They had however succeeded in their mission, and as I was very
anxious to get them to better water, our lagoon being all but dry, I
determined on moving northward on the 7th.
Flood re-crossed the creek on the morning of the 6th, when the bullocks
completed a task of about 170 miles in eight days.
As I had determined on moving on the 7th, it became necessary to examine
the drays, and I was vexed to find that they wanted as much repair as
they had done at Flood's Creek. The men were occupied wedging them up,
and greasing them on the 6th, and finished all but that of Lewis, the
repair of which threw it late in the day on the 7th, before we proceeded
on our journey. Independently, however, of my anxiety on account of my
officers, several of the men were indisposed, and I was glad to break up
our camp and fix it in a healthier spot than this appeared to be.
We started at 5 p.m., but as we had only about eight miles to go, it was
not a matter of much consequence. We arrived at our destination at
10 p.m., but had some difficulty in finding the water, nor do I think we
should have done so if we had not been guided to it by the hoarse and
discordant notes of a bull-frog.
I had sent Mr. Stuart in the morning to some hills on our left, and Mr.
Browne had ridden in the same direction to collect some seeds of a purple
Hibiscus, and neither had joined the party when it reached the creek, as
soon therefore as the cattle were unyoked, I fired a shot which they
fortunately heard.
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