now and then by a soft sighing breeze which passed over the tree
tops, and made the delicate foliage of the undergrowth around me
quiver and rustle. I had purposely scattered the remains of our
meal in a spot where the birds could see the crumbs, and it was not
long before the clever little creatures availed themselves of the
unexpected feast. So perfectly tame and friendly were they, that I
felt as if I were the intruder, and bound by all the laws of aerial
chivalry to keep the peace. But this was no easy matter where Rose
and Nettle were concerned, for when an imprudent weka appeared on
the sylvan scene, looking around-as if to say, "Who's afraid?" it
was more than I could do to keep the little terriers from giving
chase. Brisk, too, blundered after them, but I had no fear of his
destroying the charm of the day by taking even a weka's life.

Thus the delicious afternoon wore on, until it was time to boil the
kettle once more, and make a cup of tea before setting out
homewards. The lengthening shadows added fresh tenderness and
beauty to the peaceful scene, and the sky began to paint itself in
its exquisite sunset hues. It has been usual to praise the tints of
tropic skies when the day is declining; but never, in any of my
wanderings to East and West Indies, have I seen such gorgeous
evening colours as those which glorify New Zealand skies.

A loud coo-ee summoned F--- to tea, and directly afterwards the
horses were re-saddled, the now empty flax basket filled with the
obnoxious teapot and cup, wrapped in many layers of flax leaves, to
prevent their rattling, and we bade good night to the tired bushmen.
We left them at their tea, and I was much struck to observe that
though they looked like men who had done a hard day's work, there
was none of the exhaustion we often see in England depicted on the