A Colonial Maiden

Otago Witness, Issue 1713, 20 September 1884, Page 24

A Colonial Maiden

A STORY OP LAKE WAKATIPU.

Written for the Otago Witness,

BY "SAGITTA,"

■ Author ol " The Fato of a Pioneer," &c.

Chaptbb X. HEN Mr Disbet and Jim were pushed over the bank by Bolts the former let go his hold at once, but Jim still Btuok to Mr Disbet's body like. a leech. It so happened that Jim foil underneath his opponent-when they touched the water, and when this happened Jim immediately loosened his hold upon the body of his antagonist. Mr Disbet, who was a powerful swimmer, üßed all his efforts to keep close under the bank of the river, allowing himself to be carried down stream. He suddenly discovered to bis horror, that the bank was undermined, forming a large cave, In the act of tumbling upon him. Looking up at the trees he saw them lean over ominously, waving their tops in that peculiar manner that trees do just before falling. This new danger presented itself to bis mind in its true light, and he adopted the only means possible, under the circumstances, to escape from an immediate and fearful death. He made for the open waters of the river, prefer?i ng » t ?,. run the risk of being Btruck by any of the falling treeß rather than that of beirjg burned under the bank of earth. Just in time he made the discovery that the slip was not a very large one ; m fact he was already beyond the limits of its extent before the collapse took place. When the bank and trees came down they formed a partial dam, creating a pool of osmparatively still water, in which Mr Disbet awaited the fall of the debris. He knew this part of the river perfeotly well, and was aware that there was no landing-place on his side for more than a mile below the rapids, and to attempt the rapids would be madness. His only hope was to swim across to the opposite bank where landing was easy, or to wait for a tree large enough to carry him over the rapida. In hw weak state after the previous two days' exertions and fasts and the fight with his antvgonisfc, he decided in favour of the latter. Nor had he long to wait. A tree of extraordiniry size, dragging its roots upon the bottom o? the riverf*oanae steadily down stream, and without any further hesitation he made for it, and Boon found himself aboard it. Once safely ensconced upon the tree he looked round for .iris enemy, whom he knew to be not so far off, when ho heard the piteous cries of Bolts, without, however, being able to see him. He recognised the voice as that of Bolts, and surmised that somehow he must have got involved in the wreck, and perhaps had come to grief himself. As the tangled mass of trees and crub was distributed by the current he thought he Baw a man clinging to what appeared to him

