1850 SECOND CRUISE OF THE 'RATTLESNAKE' 65 



But it was well I did not. Out of thirteen men com- 

 posing the party but three remain alive. The rest have 

 perished by starvation or the spears of the natives. Poor 

 Kennedy himself had, in company with the black fellow 

 attached to the party, by dint of incredible exertions, 

 pushed on until he came within sight of the provision 

 vessel waiting his arrival at Cape York. But here, 

 within grasp of his object, a large party of natives 

 attacked and killed him. The black fellow alone reached 

 Cape York with the news. The other two men who 

 were saved were the sole survivors of the party Kennedy 

 left behind him at a spot near the coast, and were picked 

 up by the provision vessel when she returned. 



You may be sure I am not sorry to return home. I 

 say home advisedly, for my friend Tanning's house is as 

 completely my home as it well can be. And then Nettie 

 had not heard anything of me for six months, so that I 

 have been petted and spoiled ever since we came in. ... 

 As I tell her, I fear she has rested her happiness on a 

 very insecure foundation ; but she is full of hope and 

 confidence, and to me her love is the faith that moveth 

 mountains. We have, as you may be sure, a thousand 

 difficulties in our way, but like Danton I take for my 

 motto, "De 1'audace et encore de 1'audace et toujours de 

 1'audace," and look forward to a happy termination, 

 nothing doubting. 



To HIS MOTHER 



(Announcing the probable time of his return.) 



SYDNEY, Feb. 11, 1850. 



I cannot at all realise the idea of our return. We 

 have been leading such a semi-savage life for years past, 

 such a wandering nomadic existence, that any other seems 

 in a manner unnatural to me. Time was when I should 



VOL. I F 



