224 Kennedy's expedition. 



the rainy season had set in, and filled the creeks to 

 the northward, so that his party had been unable to 

 cross them, or that some untoward accident had 

 happened, which prevented us being relieved. 



I did not quite despair, but I knew that we could 

 not live long'. Our shot was almost consumed, not 

 having more than eight or ten charges left, and 

 although we had plenty of ball, we were too weak 

 to attempt to form any plan to make shot. Our 

 sole remaining companion, the sheep dog, I intended 

 to kill in a day or two, but he would not last long, 

 as he was nothing but skin and bone. 



Dec. 30th. — Early this morning we ate the two 

 pigeons left yesterday, and boiled each a quart of 

 tea, fi-om the leaves we had left ; but we had not 

 had any fresh tea to put into the pot for some time. 

 Goddard then went into the bush, to try to get 

 another pigeon or two, and if the natives made their 

 appearance, I was to fire a pistol to recall him to the 

 camp. After he had been gone, I saw natives 

 coming toward the camp, and I immediately fired 

 a pistol; but before Goddard could return they 

 came into the camp, and handed me a piece of paper, 

 very much dirtied and torn. I was sure, from the 

 first, by their manner, that there was a vessel in 

 the Bay. The paper was a note to me from Captain 

 Dobson, of the schooner Ariel, but it was so dirtied 

 and torn that I could only read part of it. 



For a minute or two I was almost senseless with 

 the joy which the hope of our deliverance inspired. 