to be tho dry limb of a tree. A closer scrutiny showed that ha was correct* but lie could not say with_ certainty whether it was tho man who had assailed him or hia Uncouth companion — the start he had got was too great to judge correctly. The tree which bore Mr Disbet was now uearing the rapids, and it required all his attention and strength to keep his position. He clasped the highest branch with both anna, holding on as tightly as he was able. Tho tree riding over the rough bottom of the rapida waa jerked and bumped about in tbe most fearful ' manner, now swerving from side to sido, and nowriaing vertically many feet and suddenly coining down with a crash, as it glided over a large boulder, making every bone in his body ache with the violent concussion. Presently, when more than half way over tho rapids, tho tree came abruptly to a standstill with a violent jerk. Fortunately the progress had not bsen very fast since the rapids had been entered, and from the firm way iv which the sudden stop occurred Mr Disbet knew that tho roots of the tree must have caught behind one or more boulders, and that he was securely anchored in the middle of tho dangerous rapids, with no chance of escape, aud certain death boforo bim, either in the sbap9 of drowning in the attempt to recover dry land or death from starvation upon the tree. Had the progress of the tree over the rapids been a Bwifter 6no than it was he must have inovitably been hurled from bia hold and flung far out, into tho raging waters. He calmly surveyed tho scono around him, but chance of escape- there was none. Everywhere the wator seethed and boiled in tho wildest manner ; the fierce waves beating against the boulders lashed themselves into heavy spray, which fell upon him from every direction. Occasionally it would come on iv such masses and volumo as to make it exceedingly difficult for him to maintain hia position, though the tree waa now lying perfectly still or so. The roar of thes watar was terrific and deafening in its monotony, except when the hissing noise of the spray, with its moist and chilly breath, silenced for a moment the general uproar. ' The scene waa a fit rdpresen tation of Pandemonium ; — nothing could bo more lawless, defiant, or ruthless than these furiously raging breakors, which ceaselessly mocked him with destruction, and in the short space of a few minutes made him suffer a thousand deaths. Although it was noon the sky looked black and gloomy, and a constant draught of chilly air, laden with moisture, seemed to blow from all possible directions at the same time, but always with an icy cutting chill. A fit abode for d?ath to revel in, without a chance of escape. Raioing himself by the branch to which he clung he could just bring his eyes to a level with the river above tb'e cataract and boo tha vast sheet of water tumbling over the edge of tho rapids in one endleßs merciless succession. Every dash of spray sent an additional chill through bis body, absorbing more and more of bis already reduced strength, which was now sustained only by tho peril of hia position. Rendered almost desperate by the trying ordeal through which he was parsing, he was tempted to entrust his life to the wild waves of the cataract, and let them carry him to a safer position or relieve 'aim from his present unbearable sufferings. Besides, he knew if ho remained exposed much longer to the chilling and^deadening influences around him he must shortly succumb to inanition ; and even if ha succeeded in clinging to the tree until the flood passed by and subsided, be could not hope to get any safer ovei the remainder of the rapids than now. The position of the tree in the rapids was not by any means a happy one. As a matter of course the leafy part leant down stream, while the roots, now firmly entangled amongrit the boulders, pointed up stream. It had caugbt nearly in the middle of tho river, in the course of the greatest depth aud ru3h of the water, almost all the debris in the shape of brushwood and tree 3 coming down stream would be either caught by the roots of the gigantic tree, to which Mr Disbet still clung, or would *be dashed by it, carried along at lightning speed. The tree suddenly gavo a gentle heavo, and upon looking round Mr Disbet saw another large tree lodged lengthwise across the roots of the one upon which he was. The additional weight of the water which was thus accumulated by the hindrance to the curreut was almost sufficient to turn over the boulder behiud which the roots of -tho troa bad caught, and thereby set it free. He felt, in fact, by tho action of tho tree, that tho bould9r was moving, liftirg, and always settling back again into its former position, as wave after wavo stiuck again the cross tree, which formed a kind of dam, behind which Mr Disbet was comparatively sheltered, and which had a calming effect upon the waters around. At tho same time the weathor, which had up to the present been cloudy and threatening, cleared, and the noonday sun burst forth warm and bright, give now life and vigour to all around, and with it hie hope* revived. Tho movement of the rotainiiig boulder became more und more portentous as the trp« in froufc of it gathered moro brushwood, the river thereby gaining strength upon it. Bolts had beon a keen obser\ er of everything that happened. He had followed the tree and Mr Disbet along the river bank as fast as hiu leg 3 could cany him and the nature of the ground would allow^ taking, however, good care not to be observed himself. He was now abreast with the tree, aud not more than one hundred feet distant, so that he could see everything that passed upon it. His hpert heaved with mingled emotion when ha saw the tree actually moving as if to liberate itself. He was sure that if it should get loose it would safely get over the romaining part of the rapida and Mr Disbet might be saved affcor all. In his then state he scarcely knew whether to be pleased at such a result or not. How would Lord Stamborough receive the dowb of his failure? He know his lor»lship well enough to hesitate iv answeriug the question. Why had Jim not settled bim properly at onco ? it waa all his fault ; and now the onus of carrying out his mission fell upon himself. He, in fact always was tho injured individual, and he always had to suffer for other people's incompetence and failures. Such was Bolts' lino of argument ; and all the evil in his nature was revived by such a train of thought. But who could that bo wbo came sailing down stream, clinging to the dry branch cf a troe ? Could it ba Jim ? It nmat be he, for who else could it possibly be ? " Veil, after that !" ejaculated Bolts; "toll mo babout tho streams of the West Cot'st carrying men out to sea vidout being ever seen ! I shouldn't be surprised to see young Harry diving up somewhere. But it's always my luck ; and here tho very trees and rivers are against mo. I never seed tho likes. Thsro ! that's Jim right enough bobbing about as a nutshell. He'll get crushed against the tree ! No, be's swirling round the far end of it. Ha ! he's cooked anyhow ; he's sucked under the tree ! Serves him right for putting one i?i such a mess." Here Boltn broko out in tromendous oaths, and behaved like a madman, yot taking every precaution not to be seen from the river. Then he continued: "Yes, there the whilelivered fool ia bobbing up again ; and now he's caught in the branches of "the tree, close to Mr Disbet. How awful like that Disbot is to his mother ," Ho suddenly checked bimaelf

