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Chapter V. Explorations—A Glimpse of Fairyland.

Before detailing our day's adventures, I will describe the general features of our camp and the surrounding landscape.

The tent was pitched at the corner edge of a small grassy flat, of about three acres in extent. This flat was bounded by the thick bush behind, on each side by high and very steep ridges, which, rising from the snow-clad mountains a short distance inland, continued downwards, for about four miles below the camp, and formed the inner bay. At the place where the inlet turned towards the sea, these two ridges branched off, forming the lower bay, where the whirlpool was situated.

In front of the flat was a small shingly beach forming a semi-circle of about two hundred yards in length. Behind the tent, the ravine continued back between the two ridges before mentioned, rising gradually till it ended in the high mountains already described. A good-sized stream flowed out of it, and passed within a few yards of the tent, falling into the bay near the left corner of the beach.

Taking my fowling-piece and a stock of ammunition with me, I started with my party, consisting of Spanish Joe and young Smart, up the gorge at the back. We took enough salt junk and biscuit to furnish us with a meal in case we should not return till late.

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Following the course of the stream we had the greatest difficulty for some time in making our way through the thick undergrowth of creepers, but after proceeding for about a mile it became clearer, and at last we found ourselves walking in comparatively open spaces between the stems of high black and white pines. As we continued the scenery became more varied. Tall and graceful ferns might be seen growing on the sides of the ravine; totara trees with long streamers of moss hanging from their branches; the konini with its ripe and tempting fruit; but at this time we neither knew the names of these trees nor whether their fruit was fit to eat; it was only sometime afterwards when “necessity knew no law,” that we cautiously tested the different kinds of berries we found.—But more of this in its proper place.

Still following the stream, we found ourselves gradually ascending until we were brought to a stand-still by a steep cliff about thirty feet high, over which the stream fell in an unbroken sheet into a small basin at the foot. There was nothing for it but to turn off up the side of the ravine, and reach the level of the precipice that way, as it was almost perpendicular at the place where we now stood, without shrubs or climbing plants of any kind to help us up.

Keeping close to the cliff we turned off to the right, and after a little rough scaling the steep side of the gorge we found a place where we thought it might be possible to gain the summit of the cliff.

Slinging my gun over my back I began climbing, holding on to small shrubs or inequalities of the rock which composed the cliff. I had got about half way up, and was congratulating myself on having got over the worst part, when my footing gave way and down I went amongst a shower of loose rock and dirt, to the bottom, nearly crushing poor Joe, who was standing underneath.

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After examining my fowling-piece, and satisfying myself that it was uninjured, I started to make another attempt, and this time, after no little exertion, succeeded in reaching the top. Joe and Smart found an easier place of ascent a little further up, and very shortly we were all three again following up the banks of our little stream.

A few hundred yards further, and what was our disgust to find ourselves confronted by another small precipice, if anything, higher than the last. After examining it for a few moments we came to the conclusion that at the sacrifice of dry feet, we might make our way up by entering the stream, which had worn out a narrow channel in the cliff, and which, by the broken water, was evidently filled with large boulders or masses of rock.

Taking off our boots and socks, which we slung over our shoulders, and turning up our trousers above our knees, we entered the stream.

“Diable! it cold!” yelled out Joe, and no mistake it was, freezing. However, there was no help for it, so alternately chattering out some uncomplimentary remark at the water, or the sharp rocks, we succeeded at last in attaining the summit, and stepping out of the stream we lost no time in putting on our dry boots and socks; for our feet were almost like lumps of ice.

In front of us the trees and underwood were apparently as thick as in the vicinity of the tent. I proposed that if after penetrating for a short distance into the bush, we found it did not get clearer, we should eat our lunch, and then retrace our steps to the camp. Accordingly we once more entered the almost impenetrable mass of lawyers, supplejacks, and other interlaced creeping plants, which stretched from tree to tree, and completely overran all the smaller shrubs.

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I was just going to turn back in disgust, when I thought I saw an opening some little distance in front. This became more certain after we had advanced a few more paces; till at last, forcing ourselves through a matted barrier, which appeared to be composed of all the creepers and thorny plants in existence, a scene of loveliness, which I shall never forget, burst upon our delighted gaze.

