356 
RISK OF RETURNING. 
otherwise, deeming it advisable to contemplate the 
darker side of the picture, and by accustoming 
ourselves to look forward to being left entirely de- 
pendent upon our own strength and efforts, in some 
measure to prepare ourselves for such an event, 
should it unfortunately befal us. In conversing with 
him upon our prospects, and the position we should 
be in if we lost all our horses, I regretted extremely 
to find that his mind was continually occupied with 
thoughts of returning, and that he seemed to think 
the only chance of saving our lives, would be to push 
on to the water ourselves, and then endeavour again 
to return to Fowler’s Bay, where we had buried a large 
quantity of provisions. Still it was a gratification 
to find that the only European with me, did not 
altogether give way to despondency, and could even 
calmly contemplate the prospect before us, consi- 
dering and reasoning upon the plan it might be 
best to adopt, in the event of our worst forebodings 
being realized. In discussing these subjects, I care- 
fully avoiding irritating or alarming him, by a 
declaration of my own opinions and resolutions, 
rather agreeing with him than otherwise, at the 
same time, that I pointed out the certain risk that 
would attend any attempt to go back to Fowler’s 
Bay, and the probability there was of much less 
danger attending the effort to advance to King 
George’s Sound. With respect to the native boys, 
they appeared to think or care but little about the 
future ; they were not sensible of their danger, and 
