For a fortnight we had been completely snowed up at Mesopotamia.  Upon the homestead flat the snow was four feet deep, through which we cut and kept clear a passage between the huts, and for fifty yards on one side to the creek, where through a hole in the ice we drew water for daily use.  Fortunately we had abundance of food and a mob of sheep had previously been driven into one of the paddocks to be retained in case of emergency.  The confined life was trying.  We read, played cards, practised daily with the boxing gloves, and missed sorely the outdoor exercise.  One day, however, we had a benefit of the latter which was a new experience to all of us.

The overseer was getting anxious about the sheep.  Once or twice distant bleating had been heard, but for some days it had ceased, and as he wished to satisfy himself of the safety of his flocks, we decided to make a party and go in search of them.

When last seen, before the heavy snow began to fall, the flocks of ewes and lambs were two miles from the homestead on the lea of the great spur forming the north extremity of the run, and it was in this direction the bleating was heard.

We arranged our party as follows:  Cook, Brabazon, and I, with two station hands, were to start early the following morning, while two men remained at the huts to be on the look out for us, and if we were late in returning they had orders to follow up in our snow trail and meet us.

We each dressed as lightly as possible, and provided ourselves with stout pine staffs to assist us in climbing and feeling our way over dangerous localities.  Each of us carried a parcel of bread and meat, and a small flask of spirits was taken for use only in case of urgent necessity.

An expedition of this kind is always attended with danger.  Travelling through deep snow is exceedingly tiring, and the glare and glistening from its surface tends to induce sleepiness.  Many a man has lost his life from these causes combined when but a short distance from safety.

[Illustration:  SEEKING SHEEP IN THE SNOW.]

We started in Indian file, the foremost man breaking the snow and the others placing their feet in his tracks.  When the leader, whose work was naturally the heaviest, got tired, he stepped aside, and the next in file took up the breaking, while the former fell into the rear of all, which is, of course, the easiest.

Proceeding thus, we went on steadily for some hours, our route being by no means straight, as we had to utilise our knowledge of the ground and avoid dangerous and suspicious places.  The aspect of a piece of country considerably changes in surface appearance under a heavy covering of snow where deep and extensive drifts have formed.