The moment we halted Tim was alongside me. “Is it getting on all right ye are, Mr Dick?” quoth he. “Sure ye’ll be finding the pack and pouches bothersome at first, but glory be to God ye’ll soon get the hang of thim, and, Mr Dick, dear, yer feet are not blistered, are they? For sure it’s the heels of yer socks I rubbed well with fat, I did, and a quartermaster’s tot of rum I soaked into yer boots, I did, so plase God your feet will harden widout blistering, they will, and I filled both the flasks wid the crater, I did, so if it’s a nip you are wanting, sor, sure it’s convanient at all times, thank the Lord.” I had barely time to assure the good fellow I was all right when the word was again given to march, and we started at a slinging pace to complete the remainder of the journey to the new camp at Kumikumiti, where the General and the advanced party, destined to make the expedition, were. As the daylight increased we were able to get a look at the country we were marching through. On our left lay the sea, the road running through sand-hills covered with stunted manuka bushes, fern and rough wiry grass, and on our right lay a chain of hills covered with bush, but the eyes only glanced over these, for in a moment they centred on the glorious mountain in front of us, that, rising in its lonely grandeur, formed a picture none who have ever seen are likely ever to forget. Of course I allude to Mount Egmont, the glory of the west coast, and very beautiful indeed it looked that morning, with the rising sun shining on its splendid peak, while its densely bushed slopes fell gracefully away from it, fold on fold in masses of light and dark green. But mark time, Dick, you can no more do justice to that lovely spectacle than you can fly. “Pretty picture, Burke,” said a voice alongside of me, and turning I saw Mr Roach was marching on my outer flank. “Yes, sir,” I answered; “a very lovely picture, and what a magnificent mountain!”