But no one was there, and a dozen yards or so from the usual starting-point, the snow was a good deal ploughed up and stained in large patches by blood.

Here was an alarming spectacle, though the only wonder was that a bad accident had not occurred before.
I saw the sledge, deserted and broken, near the end of the drift: of the passengers there was neither sign nor token.

I must say I was terribly frightened, but it is useless in New Zealand to scream or faint; the only thing to do in an emergency is to _coo-e_; and so, although my heart was thumping loudly in my ears, and at first I could not produce a sound, I managed at last, after many attempts, to muster up a loud clear _coo-e_.

There was the usual pause, whilst the last sharp note rang back from the hill-sides, and vibrated through the clear silent air; and then, oh, welcome sound! I heard a vigorous answer from our own flat where the homestead stood.

I set off down-hill as fast as I could, and had the joy, when I turned the slope which had hidden our little house from my view, to see F---- and Mr.U---- walking about; but even from that distance I could see that poor Mr.U----'s head was bandaged up, and as soon as I got near enough to hear, F----shouted "I have broken my neck!" adding, "I am very hungry: let us go in to supper." Under the circumstances these words were consolatory; and when I came to hear the story, this was the way the accident happened.