aud looked round in a fearful stare, as if frightoned that anybody might have overheard him, "In his eyea 1 mean," he added in a whisper ; but presently continued, staring out upon tho river i " Why doesn't Mr Disbet break off a branch and knock Jim on the head when he's got the chance ? it would savo me trouble, Hallo, was that a blow he aimed at Jim ? My eyea ! thero he's got him actually by the scruff of the neck and hauls him upon tho tree. Has JJisbat gone mad ?or does he want to havo the wrestling match out with him upon the tree in mid-btream ? Who ever seed thelikea?" Bolts saw and described correctly what took place upon the tree. Mr Disbet had reacuod his recant antagonist irom certain doath, bat not "to have it out with him," as Bolts surmised. Jim, almost in tho paroxysms of death, ] stuck to the branch which had so long sup-po-tsd him, and Mr Disbet found tbe greatest difficulty in inducing Jim to let it go. Caught in the branches of the tree, whore there was but very little current, it required no great exertion to keep Jim from floating paat, but in assisting him to got upon the tree Mr Disbet discovered that Jim had broken his right leg, and was also fourfully cut and bxuised, his clothes hanging upon" 1 him in tatters, and he was altogether in a very low condition. After some little difficulty he got Jim seated in a tork of tho troe, "where, in hij sitting position, ho | could clasp his arms round a branch, and so j Becure himselt against falling off. But his anna wore cramped and so weak that they rolused their office. Jim had 7iever spoken a word — novor ovu; looked at Mr Di.^bet — he sat a shivering heap ot humanity in didsolution. i "Cheer up, man," rang out Mr Disbet's voice ab-jve the roar of the waters ; " hut a few minuton ago I dospaired of life mysnlf ; we shall soon be afloat again. Look out ! Hold tight !' he shouted ns the tree gave a lurch, and a iubh of water overwhelmed both men and tho tree. But it lasted only a. few sneonds, the tree bobbed about as formerly, but less violently, and Jim a? well an Mr Diibefc succeeded in keeping hb hold. Once moro the tree moved down tho rapida, and after it, liko .some uncouth monster, lamed by mischanco, hopped clumaily the locsened bouldor, once, twice, thrice, the black mass rose through the foaming mass of tho waters, and then broke up into a thousand fragments, dyeing the turgid stream with a deeper shade of sombre grey. Tho rush of tho suddenly liberated waters, assisted our involuntary navigators very much in their descent, washing them with their friendly tree into still water, whore, high and dry above the Hood, they could sun themselves and revive in the refreshing rays. Bolts had anxiously watched every movement of tbe tree, and found vent for rago in a flood of oaths and lamenting his " luck," as he called it, when he saw the tiee afloat in the calm water. "Thero!'' hn burst out; " they get saved, and both ,■, ill turn against me, you bet ; thoy always does that when a fellow is down on his luck. What shall I do ? That white-livered fool. will turn and -split on me' and Lord Stamborough, as sure as I livo. Ho had kept abreast with the tree by running along the bank as it moved down stream ; and still the tree went on, gradually nearing the opposite bank of the river. A mile or two lower down there was another cataract, and Burely,_ Bolts thought, they will not; get over that alive. But there was no necessity {or his humane wish. The tree which was the object of his observation was now within fifty feet of the bank; however, in some unaccountable manner, it seeme'l to sink deeper and deeper into the water. Yes, thnre could be no doubt it stood almost