THE NOVELIST. A Colonial Maiden.

Otago Witness, Issue 1723, 29 November 1884, Page 24

THE NOVELIST. A Colonial Maiden.

A STORY OF LAKE WAKATIPU.

Written for the Otago Witness, BY

"SAGITTA," Author of "Tho Fato o? a P;ont*>r," <&c.

Ohaktkb XXIV. lEN Lord Stainborough had been placed in the boat, and the doctor had given all the necessary instructions to the men and they started off, Mrs .Tregenning ashed the doctor to go over his lordship's effects, lock all his valises and boxes, of which .there were , uaveral, and also lock bis room door and keep the keys in his possession. This done the doctor went to view Mrs Belfast's body, and have it also removed to Queenstown, in order to make the necessary poet mortem examination and hold the usual coroner's inquest. 1 The return of the doctor from Mr« Belfast's lint was anxiously awaited by both Lizzy and her mother, who had always taken an untiring interest in the old lady. They had not long to wait, and when the doctor returned his explanations were soon made. It was his opinion that death had resulted from natural causeB — a general dissolution ; that she must have died ■ peaceably and painlessly, and her demise mnst have taken place about midnight, as her body Wets quite cold when he saw it about nine o'clock in the morning. - After the doctor had left Mrß Tregenning ebe for the first time thought over the situation of affaire. She did not for a moment entertain the suspicions of the constable, and Lizzy bad not up. to this time told her of her having watched Tom's light from the Iritcheu door until it disappeared behind the spur ; yet her faith in Tom was too strong to be shaken by appearances, however unfavourable. Still it was quite beyond her ken to account for the assault, and the affair impressed her the more on that account. The assault was not made for the purpose of robbery, for his lordship's watch — a most valuable one — and other jewellery were found upon him, as wol! ao a mm of loose money, Who then couid it be who attacked bini in such a wannor, which evidently was intended" to be. murderous? The whole affair went far to osaS^p tbs cajeiamst saj doubt

about Lord Stamborough which she had long e&uce conceived and nursed, and the conclusion sent au unwelcome shudder through her.

Lizzy, on the other hand, puzzled over it as an enigma not to be solved by any mortal ; all her thoughts were concentrated upon her letter aud its mysterious disappearance. Into whose hands rould it possibly have fallen? How lone would it. bo bf fore it would be returned to hei ? Sho anxiously waited the whole weaiy day for Tom's return,, but he did not come back. Still she had the consoling thought to comfort her that Disbot had written to her. In her eagerness to read the letter she had not looked at its date, but Disbet had told ber in tho letter that he wrote in time for the mailman, and abeut a fortnight after his departure. The delay in the delivery of the letter had not been his fault. She turoed with the whole fund of her affection again to him. Ho could not be lost. Her love could give no room to such a thought. Might not he return that very day, the same aa Tom had done but yesterday ? The letter, though so quickly lost, had revived Lizzy's hopes wonderfully and taken quite a load off her mind.

The passing of tbe boat upon the lake at this time, which conveyed the remains of Mrs Belfaßt to Qunenfitown, gave another bent to Lizzy's mind. Tears' roMe to her eye^, partly an a "tribute to the dyad aud partly in compassion for Tom. She had been for many years sincerely attached to the old lady, and profited much by her companionship, though she was not an educated woman. Ths sudden though not unexpected death made a void in Lizzy's little world she knew would not be filled up. She had lout a true and kind friend, a lons which none but the true and kind can fully estimate and judge. We must now once more bark back and Bee how Tom Belfast, the pursued, fared as pursuer, and also how-Bolts spent the night. When Tom reached his hut ho found his mother in bed but awaiting him. She called him into, her room and said :

" Tom, I feel that I am going to leave you ; I am very weak and sleepy; Idnging for rest— a long long rest. lam quite roady and propared to go to my account. -My life has boon a peaceable on 6, unmoved by great events, and you have boen thu light of it. I bave not Iv en able to do much for yon ; you have a good hoad for learning, and, if you had been put to it earlier, you might have earned your liviug oasier than by hard work '' " Do not talk like that, mother," interrupted Tom ; " you are not s?oing to die on the day that I'come homo ! You aro weak ; the Burpi'iae has been too much for you. You will be better after you take some of this broth I have brought, and which Lizzy made for you, and after you have bad a sleep." " God bless Lizzy and you, my boy. But if Igo to sleep it will be to wake no more. Do not deceive .yourself. I could wish that I left you in a better position, aud better brought up " "Qh, what nonsense, mother. lam quite happy and content. lam strong and healthy, and not afraid to work, ' I only wish I could work for you all the days of my life." " I know you have a good heart, my boy, and I know you will not forget your poor old mother when she's dead and gone, as she soon will be- God will bless you, for all tbe pleasure and joy you have been fco me. But lam very sleepy."

Tom offered her come of tho broth, but she feebly put his hand aside, saying, in & very weak voice, which alarmed Tom very much: " No, my boy, it will do— mo— no good. Sit down on — my bod— Tom." Ho eat down .and took h&r hand in his. It was cold. He tried to warm it between his own, but the chill only increased. His mother had gone to sleep. He noticed the feeble breath grow less and less. Still she aiept on. By, aud by tba breath became intermittent, then a slight tremor passed through her frame, and all was over. '

Tom had long been prepared tor the uad event by the kind doctor, who had described the manner death would take in his mother's casie, exactly as it had occurred. He bad always been deeply attached to bin mother, in fact he had bean rather rallied on this point, bnt bad not heeded the sneers which some of his acquaintances hurled at him on that account. Now, when the sad end was come, be boro it like a man, without giving way to any weakness. He bowed down aud oncn more kiesed the pallid lips. As bis youth and childhood passed before him he abandoned himself to the sweet memories which they brought back to his mind, .lingering with fond delight upon the eueues iv which Lizzy had played a pare. He sat thus stink in the dreams of the past until the clock striking two aroused him, He again went up to the bed, as if to make doubly sure that life bad really tied, and when he saw there was no room for hope ha covered up her face ( and prepared to start in pursuit of the owner of the horrid features he had so strangely met upon two occasions.

