. No signs were to be seen near
where we landed. To the west the country looked especially barren, and
we therefore agreed to go towards the east, although it was in the
direction where the Frenchmen were supposed to be. We first explored
the shore of the harbour, but found no stream running into it. Indeed
it was a mere inlet of the sea and of small extent.

An old settler would have had far less difficulty than we experienced in
discovering water, because he would have known exactly the sort of trees
to look out for, such as grow only on the banks of streams or water
holes.

"What a fearfully arid country this is," I observed to Charley, "I hope
the part we are going to is not like it."

We were about to turn back in despair, when my companion, who was a
little ahead, exclaimed that he saw some water just below us. We were
not long in reaching a pure and clear pool or water-hole. We slaked our
own thirst, but it was a long way to bring our sheep, while it would
have been nearly impossible to fill our casks from it. We discovered,
however, that water ran into it, therefore it must have an outlet. This
we discovered, and traced it down towards the sea. Great was our
pleasure to find that it ran into a small harbour, where we could
quickly fill our casks. We hastened back, and trusting to be able to
obtain as much as we required, brought a supply for the sheep from the
vessel. We had as yet seen no natives; indeed, from the barren nature
of the country, I could scarcely believe that any could exist there.

There were animals, however, for at night the boys, who were watching
over the sheep, saw a creature approaching stealthily.

Mark fired, but missed, and then made chase. The creature got off,
leaving some traces of blood seen in the morning. It was a dingo, or
native dog. Early next day, the weather being very fine, we went in the
boat with the casks to the small harbour we had discovered. We had
brought some wooden pipes, and by placing them a little way up the
stream, we were able to conduct the water so as to fall over a rock
directly into the casks. While the boys were filling them, I climbed to
a height at the mouth of the harbour. There the masts of the French
ship were plainly discernible. This did not give me much concern, but
directly afterwards I perceived, through my glass, a party of men coming
along the beach and rapidly approaching us.

CHAPTER NINE.

LAND, HURRAH!

I hurr