perpondicular now, and Mr Didbet aud Jim had to alter their position and climb into the higher branches, to keep above water. Now it was going down stream again, and receded from the shore, and was growing less and less. It had again got into the current, and Bolts was running after it at full speed, Neither Jim nor Mr Disbet could swim ashore in that current he knew. Hey ! there it" Waa going down completely — aud so was Bolts. In his eager ha3te following the fortunes of Mr Disbefc and Jim he had not noticed one of thosu singular watercourses, cut out by storm water in the deep rich soil of the alluvial valleyß of tho West Coast, which, though only a few feot wide, are often excavated to considerablo depths, their openings boing frequently concsaled by a rank growth of ferns and mosses. The one dov/n which Bolts had fallen was rather moro than twenty feet deep, and afc the place where the aceidoiit happened to our Iriend Bolts some cf the gravel had been washed away as well as the soil. Ipaving somn of the nasty stones exposed. Upon these he had fallen, and hia head and one of hia knees came violently into contact with some of the stone 3. Bolts, in fact, was stupefied by the fall, and lay unconscious in tbia dismal prison. When, after nmay long hours, he canio 1,0 hunr-olf again, it was dark—quite dark. It; took him some tirno bofore he could recollect how he had got into his present scrapo, and then remomberad that he had fallen down somewhere, junt an Mr Disbet and Jim had been drawn under the water wilh their tree. But where w»ia ho ? How had he got there 1 Surely he could get out the way he had got in ? He was cold and wet, and wherever he moved cold slimy water was drop, dropping down upon him. He had lost his hat, and could scarcely move bis legs, especially oue of them. He leltfcwo walls on either side of him, but could noither feel nor see anything above him, nor was there anything to prevent him from' moving in two directions. But, whore was the hole by which he bad got in ? If he could only find that he might got out again. Nothing, however, was to be seen anywhere. All that he could ascertain was that ho was in a narrow j alloy, down which a small stream of water was running. He could not sit down to reßt hiaiI self without getting wet and chilled by the j cold water, and his legs could not support his body while standing still. He must do somo , thing to get out of this, Which way ehould he turn, up stream or down ? Up of course ;— ho w»b down enough already. So, plaoing his hands against the sides of the alley, and bearing as much of his weight upon them, ho -swung his best leg forwards, dragging up tho other, like the useless appendage it was. In this manuer he moved slowly and painfully 'uS> iHe k ad > however, not got very far when the wet, which v geemed to bo every whore alike, increasod very much, and he heard tho splashing of a waterfall. So hope was cut off m that direction ; well, he would try the other; moving about, even if painful, kept up a certain amount of warmth, and that was better than standing still, more than ankle deep in water, shivering under a constant drop of cold water, without a hat, in a terrible place of a i•'mu re be * nBW aofc wh »t might befall !£ m 'f ,i- hh V uurnG y dow « this alley was easier, tho all oi the ground being in his favour, .tie iiau moved some distance when hig feet came against a stick and he stumbled, hurting his Bore knee. Oaths josoin Lia throat, but they did not pesa his lips. His situation ivEpired him with a profound revorence totally now to him. But tears moistened bis eye:i, where never yet tears had risen, and they reJioved bia pain quite as effectually as oatha

