farther back； but except from one place near the very top of my own
mountain； no part of it was visible： from this point； however； I
saw； whenever there were no clouds； a single snow…clad peak； many
miles away； and I should think about as high as any mountain in the
world。 Never shall I forget the utter loneliness of the prospect
only the little far…away homestead giving sign of human handiwork；…
…the vastness of mountain and plain； of river and sky； the
marvellous atmospheric effectssometimes black mountains against a
white sky； and then again； after cold weather； white mountains
against a black skysometimes seen through breaks and swirls of
cloudand sometimes； which was best of all； I went up my mountain
in a fog； and then got above the mist； going higher and higher； I
would look down upon a sea of whiteness； through which would be
thrust innumerable mountain tops that looked like islands。
I am there now； as I write； I fancy that I can see the downs； the
huts； the plain； and the river…bedthat torrent pathway of
desolation； with its distant roar of waters。 Oh； wonderful！
wonderful！ so lonely and so solemn； with the sad grey clouds above；
and no sound save a lost lamb bleating upon the mountain side； as
though its little heart were breaking。 Then there comes some lean
and withered old ewe； with deep gruff voice and unlovely aspect；
trotting back from the seductive pasture； now she examines this
gully； and now that； and now she stands listening with uplifted
head； that she may hear the distant wailing and obey it。 Aha！ they
see； and rush towards each other。 Alas！ they are both mistaken；
the ewe is not the lamb's ewe； they are neither kin nor kind to one
another； and part in coldness。 Each must cry louder； and wander
farther yet； may luck be with them both that they may find their
own at nightfall。 But this is mere dreaming； and I must proceed。
I could not help speculating upon what might lie farther up the
river and behind the second range。 I had no money； but if I could
only find workable country； I might stock it with borrowed capital；
and consider myself a made man。 True； the range looked so vast；
that there seemed little chance of getting a sufficient road
through it or over it； but no one had yet explored it； and it is
wonderful how one finds that one can make a path into all sorts of
places （and even get a road for pack…horses）； which from a distance
appear inaccessible； the river was so great that it must drain an
inner tractat least I thought so； and though every one said it
would be madness to attempt taking sheep farther inland； I knew
that only three years ago the same cry had been raised against the
country which my master's flock was now overrunning。 I could not
keep these thoughts out of my head as I would rest myself upon the
mountain side； they haunted me as I went my daily rounds； and grew
upon me from hour to hour； till I resolved that after shearing I
would remain in doubt no longer； but saddle my horse； take as much
provision with me as I could； and go and see for myself。
But over and above these thoughts came that of the great range
itself。 What was beyond it？ Ah！ who could say？ There was no one
in the whole world who had the smallest idea； save those who were
themselves on the other side of itif； indeed； there was any one
at all。 Could I hope to cross it？ This would be the highest
triumph that I could wish for； but it was too much to think of yet。
I would try the nearer range； and see how far I could go。 Even if
I did not find country； might I not find gold； or diamonds； or
copper； or silver？ I would sometimes lie flat down to drink out of
a stream； and could see little yellow specks among the sand； were
these gold？ People said no； but then people always said there was
no gold until it was found to be abundant： there was plenty of
slate and granite； which I had always understood to accompany gold；
and even though it was not found in paying quantities here； it
might be abundant in the main ranges。 These thoughts filled my
head； and I could not banish them。
CHAPTER II： IN THE WOOL…SHED
At last shearing came； and with the shearers there was an old
native； whom they had nicknamed Chowbokthough； I believe； his
real name was Kahabuka。 He was a sort of chief of the natives；
could speak a little English； and was a great favourite with the
missionaries。 He did not do any regular work with the shearers；
but pretended to help in the yards； his real aim being to get the
grog； which is always more freely circulated at shearing…time： he
did not get much； for he was apt to be dangerous when drunk； and
very little would make him so： still he did get it occasionally；
and if one wanted to get anything out of him； it was the best bribe
to offer him。 I resolved to question him； and get as much
information from him as I could。 I did so。 As long as I kept to
questions about the nearer ranges； he was easy to get on withhe
had never been there； but there were traditions among his tribe to
the effect that there was no sheep…country； nothing； in fact； but