Bolts 5n the meantime had taken refugn in the Abandoned hut alluded fa, an a shelter from the rain. Much ai he wa3 tempted to he dared not light a tire for fear of attracting bis pursuer or pursuers, for he made sure that upon the discovery of Lord Stamborough the whole neighbourhood would be aroused. When he found, however, that everything remained quiet, and do one neared his retreat, he grew rather distrustful of tbe silence which reigned about him, When the rain had ceased the night cleared considerably, and it was- bright enough for him to start upon his retreat. Before he left the hut, however, he struck a match a match to see how far Lizzy had read the letter. He had carefully folded it as he had torn it from her hand, and he ooon saw that she had not come to any part wbioh involved either himself or hie lordship. He also knew that Tom could not have had the time nor the opportunity of reading a single line ->£ it. Then he ran quickly over tho whole budget to asßure himself that the whole of it waa in his possession, and that no part of it was missing. When he had satisfied himself upon this point he hesitated, and considered whether be should carry out his original intention and escape by the West Coast, or go to Queenstown and place himself in communication with Lord. Stamborough. However, it was only a march of four or five days to Martin's Bay, on the West Coast, where the Stella called, and as it was by far the safest route, he decided in favour of it.

What decided Bolts, to start upon his retreat as soon as the rain had ceased was his desire to reach and pass a high bluff rising two thousand feet perpendicularly above Lake Wakatipu, before daylight, This bluff was the most dangerous part of tho wMe road, m it waa a long espneed rise, and the bluff qmlb barn of timber, scrub, or any other pbelter. This passed, the rest of the rest of the road he inteudacl to take was comparatively paey. For this reaßon he started immediately after the rain had ceased, and tho country for a considerable distarce being clear of timber, he avoided the track, ia order not to betray by his footmarks tha direction he had taken.

Tho first dav/rt was gleaming upon the mountain tops when Bolts reached the higheufi point of tba "bhiff, while« two thousand iset in p3rpandicular deptb bblcw-_, the glas&y surfadi oi

the lake glimmered through the darkness, making the depth below h'w feet appear an abyHS rtfled with darknnps and terror, pre^asiug an undefined but surely approaching doom. However, he had gained an advantage over his pursuer, and though he sat down to re"t he did not intend to risk hn safety by a delay longrir than absolutely necessary. From where he' sat ho commanded one of the grandest views of lake, of valleys, aud >>t mountains it is possible to conceive, cer which the changing light of evrly dawn and moroiug Bpread a charm powoiful and overwhelming in ita grandeor and its magic. As yet " tbe earth was without form, and darkness was upon the face of the deep," but the mandate " JLefc there be light" had gone .forth, and the day waa struggling with the night. In tbe foreground tbe blackness turning into a sombre grey, indicating a chango, but no change in itself, all remains blotted a.nd blurrdd, one confused mass of vie"wle?s mystery, raising the expectation of the beholder to frenzy, which changes presently into tho wildest delight. The contused black r am, running like a jagged peam around the horizon, disentangles iteelf as the light increases. Keiß a snow-clad mountain-top upringH fnnn out the daiknesi? ; there a winding, sloping bi".iv, forest covered and dimly ou'lmej, descends from it. until it is lost in the shades, which fill the valleys with black obscurity. What had but; a .moment ago appeal eil as one solid wall now reveilM itself aR triaut ramparts aud mountains piled upon mountaina. Blackness melts into distance, uncovering snow-ficldn and gUoierß, mountoin-tops and ridgea, and valleys divided by many spurs. As the light jumps from one poak to another and lessens the gloom still hovering on the far horizon, it seems lika witnessing a new creation. Whrtre there waa nought but darkness and void the dry laud appeared, and mountains arose, and the water wao divided from the land, aud more light streamed in, Tho mountains ranged themselves iv rank and fa'le like veterans on a battlefield. They seem to risu from the bosom of the earth, advancing iato tho light aud taking their ■ place as new onei spring up in a similar manner in the rear, until the whole battalion stands forth an awa-innpir-ing phalanx, formidable in its strength and solidity, au-jtere and wjid in its rigour, inhospitable and forbidding in ita aspect;. And yet Bolts waa fleeing to those mountains for protection for safety, for his very lifo. Tho bare thought mao him shudder. To go back to tho scenes of hi 1 * feuff-^iugs, to face again the many perils of hia projected j-iurney, alone, and purdU' d — what a fata was his ! Day, borne upon the Tayß of the rising sun, floated round the mountain-tops and over the valley of the lake, while darkness, hiding in the • recesses of the rocky structures and the deep hollows, vainly sought to protect the fleetitig shadows of the night against the glow of light. The flood of sunshine burst in irresistibly, and put the all- pervading gloom to flight. The mountains row stood forth in bold relief, while the strengthening light increased the witchery of the picture as the view c xlended and became more clear. Perspective has no greater charm than during sunrise in a mountain wilderness, when the young day chases the fugitive night thiough the mazos of valleys and ravines innumerable, which i<» their winding lengths uuravel themselves baforo the vision of the spectator. The panorama now lay in all itn unfolded beauty at Bolts' feet Tho lake, now-burnished by tho frosh gleam of day, n floated a mellow sihery light, which added to the magic of the wondrous scene, and, dotted with islands, formed tho foreground of the picture, in which, bold and massive, rises the stately pile of. Mount Earnslaw in &n unobstructed view of eight thousand feet in height, its flanks covered with snow-fields and glaciers, miles upon miles in extent, swathing the boary giant like a winding-sheet, the lower edge of which is" broken by precipices and ledges,- countless in number, into fanciful designs resembling the richest lace. To the laft Mount Bonpland elevates its pinnacle upwards of seven thousand feet above the lake, and lords it over other veterans scarcely less in elevation. Here the formation of the mountain chain being of a different description, tho mountains, eßpPcially about their peaks, present a wilder and more rugged appearance. Deeply graven galleries rau for long distances across their elevation, telling stories of the glacial poriort ages upon a^esago; fearful precipices speak of the force of the earth's convulsions when giving birth to these her children Yonder intricate carvings picked out by patches and dashes of snow, indi<'a:e the work of the elements ; and everywhere is food for reflection and delight. In the middle distance towers Cosmos peak in its serrated and torn outline, like tha ruin of some temple built by giants for their worship. .The background is filled in by countjess other peaks "confusedly together hurled," while over all, the expanse of azure swells with the increasing light. Tho grey tint of early dawn had now faded from the light,' Full of triumph, the sun sent its flood of golden beams upon tbe rugged scene, and for a while it seemed liko "a world done in ormolu." But presently a rose tint blushed upon the snow and ice, streaked here and there with amber-coloured brightness. Ha! what was that fleeting fl:iih of fire? There, another, and yet another, and now there hlezßS forth a stream of many coloured fUme from off yon mountain toD, resflmbling a l'ainbow built of diamonds. Gay and joyous dance the sparks of green, of pink/of blue and golden fire, and dazzle the eye of the beholder, and fill his mind with wonder and with awe. It was the prismatic effect of the sunlight upon a glacier. Such is the cevemony which attends the birth of day in the Alpine regions of Otago, and those who do not mind tbe early morning breezes might frequently behold, "during tho latter half of Bummer or the early part of autuma, such opectaclefi an above described. >

