Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/207



soon as Walmsley rode up and said he was going to the Greenstone, I saddled Nobby, took my saddle-bags into the bedroom, unlocked the safe, took out what notes and coins I wanted, strapped up the saddlebags, put them on the pony, and away. It so happened that I was particularly busy on this trip, both on Saturday and Sunday. As usual I took up quarters at Tracy’s. On Monday we rode to Hohuna and found such a fresh in the river that we could not proceed on our journey. That night we stayed at Everest’s. About an hour after I went to bed, I put my hand in my breeches’ pocket (for let it be known I always slept with my breeches on and ofttimes in my boots), and missed the key of my safe. I felt first in one pocket, then in another. I lay for some time trying to remember when I had it