Through South Westland : A journey to the Haast and Mount Aspiring New Zealand . rectionthan the Clark, where we had spent the in the bottom of the ravine a tumblingtorrent roared and plunged. The rock walls inplaces overhung the path, propped up once ortwice by tree-trunks ; there was only just roomto pass under without dismounting. Our guideleft us here to go on ahead to a second one and only bridge in the pass, throAvn acrossan otherwise impassable torrent, was threateningto give way, and another brother of Teds, withfive or six men, were felling timber to build a newone
Through South Westland : A journey to the Haast and Mount Aspiring New Zealand . rectionthan the Clark, where we had spent the in the bottom of the ravine a tumblingtorrent roared and plunged. The rock walls inplaces overhung the path, propped up once ortwice by tree-trunks ; there was only just roomto pass under without dismounting. Our guideleft us here to go on ahead to a second one and only bridge in the pass, throAvn acrossan otherwise impassable torrent, was threateningto give way, and another brother of Teds, withfive or six men, were felling timber to build a newone. The bridge carried us safely over at thejunction of two waterfalls, where it was thrownacross between creeper-grown precipices. Here thebush was pine again, and very heavy ; big rimuslay about, stripped of their branches, ready to besawn up and hauled into position. High above,on a rocky ledge, a row of small tents betokenedthe permanent camp, but the men were far afield,for the suitable trees have to be sought often at agreat distance. A little beyond this lies the Divide,. THE LAST STAGE. 117 where the deer-country begins. We were told thatoccasionally the stags will wander thus far, butthat they will never enter the western forests,and though seen at the bridge, they never cross mare was standing patiently where he hadleft her by the tents, and we dismounted andawaited the upshot of events. He came back in alittle while with a message from the bossto say we were to make ourselves at home and haveour breakfast—but it was nearer ten oclock thanbreakfast time ! In methodical fashion he pro-ceeded to obey these injunctions; washed upplates and mugs ; foraged for some cold roastmutton and bread, and set the billy to then called us and directed me where to sit;he had set out a bench with knives and forks,plates and spoons, and we felt quite civilized. Hegave the cold mutton to Transome, but for mewas reserved cold goose. Truly no one could havebeen better taken
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidthroughsouth, bookyear1900