Lonsz sat Bnlto and pondered upon ths ecene before him. At last the approaching day bade him " move on." He cast one searching look down the road over which he had just come, and although it was now bright daylight no trace of any pursuer could he seo. Without any further delay he commenced tha descent, but was occasionally compelled to travel upon the road, thus leaving hie marks upon the moist ground. His progress, however, was fast, and, so far as he could aeo, he had baffled and outstripped bis pursuers, if they were really upon his trail; At the foot of the descent he had to pass a homesteading, and that accomplished unobserved he would be comparatively safe. It was yet early morning when be neared tho house. He could not evade it except by a long detour, so he pushed boldly arid rapidly on. Ju«t as he wan on the moat exposed part of the ground he had to traverse, and a view of which was commanded by tho windowaof the house, the doga about tho place began to bark furiously. Bolts made a rush into some timber, which abounded at a little difttanca off, and succeeded to slip under cover just as a door was of ened and ii head peeped out. When Tom Belfast bad made pure that lifo .bad fled from bia mother's body, and hie thoughts roverted to his adventure with Lord Stambosowgb and the strange face, ha asked lirmself wh-i$ object "sip oould hava is. ioltewmq

the unknown man, and if successful in hunting him down what could be do with him ? He could not arrant him or hand- him over to the law upon any charge. He knew nothing of the man. If he was in any unholy league with Lord Stamborough it was not likely that he would voiuntarily divulge the compact, and if he weie employed in aunie other business Tom c>mld gain no thanks from either party ; in fact ho had, in this latter cane, placed himself in a very unanviahle position by watching his lordsihip'a footsteps. AU this Tom revolved in his mind, but always the questions cropped up, How did that man coma by a letter from Mr Disbet to Lizzy? Why did be run away like a guilty thing? What had been his business at the West Coast? Why did he hide himself and run the risk of being wounded ? There was some dark myßtery about that man, that coat what it may he must find out.

Without going to bed he wont out aa soon as the rain had oeaaed to look for a horee. There was none in tho .stable. Ho went to the places in the neighbourhood whore the station horses and his own used to run, but the rain and storm of the previous night had driven them to some other part. The first dawn of day lighted up the wky above the valloy of the lake, and T>m decided to follow his game on foot. Ho argued that it would be wisest not to givo tho alarm and a^noy Mrs TregeuniOjg and Lizzy, by reflecting upon Lord S'amborougbia conuoction with what he knew of his affairs or by divulging his own adventures of the previous night. Tom thought that he wan quite able to cope with Bolts and obtain from him" nn explanation of how he had got, Disbet.'a letter, and what his .business had been at tho Wean Coast. Dark ' thoughts would crop up in his mind when he connected the will which ha had found with the murderous appearance of Bolts and hia mysterious behaviour, and the secret mooting with his lordship, and the latter's fits of depression and excitement when Tom proposed and set out upon his expedition to search for Disbet. Tom shuddered as ho thought of these incidents, and he asked himself, with a terror he' could not tepress, what was he to do if his worst suspicions should be realised. How could ho accuse Lord Stamborough of such a crime ? Who would believe him ? Everything considered, therefore, he would have to capture Bolts, and obtain from him some explanation before ha made bis suspicions public. Without, knowing anything about the events which had happened at Mrs Tregenning's farm the previous night immediately, upon bin leaving there, he set out to follow Bolts. Tom remembered the unoccupied hut, and as it was no great distance off the road ho went to it, and there found unmistakable tracks made since the rain, going in the direction of the head of the lake. This much ascertained be had no difficulty in deciding upon his course. There wub only one goal to reach that road, viz., the West Coast, and escape by the steamer which called periodically at Martin's Bay. The fugitive must be intercepted beCoie he got beyond the Routeburn, a stream upon tho bank of which lay the principal part of the road to Martin's Bay. Although well acquainted with every inch of the road, the uncertain light of morning, rendered more obscure in dangerous places by oveihanging precipices, or deep gulches through which it pasced, or shrouded in utter darkness by large birches, made Tom's progress but slow at firot. It was only where the track rounJed some projecting cliS overtopping the lake that the reflection of the water shed anything like a (serviceable light. In places um-ow gapa m the precipitous walls of rock which flank the lake had been bridged ov«r by logs of wood, covered with brushwood aud earth, while, several hundred feet; below, the lake washed the foot bt tha cliff. A misstep in such places meant inevitable death. But Tom went on sure footed, and resolved to rim down the stronger ha had met under such peculiar circumstances.

It was bright daylight, the sun had topped the mountain ridges, and sent down his raya in bounteous profusion, when ha reached tho top of the bluff. Around him lay^ view he never parted from before a good Burvey had impressed it anew upon his memory, but to day he bad no time to spare. Without ev--n resting himself he commenced the descent, and noticed tho nswly-made footprints upon (ha road. This gave him new eneigy, and on he passed with renewed vigour. He Boon reached the station at tlra ffiot of the hill, anl arrived iv time for breakfast. This station was owned by a widow lady, who at the time was in Duneiiin ; but Tom was received with a cordial welcome by the overseer, who, after expressing bis surprise at seeing Tom so early, asked : " What brought you up so early, and on foot too ? Nothing serious has happened down your way ?" , • "Well no," replied Tom, in a hesitating manner, " except that my mother died rather unexpectedly last night." •• But that wouldu'fc brin? you this way. There is something else in th.> wind," remarked the overseer. " Bat you'd bstter oome in to get some breakfast," '* I am much obliged to you, but I would prefer to push on, and unless you have a horse ready which you would not want to-day, and would lend it to me, I really can't atop." 11 Hallo ! what's the matter ?" " I can^t tell you now, .but may when I return. Can, I have a hntee ?"

