The real bushman would think himself sunk to the depths of abject
poverty, if he had not at least 'one' horse of his own; and that a man will
wander about for a couple of hours looking for a horse to carry him half a
mile, when he might have gone to his destination and back half a dozen
times, in the interval wasted in searching for his steed. Knowing this,
they will doubtless wonder why we did not bring our mounts with us, and
perform the journey comfortably, in place of the tedious method we now
adopted. It must not for a moment be imagined that the great assistance
horses would have afforded us had not been duly weighted and considered,
and our reasons for leaving them behind were as follows: - From the little
we knew of Hinchinbrook, and from the description Lizzie gave of the
country, they would have been rather in our way than otherwise. The whole
island is a mass of lofty volcanic mountains; and the passes through the
gorges so strewn with huge boulders, debris, and shale, that we should have
been compelled to lead our nags, and thus they would have only proved an
encumbrance. This was one reason, and apparently a very good one, but I
doubt if it would have had much effect upon our party, who could hardly
contemplate any undertaking without the agency of horseflesh, had not a
more cogent argument been forthcoming, to which they were compelled to give
in their adherence.
"The 'Daylight' is quite big enough to carry them all, for such a short
distance, if they're properly stowed," said Jack Clark, the roughrider, who
was a zealous advocate for the conveyance of his pet quadrupeds.
"Of course she can," said another; "and we shall get the work over as
quickly again."
"How will you land them?" I ventured to suggest; "for the cutter can never
go near enough to the shore to walk them out."
"She can't get within a quarter of a mile," said the pilot; for at this
time none of us knew of the little inlet, into which Lizzie so deftly
guided us.
"Pitch them overboard, of course," cried Jack; "they'll pretty soon make
for the land; and I'll send my mare Gossamer first; she'll give them a
lead, I'll bet. Cunning old devil!"
The impetuosity of Jack was fast gaining converts, when Cato pulled Dunmore
quietly by the sleeve, and said -
"Marmy, baal you take 'em yarroman like 'it Hinchinbrook; my word, plenty
of alligator sit down along of water. He been parter that fellow like 'it
damper."
"By Jove!
