desire for "one more" trial. On the blind-side of the hill,--that
is to say the side which gets scarcely any sun in winter,--a deep
drift of snow still lingered, filling up a furrow made in former
years by a shingle-slip. Thither the two adventurous climbers
dragged their sledge, and down the steep incline they performed
their perilous descent many a time. I became tired of watching the
board shoot swiftly over the white streak; and I strolled round the
shoulder of the hill, to see if there was any appearance of the
snow-fall lessening in the back country.

I must have been away about half an hour, and had made the circuit
of the little knoll which projected from the mountain side,
returning to where I expected to find sleigh and sleighers starting
perhaps on just "one more" journey. But no one was there, and a
dozen yards or so from the usual starting-point, the snow was a good
deal ploughed up and stained in large patches by blood. Here was an
alarming spectacle, though the only wonder was that a bad accident
had not occurred before. I saw the sledge, deserted and broken,
near the end of the drift: of the passengers there was neither sign
nor token. I must say I was terribly frightened, but it is useless
in New Zealand to scream or faint; the only thing to do in an
emergency is to _coo-e_; and so, although my heart was thumping
loudly in my ears, and at first I could not produce a sound, I
managed at last, after many attempts, to muster up a loud clear
_coo-e_. There was the usual pause, whilst the last sharp note rang
back from the hill-sides, and vibrated through the clear silent air;
and then, oh, welcome sound! I heard a vigorous answer from our own
flat where the homestead stood. I set off down-hill as fast as I
could, and had the joy, when I turned the slope which had hidden our
little house from my view, to see F--- and Mr. U--- walking about;