" There's something in the wind," said the overseer, musingly. "Somebody passed' here this morning just about daybreak, and can't have been up to much good, for he appeared to be snpaking by as if he didn't waut to be seen.'' • ■ W hat was he like ?" asked Tom.

"Well, that I can't tell you. I just saw him slipping in amongst that patch of timber. He was not very tall, but stout built. Are you after anybody?" " Well, yes t am, and I wish to overtake him before ho gats too far on the road. Cftn I have r bone ?"

"You are uncommonly mysterious ;— -but oome in and get some breakfast, and we'll bave a horse ready for you by the time you blave finished eatiug." Tom went into the hut, and by the time he bad satisfied his hunger the horse was brought up to the door. He quickly mounted, and in order to escape any further questioning ga!» lopad off, He Boon gained an open piece of country, where he could Bee long distances in every-di-rectioh, but no man could he discern apy where. Only once bad he seen similar traces to those at the deserted hut door and coming down the descent from the bluff. He was now nearing the head of the lake, and no trace of tha fugitive. When he neared Glenorchy. a pettlement township at the hoad of Lake Wakatipu. he met several people, but none of them bad eoen any Btranger pass them that day.

Arrived at G-lonorcby Tom Stopped to bait the hors* and to decide upon his future action. It was now clfar to him that he had outrun his gnmo, and that the man be waa in soarch of must be hiding somowhere. Upon leaving the township of Glenorchy his hoßtafked : " Whore ara yon going now, Torn V "That is moie thau 1 can tell you," replied Tom, who, upon mounting again, allowed tba horss to walk at & leiatirely at9p in the direction of ths Reas Valley

He wandered about utterly at a loss where to go and look for the fugitive, and considering whelhor it was really worth the troubje to hunt down his man, and whether he had not better leburn, and allow things to take thencourse,

With these contradictory plane in his mind he had got as far as Paradise Flat, a lovely expanse of green sward at the very foot of Mount. Earndlaw, when rising some high ground he noticed a man disappearing in the direction of rhe Dart River, which flows here through a, wide fl.it, flanked on the side nn which he had seen the man by precipitous walls many thousand feet in height. He knew that there wae no escape-. The river was unfordabie to a man on foot, and the boldest swimmer would nob attempt to swim it. There was only ono meansof escape, and. that was at a spot known as the f * Davil's Hole," a part of the river where it flows between two narrow walls of rock, . No one travelled that dangerous route in those times ; it had long since been abandoned. It had for many ye rs been the dreaded bugbear of miners, explorers, and shepherds. In all tbe wilderness of the West Coast there was nothing to equal it for danger ; and many feats of daring invested it with romances of no common kind, while the stories of the number of livas lout nt this apot were appalling and horrifying. For several miles the river is confined between rocky wallf, which rise on either side to a height of nearly two hundred feet. Both banks are perpondioular and torn inta many fantastic shapes. In some parts thesedtead walls overhang the river, as if -to hushthe angry noise of its hissing and seething" waves. The water in this chasm is one rnafee of foam, and dashes from bank to bank and beats against projecting spurs with indescribable fury. In other parta the river* resembles a boiling cauldron, or an opening connecting with the lower regions, from which boil up black grimy masses of liquids in immense volumes. For the whole of this distance the river is approachable only at one solitary spot, A narrow cleft in the rock leads down to tho water's edgo ; the same' cleft or crevice of soft rock extends across the river to the other side, Both means of reaching the rivcrare steep and tortuous, dangerous, and difficult to travel. At this spot the river also widens, and rune smoothly, with but little current, its passage being almost closed up immediately below by the banks meeting within a few feet, but just beyond this point the river descends in one clear leap into a chasm never beheld or measured by any living man. No gauge exists as to its depth, but tue hollow and terrific roar of the falling waters as they plunge headlong into the datk and gaping cleft. It is at ,this part where there there is' the only escape from the route Bolts had taken, and it is only by swimming the river at this critical point thaj; there was any hope of evading his pursuer. Tom bad followed the man and gained upon him, but be knew that very shortly he would have to abandon his horse, as the track climbed up 2. face of rock, narrow and steep., where no horse could possibly get a footing. It was now also getting late in tha evening, and tha valley narrowing in considerably, and being thickly covered with timber, it was getting very dark within its walls, while above it still shone the sun.

Tom had now reuched tbe spot where be would have to leave bis horsa. He dismounted, .and, tying the horse to' some scrub by a piece of rope with which he bad provided himself, he started of! on foot to climb tbe hazardous track. Just as he reached it he caw the man whom ha had followed only a short distance ahead of him. He turned round to measure tbe distance between him and his pursuer, and Tom saw that he bad made no mistake. It was lha same face he had seen twice before, and which he had come in quest of. The chase could nut now be a long one. Chapter XXV. The obase could not be a long one, both parties knew, for darkness was fast coming on. Bolts made in the direction of the " Devil's Hole," described in the last chapter, with Tom id hot puruit, fjainiug but little on him*. Ab they advanced the forest grew denser, and tbe darkness increased at a redoubled ratio. Bolts had a clear gain of several hundred yards, and it wan only now and then that Tom caught a glimpse of him. The track which was originally made as a makeshift by the miners, who went out into these 1 egions to prospect for gold in the earliest dayo 01 the district, had for many years been totally unused, and was consequently overgrown with all kinds of growth, and in many places completely blocked by great masses of fallen timber. It hod now got so dark that Tom could scarcely see which way to turn or move. With the darkness there came that hußhed silence of the night, which makes itself so intensely felt in forest solitudes when the winds are at rest, and there is no breath to rustle the leaves, and no near brook which, murmurs to silence in confidential whisperings. Though he knew that over his head the free arc of heaven was stretching far and wide, it seemed to him as if he wero in the middle of endlpßS catacombs, without a lipht or guide of any kind. He eat down to think, Oi one thing he was sure, the fugitive bad determined to attempt the dao-^ gerouß swim aoross the "Devil's Hole." This y accomplished he was only one day's maich from the Government camp in tho Hollyford Valley, and once there be was safe, for be could by several comparatively easy routeß reach Martin's Bay. Tom's only chance of success, therefore, waa I' to intercept bis game at the critical point, and to make doubly sure, be should be there before the fugitive. But how could he possibly find bis way to it in the dark ? Then he mused upon who the fugitive oould possibly be. Ho was evidently we'll acquainted with the district, and yet Tom who had been a resident in these parts had never seen or beard of him ; and his face - was certainly a remarkable one. Tha simple fact was that Bolts had collected very exhaustive information upon all the tracks in the district, which he bad sketched upon a plan of his own making. His former trip to the West Coast stood him in. good need, and furnished with a veiy valuable general oversight of the country, and although he was only a " new chum," the facility with which he grasped and comprehended the topography of the district from oral description, was as remarkable as it was correct. Added to this, there was his determination - a kind of dogged pluck — which made him a very proficient bnahman; and a courage of the highest order, tempered by cool calculation, and the cunning of a fox. Much as he would like to overtake tbe runaway, Tom did not oare to stay away longer I than tbe following day from his dead mother, and above all be would like to follow her remains to their last resting place. He knew that kind friends would do all that was required in his absence, and hiH mind was easy on that account. Still ho wished himself back. If ho bad only left a few words about his disappearance to reapsure Mrs Trc-genning aud Lizzy, he would have been eatisfied. But he had had no idea of being away so long. Iv fact Tom had flattered hiinHelf with overtaking tha fugitive by midday, but in this he had been mistaken ; all that remained for him now was to rcske tos best sssa oi the aigbfc to get to

