ADJACENT COUNTRY. 
23 
apparently enclosed, we at length found a steep pass, the ex- 
treme narrowness of which had hidden it from our observation. 
By this pass we were now enabled to effect our escape. On 
gaining the summit of the hills, we travelled south for three 
or four miles, through open forests, and on level ground. 
But we ultimately descended into a valley in which we 
halted for the night. On a closer examination of the neigh- 
bourhood, it appeared that our position was at the immedi- 
ate junction of two valleys, where, uniting the waters of 
their respective creeks, the main branch declines rapidly 
towards the river. One of these valleys extended to 
the S.W., the other to the W. N.W., It was evident to 
us that our route lay up the former ; and I made no doubt 
we should easily reach Whaby’s station on the morrow. 
We were now far beyond the acknowledged limits of 
the located parts of the colony, and Mr. Whaby’s station 
was the last at which we could expect even the casual sup- 
ply of milk or other trifling relief. Yet, although the pros- 
pect of so soon leaving even the outskirts of civilization, 
and being wholly thrown on our own resources, was so near, 
it never for a moment weighed upon the minds of the men. 
The novelty of the scenery, and the beauty of the river on 
which they were journeying, excited in them the liveliest 
anticipations of success. The facility with which we had 
hitherto pushed forward blinded them to future difficulties, 
nor could there be a more cheerful spectacle than that 
which the camp daily afforded. The animals browzing in 
the distance, aud the men talking over their pipes of the 
