father's 5 pounds； and the ration of brandy which I nightly gave
him； made me a welcome guest； and though I was longing to be at any
rate as far as the foot of the pass into Erewhon； I amused myself
very well in an abundance of ways with which I need not trouble the
reader。
One of the first things that Harris said to me was； 〃I wish I knew
what your father did with the nice red blanket he had with him when
he went up the river。 He had none when he came down again； I have
no horse here； but I borrowed one from a man who came up one day
from down below； and rode to a place where I found what I am sure
were the ashes of the last fire he made； but I could find neither
the blanket nor the billy and pannikin he took away with him。 He
said he supposed he must have left the things there； but he could
remember nothing about it。〃
〃I am afraid；〃 said I； 〃that I cannot help you。〃
〃At any rate；〃 continued the shepherd； 〃I did not have my ride for
nothing； for as I was coming back I found this rug half covered
with sand on the river…bed。〃
As he spoke he pointed to an excellent warm rug； on the spare bunk
in his hut。 〃It is none of our make；〃 said he； 〃I suppose some
foreign digger has come over from the next river down south and got
drowned； for it had not been very long where I found it； at least I
think not； for it was not much fly…blown； and no one had passed
here to go up the river since your father。〃
I knew what it was； but I held my tongue beyond saying that the rug
was a very good one。
The next day； December 4； was lovely； after a night that had been
clear and cold； with frost towards early morning。 When the
shepherd had gone for some three hours in the forenoon to see his
sheep （that were now lambing）； I walked down to the place where I
had left my knapsack； and carried it a good mile above the hut；
where I again hid it。 I could see the great range from one place；
and the thick new fallen snow assured me that the river would be
quite normal shortly。 Indeed； by evening it was hardly at all
discoloured； but I waited another day； and set out on the morning
of Sunday； December 6。 The river was now almost as low as in
winter； and Harris assured me that if I used my eyes I could not
miss finding a ford over one stream or another every half mile or
so。 I had the greatest difficulty in preventing him from
accompanying me on foot for some little distance； but I got rid of
him in the end； he came with me beyond the place where I had hidden
my knapsack； but when he had left me long enough； I rode back and
got it。
I see I am dwelling too long upon my own small adventures。 Suffice
it that； accompanied by my dog； I followed the north bank of the
river till I found I must cross one stream before I could get any
farther。 This place would not do； and I had to ride half a mile
back before I found one that seemed as if it might be safe。 I
fancy my father must have done just the same thing； for Doctor
seemed to know the ground； and took to the water the moment I
brought him to it。 It never reached his belly； but I confess I did
not like it。 By and by I had to recross； and so on； off and on；
till at noon I camped for dinner。 Here the dog found me a nest of
young ducks； nearly fledged； from which the parent birds tried with
great success to decoy me。 I fully thought I was going to catch
them； but the dog knew better and made straight for the nest； from
which he returned immediately with a fine young duck in his mouth；
which he laid at my feet； wagging his tail and barking。 I took
another from the nest and left two for the old birds。
The afternoon was much as the morning and towards seven I reached a
place which suggested itself as a good camping ground。 I had
hardly fixed on it and halted； before I saw a few pieces of charred
wood； and felt sure that my father must have camped at this very
place before me。 I hobbled Doctor； unloaded； plucked and singed a
duck； and gave the dog some of the meat with which Harris had
furnished me； I made tea； laid my duck on the embers till it was
cooked； smoked； gave myself a nightcap of brandy and water； and by
and by rolled myself round in my blanket； with the dog curled up
beside me。 I will not dwell upon the strangeness of my feelings
nor the extreme beauty of the night。 But for the dog； and Doctor；
I should have been frightened； but I knew that there were no savage
creatures or venomous snakes in the country； and both the dog and
Doctor were such good companionable creatures； that I did not feel
so much oppressed by the solitude as I had feared I should be。 But
the night was cold； and my blanket was not enough to keep me
comfortably warm。
The following day was delightfully warm as soon as the sun got to
the bottom of the valley； and the fresh fallen snow disappeared so
fast from the snowy range that I was afraid it would raise the
riverwhich； indeed； rose in the afternoon and became slightly
discoloured； but it cannot have been more than three or four inches
deeper； for it never reached the bottom of my saddle…bags。 I
believe Doctor knew exactly where I was going； for he wanted no
guidance。 I halted again at midday； got two more ducks； crossed
and recrossed the river； or some of its streams； several times； and
at about six； caught sight； after a bend in the valley； of the
glacier descending on to the river…bed。 This I knew to be close to
the point at which I was to camp for the night； and from which I
was to ascend the mountain。 After another hour's slow progress
over the increasing roughness of the river…bed； I saw the
triangular delta of which my father had told me； and the stream
that had formed it； bounding down the mountain side。 Doctor went
right up to the place where my father's fire had been； and I again
found many pieces of charred wood and ashes。
As soon as I had unloaded Doctor and hobbled him； I went to a tree
hard by； on which I could see the mark of a blaze； and towards
which I thought I could see a line of wood ashes running。 There I
found a hole in which some bird had evidently been wont to build；
and surmised correctly that it must be the one in which my father
had hidden his box of sovereigns。 There was no box in the hole
now； and I began to feel that I was at last within measureable
distance of Erewhon and the Erewhonians。
I camped for the night here； and again found my single blanket
insufficient。 The next day； i。e。 Tuesday； December 8； I had to
pass as I best could； and it occurred to me that as I should find
the gold a great weight； I had better take it some three hours up
the mountain side and leave it there； so as to make the following
day less fatiguing； and this I did； returning to my camp for
dinner； but I was panic…stricken all the rest of the day lest I
should not have hidden it safely； or lest I should be unable to
find it next dayconjuring up a hundred absurd fancies as to what
might befall it。 And after all； heavy though it was； I could have
carried it all the way。 In the afternoon I saddled Doctor and rode
him up to the glaciers； which were indeed magnificent； and then I
made the few notes of my journey from which this chapter has been
taken。 I made excuses for turning in early； and at daybreak
rekindled my fire and got my breakfast。 All the time the
companionship of the dog was an unspeakable comfort to me。
It was now the day my father had fixed for my meeting with George；
and my excitement （with which I have not yet troubled the reader；
though it had been consuming me ever since I had left Harris's hut）
was beyond all bounds； so much so that I almost feared I was in a
fever which would prevent my completing the little that remained of
my task； in fact； I was in as great a panic as I had been about the
gold that I had left。 My hands trembled as I took the watches； and
the brooches for Yram and her daughters from my saddle…bags； which
I then hung； probably on the very bough on which my father had hung
them。 Needless to say； I also hung my saddle and bridle along with
the saddle…bags。
It was nearly seven before I started； and about ten before I
reached the hiding…place of my knapsack。 I found it； of course；
quite easily； shouldered it； and toiled on towards the statues。 At
a quarter before twelve I reached them； and almost beside myself as
I was； could not refrain from some disappointment at finding them a
good deal smaller than I expected。 My father； correcting the
measurement he had given in his book； said he thought that they
were about four or five times the size of life； but really I do not
think they were more than twenty feet high； any one of them。 In
other respects my father's description of them is quite accurate。
There was no wind； and as a matter of course； therefore； they were
not chanting。 I wiled away the quarter of an hour before the time
when George became due； with wondering at them； and in a way
admiring them； hideous though they were； but all the time I kept
looking towards the part from which George should come。
At last my watch pointed to noon； but there was no George。 A
quarter past twelve； but no George。 Half…past； still no George。
One o'clock； and all the quarte