In vain did the men urge their bullocks over successive ridges of deep loose sand, the moment they had topped one there was another before them to ascend.

Seeing that they were suffering from the heat, I desired the men to halt, and sending Mr.
Poole and Mr.Stuart forward with the spare horses and sheep to relieve them as soon as possible, I remained with the drays, keeping Mr.Browne with me.

We had not travelled more than half a mile, on resuming our journey, when we arrived at a dry salt lagoon, at which the sheep had stopped.

I here determined on leaving two of the drays, in the hope that by putting an additional team into each of the others we should get on, although before this we had discovered that Mr.Poole had mistaken his object, and had inadvertently led us into the thickest of the pinery.

The drivers, however, advanced but slowly with the additional strength I had given them, and it was clear they would never get out of their difficulties, unless some other plan were adopted.