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Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 80, 21 September 1878, Page 2

, Stkangees in a Stkange Land. —They bad missed The train/~bnt were quite independent. . They could, walk to their destination as quickly." - For about two miles of the journey they stuck to the railway . track, concluding .that skilful engineers would bethe'niost competent judges of .the nearest route. But the straight lines got monotonous, too much like.tlie ruling in their bank lodgers, aud they diverged Into the green pastures, intending to strike across,country "as the crow,flies." How pleasant the smell of tlie' gorse, how cheerful tho sound of the lowing herds, how' elastic .their footsteps on the .verdant meadow! But now the scene'has changed. Darkness has come on apace, and before them flows tlie shining river. Where is the bridge 1 . Echo answers where 1 However, the night is fine, and a short walk .will save doctors* bills. So they wandered by that beautiful river, and if' thoir language was not . poetical, it was forcible,' .when they discovered that they were boxing the cqjnpass, having succeeded in riavigiung themselves into a bend, forme'd-by theeccentric winding of tho sweetly meandering Heathcote, with, no bridge, no boat, no kind angel to waft them across! The train that came up two hours later than the one they missed conveyed them to their quiet homes, a little morewearied than when they started,;but certainly wiser men. They have, to .'prove that they have grown wiser, decided to cany a pocket compass, a "smelling bottle," a canoe, and a ground map of "m| country in their next attempt at getting' home " afi the crow flies."