ncement or termination
might have been laid down by the traveller as a river. Such however is
the uncertain nature of the rivers of those parts of the continent of
Australia over which I have wandered. I would not trust the largest
farther than the range of vision; they are deceptive all of them, the
offsprings of heavy rains, and dependent entirely on local circumstances
for their appearance and existence.

Having taken all our circumstances into consideration, our heart-breaking
detention, the uncertainty that involved our future proceedings, and the
ceaseless anxiety of mind to which we should be subjected, recollecting
also that Mr. Browne had joined me for a limited period only, and that a
protracted journey might injure his future prospects, I felt that it was
incumbent on me to give him the option of returning with Mr. Poole if he
felt disposed to do so, but he would not desert me, and declined all my
suggestions.

On the morning of the 16th I struck the tents, which had stood for six
months less eleven days, and turned my back on the Depot in grateful
thankfulness for our release from a spot where my feelings and patience
had been so severely tried. When we commenced our journey, we found that
our progress would be slow, for the ground was dreadfully heavy, and the
bullocks, so long unaccustomed to draught, shrunk from their task. One of
the drays stuck in the little gully behind our camp, and we were yet
endeavouring to get it out, when Mr. Browne returned from his attendance
on Mr. Poole, and I was glad to find that he had left him in tolerable
spirits, and with every hope of his gradual improvement.

As we crossed the creek, between the Depot and the glen, we found that
the waters, as Flood predicted, had descended so far, and waded through
them to the other side. We then rode to the glen, to see how it looked
under such a change, and remained some time watching the current as it
swept along.

On our return to the party I found that it would be impossible to make a
lengthened journey; for, having parted with two drays, we had necessarily
been obliged to increase the loads on the others, so that they sank deep
into the ground. I therefore halted, after having gone about four miles
only.

About seven o'clock p.m. we were surprised by the sudden return of
Joseph, from the home returning party; but, still more so at the
melancholy nature of the information he had to communicate. Mr. Poole, he
said, had brea