A NEW CHUM'S START FOR THE BUSH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 9426, 4 July 1882, Page 3

A NEW CHUM'S START FOR THE BUSH.

(Blackwood's Magnzine.) Presently the new arrival issued from the verandah, dressed, according to his ideas, as much like a bushman as possible, in a thick coat and waistcoat, heavy enough for an English winter, and z pair of thick, baggy, cord breeches, with long, heavy-soled Napoleon boots garnished with formidable long-necked spurs. A bran-new cabbage-tree bat protected his head ; his waist was confined by a broad leathern belt, supporting on one side a revolver, and on the other a large butcher's knife. It was a matter of no little difficulty for him to mount his steed, partly from his cumbrous attire and the huge " swag " that lay across the seat, as well as from the unpleasant way in which the newly-pannelled saddle kept sliding over the fat round back of his mare whenever his weight bore on the stirrup. In time, by one man holding to the opposite stirrup, another keeping back the swag, a third holding the bridle, and a fourth pushing him behind, Mr Boyle gained a romantic and picturesque perch, much to his own satisfaction, amidst shouts of " Stick to har, squatter !" from the deeply interested spectators, whose amusement was, however, soon to be changed into consternation ; for when they had followed the cavalier a short distance to an open space, it entered into his head to see how his mare stood fire in case he might be placed in some of the perils which he fancied beset his journey. Accordingly, he drew his trusty and much valued ' double action ' out of his bright new pouch. It had been loaded with much attention that morning, an* aiming at a stump he fired. He had no time to witness the effect of his shot. With a bound his charger flew round, and getting amongst the small crowd of onlookers, she put down her h«ad, and executed in a circle a series of | remarkably active buck jumps. Her rider j could not fall-off. He sat there, trussed j by the swag in front of him, desperation in his face, his long spurs jammed into the sides of his mare, his hand mechani. cully holding the pistol, and with each succeeding jump involuntarily pulling the trigger, causing the bullets to fly in every direction. There was no more laughing from the audience. With an impulse they threw themselves on the ground, preferring to chance being trampled on by the mare to being subjected to the erratic fire of the equestrian acrobat. On the chambers being all discharged, the mare ceased bucking, and no one was more astonished than -the rider to fiod himstlf still in his saddle. And |he departed, much to the relief of those .who had thus stood or lain down to powder