the trysting place before # the first glimmer of day. Was that the wind, he heard ? No, it could not be— it was something more potent that the wind. It was continuous too, and uniform in its volume. His ear bad now become, used to the death-like stillness. He distinctly he?rd the roar of falling water, which could be no other than the waterfall at the " Devil's Hole." Guided by the noise, he cautiously marie his way tpwards it. -As he approached the noise became more and more distinct, and Tom grew elated at the prospect of Boon accomplishing the object of his journey.

While he was thus groping his way towards the dread .spot, the dangers of which he know well, a further description of it must be rendered in order to enable the reader to fully understand the tragedy enacted there. The part River empties into Lake Wakatipu : it is iniact its chief tributary; and as Tom and Bolts had come from the Lake, - they had to pass the " Devil's Hole," and the mysterious waterfall, which no human eye had ever beheld, before they could reach the crevice of soft rock which led down to tha river. This crevice was formed by a wide vein of pipeclay, which extended to the opposite bank,- thus affording both ingress and egreßs from the chasm through which the river flowed. This soft vein was also the caueo of a wide basin, within which the water was almost aa still as that of a pond ; although its lower end terminated only a few yards above the waterfall. On the side on which Bolts and Tom were there was a beach of some extent, and scarcely any current ;*the current was all on tho opposite Bide, where .there existed no beach whatever, and -the landing— the only practical point where there was any hope of scaling the 1 formidable cliffs— was only about ten feet wide, this missed meant inevitable doom ! No swimmer, however powerful, could hopa to make way against the current, which at this point set in towardß the waterfall. Many brave and Btrong men have found their grare in tho dread chasm below the fall, who are to thu'day mourned aa misßing or lost in the West Coast Ranges. To ensure success in swimming the pool, it is necessary to start on the upper part of the *^ach, swim across as quickly as can be done, ' Jhking for' the opposite side as far up stream as possible, then allow yourself to be carried down stream to the mouth of the crevice, swim in, and land. If starting from the opposite side, you also start as far up stream as possible, strike out as powerfully as you can to g6t out of the current into the eddy formed by the breach, and e'wim up to it under its shelter. Tom had by this time got into tho neighbourhood of the waterfall. The hollow, ceaseless roar of its descent, sounded ominously through the surrounding silence and the darkness. The ground under his feet, — though solid rock, — shook with the force of the falling water. lie saw dimly outlined a blacker streak in the darkuesß to Mb left, which he had no difficulty in recognising as the chasm of the river. His progress wa3 exceedingly dangerous'; a false step might precipitate him into the yawning gulf, and hurl him to his doom ; and yet he had to keep close to its edge in order to find the crevice by which to reach the river.

He had just risen to his foet again, after groping about on. his bands and knees ior the descent, when the earth seemed to open before his very feet,, and belch forth a ruddy bloodred glare of light like a giant furnace. As the glare ascended from out the chasm at his feet it filled the terrible cleft with a fierce light, which died away in faint streaks amidst the darkness above it. The spectacle was ac surprising as it waß wonderful in its effect. Xioosing itself in faint and fainter shades amongst the trees upon the banks above the channel of the river, it revealed their gaunt forms in an uncertain spectral light. The banks on either side above the chasm rose steeply, and were covered with trees of great • girth and ancient growth. From their branches dangled large masses of moss, — the production of ages and a moist climate, — of a greenish grey hue, which in its torn and tattered outlines hung upon the giants of the forest, as the last remnants of a shroud. The whole valley appeared like a vast grave in which a thousand ghosts had just arisen, scared by the sudden flare of light. Tom, however, though he stood amazed at the unlooked-for transformation of the scene, had no time for lengthened contemplation, but one 'sweeping glance upon his surroundings made his heart almost stand still, so weird like were they is their aspect. Looking at the river he saw that he was almost at the brink of the crevice which led down to it. Upon the beach beneath him he saw a man moving about,, busy piling diift-wood upon the fire. It wa.s Bolts, who, besides having the advantage of Tom in distance, possessed al«o eyea better trained io the darkness; and who thus succeeded in finding what Tom would probably not have discovered bad it not been for the fire. Bolts, after he had reached the beach in safety, rested himself, fully determined to swim the river that night and advance as far as he possibly could upon the opposite bank. Once on the other sido of the river, he could not go wrong as long as ho kept ascending, for thero was only one high ridge between him and the Hollyford Valley, where ha would be safe, and if he could Bucceed in reaching it on the following day he would have a start of several days, should hiß pursuer return and set other* upon his track. Thia was Bolts' plan, and he was rigMfin all his calculations. When Tom comnrenced his descent to the river, he did so as cautiously as possible, but he could not prevent, or avoid ashemoved, dislodging someof the loose debris which covered the bottom of the .crevice. In fact he could not place his feet anywhere without loosening the stones and broknn piecos of rock, which hurled, themselves down upon the beach below. " Thiß attracted Bolts' attention, and he at once comprehended the cause of at. The continual shower of broken pieces of t'ock coining down told him his eaemy was approaching, attracted by the fire hs had lit, and yet he could not do without tho firo which he required to light him to the critical landing place on the opposite side of the river He knew his pursuer would be upon him before Us could take off his clothes, or before hectould awim more. than, one-third, of the distance 'across the river, where a strong man like his antagonist might overtake him, and land before Slim. As thia passed through his mind ho saw a heavy piece p^vzood, lying near him, shaped like a club. He picked *t up and hurried with it behind the projecting rock, close to where the crevice opened upon the beach. As Tom Haared this point he drew his revolver, which fca had newly loaded just before starting, and when, after carefully scanning that part of the beach which he commanded, he could not see the fugitive, be' jumped with one bound out of tho crevice op to tha beach. Bolts also jumped forward and aimed a tremendous blow at Tom, missing him, bowevei?. To cover Bolts at a distance of a few yards wi(.fi his revolver, was fcfao work of a moment for Tom. For the first fcime in his life Bolts was at bay and hold at » disadvantage by a foe. Mortification gave to his faca the expression of a baffled demon. He had alway3 deprecated tho use of fire-arms, chiefly through a natural dread he had of them : now he felt their superiority over every other weapon^ but it was too late, He was caught

