Quite a time before we reached it, the cattle seemed to scent the water and quickened their pace, so we were confident it had not dried up.

We got ahead of the oxen and kept there until we reached the little pond and then guarded it to keep them from wading into it, in their eagerness to reach some drink.

They all satisfied their thirst, and then we removed the harness, built a fire of the dead cabbage trees which we found round about, laid down the beds and arranged them neatly, and had all nicely done before the rear guard came up, in charge of Captain Crump.

The party was eager for water and all secured it.

It was rain water and no doubt did not quench thirst as readily as water from some living spring or brook.