On either hand the sides of the ravine curved away to the right and left until they must have been nearly two miles apart, when they again turned inwards until they seemed to meet about three miles above where we stood. In the centre of the almost circular valley thus enclosed, reposed a lovely lake. It was about two miles in length by one-and-a-half in width. The forest only reached to just the foot of the ridges, and between that and the lake, and entirely surrounding the latter, was a lovely space covered with a short green grass. Near the middle of the lake was a small islet thickly covered with trees to the water's edge, so that it really looked from where we stood, as if it was a number of trees floating on the water. On the bosom of the lake numbers of wildfowl were swimming, or else flying across it, while above our heads blue pigeons with white breasts, parrots, and numerous other birds were flying about amongst pines, other trees, and shrubs which composed the belt of the forest which encircled the lake, and covered the hill sides in all directions.

“Santissimo! dis is Paradise!” shouted Joe, breaking the silence, and capering about in all directions.

“Yes,” said Smart, “and narrow is the road, and crooked the path which leadeth to it.”

“Well, let's have something to eat, after our toilsome journey,” I said, after Joe had managed to bring himself to a reasonable state—“that is, if Joe has not lost it all.”

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Choosing a shady place under some overhanging boughs—for the sun, which had hitherto been almost obscured by clouds, now burst out in all his glory—Joe produced his provisions, and flask of rum, while Smart went to the edge of the lake and brought some water in the crown of his hat, which luckily was tolerably clean. Afterwards we all set to work, and in a very short space of time made the salt junk and biscuit look very small.

Leaving Joe where he was, and telling Smart to come with me, I proceeded round the left side of the lake to try and get a shot at some of the ducks or other waterfowl. I had no difficulty whatever in getting within range, for the birds seemed to feel not the slightest alarm at our presence. Choosing some that were a little apart from the others I fired both barrels, one after the other.

A scene of confusion arose amongst all the feathered denizens of the lake and neighborhood at the report of my gun, that could not be described. The waterfowl flew hither and thither, evidently quite bewildered; while pigeons and other bush birds rose into the air high above the tops of the trees, and after flying round and round in circles, descended for a few moments, when up they would rise again. The rude shock I had given to their nerves, however, hardly gave me a second thought, for my attention was too much occupied in devising some plan for obtaining possession of the several ducks which floated apparently quite dead on the surface of the lake, about fifty yards from the shore. The only way to bring them ashore must be by swimming out for them.

I turned round to Smart, but by the rueful face he had on him, he evidently had had enough of cold water for one day; so handing him my gun, I quickly stripped and plunged in. Either my experience earlier in the day had page 27 partly made me used to it, or from some other cause, the water of the lake did not seem to chill me so much as the stream lower down had done; and in a few minutes I returned to the shore with four fat ducks and a teal.

“Aren't you frozen, sir?” inquired young Smart, as I landed, looking at the same time as if he expected me to go into cramps or some other frightful thing.

“Oh, no! you had better take a dip yourself,” I replied.

“Deuce a fear,” I heard him mutter to himself; then sudddenly a thought seemed to strike him, for he said—

“I wonder is there no other easier way of getting down to camp than following the creek all the way?”

This idea had struck me several times on the way up, and I determined on our return to keep along the side of the ravine until we got past the two precipices.

Having re-dressed myself, and picked up my gun, we made our way to where we had left Joe, Smart carrying the ducks. We found our worthy companion lying on his back in the sun, fast asleep, while his clay pipe, which had dropped from his month, lay broken beside him.

“Oh me pepe! me pepe!” he exclaimed on our rousing him up. “Carai! me buenos pepe! I sall die vidout me pepe!”

Anyone would think he had lost the throne of Spain instead of a dirty black pipe without so much as an inch of a stem to it. But there was no time for lamenting his loss now, for it was getting late in the afternoon; and we had a weary march back yet. So suggesting to Joe that he should take the bowl of his pipe home with him, as he might find some means of fixing a stem to it, we started on the down track.

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We found the route I had chosen for our return—namely, along the side of the ravine on the right—anything but easy; and the day had well declined when we found ourselves below the lower precipice. However, we reached the camp just at dark, without any further adventure; and right glad were we to find ourselves once more seated round the blazing camp fire, discussing a savory meal of roast duck, and boiled fish—the latter having been procured by the cook. He had observed some large ones leaping out of the water below the camp, and having found several hooks in his pockets, with these and some unspun rope yarn he had manufactured some good lines, and succeeded in landing a supply of first-class cod.