Page:Through South Westland.djvu/289

Rh trying to get through, but to remain would have meant still worse, and I struggled bravely. Now and again came an easy bit, or a stretch of boulders where the waters had sought another channel, and whenever this happened we took to the riverbed. At last we came to an impasse. Some landslip or storm had pitched the trees headlong down, and between them grew others, and over all the creepers romped. I felt like sitting down and saying: “Thus far and no farther”; but Transome was already climbing up along one of the trunks, and I was bound to follow: we had to get out of it somehow, and we did. He, pulling me up from between forked branches by main force, we gradually wormed our way through the tangle, till we came out exhausted on the burnt zone; and climbing upwards through tussock and fern, found ourselves back on the slate-faces. Then we slid and scrambled downwards through the tutu, till the belt of beech forest came in sight, and the patient horses turned with a whinny to welcome us. Never was mortal more thankful to have come safely out of a difficulty.

Transome went to bathe, and I led the horses out to a grassy place, where they could graze till he was ready. Then we rode back to Mrs. Macpherson’s for supper, and if we had not done all we hoped to, we had seen what few but ourselves had looked upon. There was a sumptuous feast spread for us, and we lingered long, answering questions and planning further excursions; and