DESERT FLOWERS. 
33 
and we felt inclined to quarrel with our dinner when in an hour’s 
time it was served : we contrived^, however^ to do justice to it. 
Afterwards Petherick_, who had seen a hawk hovering over the 
fowlsj seized his gun and went in pursuit. He soon brought it 
down. It proved a fine noncolor falcon^ shot in the wing and not 
dead. I then realised the truth of the saying_, hawk-eyed ” — 
anything more defiant and bright-looking than the poor wounded 
bird’s eyes I could not have imagined. We placed it in a basket^ 
and at my earnest entreaty it was to he made a pet of. From this 
place fifty or more of our camels^ the horses^ and the cart also^ 
pushed on to the wells. The few skins of water now remaining 
were carefully guarded. I saw Petherick became anxious^ and we 
were all pretty well done up; however^ at three o’clock again 
started; with a determination not to he beaten. The boy Foxcroft 
behaved admirably. He was always cheerful; and he became a 
great favourite with the meU; to whom he would sing English 
songS; the chorus of one of which they soon caught up. 
At six o’clock a bivouaC; supper; and a start at nine. The moon 
was now up and bright. We all kept together; made the men 
dance and sing (we did the latter; toO; ourselves) : this was to make 
the time pass quickly. The Doctor’s Wait for the waggon” was 
in great request. The camels went faster; we found; when a noise 
was made. At times sleep would so overpower mC; I was obliged 
to dismount and walk. It was four a.m. ere we halted. 
Wednesday, Wth . — Rested but an hour and a half; for at six o’clock 
the start was made. No water doled out this morning for ablutions. 
I could not cheer up Petherick. Our camels were fast breaking 
down. We came up to several of our abandoned loads; the cart 
also was left in solitary state. We pushed on; and at one o’clock two 
3 
