leaving the driver to bring down the two teams to the Laura, and
camp there until my return. The wet season was setting in, consequently
we could not procure any loading. I had an uneventful trip down to
Sydney, and again met with John Dean at Mona House, in Wynyard Square.

I returned to Queensland about the beginning of March, 1878, the malaria
having left me.

Passing through Townsville, I met Fitzmaurice, who told me that carrying
had fallen away between Cooktown and the Palmer, and that he had left
that district. He suggested that I should join with him in carrying to
the western country, and added that he had been informed by a squatter
that there was a good opening for a store at the Conn Waterhole, on the
Diamantina River. This is about forty miles down the Western River, from
where Winton now is.

The suggestion appealed to me, and it was agreed that I should go on to
Cooktown, start my two teams overland to Townsville, then return and
drive one of his three teams on our western trip without loss of time.

On my arrival in Cooktown, I went to the Laura, where the teams were
still camped. Everything was in order, and my bullocks fat. I started
them on their long trip overland to Townsville, where Fitzmaurice and I
had purchased sixteen tons of assorted merchandise from Clifton and
Aplin. Arriving in Townsville in a few days by steamer, we loaded up for
the far and, to most Queenslanders, what was then unknown country.

Both Fitzmaurice and myself were well known to the firm through our
carrying for them from the Port to the several diggings. They generously
gave us the goods without our paying any cash, and without giving even
the scratch of a pen. When I returned to Townsville at the end of 1879
to purchase more supplies, I signed a promissory note for the cost of
all the goods at four months. Practically, Messrs. Clifton and Aplin
generously gave us the sixteen tons of goods on a credit which extended
over twelve months, and which were only paid for when the note matured.

It was my fortune to have now met in Townsville a man who was then
bearing a high reputation in North Queensland, but who was soon to
become famous farther afield. By some reason I cannot even now
understand, the diggers very seldom put their confidence or trust in the
wrong man, and in John Murtagh Macrossan, they found their idol.
Mentally big, physically small, his eloquence, ability and courage
brought him, on their behalf, into con