could have done, he thought. He took up the stick, and it assisted him wonderfully in getting aloag. Hallo, the water was increasing in depth ; he waded in knee deep, and felt ahead with his stick, and could not touch bottom. What was he to do ? Freeze to death in thia horrible holo ? His legs too began to get so painful that ho could no longer stand or move about. At last he selected the dryesfc spot he could find, built up some stones loosely so aa not to interrupt the flow of the water, and sat down. This was a temporary relief. But bodily quiet increased his mental activity, and yet he dared not think. Was there nothing in hia life that linked him to the world around him ? Looking upon the blank tablets of hia mind, he answered, almost audibly, "Nothing !'' Was there not one human being -to whom he could turn for feelings of sympathy, of friendship, of confidence? What about Lord Stamborough ? An incarnate devil, as black and a^ false as himself, and yot no one stood nearer to him. Ho tried to think of his childhood ; ho hud never had any except in villainy. His mother's teachings comprised only the tricks of crime ; her love was gauged by tbo amount of hia success, and cruel punishment was his reward for the reverse A father he had never known. ITor ho thought in his youth he warred against society upon his own account, and by aud by his lines had fallen in rather pleasrvnt places, as he then understood lifo. Ho could afford to sneer at tho3e of his acquaintances who had laboriously learnt a trade. Would he had followed their example. Ho would never have been in his . prosent predicament. He shuddered violently as a drop of cold wnfcer went down his neck. His life would have been pleasanter as a cobblor or a tailor. Ho might have had a wifo and a family, instead of being an outcast, shunned by others and haunted by his own conscience. Why could he not dose aud wiie away at least a portion of the woary hours that must elapse before day dawned? Ho could not shut his eyes but they met those of others, that made hia blood curdle. Or scenes would rise bafore them that he dared not contemplate except at the risk of his reason. Was he ever to get out of this holo alive ? What if the walls caved in upon him ? Would anybody come to his assistance ? Or would he have to die miserably, like a rat in a hole ? He was getting cold to painfulaess, and to move about was equal torture. He had eaten nothing since that morning or the morning before—he did not know which it was — and felt weak and hungry. Regret of whal might have been— though ne was totally unused to it — gnawed at his mind and enfceblad it, while hunger prostrated his body. As the slow hours wore on he sank into a deep dejection, from which ho was roused by the flutter qf a bird— a kakapo or ground parrot. He did not start in pursuit — it was an omen of hope, of a re- - lease, for it provod to him that there must be some connection with the world above. Could it be ? was it the dawn at lost ? It seemed to him as if he had been waiting a week for it. Yes, there was a refaction from the water, and day w.ns approaching. Would it bring him relief ? He tried to rise, but, stif? and sore with pain and the cold, his limbs felt like incumbraucosaud a moans of torture only. Ho did not know long he had been in bis prison ; it did not matter— it had been very long. Slowly did he drag himself down the watercourse, and found that, although the river had fallen considerably, it sbill prevented his escape in that direction. He retraced his stops. A faint light fell into the alley, and upon looking up he saw a narrow streak of grey greenish dawn overhead, but also discovered that it was impossible to climb either wall. Both were perpendicular, and in places five or six foot apart." After an incredible amount of suffering he reached again the waterfall, and saw that to get out of his trap he had to scale it and never mind the wot and the cold. Projecting stones afforded mstß for his feot, but the stones were very slippery. Although the height was only twelve feet, and the ascent comparatively easy, it took him nearly ten minutes to reach the top. A short distance further on there was another rise of about ten feet, and this scaled, hia head Was nearly level with the ground. When he Baw once more the trees, the grass, the sky aiound him he said audibly, " Thank Gnd !" The words seemed so r Lrange t« him, thoy startled and frightened him. He who had respected no law but that of his own will and necessity ! What could ha have to do with God? The question made him shudder. He almost felt aa if he could descend again into hia prison, from which he was oscaping, and make it his torub. This thought scared him evon worse. What was coming ovnr bim ? Was hr>, who had always acted in an arbitrary and defiant manner, about to cuter into contradiction with himself ? Had ho no longer a will of his own? Hia old spirit began to re assort I itself when he saw ho was about to bo delivered j from his unpleasant position. ; and aa bo tried to scramble up tho List difficult portion of the bank the pain ho suffered brought again , cursf-s to his lips, which were, however, only muttered. . j The firm and level ground once regained, he j sat down and sank into a deep meditation. Where bo sat tbo timber grow but sparsely, and allowed of extensive viewß in different directions. The air, although it was early morning, was balmy aud pleasant, and of that perfect transparency which is always noticed aflor heavy showers. A silvery satin mist, made transparent by the sun's infant rays, rested against the mountains' sides, and was wafted and swayed about by a gentle wind, liko clouds j of pellucid silver. Now ib parted ; the bright emorald green of the trees was scon in the full sunlight, entering into delightful harmony .with tho shining silvery- grey of its cloudy framo, formed of jagged and fantastic shapes, resembling the frondsof graceful ferns orleafy boughs. Gradually the opening widened, and revealed mountains upon mountains, paraded with all the witchery of perspective. Still the oponing widened, and more and brighter sunlight poured forth in its new-born lustre. Suddenly Bolts felt a thrill of straugo sensations steal through him, affecting him physically as well as mentally. He tremblod with emotion, and yet an impression pervaded him as if he were a cold, stony, lifeles3 statue, to be cast down and shattered into nothingness any moment, The rent in- the misty clouds had now sufficiently extended to include a portion of the ethereal azuro dome, which seemed to be welded in a rose.'tte glow to tho far horizon. The fiery sparkle of successive glaciers scintillated with a joyous energy, heralding tho coming day in a harmony of colours, as one after tho other lit its prismatic fires at the rays of tho rising sun. Bolts had scon nil the transformation ecenea produced at lbr> London theatres, and thoy, above eveiylbing else that he had ever seen, had delighted him. But what were they compared to the picture which he now beheld? Tho velvety emerald green of tho fuiiage, specked with tbe fiery scarlet of tho raty. biospoms, above- a wido expanse cf rocky structure. Jl''.re, dono in sombre grey and black, are ruino of abbeyn and cathedrals, the sculptured remnanlfi of which speak of their mighty builder, who, like his works— thongh ruined— shali endure for ever. There, fairy abodes, built up in airy disfcauee, oi piuk and p&lo blue alabaster

