of the Old World. 283 



ran much less rapidly, forming a kind of pool about 

 a hundred yards across or more. This was not the 

 first time that either I or my followers had crossed a 

 river without a ford, and many a stronger current had 

 I stemmed in my time than that then before me ; the 

 only difficulty was to get the guns arid ammunition 

 over dry. 



After a moment's consideration, I made the gang 

 collect a number of dry logs and bamboos, and with 

 the aid of the stalks of creepers, which served as 

 ropes, I tied them together and made a small raft, 

 on which I securely tied the guns, tools, &c. I then 

 stripped, and throwing my clothes on the top, cau- 

 tiously entered the stream, and by laying hold of the 

 raft, with the assistance of Chineah and Googooloo, 

 pushed it before me. Plunge, plunge, plunge, I 

 heard behind me, until the last of my gang had taken 

 to the water, and was swimming silently to a smooth 

 ledge of rocks on the opposite side, where, one after 

 another, we landed, donned our togglry, and made 

 sure that our arms had not got wet ; after which we 

 clambered up the bank, and by keeping along the 

 stream soon recovered the trail. 



Feeling considerably refreshed with our bath, we 

 made short work with what little cold provision we 

 had left in our wallet, and forgetting our fatigue, 

 once more pushed on at a rapid rate. 



Hours rolled by, and daylight found us still on 



