brooded over land and water. Although there was no moon, the stars
served us as lights and compass until two o'clock in the morning, by
which time we had reached the head of the lake (which is thirty-five
miles in length), where we landed, extemporized a tent out of the
boat sail, and turned in for a refreshing flea-less sleep.

The next day was beautifully still, with a light air from the
opposite point, just sufficient to cool the parched atmosphere; and
we made our way along the head of the lake to a place were a couple
of sawyers were at work. One of them had brought his wife with him,
and her welcome to me was the most touching thing in the world. She
took me entirely under her care, and would hardly let me out of her
sight. I must say it was very nice to be waited on so faithfully,
and I gave myself up to the unaccustomed luxury. All she required
of me in exchange for her incessant toil on my behalf was "news." It
did not matter of what kind, every scrap of intelligence was welcome
to her, and she refused to tell me to what date her "latest advices"
extended. During the three days of our stay in that clearing among
the great pines of the Wanaka Bush, I gave my hostess a complete
abridgment of the history of England--political, social, and moral,
beginning from my earliest recollections. Then we ran over
contemporary foreign affairs, dwelt minutely on every scrap of
colonial news, and finally wound up with a full, true, and
particular account of myself and all my relations and friends. When
I paused for breath she would cease her washing and cooking on my
behalf, and say entreatingly, "Go on now, do!" until I felt quite
desperate.

All this time whilst I was being "interviewed" nearly to death, F---
employed himself in making excursions to different parts of the run.