48, LIFE OF PROFESSOR HUXLEY chap, iv 



from 17 to 10 south, living on salt pork and beef, and seeing 

 no mortal face but our own sweet countenances considerably- 

 obscured by the long beard and moustaches with which, partly 

 from laziness and partly from comfort, we had become adorned. 

 I cultivated a peak in Charles I. style, which imparted a re- 

 markably peculiar and triste expression to my sunburnt phiz, 

 heightened by the fact that the aforesaid beard was, I regret 

 to say it, of a very questionable auburn — my messmates called 

 it red. 



We convoyed a land expedition as far as the Rockingham 

 Bay in 17 south under a Mr. Kennedy, which was to work its 

 way up to Cape York in 11 south and there meet us. A fine 

 noble fellow poor Kennedy was too. I was a good deal with 

 him at Rockingham Bay, and indeed accompanied him in the 

 exploring trips which he made for some four or five days in 

 order to see how the land lay about him. In fact we got on so 

 well together that he wanted me much to accompany him and 

 join the ship again at Cape York, and if the Service would have 

 permitted of my absence I should certainly have done so. But 

 it was well I did not. Out of thirteen men composing 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 Fanning'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 difficul- 

 ties in our way, but like Danton I ta:ke for my motto, " De 

 I'audace et encore de I'audace et toujours de I'audace," and look 

 forward to a happy termination, nothing doubting. 



