BY FRANK HANN. 17 



position, for the blacks were high above us, and we were utterly 

 ignorant of the way out of the gorge. The shots I fired had the 

 effect of blocking them for a time, so I went alone down the 

 creek below the second gorge, thmking we could get through 

 there. As it looked feasible, I shouted to the boys to bring on 

 the horses as quickly as possible. We passed under a wall of 

 rocks, where the blacks had all got above us. Had they chosen, 

 they could have either speared or stoned us all to death without 

 our seeing them or being able to retaliate. However, we 

 managed to pass the horses- into a clear spot, where they were 

 safe from missiles. All this time the blacks were yelling, and 

 evidently drawing nearer to us. I fired a few more shots on 

 chance, and then went to look for a place where the creek was 

 crossable. Seeing that it entered a third gorge, I tried to cross, 

 and at once got my mare bogged in the mud, amidst reeds which 

 rose high over my head. Dismounting, I siicceeded in getting 

 her out. Then I tried another place, with the same result, 

 except that this time I was compelled to leave my mare and 

 struggle out as best I could through the reeds between the rocks. 

 The mare extricated herself at the same time. I saw there was 

 not a moment to lose, as the blacks were closing on us in great 

 numbers, so I shouted to the boys to bring along the horses and 

 put them across the boggy creek as best they could. We got 

 them through all right, but my mare on again trying to carry 

 me over fell, and I got a thorough ducking. At last, however, 

 we were all over in the open country. I did not seem to care 

 much about our danger at the time, but had the blacks got on 

 the rocks above us whilst we were floundering in the creek, some 

 of us or our horses would undoubtedly have been speared. 



Our next proceeding was to roll some stones away to enable 

 us to get to the Lennard from the Leopold Range. We had a 

 deal of trouble here, as the horses would not follow, and were 

 continually getting into trouble. However, all things come to 

 an end, and at last we pitched camp on the river, and finally 

 arrived safely at Derby. I then wired to Sir John Forrest, 

 asking that Inspector Ord might accoinpany me to report on the 

 country I had found. Sir John handed my telegram to the 

 Commissioner of Police, who at once instructed Mr. Ord to 

 accompany me. 



There is a very high, bold bluft" on the McPherson Range 

 which I have named the " Bold Bluff." It lies seven miles from 

 the west end of Mt. Broome. After passing Bold Bluff, Mt. 

 Broome cannot be seen from any position east of north, for Bold 



