The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-02-20

29oG>oE>oE,o
lies at the base of high mountains at
the northern end, a broad plain at the
southern end, and at places reaching q
depth of fourteen hundred feet.
Now with swags on our shoulders we
begin our two days journey to Lake
Wakatipu. Coaches can be had to
Lumsden, forty miles southeast and the
lake approached from there by rail, but
we preferred the experience of way
| little travelled, and were abundantly re-
paid for the effort. An eight mile
walk after eight p. M. brought US to
sheep station, called Linwood, south
east of Muraki, the landing point at
this end of the lake. The next morn
ing we we're to continue the journey
without the aid of trail and made due
east for ten miles where we reached the
Mararoa river on the west bank of
which lived the manager Of another
sheep station. We followed the river
up to point within mile of little
lake near it's source. With some
difficulty about four miles from the
station we forded the river. While
dressing on the opposite bank and look
ing into the air to discover bird the
noise OF which was heard, and seemingly
came from above, the creature had time
to get quite near when first sighted in
the river. A swift stream and swift
swimmer. AS proudly as lord, with
outstretched neck, one of the prettiest
of swans was passing by, looking to the
right and left alternately in quick
succession and muttering excitedly
noise that sounded like it was saying,
"look Quit, with more prolongation and
distinctpess on the second word than
on the first. Whether to his credit or
not, mans first inclination in case like
is to possess. My companion leaped to
his feet with unloaded gun. By the
time he had filled the chambers the
swan had just passed like a dancing
feather in the stream. Bang once,
twice-thrice. When the smoke cleared
away, down the stream the bird could
be seen passing around the bend in the
river, sidewise, looking back at us
warning US with it's cry of "look out,
look out"
1t had been rainy afternoon. The
blue vault was hidden. In the noun
tains behind formed small rainclouds
which seemed to spread rs they were
blown up the valley to soak US with
their contents. Hours passed. Finally
we came to bend in the river and
canon turning abruptly to the east, so
that the long gorge behind passed from
view and we are completely shut in
from behind and before could be seen
the head of the canon-the pass
through the range-and little to the
right shepherds hut. As this new
picture came upon us, the sun broke
through the clouds in the west throwing
bright golden sheets of light and dark
shadows on the bald gray mountains OF
both sides for mountains here are bare
and forming ahead most striking
double rainbow as an archway reaching
from base to base of the canon walls
, Out from the center of the gap OF
mountain pass there seemed to branch
bands Of light, with the dark clouds be.
hind, fanshaped, supporting the rain
, bow. We feel it remained until we
, passed under the archway of promise
where the night was passed at the
vacant house of the sheep station.
/ have seen many rainbows, rainbows
laying horizontally, obliquely, rainbows
on the sea, lunar rainbows, but thi!
i one we both admitted was the mos
, striking and beautiful one we had evel
seen. The mountain gap ahead wa!
to put us over into another canon, b,
, another river, the next day fulfilling
> the rainbow's promise, day of sun
shine.
, No one lived at the station and tn,
: hut seen at first proved to be only on,
, of several like huts and nestled in tn,
l bush was good house of several rooms
I also vacant. The vacant sheep station
}. houses are left unlocked purposely TO-
4 the benefit Of any sheep leaders VIII
8 may chance to be in need while passing
We found good bed with blankets
0 dishes and all needful cooking appar
q atus, in fact all Accommodations, so ha,
. nothing for which to register a com
g plant, for even an alarm clock ha,
8 been provided. Early the following
!. morning, leaving a note of appreciation
; we departed, by noon we had left tn
/. gap behind, had traversed the cano
t of the Oreta river, and reached b
{ hobbleing over another divide, tn
! source of the river Won, which flows i
opposite direction to the river we ha
. left, and following which brought u
= down to Lake Wakatipu-one of tn
: noted cold water lakes and summe
= resorts of the country. A rough tri
q indeed, sliding down into gorges to th
:, = rivers brink, crossing on huge rocks a
= stepping stones midst the foamin
i waters, scrambling up opposite bank
! foot by foot, inch by inch, until at las
= we run across an old trail which lie
% from some brush station down to til
Z. !, lake. By early evening we reache.
8 fortunately again, another vacar
b, shepherds hut Of two rooms, at the fot