successive taps of his paw.

I have wandered away from my account of the picnic in the most
unjustifiable manner. The gentlemen were toiling up the hill, after
we had crossed the creek, carrying the big basket by turns between
them; it was really hard work, and I must tell you in confidence,
that I don't believe they liked it--at least I can answer for one.
I laughed at them for not enjoying their task, and assured them that
I was looking forward with pleasure to washing up the plates and
dishes after our luncheon; but I found that they had all been
obliged, in the early days of the colony, to work at domestic
drudgery in grim and grimy earnest, so it had lost the charm of
novelty which it still possessed for me.

As soon as we reached a pretty sheltered spot half-way up the hill
among some trees and ferns, and by the side of the creek, we
unpacked the basket, and began collecting dry wood for a fire: we
soon had a splendid blaze under the lee of a fine rock, and there we
boiled our kettle and our potatoes. The next thing was to find a
deep hole in the creek, so over-shadowed by rocks and trees that the
water would be icy cold: in this we put the champagne to cool. The
result of all our preparations was a capital luncheon, eaten in a
most romantic spot, with a lovely view before us, and the creek just
like a Scotch burn, hurrying and tumbling down the hill-side to join
the broader stream in the valley. After luncheon, the gentlemen
considered themselves entitled to rest, lying lazily back among the
fern and smoking, whilst we ladies sat a little apart and chatted: I
was busy learning to knit. Then, about five, we had the most
delicious cup of tea I ever tasted, and we repacked the basket (it
was very light now, I assure you), and made our way back to the top