Ours had gone back ten miles,to the Waikitty;we soon obtained clues as to their whereabouts,and had them back again in time to proceed on our journey.The river being very low,we did not unload the dray and put the contents across in the boat,but drove the bullocks straight through.Eighteen weary monotonous miles over the same plains,covered with the same tussock grass,and dotted with the same cabbage-trees.
The mountains,however,grew gradually nearer,and Banks Peninsula dwindled perceptibly.That night we made Mr.M-'s station,and were thankful.
Again we did not yard the bullocks,and again we lost them.They were only five miles off,but we did not find them till afternoon,and lost a day.As they had travelled in all nearly forty miles,I had had mercy upon them,intending that they should fill themselves well during the night,and be ready for a long pull next day.Even the merciful man himself,however,would except a working bullock from the beasts who have any claim upon his good feeling.Let him go straining his eyes examining every dark spot in a circumference many long miles in extent.