174 AUSTRALIA AND THE AUSTRALIANS. 



on a small stony ridge, I crossed a track, which instinct 

 told me was the very one desired, and so certain was 

 I, that with renewed vigor [ went along till my spirits 

 received a damper by finding that it ran across some 

 flooded gullies. Possibly by going a long round these 

 gullies might have been " headed," but in the fear that 

 if once lost the track might not again be found, I took 

 off my clothes and swam over, striking the track on 

 the other side, and after wringing out my clothes and 

 dressing, my journey was resumed. 



This swimming of creeks and gullies had to be done 

 two or three times, and then the track left the low 

 ground, and the travelling became easier. A new 

 trouble now assailed me, the track became so over- 

 grown with grass that I lost it many times, and 

 believing that my only chance lay in following it, I 

 crept on my hands and knees, parting the grass and 

 feeling for the horses' tracks. Even this plan failed 

 at last, and about sundown it became cloudy and 

 began to rain. 



In despair I lay down under a bush, and, being very 

 faint and tired from long travelling and hunger, fell 

 into a kind of doze, from which I was suddenly awak- 

 ened by the report of a stock whip. 



Jumping up, I ran in the direction the sound came 

 from, and was rejoiced to see two men driving a mob 



