WE TWO.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 59, 27 July 1906, Page 4

WE TWO.

[By Willy Waugh] . Dedicated to the Hon. C. H. mills.

I was lately speaking of our gold-seeking, That time we walked those weary rounds All through Otago, our swags a cargo, Recause each weighed full sixty pounds. Unlucky diggers, we worked like niggers, But bright good luck we never found. So after talking we started walking From Cromwell to Queen Charlotte Sound. Don’t you remember, in that December. Now more than forty years;, ago, How it made us shiver, that Acheron River, Where the snow-waters always flow ? We stood on its bank, and the grass was

dank With the cold night-dew falling fsst, Our breaths grew thicker, our hearts beat quicker, As we saw that stream rushing past. Day was declining, some stars were shining, And the dark stream looked very wide, But we had to cross, and to chance our loss, Opposite to the verdaut Guide.* So hand-in-hand, from the land to the land, We fought our way through that rushing stream, And we gasped for breath, for 'twas cold as death— I can feel it now when I dream. It was Christmas eve, and Ido believe r That we were hardy youngsters then ; We had nought to eat, but were not deadbeat, And we kept on our way like men. The night was fine, and we walked till nine, Then we camped on the cold grass green, Laying back to back, with never a crack For the night air to : get between. We slept warm and sound on the cojd, damp ground, 'Nedth a sky just as clear as glass, But when we awoke, as the morning broke, Our blankets were froze to the grass, It was Christmas morn, and we were folorn, So hungry and nothing to eat; But our hearts were true, and we pulled it through, 'Though 'twas a difficult and dangerous feat. We got no glory from our plain story— Picton laughed, saying: " That's not true ; Those smart young fellows can blow their bellows; They’d say they walked from Timbuctoo!" * The Guide-a long valley leading up Barefell's Pass. •<