It was late when we left this waterless spot.

As there was a hill with a prepossessing gorge, I left Carmichael and Robinson to bring the horses on, and rode off to see if I could find water there.
Though I rode and walked in gullies and gorges, no water was to be found.

I then made down to where the horses should have passed along, and found some of them standing with their packs on, in a small bit of open ground, surrounded by dense scrubs, which by chance I came to, and nobody near.

I called and waited, and at last Mr.Carmichael came and told me that when he and Robinson debouched with the horses on this little open space, they found that two of the animals were missing, and that Robinson had gone to pick up their tracks.

The horse carrying my papers and instruments was one of the truants.