OP THE PARTY. 
173 
would approach sufficiently near to be seen by us. Our 
only chance of attracting notice would have been by cross- 
ing the Ranges to the Gulf St. Vincent, but the men had 
not strength to walk, and I hesitated to divide my party in 
the presence of a determined and numerous enemy, who 
closely watched our motions. Setting aside the generous 
feelings that had prompted M'Leay to participate in every 
danger with me, and who I am persuaded would have 
deeply felt a separation, my anxiety not only on his ac- 
count, but on account of the men I might leave in 
charge of the boat, made me averse to this measure; 
the chance of any misfortune to them involving in it 
the destruction of our boat and the loss of our provisions. 
My anxiety of mind would have rendered me unfit for exer- 
tion ; yet so desirous was I of examining the ranges and 
the country at their base, that I should, had our passage to 
the salt water been uninterrupted, have determined on 
coasting it homewards, or of steering for Launceston ; and 
most assuredly, with my present experience, I would rather 
incur the hazards of so desperate a step, than contend 
against all the evils that beset us on our homeward journey. 
And the reader may rest assured, I was as much without 
hopes of our eventual safety, as I was astonished, at the 
close of our labours, to find that they had terminated so 
happily. 
Further exertion on the part of the men being out of the 
question, I determined to remain no longer on the coast 
than to enable me to trace the channel to its actual junction 
