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four yards the water came nearly up to his belly； and I was in
great fear for the watches that were in my saddlebags。 As for the
dog； I feared I had lost him； but after a time he rejoined me；
though how he contrived to do so I cannot say。
Nothing could be grander than the sight of this great river pent
into a narrow compass； and occasionally becoming more like an
immense waterfall than a river； but I was in continual fear of
coming to more places where the water would be over the track； and
perhaps of finding myself unable to get any farther。 I therefore
failed to enjoy what was really far the most impressive sight in
its way that I had ever seen。 〃Give me；〃 I said to myself； 〃the
Thames at Richmond；〃 and right thankful was I； when at about two
o'clock I found that I was through the gorge and in a wide valley；
the greater part of which； however； was still covered by the river。
It was here that I heard for the first time the curious sound of
boulders knocking against each other underneath the great body of
water that kept rolling them round and round。
I now halted； and lit a fire； for there was much dead scrub
standing that had remained after the ground had been burned for the
first time some years previously。 I made myself some tea； and
turned Doctor out for a couple of hours to feed。 I did not hobble
him； for my father had told me that he would always come for bread。
When I had dined； and smoked； and slept for a couple of hours or
so； I reloaded Doctor and resumed my journey towards the shepherd's
hut； which I caught sight of about a mile before I reached it。
When nearly half a mile off it； I dismounted； and made a written
note of the exact spot at which I did so。 I then turned for a
couple of hundred yards to my right； at right angles to the track；
where some huge rocks were lyingfallen ages since from the
mountain that flanked this side of the valley。 Here I deposited my
knapsack in a hollow underneath some of the rocks； and put a good
sized stone in front of it； for I meant spending a couple of days
with the shepherd to let the river go down。 Moreover； as it was
now only December 3； I had too much time on my hands； but I had not
dared to cut things finer。
I reached the hut at about six o'clock； and introduced myself to
the shepherd； who was a nice； kind old man； commonly called Harris；
but his real name he told me was HoraceHorace Taylor。 I had the
conversation with him of which I have already told the reader；
adding that my father had been unable to give a coherent account of
what he had seen； and that I had been sent to get the information
he had failed to furnish。
The old man said that I must certainly wait a couple of days before
I went higher up the river。 He had made himself a nice garden； in
which he took the greatest pride； and which supplied him with
plenty of vegetables。 He was very glad to have company； and to
receive the newspapers which I had taken care to bring him。 He had
a real genius for simple cookery； and fed me excellently。 My
father's 5 pounds； and the ration of brandy which I nightly gave
him； made me a welcome guest； and though I was longing to be at any
rate as far as the foot of the pass into Erewhon； I amused myself
very well in an abundance of ways with which I need not trouble the
reader。
One of the first things that Harris said to me was； 〃I wish I knew
what your father did with the nice red blanket he had with him when
he went up the river。 He had none when he came down again； I have
no horse here； but I borrowed one from a man who came up one day
from down below； and rode to a place where I found what I am sure
were the ashes of the last fire he made； but I could find neither
the blanket nor the billy and pannikin he took away with him。 He
said he supposed he must have left the things there； but he could
remember nothing about it。〃
〃I am afraid；〃 said I； 〃that I cannot help you。〃
〃At any rate；〃 continued the shepherd； 〃I did not have my ride for
nothing； for as I was coming back I found this rug half covered
with sand on the river…bed。〃
As he spoke he pointed to an excellent warm rug； on the spare bunk
in his hut。 〃It is none of our make；〃 said he； 〃I suppose some
foreign digger has come over from the next river down south and got
drowned； for it had not been very long where I found it； at least I
think not； for it was not much fly…blown； and no one had passed
here to go up the river since your father。〃
I knew what it was； but I held my tongue beyond saying that the rug
was a very good one。
The next day； December 4； was lovely； after a night that had been
clear and cold； with frost towards early morning。 When the
shepherd had gone for some three hours in the forenoon to see his
sheep （that were now lambing）； I walked down to the place where I
had left my knapsack； and carried it a good mile above the hut；
where I again hid it。 I could see the great range from one place；
and the thick new fallen snow assured me that the river would be
quite normal shortly。 Indeed； by evening it was hardly at all
discoloured； but I waited another day； and set out on the morning
of Sunday； December 6。 The river was now almost as low as in
winter； and Harris assured me that if I used my eyes I could not
miss finding a ford over one stream or another every half mile or
so。 I had the greatest difficulty in preventing him from
accompanying me on foot for some little distance； but I got rid of
him in the end； he came with me beyond the place where I had hidden
my knapsack； but when he had left me long enough； I rode back and
got it。
I see I am dwelling too long upon my own small adventures。 Suffice
it that； accompanied by my dog； I followed the north bank of the
river till I found I must cross one stream before I could get any
farther。 This place would not do； and I had to ride half a mile
back before I found one that seemed as if it might be safe。 I
fancy my father must have done just the same thing； for Doctor
seemed to know the ground； and took to the water the moment I
brought him to it。 It never reached his belly； but I confess I did
not like it。 By and by I had to recross； and so on； off and on；
till at noon I camped for dinner。 Here the dog found me a nest of
young ducks； nearly fledged； from which the parent birds tried with
great success to decoy me。 I fully thought I was going to catch
them； but the dog knew better and made straight for the nest； from
which he returned immediately with a fine young duck in his mouth；
which he laid at my feet； wagging his tail and barking。 I took
another from the nest and left two for the old birds。
The afternoon was much as the morning and towards seven I reached a
place which suggested itself as a good camping ground。 I had
hardly fixed on it and halted； before I saw a few pieces of charred
wood； and felt sure that my father must have camped at this very
place before me。 I hobbled Doctor； unloaded； plucked and singed a
duck； and gave the dog some of the meat with which Harris had
furnished me； I made tea； laid my duck on the embers till it was
cooked； smoked； gave myself a nightcap of brandy and water； and by