long strip of shingle, which seemed as smooth as turf by contrast
with the first half of the river-bed. When we charged into the
water again our driver removed his pipe from his mouth, looked over
his shoulder and remarked, "River's come down since mornin'; best
tuck up your feet, marms all." I can answer for this "marm" tucking
up her feet with great agility, and not a moment too soon either,
for as a light wind was blowing, a playful wave came rippling over
and through the planked floor of the dray, floating all the smaller
parcels about. But no one could speak, we were so jolted: it
literally seemed as if our spines _must_ come through the crown of
our heads, and I expected all my teeth to tumble out.

In the midst of my fright and suffering, a laugh was jolted out of
me by the absurd behaviour of one of our fellow-passengers. He was
what is called a bush carpenter: i.e., a wandering carpenter, who
travels from station to station, doing any little odd rough jobs
wanted. This man had been working for us some time before, and had
often amused me with his quaint ways. On this occasion he was on
his oppressively good behaviour, and sat quite silent and solemn on
the opposite ledge of the dray. But when for the second time the
water came swirling through our rude conveyance with a force which
threatened to upset it altogether, Dale fumbled in his pocket, as if
he were seeking for a life-belt, produced an enormous pair of green
goggle spectacles, which might have made part of Moses Primrose's
purchases at the fair, and adjusting them on his nose as steadily as
he could, said gravely, "This must be looked to!" He continued to
stare at the wash of water during the remainder of our perilous and
rough transit without vouchsafing any explanation of his meaning,
but after we had safely landed he replaced his spectacles, first in
their huge shagreen case, and next in his pocket, with an air which