as now falling in a half-hearted sort of way. My poor horse stood as
near the fire as he could, without any food, and shivering, and I was
constantly standing up and clapping my arms and stamping my feet if the
fire got low, then, when a bit warmed, I would crouch inside my den and
sometimes I dozed, only to waken up from sheer cold and resume my
exercise. After some hours I had the satisfaction to notice that the
snow had ceased falling, and a brighter night, with frost, had set in.
This was pleasant, as the probability of being snowed up was no longer
to be apprehended, but the biting cold was terrible, and I knew that if
I succumbed to sleep, I would be frost-bitten.

I scarcely know how I got through the night; one never does. I must have
had periods of unconsciousness, and the heat emanating from the hot
ashes, and what fire I was able to keep going, saved me. Had it not been
for that, I could not have survived, and it was a piece of extraordinary
luck my lighting on a patch of snow grass and scrub in that wild and
desolate pass.

How I longed for daylight may be imagined, and the first tinge of light
I noticed on the horizon was a welcome sight indeed. My firewood was
long since burnt away, but the ashes were yet warm, and I thrust in my
hands till I revived some life into them, and was able to collect more
brushwood which I carried over, and had a rousing fire, and was enabled
to get the saddle on to my horse. I was now undecided whether to retrace
my steps to Mesopotamia or endeavour to find my way to Moorehouse's; on
the latter, however, I decided, as I judged I was midway between the
two, and started to explore the pass, leading my horse. The exercise
revived us both, and I succeeded in finding the trail I needed. The
journey was simple after what I had experienced on the other side, and I
had the satisfaction of meeting one of Moorehouse's shepherds before the
day was much older, who accompanied me to the station, and who would
scarcely believe that I had passed the night where I did.

I found Mr. and Mrs. Ben Moorehouse at home, and was, as always, most
hospitably received, and soon found myself with a change of kit, seated
before an excellent meal, to which after thirty hours fasting I did
ample justice. After that I slept till morning.

On my arrival at Christchurch an offer was made to me to join an
expedition to the Fiji Islands, just then creating some interest as a
possible place for colonists. The