A ROAD ADVENTURE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 501, 8 May 1869, Page 2

A ROAD ADVENTURE.

A pleasure party that had been visiting some beautiful scenery in the neighbourhood of ono of the mining centres in the district, says the Ararat Advertiser, was returning home on Friday last, in a spacious waggon, when they were accosted by a wearylooking traveller, who was carrying an apparently heavy box. On being asked for a ' lift,' the good-natured occupants of the vehicle not only made room for the stranger, but gave bi:n a considerable portion of what remained from the picnic ; and as he was tired and hungry, he did ample justice to the hospitality of his entertainers. This, coupled with the heat of the day, had a drowsy effect upon the new comer, who shortly fell asleep, allowing his box to drop at his feet, but aa there did not appear to be anything frail or perishable inside it was allowed to remain as it fell. The journey was long and tiresome, and was likely to be uninterrupted by any incident till a scream from one of the ladies startled the occupants into marked attention. She was in the act of pulling a leech from the vicinity of her ankle. Then another lady became uneasy, and again another, till several faint cries and rapid gestures told that the tumbled box of the leech-gatherer had strewn the floor of the waggou with the creepers. As these were impartial in their attention to ladies as well as to gentlemen, quite a number of demonstrative, but, under the circumstances, excusable attitudes were indulged in. It was impossible that matters could thus remain. Bleeding, under the circumstances, was inconvenient, aud a hasty council of war was held. The sleeping leech-gatherer and his box were carried out bodily; and the gentlemen, after clearing the waggon floor, retired to the bush, so as to permit the ladies to divest themselves of the intruders". The cause of all the mistchief, on awaking, found that he had lost half his leeches, that he was sitting alone by the roadside, and could have sworn that he had been in a waggon amongst the swells 'a drinkin' of wine.'