ed a singing like the bleating
of sheep in my right ear, and for which I subjected myself to the very
doubtful advice and care of old "Blue Gum Bill," the shepherd who was
for the time being my comrade. "Blue Gum" was a "lag," that is, a
ticket-of-leave convict, from Australia. One of his hands, I forget
which, had been amputated, and in lieu thereof he had affixed a stump of
blue gum wood, with an iron hook inserted at the end. As is not unusual
in such cases, "Blue Gum" could do more with this iron hook than many
men could accomplish with a hand. He was a character in his way, and
whatever may have been the cause of his enforced exile from the Old
Country many years before, he was now a most exemplary old fellow, for
whom I entertained a great respect and liking.

He said he could cure my ear, into which he assured me some small animal
had entered, and it would be necessary, in the first place to kill it,
when the noise would naturally cease. He made me lie down with my
bleating ear uppermost, and proceeded to fill it with as much strong
tobacco juice as it would hold. This operation he repeated several
times, and appeared greatly disappointed on my complaining that the
animal still continued musical. The ear troubled me for a long time, and
eventually the hearing became impaired. Whether the fact that I never
more than half recovered my hearing in that ear, and that for many years
it has been almost completely deaf, is due to "Blue Gum's" doctoring or
not, is scarcely worth entering into now.

When the winter had really set in, I started to pay a visit (my last it
turned out) to my friends in Mesopotamia. On arriving at the Rangitata I
met the wool drays on their return journey from Christchurch, waiting
while one of the men was on horseback seeking for a ford, in which
occupation he asked my assistance. The river was a little swollen and
discoloured, and the course of the main stream had been altered during
the flood. While seeking a fording place I unluckily got into a
quicksand, and in an instant I was under the mare, while she was
plunging on her side in deep water. I had released my feet from the
stirrups upon entering, and was free thus far. I had hold of the tether
rope round her neck, and presently we were both out, and as I thought
safely. I mounted again, and after getting the drays safely over, I rode
on to the station. Here, on putting my foot to the ground I found I
could not stand, and from a queer fee