332 Captain Sturt's Expedition into the 
accordingly turned back, but it was with difficulty we regained 
the camp. 
Our journey from the creek to the stony descent was full of 
risk; and had it not been that a small quantity of water still 
remained in the creek, at which we lost one of our horses, we 
should not have got the others back in safety; so that it was by 
the goodness of Providence, rather than our own prudence, that 
we ultimately reached the stockade on the first of October, after 
an absence of seven weeks, during which we had ridden more 
than 900 miles. Not anticipating any objection on the part of 
Mr. Browne to the arrangement I contemplated, I had prepared 
letters for Adelaide on my way back, and on the third day after 
our return sent for him to speak to him on the subject then 
nearest my heart. Proposing to him that he should return home 
with a portion of the men, I observed that he would only be 
obeying orders and doing that which Mr. Poole had done. That 
having volunteered this service, it was incumbent on me to use 
every exertion in my power to execute it; that my credit was at 
stake, whereas he had nothing to fear, and that it was therefore 
needless for him to expose himself to fresh disappointments and 
sufferings. I assured him that if I had a hope of finding a good 
country, of making a discovery that would be a credit to me I 
would not ask him to return, but would rejoice that he shared the 
credit with me. Our provisions are now running short (I said), 
and it is only by such another separation of the party that I can 
still retain sufficient to make myself useful. I have undertaken 
this, you well know, (I added) for the good of my family; but 
what right shall I have to urge my claims on my countrymen 
when I shall have done nothing. But Mr. Browne would not see 
things in this light. He had determined to stick to my side 
through good fortune or misfortune, and would not desert me to 
perish in that miserable wilderness. He would do anything I 
asked but that which his feelings told him would be wrong, or 
with which his conscience would afterwards reproach him. He 
would remain behind if I was not satisfied with the efforts I had 
made, and that I could again go out, but that he would not turn 
his back upon me and leave me without the hope of relief, if 