iv a trap of his own setting, for had it not been for his fire he might have been saved. Tom stood aghast at the horrible emotions which were depicted upon Bolts' countenance. He had nevsr aeen a liumad face so distorted in its degradations. The sight almost filled him with pity, for he could plaiuly road in it traces of pain and privations ; beside 1 -", he was conscious of the advantage he had over the fugitive, -Yet, from motives of self- perservatioa, Tom shouted : —

" One movo and you are a dead man ! Who are you? and how did you come by Disbet's lettei?" demanded Tom, still "keeping his re\olvor levelled at him.

"Bolts mado no roply, but scowled at Tom with a leer that made tho latter BhucMfi 1 . J3olla saw plaiuly that of nil things Tom'» ob ject was to obtain Cbrtain information, and that although he was threatened vuith a loaded revolver, it way not his life which his antagonist sought. He was only a few yards from the liver, and to plunpo into it n.-ighi sa>o him. He had hiss coat already thrown off. It is true tho 'point was not a favourable one for starting, but it wa« his only means of escape. With two bounds Bolts was in tho river.

" Madman !' ehouted Tom, in a voice that was plaiuly heard by Bolts above tbe uproar of the water ; ' % como back while there ia time. You will not, you cannot reach tho landingplace from bore. You will be carried down the waterfall !"

But Bolis did not deign to pay any atten-. tion to Tom's admonitions or advice. He struck out with all his might, aud to Tom's surprise, made good, by boating up stream, the disadvantage under which he had started. With every stroke he gained upon the current, and Tom saw that there was every probability that he might gain the landing- place. "Should the fugitive, atter all bis trouble and anxiety, escape at the very moment when success was about to crown .hia efforts. Tom did not feel strong enough to pro in and attempt to rescue the desperate man, but ho was compelled by the progress rondo by Bolts not to delay one. minute if he wanted to anticipate him at tho landing opposite. Throwing off his outer garments, he also plunged in, and being favoured by the current — having entered the strewn much higher than Bolts — was gaining fast upon him. Both men used their utmost Btinngth, and as thoy neared their goal it Boemed aa if both would reach it at the sama time. However, as they approached the op.pofeito bank, tho fire was burning vary low, and only dimly outlined the inequalities of the bank they were making for, Tom, looking round, saw Bolts' palo face upon the black water staring with anxious eyes towards the landing-place. He noticed at the same time that his strength was failing him,' and that tho stream was evidently getting too powerful for him ; Bolttj was claarly losing ground.

Both were now within a few yards of tho landing, Tom ear'ely above, Bolts very near its lower and critical part, The latter'a safety depended upon hia next dos'.en strokes. A3 Tom glided into the crevice, out of the current, he uaw Bolts struggling frantically in his laut etfoits. To go to hiu aid would be madness ; he was now scarcely more than an arm's length from tho lower edge of tho crevice. Tom, who had landed by this l,imo,pickod up from amongst tho drift- wood tho longest sapling ho could find, but as he pushed one end of it out into the current for Bolts to lay hold of, while ho retained tbe other, he saw him washed up against the perpendicular wall of rock, bayond tha reach of tho sapling. .Bolts was now being carried down stream rapidly; all hope for him was paßt. Tom saw him in his despairing rago madly claw the rock in tho vain hope of finding a hold upon it by which to stay his downward course, but in vain,— the rock was worn as smooth as glass by tho current.

At this time some of the logs at the fire which W6re burnt through broke in two, and the whole mass nettling down with a shock, sent up a dull red flare and a showers of crackling sparks, aa if to light Bolts to his fato. By tbe increased light Tom saw 'tho doomed man actually* rise out of the water as he neared the fall where tho fluid, hemmed in by the approaching walls which confined it, 'was changed almost Juto a solid by the fearful pressure. A moment more and Bolts had disappeared into the fearful chasm within a chasm.

Tom stood transfixed with horror. He listoned, but no sound save that of the dull monotonous roar, like funeral dirges, caino out of the dreadful abyns, Tom was so deeply impressed with what he had witnessed that he could not think clearly for Home time. A cdld chill, however, reminded him of h\B condjtion. The swim back from the side' of tho river on which ho now waa was infinitely more hazardous than that by which ho b?.d reached it. Yet there was no remedy — be had .to make the attempt, and that at ouco, before successive chilli* banuuabed his limbs aud lamed their strength. Having briekly rubbed hie arms and legs, he commenced bis swim. Tho stream ac this point was about one hundred and sixty feet wide, one-third of which was Btrong current, and the remainder for tbe greatest part oddy. Tom bad to face tha current immediately upon entering tho river. Tho previous day's exertion and the loss of sleep the nighfc before, following immediately upon his return from the West Coast, had reduced his strength in a very sensible degree. He biit feebly bore up against the current. Ho saw by the fire, which was now reduced" to a smouldering heap, tbat he was with every moment approaching nearer and nearer tho danger, and receding further from tho beach instead of nearing ifc. The wild uproar of tho waterfall sounded ominously near, and struck his ears as if clamouring greedily for. another victim. He thought of Lizzy and his dead mother, whom ho had to bury. T/iese thoughts and the terrors of a horrible death filled him with renewed strength. He made almost superhuman offorts, y.e't he still felt tha weight of tho current upon him. However, his desperate sWiigglos for life were rewarded with success, and before his strength was totally spent he found himself in still water, though at some distance from the beach. It required all hia remaining powers to reach it, and when at last, having struck bottom, ho waded ashore ho sank down by the dying fire almost helpless, and with a terrible pain pervading hiß'wholo bods'". The fire Btill omitted a gßnial glow, and crawling as near to it as possible he took off his wet clothes and put on the dry ones ho had taken off before his swim. When this was done he recovered sufficiently to rebuild the firo, as drift wood abounded on the beach. As the heat of thp (Samss revived him a tumble hunger made itself felfc; there was, however, absolutely nothing to appeaso it, To allay the pain in his etomach — be had eaten nothing since the morning of -the previous day— he chewed some of the bark of a scrub growing out of the rock forming the wall of fcho cbasm, This, though slightly bitter, stopped the gnawing pain of hunger. After that he ftttenaed to tbo drying of his underclothes, end as he had to stop where ho was till dayliqhfc, ho also set to preparing a "shakedown " for the night's re^t and sleep.

