half-past ten. I was surprised at their early return,
and thought something unpleasant must have happened. A servant came
to say that he wished to speak with me privately, and then I
received the terrible communication which had been announced at the
theatre during an interval between the acts. As soon as I had
sufficiently recovered the shock, we proceeded in a car to the
residence of Dr. Wilkie, the treasurer of the Committee. He had
heard a report, but was rather incredulous, as nothing official had
reached the Committee. At this moment, Dr. Macadam, the Honorary
Secretary, came in. He was perfectly bewildered, believed nothing,
and had received no telegram. "But," said I, "when were you at your
own house last?" "At seven o'clock," was the reply. "Good God!" I
exclaimed, "jump into the car." We proceeded to his house, and
there indeed was the telegram, which had been waiting for him some
hours.

The next morning, Sunday, November the 3rd, Brahe arrived at an
early hour at the Spencer-street Station, having been sent in by
Mr. Howitt with the journals and letters dug up in the cache at
Cooper's Creek. I was anxiously waiting his arrival. Dr. Macadam
was also there, and appeared confused, as if he had been up all
night. He insisted on dragging me on to the Governor's house, four
miles from Melbourne, Heaven only knows with what object. With some
difficulty I obtained from him possession of the bundle of papers,
and deposited them for safety in the hands of Dr. Wilkie. I have
nothing more to say of Dr. Macadam, except that I sincerely trust
it may never be my fortune to come in contact with him again, in
any official business whatever. He is a man of unbounded confidence
in his own powers, ready to undertake many things at the same time;
and would not, I suspect, shrink from including the honorary
governorship of the colony, if the wisdom of superior authority
were to place it at his disposal.

CHAPTER 12.

The attempt to reach South Australia and Adelaide by Mount Hopeless.
Mistake of selecting that Route.
Mr. Wills's Journals from the 23rd of April to the 29th of June, 1861.
Adventures with the Natives.
Discovery of Nardoo as a Substitute for Food.
Mr. Burke and King go in search of Natives as a last resource.
Mr. Wills left alone in the Desert.
The Last Entry in his Journal.

ON the morning of Thursday, the 23rd of April, 1861, Mr. Burke, my
son, and King, being refreshed and strengthened by the provisions