and dear old Jip, though she pretends to be very anxious to accompany
us; is far too fat and too rheumatic to keep pace with our long
stretching gallop up the valley.
At last we were fairly off about eleven o'clock, and an hour's easy
canter, intersected by many "flat-jumps," or rather "water-jumps,"
across the numerous creeks, brought unto the foot of the bush-clad
mountain. After that our pace became a very sober one, as the. track
resembled a broken rocky staircase more than a bridle-path. But such as
it was, our sure-footed horses carried us safely up and down its rugged
steeps, without making a single false step. No mule can be more
sure-footed than a New Zealand horse. He will carry his rider anywhere,
if only that rider trusts entirely to him, nor attempts to guide him in any
way. During the last half-hour of our slow and cat-like climb, we could
hear the ring of the bushmen's axes, and the warning shouts preceding
the crashing fall of a Black Birch. Fallen logs and deep ruts made by
the sledges in their descent, added to the difficulties of the track; and I
was so faint-hearted as to entreat piteously, on more than one occasion,

when Helen paused and shook her head preparatory to climbing over a
barricade, to be "taken off." But F--- had been used to these dreadful
roads for too many years to regard them in the same light as I did, and
would answer carelessly, "Nonsense: you're as safe as if you were
sitting in an arm-chair." All I can say is, it might have been so, but I did
not feel at all like it.
However, the event proved him to have been right, and we reached the
clearing in safety. Here we dismounted, and led the horses to a place
where they could nibble some grass, and rest in the cool shade. The
saddles and bridles were soon removed, and halters improvised out of
the New Zealand flax, which can be turned to so many uses. Having
provided for the comfort of our faithful animals, our next step was to
look for the bushmen. The spot which we had reached was their
temporary home in the heart of the forest, but their work was being
carried on elsewhere. I could not have told from which side the regular
ringing axe-strokes proceeded, so confusing were the echoes from the
cliffs around us; but after a moment's silent pause F--- said, "If we
follow that track (pointing to a slightly cleared passage among the trees)
we shall come upon them." So I kilted up my linsey skirt, and hung up
my little jacket, necessary for protection against the evening air, on a
bough out of the wekas' reach, whilst I followed F--- through tangled
creepers, "over brake, over brier," towards the place from whence the
noise of falling trees proceeded. By the time we reached it, our
scratched hands and faces bore traces of the thorny undergrowth which
had barred our way; but all minor discomforts were forgotten in the
picturesque beauty of the spot. Around us lay the forest-kings, majestic
still in their overthrow, whilst substantial stacks of cut-up and split
timber witnessed to the skill and industry of the stalwart figures before
us, who reddened through their sunburn with surprise and shyness at
seeing a lady. They need not have been afraid of me, for I had long ago
made friends with them, and during the preceeding winter had
established a sort of night-school in my dining-room, for all the hands
employed on the station, and these two men had been amongst my most
constant pupils. One of them, a big Yorkshire-man, was very backward
in his "larning," and though