When his clothes were dry he ajjain dressed himself, and lay down upon such dry scrub as he could collect, covered up by Bolts' goat Within the influence of tbo fire, and was

tolerably comfortable. It was not. until ho was thus at rest, and casting his. eyea upwards and around him, that the scene in al) ifcn fearful wildnesa and grotesque, ruggednes-< thrilled l.i« framo with an undefined feeling of awe and dismay. As ho lay there looking upwsrdß it seemed to him as if he lav in a grave, (ha walla of which, lising hundreds of feet :ra cither side, might close in upon him at any moment, Frotii the narrow cleft abovo him bo saw, now and then, a star shining dimly through as the crowns of tho gigantic trees, v/hich completely covered in tha abyss in which lio lay, swayed to and fro. Novnr had the heavens appeared to him so far uiF ; — and the grave so nonr ! Involuntarily ho turned his eye a towards tha abyn^ within the chasm where Bolts had di«appeai'dd. It. almost aeemed within his roach. Ho had fancied ho might aeo his face or his ghost rise up out, of tho datlcnpss ; but nothing &aye deafening noiso and impenetrable blackness, welled up incessantly from those unexplored depths. From thnfo bin eyes wandered alongf tho long defile of the chatnn in the opposite direction. The river made its way through the precipices ond huge boulders stealthily, like a venomoun snake, seeking whom it might devour. From tho walrs overtopping it juttt-d out lavece masses of rock, cut into fanciful otilflinep, standing out io bold relief, and lighted lip by the lurid flamoa of tho Ore, which imparlxd to their ashy grayno-M an uncertain distinctness from tho shadow t.hey cast upon the rock behind them. With their contemplation Tom fell into construing thorn into faces and living forms, which would grow into surprising distinctness, to be presently wiped out and gone for over. By-and-by they becamo mora aud more indistinct, and .presently neither thoy nor tho fire, nor any thing else, had any further existence for Tom. 0 vercome by exhaustion and fatigue, he sank into a deep but sound and refreshing sleep.

Towards morning ho dreamt that he was walking in a beautiful garden full'of^ floweis and sweet semis ; beyond it« boundaries wcro cornfields promising ;\ bountiful harvest, and boyond that a roar ay of r. waterfall and blackness. He turned away into tho garden atrain, and saw Lizzy coming towards him with a bouquet of ronas and migunnetiC, which gha fastened to his coat. Th«n she kissed him ; — and thou ho woka with tho thrill of iaoxpressiblo delight still quivering through his frame. He oat bolt upright, and in a stupor gazed about him to make out where he' was. It was daylight ;— but only in the sky, for 'the rays of neither sun nor moon ever shone . into the abyss, v/hers he had epont the night. No day ever came there. Ah he wee to his feet ho' became conscious of a dull heavy pain in r.ll his limbs, the result of the over exertion of the previous day, and the exposuro of the nighfc. He had recourse to a system of rubbing his limbs baforo the fire, v/hich ho soon fokiudled, and this to Rome extent dissipated tho feeling of numbueos which lamed them. After a while he laboriously climbed up the crevice, eager to reach his home that day, where ho had left bis dead mother, who, through all his t-'oubJati, had" occupied much of Inn lihou^lita, .iinl whom 1m had yet to bury- Tho exertion assisted tho blood 1,0 circulate more freely through his body, and with tho e*erci-<o his strength returned. He began to movo oasier, aud tho pain had almost totally disappeared when ho roaohed tho uppor bank of the river. When ho .reached tho ppot whcie ha had tied the horse the night before, tho vexation afc the fruitless result of bis expedition annoyed him considerably. What account could ha give of his strange behaviour upon hiß return ? What could it have been that induced him to desert his mother the moment the had died '! Yet ho felt sure that. Bolts was involved with Lord Stamborough in some- dark and mysterious affair. Why did hs. face death rather than give an explanation of his doings and .himself? These thoughts passed through Tom's wind when near the spot, where tho, river emerged from the gorge which loads to tho mysterious waterfall. He .decided to. go and search it, as far, as possible, for a trae'e of the missing man.' - Just as he dived into the scrub which gi ew about the the gorge, a horHeman appeared from the direction cf Laka Wakatipu, but Tom Baw. him, not. Wa must now look after the constable, who had set out in puisuit of Tom. Having tho advantage of a strong hovso and daylight, the trooper arrivod at the' station at Twenty-Five Mile Creek, whero Tom bad beou suppliod with a horso and bieakfast oulv about two bourn after he had left there. Tho overseer, whose name was Branton, won not a lifctlo surprised when tho trooper rode up to hifi hut and asked : •

" How long ia it siuce Tom Belfast pissed here 7" Now, as will bava been ggcji when firat introduced to tho roador, Mi 1 Branton was not a man of direct questions nnd replies, so instead of giving a 'straight answer to a plain question, he apked : " Then you are not after the other chap ; you are after Tom perhaps ?" Tho trooper with eagerness asked : " What other chap ?" "Why the chap that Tom waa after, and whom he has no doubt caught long before now. I gave him a horse about two hours ago." " What ! You gave Tom Belfasta horae to run away, and let him fool you about another chap that be was after !" " There is no fooling about it, I saw the other chap myself, passing here about daybreak, and like a thief he slipped into that patch of timber th'eve !" Searing tbio the trooper dismounted, and asked Mr Branton to accompany him into .the hut. Hero ho told him what had happonod at Mm Tregenning's farm tLo provious uifrib, and tho Buspicions which pointed to Tom Belfast as the perpetrator of thb asc-ault upon Lord

Starnborough. When hir> atnazmenl had somewhat subsided, Mr Branton ejaculated : " And Tom told mo nothing of all this. In fact he said there wore no nows at all, and ho must have known what had happened !" "Well, Mr Branton," said the trooper, pityingly, " you would not auppose him to tell yoxt that he had nearly billed a lord in the dark- and" that he was then running away with his £2000, which he had got from him honestly, and God knows how ranch move which he hadn't got honestly." "We'l, look hero, Mr Trooper, you make a great mistake, and yourself ridiculous, U you think that Tom would do any snch thing as If ill anybody, and if he had donu ao accidentally he is not the man to run away. If thorn has been any murder or assault it is the other chap that Tom was aftor that has done it." *

In the heat of a personal argument the trooper had forgotten all about the other chap, so when Mr Branton made mention of him again the trooper r<aid : " Well tell mo then about the other chap, all that you knov/ about him !"