stunted timber and a few river…bed flats。 It was very difficult to
reach； still there were passes： one of them up our own river；
though not directly along the river…bed； the gorge of which was not
practicable； he had never seen any one who had been there： was
there to not enough on this side？ But when I came to the main
range； his manner changed at once。 He became uneasy； and began to
prevaricate and shuffle。 In a very few minutes I could see that of
this too there existed traditions in his tribe； but no efforts or
coaxing could get a word from him about them。 At last I hinted
about grog； and presently he feigned consent： I gave it him； but
as soon as he had drunk it he began shamming intoxication； and then
went to sleep； or pretended to do so； letting me kick him pretty
hard and never budging。
I was angry； for I had to go without my own grog and had got
nothing out of him； so the next day I determined that he should
tell me before I gave him any； or get none at all。
Accordingly； when night came and the shearers had knocked off work
and had their supper； I got my share of rum in a tin pannikin and
made a sign to Chowbok to follow me to the wool…shed； which he
willingly did； slipping out after me； and no one taking any notice
of either of us。 When we got down to the wool…shed we lit a tallow
candle； and having stuck it in an old bottle we sat down upon the
wool bales and began to smoke。 A wool…shed is a roomy place； built
somewhat on the same plan as a cathedral； with aisles on either
side full of pens for the sheep； a great nave； at the upper end of
which the shearers work； and a further space for wool sorters and
packers。 It always refreshed me with a semblance of antiquity
（precious in a new country）； though I very well knew that the
oldest wool…shed in the settlement was not more than seven years
old； while this was only two。 Chowbok pretended to expect his grog
at once； though we both of us knew very well what the other was
after； and that we were each playing against the other； the one for
grog the other for information。
We had a hard fight： for more than two hours he had tried to put
me off with lies but had carried no conviction； during the whole
time we had been morally wrestling with one another and had neither
of us apparently gained the least advantage； at length； however； I
had become sure that he would give in ultimately； and that with a
little further patience I should get his story out of him。 As upon
a cold day in winter； when one has churned （as I had often had to
do）； and churned in vain； and the butter makes no sign of coming；
at last one tells by the sound that the cream has gone to sleep；
and then upon a sudden the butter comes； so I had churned at
Chowbok until I perceived that he had arrived； as it were； at the
sleepy stage； and that with a continuance of steady quiet pressure
the day was mine。 On a sudden； without a word of warning； he
rolled two bales of wool （his strength was very great） into the
middle of the floor； and on the top of these he placed another
crosswise； he snatched up an empty wool…pack； threw it like a
mantle over his shoulders； jumped upon the uppermost bale； and sat
upon it。 In a moment his whole form was changed。 His high
shoulders dropped； he set his feet close together； heel to heel and
toe to toe； he laid his arms and hands close alongside of his body；
the palms following his thighs； he held his head high but quite
straight； and his eyes stared right in front of him； but he frowned
horribly； and assumed an expression of face that was positively
fiendish。 At the best of times Chowbok was very ugly； but he now
exceeded all conceivable limits of the hideous。 His mouth extended
almost from ear to ear； grinning horribly and showing all his
teeth； his eyes glared； though they remained quite fixed； and his
forehead was contracted with a most malevolent scowl。
I am afraid my description will have conveyed only the ridiculous
side of his appearance； but the ridiculous and the sublime are
near； and the grotesque fiendishness of Chowbok's face approached
this last； if it did not reach it。 I tried to be amused； but I
felt a sort of creeping at the roots of my hair and over my whole
body； as I looked and wondered what he could possibly be intending
to signify。 He continued thus for about a minute； sitting bolt
upright； as stiff as a stone； and making this fearful face。 Then
there came from his lips a low moaning like the wind； rising and
falling by infinitely small gradations till it became almost a
shriek； from which it descended and died away； after that； he
jumped down from the bale and held up the extended fingers of both
his hands； as one who should say 〃Ten；〃 though I did not then
understand him。
For myself I was open…mouthed with astonishment。 Chowbok rolled
the bales rapidly into their place； and stood before me shuddering
as in great fear； horror was written upon his facethis time quite
involuntarilyas though the natural panic of one who had committed
an awful crime against unknown and superhuman agencies。 He nodded