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.

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