when the assistance arrived the man was
found dead.

The close of winter was now coming on, and the snow was fast thawing
from the mountains, while the river flats were almost clear where drifts
had not formed. With the thaw the Rangitata came down in great volume, a
sea of yellow foaming water a quarter of a mile in width.

During the time we were snowed up the mob of horses came almost every
day to the stock yard for rock salt and we now took the opportunity to
retain three, as the ground was clear enough for riding. I had brought
with me from Christchurch a new purchase in the form of a big rawboned
gelding, fresh off board ship from Melbourne, and had turned him to
graze with the other horses on the run. He was now in splendid
condition.

When we were all mounted the gelding showed some inclination to buck,
but went away quietly after all, and we cantered along to the bank of
the river. Returning, we wished to try the paces of our nags, and
started for a race. My animal then showed his temper, and after a few
bucks, which did not unseat me, he fairly bolted. I had only a light
snaffle on him, while his mouth was like iron. The bridle, too, was old
as ill-luck would have it, or I might have succeeded in stopping him;
but after a few moments of vain endeavour to do so, the rein broke at
the ring of the snaffle, and he was free. With a vicious shake of the
head he threw the bit from his mouth and headed for the downs, where I
knew there was a large tract of burnt "Irishman" scrub, into which, if
he took me, I would be torn to pieces.

In an instant's thought I decided to get clear of him, then kicking my
feet, as I thought, out of the stirrups, I sprang off. I remembered
nothing more till I woke up, two hours later, in a cot in the hut, with
an aching head and stiff back. The others said I could not have cleared
both feet from the stirrups when I jumped, for it seemed to them that I
was dragged for an instant. At any rate, I struck the ground on the back
of my head and shoulders, and lay stunned; they first thought me
lifeless. The huts were near, and I was carried up and resuscitated. The
following day I was sufficiently recovered to give the gelding a lesson
in running away he had cause to remember.

CHAPTER XVI.

START ON AN EXPLORING EXPEDITION TO THE WANAKA LAKE.

We had just now capital pig-hunting. The severity of the snow sent the
animals into the flats, where we shot them down, riding bei