I should, however, have pushed on to Mount Babbage, which loomed large and bore a little to the eastward of north; but I did not see that I should gain anything by prolonging my journey.

We were now about 56 miles from the camp, and there was little likelihood of our finding any water on our way back; when we descended from the hill, therefore, I pressed into the pine forest, as far as I could, and then halted.

On the following morning we crossed the plains more to the north than we had before done.

About 11 a.m.we struck a creek, and startled a native dog in its bed which ran along the bank.

In following this animal we stumbled on a pool of water, and stopped to breakfast.