I omitted to mention that during our residence on the Lindis we were
sadly troubled with rats. There must have been millions in the locality,
and it was very difficult to guard our food from their depredations.
During the day they mostly disappeared until sundown, when they came in
swarms to the tents. Sitting by the fire in the evening I have
frequently killed a dozen with a short stick as they approached
fearlessly in search of food, and during the night we got accustomed to
sharing our common bed with a goodly number of the rascals.
CHAPTER XIII.
WE LEAVE THE LINDIS--ATTEMPT TO DRIVE FAT CATTLE TO THE
DIGGINGS AND FAIL--RETURN TO DUNEDIN.
On the return journey we had as much company as when we came, and the
road was even worse, but the dray being almost empty we experienced less
difficulty in proceeding. The first day took us out of McLean's run, and
the second saw us at nightfall on Miller and Gooche's side of the pass,
which was still snowed over, but the traffic had worked the track up
into deep slush and mud, and late in the evening we were near losing the
dray and horses in a swamp we had inadvertently entered while seeking a
better passage. With the assistance of some friendly diggers we
succeeded in extricating them, but the unfortunate accident prevented
our proceeding further that night, and we passed it on the borders of
the swamp where not an atom of firewood could be obtained.
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