QtJARTERS IN A GOAT-SHED 91 



The goat-shed was very uncomfortable ; raiu and snow 

 came in through the roof, and the smoke from the damp 

 wood fire nearly blinded )ne. The cold was so intense 

 that we were driven to make a fire with wood pulled out 

 from the goat-shed ; but as it was made on the floor and a 

 snowstorm was raging outside, it could not disturb the 

 game. I managed pretty well under the umbrella, and 

 the waterproof spread in a corner of the shed ; but the 

 rest, who were crouched round the fire, were not happy. 

 The roof was no protection, as it was full of large holes, 

 and half of it was quite gone. I preferred this uncovered 

 corner, as I was quite protected by my umbrella and 

 waterproof, though the space so protected was just enough 

 to keep me dry standing or sitting. Having written up 

 my journal and talked my companions dry, I fell back on 

 an old Pioneer that happened to be in my blanket and 

 read it through, sometimes sitting, sometimes standing. 

 To sit down for any length of time in the pungent smoke, 

 on a very hard stone, was impossible, so most of the time 

 I stood, my head touching the ribs of the umbrella, and 

 my eyes just on a level with the top of the hut wall. 



The smoke conquered me at last, and I had to abandon 

 my paper, shut my eyes, and think what a fool I was to 

 endure such discomforts for the sake of a buck goat ! 

 Just before dusk, as the storm came to an end, I heard a 

 bird piping joyously among the rocks close by — -the only 

 sound that broke the silence which had suddenly fallen 

 upon us. It was a feeble note, and would have been 

 inaudible fifty yards off; but the ring of joy in it was 

 unmistakable, and mentally I joined in the little bird's 

 song, for I knew he was the harbinger of fair weather. 

 Before darkness fell I had time to get out and have a look 

 round. My musical friend was on a rock close by — a 

 very homely-looking, russet-coloured little bird. He sat 



