appeared anxious to play with the little creatures; and as her own
spotless coat was as white as theirs, she often managed to get quite
close to a flock of sheep before they perceived that she belonged to
the dreaded race of dogs. When the timid animals found out their
mistake, a regular stampede used to ensue; and it was not supposed
to be good for the health of the old or young sheep to hurry up the
hill-sides in such wild fashion as that in which they rushed away
from Rose's attempts to intrude on their society. Nettle may come,
for he is but a tiny terrier, and so fond of his mistress that he
never strays a yard away from her horse's heels. Brisk, my
beautiful, stupid water-spaniel, is also allowed an outing. He is
perfect to look at, but not having had any educational advantages in
his youth, is an utter fool; amiable, indeed, but not the less a
fool. Garibaldi, another colley, is suffering a long penal sentence
of being tied up to his barrel, on account of divers unlawful chases
after sheep which were not wanted; and dear old Jip, though she
pretends to be very anxious to accompany us; is far too fat and too
rheumatic to keep pace with our long stretching gallop up the
valley.

At last we were fairly off about eleven o'clock, and an hour's easy
canter, intersected by many "flat-jumps," or rather "water-jumps,"
across the numerous creeks, brought unto the foot of the bush-clad
mountain. After that our pace became a very sober one, as the.
track resembled a broken rocky staircase more than a bridle-path.
But such as it was, our sure-footed horses carried us safely up and
down its rugged steeps, without making a single false step. No mule
can be more sure-footed than a New Zealand horse. He will carry his
rider anywhere, if only that rider trusts entirely to him, nor
attempts to guide him in any way. During the last half-hour of our