157 
from South to Western Australia. 
view of plundering the camp of provisions at the fi rst favourable 
opportunity, and then endeavouring to retrace their steps to a 
place where they knew plenty had been left, and from whence 
(should they succeed in arriving there) they might eventually 
make their way to Port Lincoln, or get away in some of the 
vessels whaling along the coast. This scheme was unhappily 
but too successfully executed during the night of the 29tli 
April, whilst I was absent from the camp, engaged in watching 
the horses to prevent them from straying. After plundering 
the stores of provisions and fire-arms, it would appear they 
were preparing to depart, when the unfortunate overseer awoke, 
and, in his attempt to prevent their purpose, fell a victim to 
these ruthless murderers! 
I was now deprived of my only aid, and felt bitterly the 
loss of a man whose fidelity and good conduct had retained 
him in my service for many years, and whose unwillingness to 
leave me when I commenced this perilous journey has been 
the unconscious means of his own destruction. At a distance 
of fully 450 miles from Fowler’s Bay, and nearly 600 from 
King George’s Sound, I was now in a position but little to be 
envied. Left alone with a single native whose fidelity I could 
place no dependence upon, with but little provisions, and almost 
without arms, whilst my jaded horses had already been three 
days without water, 1 had no time for deliberation. To attempt 
to retrace my steps to Fowler’s Bay I knew would be certain 
destruction—it would have been impossible for us to recross 
that fearful country; and I had therefore no alternative but to 
push on for King George’s Sound, humbly trusting in the 
merciful protection of that Almighty Being who alone can 
guide the wanderer on his way in safety. 
Hurrying away from the fatal scene, I travelled with tne 
native boy four days longer without finding water, during which 
we travelled with but little intermission almost night and day. 
On the fourth day we again procured water by digging, but as 
this made the seventh day that the horses had been (for the 
second time) without water, and during which they could not 
have travelled less than 150 miles, they were much exhausted 
by fatigue and privation; and it again became necessary to 
make a long delay to afford them a temporary rest. 
Our stock of flour was now reduced to sixteen pounds, and 
we had still nearly 500 miles to travel before we could hope to 
obtain relief; so I was again under the necessity of killing one 
of our remaining horses to enable us to halt, and afford to the 
other four that rest which they so much required. 1 his supply, 
together with a couple of kangaroos and a few fish, that we were 
lucky enough to procure, lasted us nearly a month ; and we 
were steadily advancing on our journey towards the promon¬ 
tory of Cape le Grand, where my intention was to have killed 
another horse, and halted again for a few days’ rest. For- 
