CII. III.] HIS HORSE FOUND DEAD. 187 



and Murray), returned, having lost all further trace of Mr. 

 Cunningham, in a small oak scrub. They had distinctly 

 seen the track of the dog with him, and that of his own 

 steps beside those of the horse, as if he had been leading it. 



April 25. — Early this morning, I despatched Mr. Larmer 

 and the Doctor, Muirhead and Whiting, supplied with four 

 days' provisions and water. The party was directed to look 

 well around the scrub, and on discovering the track to follow 

 it, wherever it led, until they found Mr. Cunningham or his 

 remains ; for in such a country, I began to despair of disco- 

 vering him alive, after so long an absence. They did not 

 return until the evening of the 28th, when all they brought 

 of Mr. Cunningham, was his saddle and bridle, whip, one 

 glove, two straps, and a piece of paper folded like a letter, 

 inside of which were cut (as with a penknife) the letters N. 

 E. Mr. Larmer reported, that having easily found the track 

 of the horse, beyond the scrub, they had followed it, until 

 they came to where the horse lay dead, having still the saddle 

 on, and the bridle in its mouth ; the whip and straps had 

 been previously found, and from these circumstances, the 

 tortuous track of the horse, and the absence of Mr. Cun- 

 ningham's own footsteps for some way, from where the 

 horse was found ; it was considered that he had either left 

 the animal in despair, or that it had got away from him. 

 At all events, it had evidently died for want of water ; but 

 the fate of its unfortunate rider was still a mystery. 



It appeared from Mr. Larmer's map of Mr. Cunningham's 

 track, that he had deviated from our line after crossing 

 Bullock creek, and had proceeded about fourteen miles to 

 the north-west, where marks of his having tied up his horse 

 and lain down, induced the party to believe, that he had there 

 passed the first dreary night of his wandering. 



From that point, he appeared to have intended to return, 

 and by the zig-zag course he took, that he had either been 

 travelling in the dark, or looking for his own track, that he 

 might retrace it. In this manner, his steps actually ap- 



