and for that time
I accepted an invitation from Cook and Brabazon to keep them company at
Mesopotamia. Butler had left for Christchurch, where he would remain for
an indefinite time.

CHAPTER XV.

WINTER UNDER THE SOUTHERN ALPS--FROST-BITE--SEEKING SHEEP IN
THE SNOW--THE RUNAWAY.

In winter in these high latitudes, such as the Upper Rangitata, lying at
the foot and immediately eastward of the great Alpine range behind which
the winter sun dipped at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, it was intensely
cold, and instances of frost-bite were not uncommon. I recollect a poor
young fellow, a bullock-driver on a neighbouring station, getting
frost-bitten one night when he had lost his way in the snow. He knew
nothing of it until he arrived at the station in the morning, when, on
removing his boots his feet felt numb and dead, and no amount of rubbing
had any effect in inducing a return of circulation. It soon transpired
that his toes were frost-bitten. A messenger was despatched to the
Ashburton in hope of finding a doctor, but in vain, and the lad was sent
to Christchurch, 150 miles, in a covered dray. This, of course, took a
considerable time, and when he arrived gangrene had set in, and both
feet had to be amputated above the ankles.

When the snow falls in large quantities it becomes an anxious time for
the sheep farmer, and if the flocks are not strong and healthy they are
sure to suffer. In snowstorms, the sheep will seek the shelter of some
hill or spur, collecting together on the lee side, and here they are
sometimes drifted over, when if the snow does not remain beyond a
certain period they are mostly safe. As the snow drifts over them the
heat of their bodies keeps it melted within a certain area, while the
freezing and increase of drift and falling snow continue above and
beyond the circle. In this manner a compartment is formed underneath in
which the animals live and, to some extent, move about. The existence of
these habitations is discovered by the presence of small breathing holes
on the surface leading from below like chimneys, and sheep will live in
this manner for a fortnight or so. When they have eaten up all the grass
and roots available they will feed on their own wool, which they tear
off each other's backs, and chew for the grease contained in it.

For a fortnight we had been completely snowed up at Mesopotamia. Upon
the homestead flat the snow was four feet deep, through which we cut an