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country； going inland one behind the other； till in a few years
there was not an acre between the sea and the front ranges which
was not taken up； and stations either for sheep or cattle were
spotted about at intervals of some twenty or thirty miles over the
whole country。 The front ranges stopped the tide of squatters for
some little time； it was thought that there was too much snow upon
them for too many months in the year；that the sheep would get
lost； the ground being too difficult for shepherding；that the
expense of getting wool down to the ship's side would eat up the
farmer's profits；and that the grass was too rough and sour for
sheep to thrive upon； but one after another determined to try the
experiment； and it was wonderful how successfully it turned out。
Men pushed farther and farther into the mountains； and found a very
considerable tract inside the front range； between it and another
which was loftier still； though even this was not the highest； the
great snowy one which could be seen from out upon the plains。 This
second range； however； seemed to mark the extreme limits of
pastoral country； and it was here； at a small and newly founded
station； that I was received as a cadet； and soon regularly
employed。 I was then just twenty…two years old。
I was delighted with the country and the manner of life。 It was my
daily business to go up to the top of a certain high mountain； and
down one of its spurs on to the flat； in order to make sure that no
sheep had crossed their boundaries。 I was to see the sheep； not
necessarily close at hand； nor to get them in a single mob； but to
see enough of them here and there to feel easy that nothing had
gone wrong； this was no difficult matter； for there were not above
eight hundred of them； and； being all breeding ewes； they were
pretty quiet。
There were a good many sheep which I knew； as two or three black
ewes； and a black lamb or two； and several others which had some
distinguishing mark whereby I could tell them。 I would try and see
all these； and if they were all there； and the mob looked large
enough； I might rest assured that all was well。 It is surprising
how soon the eye becomes accustomed to missing twenty sheep out of
two or three hundred。 I had a telescope and a dog； and would take
bread and meat and tobacco with me。 Starting with early dawn； it
would be night before I could complete my round； for the mountain
over which I had to go was very high。 In winter it was covered
with snow； and the sheep needed no watching from above。 If I were
to see sheep dung or tracks going down on to the other side of the
mountain （where there was a valley with a streama mere cul de
sac）； I was to follow them； and look out for sheep； but I never saw
any； the sheep always descending on to their own side； partly from
habit； and partly because there was abundance of good sweet feed；
which had been burnt in the early spring； just before I came； and
was now deliciously green and rich； while that on the other side
had never been burnt； and was rank and coarse。
It was a monotonous life； but it was very healthy and one does not
much mind anything when one is well。 The country was the grandest
that can be imagined。 How often have I sat on the mountain side
and watched the waving downs； with the two white specks of huts in
the distance； and the little square of garden behind them； the
paddock with a patch of bright green oats above the huts； and the
yards and wool…sheds down on the flat below； all seen as through
the wrong end of a telescope； so clear and brilliant was the air；
or as upon a colossal model or map spread out beneath me。 Beyond
the downs was a plain； going down to a river of great size； on the
farther side of which there were other high mountains； with the
winter's snow still not quite melted； up the river； which ran
winding in many streams over a bed some two miles broad； I looked
upon the second great chain； and could see a narrow gorge where the
river retired and was lost。 I knew that there was a range still
farther back； but except from one place near the very top of my own
mountain； no part of it was visible： from this point； however； I
saw； whenever there were no clouds； a single snow…clad peak； many
miles away； and I should think about as high as any mountain in the
world。 Never shall I forget the utter loneliness of the prospect
only the little far…away homestead giving sign of human handiwork；…
…the vastness of mountain and plain； of river and sky； the
marvellous atmospheric effectssometimes black mountains against a
white sky； and then again； after cold weather； white mountains
against a black skysometimes seen through breaks and swirls of
cloudand sometimes； which was best of all； I went up my mountain
in a fog； and then got above the mist； going higher and higher； I
would look down upon a sea of whiteness； through which would be
thrust innumerable mountain tops that looked like islands。
I am there now； as I write； I fancy that I can see the downs； the
huts； the plain； and the river…bedthat torrent pathway of
desolation； with its distant roar of waters。 Oh； wonderful！
wonderful！ so lonely and so solemn； with the sad grey clouds above；
and no sound save a lost lamb bleating upon the mountain side； as
though its little heart were breaking。 Then there comes some lean
and withered old ewe； with deep gruff voice and unlovely aspect；
trotting back from the seductive pasture； now she examines this
gully； and now that； and now she stands listening with uplifted
head； that she may hear the distant wailing and obey it。 Aha！ they
see； and rush towards each other。 Alas！ they are both mistaken；
the ewe is not the lamb's ewe； they are neither kin nor kind to one
another； and part in coldness。 Each must cry louder； and wander
farther yet； may luck be with them both that they may find their
own at nightfall。 But this is mere dreaming； and I must proceed。
I could not help speculating upon what might lie farther up the
river and behind the second range。 I had no money； but if I could
only find workable country； I might stock it with borrowed capital；
and consider myself a made man。 True； the range looked so vast；
that there seemed little chance of getting a sufficient road
through it or over it； but no one had yet explored it； and it is
wonderful how one finds that one can make a path into all sorts of
places （and even get a road for pack…horses）； which from a distance
appear inaccessible； the river was so great that it must drain an
inner tractat least I thought so； and though every one said it
would be madness to attempt taking sheep farther inland； I knew
that only three years ago the same cry had been raised against the
country which my master's flock was now overrunning。 I could not
keep these thoughts out of my head as I would rest myself upon the
mountain side； they haunted me as I went my daily rounds； and grew
upon me from hour to hour； till I resolved that after shearing I
would remain in doubt no longer； but saddle my horse； take as much
provision with me as I could； and go and see for myself。
But over and above these thoughts came that of the great range
itself。 What was beyond it？ Ah！ who could say？ There was no one
in the whole world who had the smallest idea； save those who were
themselves on the other side of itif； indeed； there was any one
at all。 Could I hope to cross it？ This would be the highest
triumph that I could wish for； but it was too much to think of yet。
I would try the nearer range； and see how far I could go。 Even if
I did not find country； might I not find gold； or diamonds； or
copper； or silver？ I would sometimes lie flat down to drink out of
a stream； and could see little yellow specks among the sand； were
these gold？ People said no； but then people always said there was
no gold until it was found to be abundant： there was plenty of
slate and granite； which I had always understood to accompany gold；
and even though it was not found in paying quantities here； it
might be abundant in the main ranges。 These thoughts filled my
head； and I could not banish them。
CHAPTER II： IN THE WOOL…SHED
A