106 
JUNCTION OF ANOTHER STREAM. 
the third followed his leader, (who proved to be the remark- 
able savage I have previously noticed) to the scene of 
action. The reader will imagine our feelings on this occa- 
sion : it is impossible to describe them. We were so wholly 
lost in interest at the scene that was passing, that the boat 
was allowed to drift at pleasure. For my own part I was 
overwhelmed with astonishment, and in truth stunned and 
confused ; so singular, so unexpected, and so strikingly 
providential, had been our escape. 
We were again roused to action by the boat suddenly 
stinking upon a shoal, which reached from one side of the 
river to the other. To jump out and push her into deeper 
water was but the work of a moment with the men, and it was 
just as she floated again that our attention was withdrawn 
to a new and beautiful stream, coming apparently from the 
north. The great body of the natives having posted them- 
selves on the narrow tongue of land formed by the two 
rivers, the bold savage who had so unhesitatingly interfered 
on our account, was still in hot dispute with them, and I 
really feared his generous warmth would have brought 
down upon him the vengeance of the tribes. I hesitated, 
therefore, whether or not to go to his assistance. It ap- 
peared, however, both to M‘Leay and myself, that the tone 
of the natives had moderated, and the old and young men 
having listened to the remonstrances of our friend, the mid- 
dle-aged warriors were alone holding out against him. 
A party of about seventy blacks were upon the right bank 
of the newly discovered river, and I thought that by land- 
