The Musterers' Camp.

Otago Witness, Issue 1731, 24 January 1885, Page 24

The Musterers' Camp.

Down in a gorge, amd bushes and boulders, Whero the birch and totara in luxury grow, la the Blusterers' tent, and thtir camp fire still

smoulders Near the creek, whoee clear water? in torrents paot flow. Here tho wail of the keas disturb tho fetlil pfoatuin,?, As they fly to their haunts when the daj light i<>

fforjo ; The call of the wektv, who fond i < of roaming,

la answered afar off ere the echo is done. The night is advancing, the palu moon is sinking Behind the hiph mcuntaiirs away to the west ; The srrey Bby iB clear and the bright stars are ingOn men who are wrapped up in Blumber and rest. Beneath the green bushes our shnep dogs are sleeping, And resting 1 tbeir limbs from the toi'a of the day : While round by the camp fire the w.oodhens aro creeping, And ere and anon chime intruders away. Then grey dawn succeeds to the short summer night, And the top* of the mountains reflect the warm

eun ; The blue ducks, on the winz, are soon lost to the Bight, And all Nature proclaims that the day has begun. Then away o'er the wild snowy mountains wo wander, Where the gorges resound to the kea's wild cry, Where the loud roaring torrent, and quiet stieams raearder, And ice-coveted peaks raiee their head 3to the sky. January 6. _ J. G. c.