and agate, are roofed with ibo '« majestic silent snow," flushed by the varying tints of the blushing day. The turrets and the battlements on yon remote wall, rising even to the heavens, shutting out at once the sky and the earth which lie beyond it, shine with their coronets of diamonds in one glorious magnificence, which fills the mind of the beholder with ■ reverence and awe, and incites bis emotions with feelings pure and ennobling. Bolts was overcome with the apectaple. Why was all this splendour aud display provided for his sole enjoyment ? Was it to remind him of his deedo of yoHterday ? He inwardly wished to have yesterday to live over again. 'He could no longer deny to himself the fact that in the time he had spent amongst these solitary mountains a chapgo had come over him, »- change which he could not define, and which yet puzzled him very much. What he saw made him forget that he was wet and cold, that he had fasted for twenty- • four hours, that he was lame, and alone in an uninhabited wilderness, that he had nothing to appease his hunger with, and that ho was almost helpless to procure it. Ho gazed with a fascination upon the picture before him that . completely bewildered him and separated him! from bis surroundings. But hark! was tbafcaahofc? No, it could not be. Ha ! this time there could be no mistake; it was a shot. There again! and it's coming nearer to him. Who could it be? Was he to hide ? Could it be Mr Disbet and Jim looking for him that they might be revenged on him for his treachery ? n\ it could not well be they, for the sound came from his side of the river, and from an almost opposite direction to their camp. Again ! another shot ! and much nearer too. Could it be a relief party ? and had he made a mistake in appropnating the letters, the non-arrival of which had created suspicion, and brought his Dursuera upon his tracks ? Would ha betaken? and would Lord Sfcamborough and himself be exposed ? Both bad always' been very lucky and was their good fortune to end in a miser! able failure atlaat? Then there was another shot, much nearer than the last. Bolts crawled into somo thicket, composed of scrub and fern.' which completely hid bim from view. After waiting for come little time he heard a man advancing, and by and by caught sight of him. He was a dark complexioned man, slightly above the middle height, and of slim build. Ho carried a swag, a satchel, and a gun. He, passed swiftly, and Boon was out of sight. It could be no other than Robertson, the mailman; ho generally travelled alone, and Bolts had nothing more to fear. He crawled out from his cover, and slowly moved in the direction of his camp. When he had gone over a short distance he found that he would not be able to reach the camp that day, and he was getting very weak, while his knee did not seem to. get any better with the exercise. Still he kept movingf on as well as he could, and presently he came upon a track, which he recognised as fhe road from Queenstown to" Martins Bay, over which he and Jim had travelled a tew days ago, and he was five or six miles from his camp. How was he ever to (jet SS hh n re? c ihm S ht that the length he had followod the tree and Mr Disbet down stream was only half that distance. In his haate and absorption by what was going on upon the river he had not noticed that he had crossed tho track. How could he, lame and famished as he was, over make his camp ? (To be continued. )