Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/122

Rh face. Fortunately for me a storekeeper named Everest was going down, who was kind enough to carry my swag occasionally. Had he not been with me I must have broken down long before I got to the Grey; as it was, two or three times I had to lie down on the shingles to rest, till feeling cold, I would jump up and make a fresh start. Owing to the tide being high, and the night dark, we both had several tumbles over logs, stumps, &c. Everest had one nasty tumble and cut his lip severely. We called at Meyer’s store (Saltwater), where we had a pannikin of tea each, which freshened us up. Reached Horsington’s store at eleven o’clock as “done up” as ever I was in my life. Roused up Jones (Horsington’s right-hand man), who pulled off my clothes and rubbed me down with a rough towel, I then had some bread and cheese and a bottle of ale, and went to bed.

Up at nine o’clock next morning as fresh as a lark; sent my gold, &c., per steamer; went out in the afternoon hunting for eggs—no luck.

3rd December.—Not being able to get a horse, started for the Greenstone on foot; most disagreeable travelling, the Hohuna having to be crossed no less than twenty-two times; in many places water above my knees. Took up my quarters at Tracy’s shanty.

4th December.—Business being slack and so many rowdies about, I left early. People going from the Greenstone to a rush southward.

6th December.—Nelson arrived; brought seventy passengers, Messrs. Cassius and Comiskey among the number, and what pleased me most, a horse for me, which did not arrive before it was wanted.

7th December.—Captain Leech, of the ss. Nelson, started overland to have a look at the Okatika River.

8th December.—First rush to the “Six Mile,” now known as ‘Waimea.”

9th December.—Walmsley and I started in company for the Greenstone, I on my little horse (Nobby), new saddle and bridle; in fact quite smart-looking. When we got to the second ford of the Teremakau, we found the river too high to cross with safety, so made up our minds to visit the Six Mile rush, which is all the attraction just now. Walmsley said he knew the fords, so off we started. The first place he went into was so deep that he had to swim for it. I followed. Nobby being new to the business, did not like it; when getting into deep water he reared up, and, I believe, would have fallen on me had I not slipped off and struck out for the bank; fortunately there was no current, so I got out all right. The folk in the township had been watching to see how we would get on. As soon as they saw me in the water they sent a canoe to the rescue, but before it was half way over the river I was out—Nobby close at my heels. We had a row with the ferryman, who