"Ay, you would like to know all about him. wouldn't you ?'* tc Come, como, none of your nonsense. You know I can make things very unpleasant for you if you do not .answer my questions properly/ '*J know that, but you eann,Qt make me

know more than I have told you already !"' "And what ia that?— tell ma again that 1 may tako it down." " What good will it do you if I have seen a man run into that patch of timber a1?a 1 ? if to hide from everybody ?" "So you have seen a man run ing into and hiding in that patch of timber. Did you know the man? Have you ever seen him before ?"

"If I knfcw tho man, I would havo mentioned him by his name moat likely,' and I don't remember that I have ever seen him before." "What was he like?" • "He was a good deal etoutor than me, but aojfsotall."

" Ia that all you know about him '/" 11 Precious little, isn't; tl?? But Tmn, maybe, can toll you more about him. Perhaps he lias caught him already." Tho trooper considered the information ho had got Bcarc9ly worl-h the loss of timo ifc liaci entailed, so putting the spurs to his horde bo rode off with a curt leave-taking from this unsatisfactory witness. He by no means shared Mr Branton'a viow of the case, and tho opposition he had met with tended to atill further prejudice him against Tom. It was not likely thai; Torn should have toll anybody the rea,s n of his flight} in fact, that ho had not done so was evidence against him. Mr Branton purposely withhold rII intimation of Tom'u reticence to explain his business, and he, just as little as the trooper knew, that Tom was totally ignorant of what had happened sifc Mrs Tregerining's farm, though the latter fe.lt certain that he must be fully ccgniennt of it, if not actually guilty of the deed. In the trooper's mind there was no doubt about it. . Upon reaching G-lenorchy hia horse wa3 knocked up, and her had to procure another' before he could go any further. The landlord at the hostelry where Tom also had stopped and baited his horse, is known to keep a good stable, and ia himself acknowledged the best, horseman and gentlaiuan-rider in tho district, but unfortunately ho hart no horsea iv. His son was quickly despatched to get one, and in the meantime he recruited himself with ref rashnimitfl, and collected further information. " How long ago is it pinca Tom Belfast left hero V he asked. " Well," replied tho lanJlord, "it io about two hours ago. But he cannot have got. very far, for I noticed him from the Bible Terrace (so called frovn the remarkable resemblance it bears to a gigantic book), walking his horse slowly up the Rees Valley." "Did he tell you what his game was, or what he was after?" "No, he did not. I asked him Jhe same question, and he replied he did not'know him "Did 'you notice anything Hfcrnugo about him ?" ""Well, yes. He looked rathor c-ortiusotS when I asked him about hia lrir j inc?p, ami evidently ovadad my question. Uo almo Js-ft in jiu abrupt manner, although ho did not appeal- at all anxious to got on whan ho had started." Tho trooper made a note of this aa evidence against Tom ; then ho mined : " Did you sea anybody clbo passing horo today going out west ?" . \ ."No, I did not ,800 anybody, oxoept'Tom, coming up from Queenatpwn." By and-byo'the horse' was brought up re^dy saddled, and our troopor went, as. directod by tho landlord,, up the Rees Valley. Aftor he had travelled for a considerable distance up the valley he met a party of tourists, who were mounted, and had been out botanising and sketching. • " I beg your pardon, gentlemen," said the trooper, ''for stopping you, but I am" looking for a runaway, who was last, seen making for this valley, .and you will oblige ma if you can givd mo any information about the parties you may have met upon your rambled." " We have not aeea anyono except thooe of our own party," answered several voices at once : and one of the ppeaksrß continued, "We have been rambling about the valley since noon, and no man uassed here siuco that timo."

The troooor thanked the gentleman politely, and turned his horse's head towards' the DarS Valley, as the only hope of success. It was now getting dark, and tho trip up the Rees Valley had spoilt tho day. Only with difficulty did the trooper succeed in reaching ashepherd's hut where he intended to spend tho. nipfht. Arrived boro he learnt tbat a* man on horseback passed a lonpr way off, and could not bo recognised, and that he wan making up tho Dart Valley, as if he intended to take the track to tho Went Coast by the " Devil's Holp." Tho mention of tho namo mado tho trooper turn palo,, whilo a tremour otoln through hiu body. i-j« had heard • so many horrifying storiea about thin apot that h0 ( wa,3 very unfavourably impressed by it, and the mere mention of it nrndo him shudder. However, next morning ho oet out in pursuit of his objecb, and as he neared the part where tho track became inipnseable for horsps ho saw a horpe apparently tied up, and a man moving about amongst the bushes. Tie pushed on his horao, aad when he anived at the spot where the man he had seen had tiisappoared, ho dismotinted, and cautiously entered the bush as near the same spot as possible, Tom, who, as we have seen, did not notice anyone approaching when ho wont in search of traces of Bolts, had by this timo gone up the gorge of tbe river as far as it was practioable. The gorge narrowed in so much that the whole cleft in the rock waa occupied by the river, and the walls on either side being perpendicular, made further progress impossible. He had found no trace whatever of the unfortunate Bolts, not oven & shred of clothing/ and was returning, etill following tho bank of tho river on his way to his horse, when he. was observed by the trooper. Tom wa3 thon moving towards a parch of clsai' sward, 'to which the former followed him. When Tom had advanced a liltle distance into ifc the guardian of the law suddenly trwido his appearanoe.with a levelled revolver, shouting: "Stand! 1 arrant yon for the minder of Lord Stamborough." (To be Continued.)