Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29
CHAPTER XVIII.
LOST IN THE BUSH.

We once more headed for the land, this
time arriving safely at Big Chatham, where
we at once began loading wood and water
and renewing our fresh supply
of vegetables. One afternoon the
carpenter was sent to assist one
of the settlers who was building a
new house, and one of the crew and myself
were sent with him to assist in the work.
The situation of the house we desired to
reach was duly explained, and we set
out through the woods with every conf
dence in our ability to find it. We stumbled
upon patch of luscious strawberries, how
ever, and stopped to eat our fill, wan
dering from place to place until
we lost our landmarks entirely. Not
anticipating any difficulty in finding our
path again, we trudged on, until at last we
found We were indeed completely at a loss
in which direction to proceed. Darkness
soon shut in, and we built fire of dry twigs
and spent the long, cold night huddled
around it. Toward morning rain added
to our discomfort, and when daylight
broke we started off at once, de-
termined to find some habitation, for we
had eaten nothing since the noon pre-
vious. All the next day we wandered
but nothing we could eat. At night we
came to an old hut in little clearing which
had evidently been recently used, as we
found four large potatoes on the floor,
while the fireplace showed unmistakable
evidences of recent use. We built fire.
roasted the potatoes and rate,thefp, and fell
asleep on the rude floor, thankful for the
homely shelter from the rain.
The next day we set out again, knowing
that to remain where we were was hopeless
as the hut was probably only used by
shepherds at remote intervals, and we were
fast becoming weak from want of fool Al
noon we saw flock of sheep a short dis
tance away, and we tried to catch them, but
We might as we'll have tried to capture a
deer, Tor they were wild and too swift for
us. l then divested myself of nearly all
my clothing and taking a stone in each
hand, i carefully crawled from bush to
bush until L was within about 20
feet from large sheep, which at this in
slant perceived me and made dash for
clump of trees near by. had found it was
hopeless to think of overtaking them, 80 1
hurled stone at random into the flock, bv
good luck breaking the hind leg OF one of
the fleeing animals and bringing him to the
ground We quickly dispatched him, built
a fire, and half roasted some of the meat,
which we devoured like hungry wolves
After we had gorged ourselves with the
flesh we divided the available portions of
the sheep among us and once more struck
out, secure from starvation at least for
long time. We had not proceeded far when
we saw the ocean in front of u.s. and we
were soon standing on the beach, but utter
ly at a loss in which direction to pursue our
way. At last we took vote, and, as both
my companions differed from my views in
regard to the best way, 1 fell in with the
ma iority, and we struck out to the right,
finding it much easier travelling on the hard
sand than along the rocky upland
Our feet had become so blistered that we
removed our heavy sea boots and for
while we felt relieved, but we soon found
that our feet began to swell, and we finally
decided to camp where we were for a day or
two till they were in better condition. So
we fastened a shirt to the limb of tall
stump that grew near the beach on little
hill, and hoped it might attract the atten-
tion of some OF the trackers whom we felt
sure would be sent after us, thinking we
had deserted.
On the second day we saw a horse
man coming along the beach, and it
proyed to be the chief of the natives, who
came galloping up with an old rusty ak at
his saddle bow and long spear in one hand.
He was soon followed by a score of natives
who had been stimulated in their search by
promises of a liberal supply of tobacco from
the Captain, who naturally supposed we