Chapter I.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6694, 6 November 1889, Page 1

Chapter I.

"Save all we can, Jeff, and make th best of it," shouted Adam Rudd, as after i week's torrent-like rain in the mountaicE the water came down through the Gap ii a way that soon turned the park-lit pasture lands into a sea, drowning shee* by the hundred, and driving the cattl herd to reach the high ground upon whici ■the brothers Rudd had, three years before taken up their claim and built their hutIt was two hundred ' milea from thi nearest civilised spot ; hut what did tha matter ? Geoffrey Rudd, the frank, hand some young Devon man, had said- to hi: giant brother of sis feet four — "We get the land for next to nothing and by-*__ad-by,when civilisation overtake; us, why then, old lad, we shall be the gentlemen owners of a grand estate." "Well, if you don't think it too lonely Jeff, I say yes." "Lonely! Nonsense! Look at the place, Wood, water, pasture, prospect. Why, it's an Eden." So the two pioneer emigrants rode bad: to the Government offices after months of search ; paid, Bigned, sealed, and invested the rest of their capital in stock; and then had months of driving and camping with waggons and horses, and provisions in cask and tin. Itwaslikea journey to the Promised Land. To he reached at last; and then with all around them clear, and a glorious climate, they cut down and built and worked ; and saw their cattle flourish and increase; and they worked on again, as Englishmen can, glorying in their ohoice of a home to which some day were to be brought their widowed mother and the two fair girls who were waiting to be their wives. Everything prospered with them, and . though they felt the want of help, and"" it was lonely at times, and remote' when they wanted special articles, they only laughed, aud made the best of it. " Oh, what fools men are to slave on in the old country with no prospect of advance I" Adam would soy. " Ay," replied Geoffrey ; " better come out here, work twice as hard, add have everything their own." Cattle multiplied, and the sheds were increased. There was a bit of gardening done too; but the whole place waa a garden, and the glorious view of the Blue Mountains gladdened the heart of even a tired man. "One seems to want for nothing here but womankind," said Geoffrey," one day. "And a little more rain," said Adam. He had his wish : for after a long Bpell of dry weather the storm broke up in the mountains; the creek that flowed by their house was flooded, and they stood one day wishing that they could stop the great trees which had bein torn up, and were being carried down the torrent. Even that did not seem to be denied to them, for the trees lodged, grew more and more, till a great dam was made, and there was building and firewood at- their very door enough to last them for fifty years. But then there was water too. The dam kept it up and it soon became evident that if they did not start the dam their homestead would be destroyed. "There's only one way Adam," said Geoffrey. "I'll go out on the trunks of the trees and wedge in a little keg of the powder, lay a train, light a slow match, and there you are." The plan wa. sgreed upon, the slow match procured, and Geoffrey took the keg nnder his arm." " Mind how you go," said Adam. " Better letme." " Nonsense ! Safe enough ! You might drive a waggon across. By George, how the water rises \" "Yes; time it was done," said Adam, as he gazed at the huge raft of hundreds of tree trunks, wedged in together, and growing into quite a bridge as fresh trunks were forced beneath by the torrent. Geoffrey went cautiously on, leaping from trunk to trunk, till he wa3 hidden from his brother by a forest of boughs, and picking out a good central placo he stuck the Uttle keg well down, beneath a huge bole, opened the head, Btuck in his Blow match carefully, lit it, and hurried away. He had- ahout fifty yards to go, and he was within ten yards of where his brother was waiting, when he slipped as he was stepping from one muddy tree stem to another, and fell seven or eight feet into the wedged-together tangle. Before he could more than attempt to extricate himself Adam had leaped to his side, crept down, and held out his -hand. "Not hurt, Jeff?" " Not a bit, but a snag has got hold of my trousers. Give me your knife." The knife was handed, and Geoffrey was in the act of freeing his leg, which was down between two great tree trunks, when there waa a sudden shook, the raft or scaffolding of trees gavo a heave, there was a terrific roar, and then, as the whole mass began to be in motion, Adam Rudd dragged his brother out of the perilous place in which he lay aa if too much Htunned to move, and by the exercise of his great Btrength managed to leap from tree to tree and reach the shore before the vast dam was swept away.