He had been trusting the horse too much: it had evidently brought him astray far down in that suffocating gully,-- the growth was different.

He was riding amongst ferns--ferns like those he saw at home, and ferns that spread green lacework fronds right overhead.

He must be dreaming again and going to fall from his horse, which was ascending the rapid slope the farther side of the gully.

They were soon at the top, and the breeze came pure and sweet again; and a wild cry of exultation burst from the boy's parched throat, for, not a mile away, standing high upon the slope beyond another gully, there was a long, low, white house, with a cluster of wooden buildings near.
Beyond it a rising ground was dotted with sheep; there were cattle, too, farther away, and, as in response to his cry, the dogs burst out into a loud barking, Nic pressed his horse's sides, the spirited animal breaking into a swift gallop and racing on.
For there was no sign of fire or smoke: a glorious picture of a bright oasis in the great wilderness was before him, and his former fears were vain; for, yes--no--yes, out there in the clear air stood a group of watching figures, and the next moment the boy's eyes grew dim--not so dim, though, that he was unable to see white handkerchiefs waving him a welcome--a welcome to his long-wished-for home..