Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/175

166 struck me if he rips his spurs into her there will be a kick-up. I went ahead, keeping good look-out behind. I saw him mount, but the horse did not move ahead. Yates weighed over 16 stone, and had a good seat, so I had no fear for him, and therefore went on my way, reaching Ballentyne’s store. Long after, in marched Yates, leading the grey, and speaking in strong language. He informed me that if I had remained he would have finished his journey on his own horse. I thought so too.

“After our supper of sardines and dry bread, I said, ‘Where am I to sleep?’

“‘Anywhere you like, except in those two bunks, one being Ballentyne’s, the other mine.’

“Ballentyne said there was a tent outside with a flour bag stretched between two poles, and he gave me half a blanket. The night was bitterly cold, with heavy snow, and the place was swarming with rats, so that I was glad when daylight came.’

“‘What have you for breakfast?’ I asked.

“‘A tin of cold fish and bread.’

“‘I will try for something better in the township.’

I found a small shanty, and on asking if they could furnish me with a hot breakfast, was informed they could, and a good steak was the result, which I had hardly finished when the chief’s rosy face appeared.

“‘Holloa, you here? What! had breakfast? Landlord, get some ready for me,’ and a good comfortable tuck-in the ‘old man’ had.

“We were now ready for work, and after riding many miles, visiting numbers of small stores, we took their various purchases, leaving cash for future operations. Night saw us back again at the wretched Ballentyne erection with 500 ozs. of gold, which Yates slept on, while I went to roost with the rats.

“Next morning we started on our return journey, but with only one horse, as the grey belonged to a party at Teviot, and we expected to get a bank horse that was turned out at a place near Teviot. When we reached there, found that the horse could not travel. Yates determined to go on ‘ride and tie.’ The latter operation was effected with the aid of snow-poles, which a thoughtful Government had provided to guide travellers over this wild range. The snow was heavy under foot, and dense in the air, and we blessed these poles. As it was not safe to leave the gold on the saddle, on fastening the horse to the pole, the rider humped the gold until the mounted one overtook him and relieved him. Now, 500 ozs. of gold is a heavy handicap to carry in snow, and we did not reach Manuherikea until night. Here we borrowed a dray-horse and journeyed on to the Dunstan township—Yates’ head-quarters—where we arrived late at night.”

This trip will give some idea of the exposure and peril which this devoted servant of the bank was always ready and willing to face in the interests of the great institution he so well served,