‘A Night in the Bush’

Press, 13 January 1987, Page 18

‘A Night in the Bush’

By

KIRSTEN SPURR,

aged 19, of Rangiora As I clambered through the thick underbrush I accidentally stumbled over a cluster of jagged rocks which caused me to fall towards the ground. I hit my head on some of the jagged rocks. Blood dripped out of my head to make a small pool on the ground. Luckily it was nothing serious.

When I woke up I was surprised that it was nearly night time. I was on the edge of a steep cliff' with a valley down below in which I could faintly see some wild horses grazing in the dim light.

I frantically tried to reach shelter before nightfall, but as I slowly moved to get on my feet I heard .an owl calling faintly which made me feel a sharp pain in my forehead. Then I remembered what had happened that day and the sharp rocks. Deciding to move on no matter how dreadful the pain was, I finally came to an old broken down hut. It was hardly a hut at all; just a few boards, chimney, and door, but it would have to do because

I was just about falling asleep.

All the food I had with me was two apples and a small chocolate bar, and I was famished. Inside the hut was a small wooden table and an old rotting mattress. You could easily see someone had slept here before.

Being almost dark, I rummaged ardund in my pockets for matches. Finding none, I looked to see a recently used cigarette lighter placed on top of the mantelpiece above the fireplace. I lit a warm fire using the dry wood that was in the hut.

The fire was so very comforting. Sleepily, I climbed on to the mattress by the fire. When morning came, I woke up to find a lovely sunny day outside.

As I walked down a well-worn path, I gobbled an apple and some chocolate. In the distance I could hear a search party calling my name. As I answered back I spotted Dad among the bushes. Rushing to him, I hurriedly told him everything that had happened. In a few weeks, all you could see of my cut was a faint scar.