ed. They did not return. We determined on a search the next morning.
At daybreak, Marshall and I and the rouseabout started on good horses,
each going at different angles, but agreeing to meet at the Debil debil
Waterhole, and to wait there for each other. If any one of us did not
come after a certain time, we were to conclude that he had found the
adventurers and was making his way back with them. After a day of
painful travel and little water, Marshall and I arrived, almost within
an hour of each other. We could see no sign of anybody having been at
the lagoon. We waited twelve hours, and were about to go, leaving a mark
behind us to show we had been there, when we saw the rouseabout and
his exhausted horse coming slowly through the bluebush to us. He had
suffered much for want of water.

We all started back again at different angles, our final rendezvous
being arranged for the station homestead, the rouseabout taking a direct
line, and making for the Little Black Billabong on the way. I saw no
sign of the adventurers. I sickened with the heat, and my eyes became
inflamed. I was glad enough when, at last, I drew rein in the home
paddock. I couldn't see any distance, though I was not far from the
house. But when I got into the garden I saw that others had just
arrived. It was the rouseabout with my wife's lovers. He had found Billy
nursing Eversofar in the shade of a stunted brigalow, while Bingong was
away hunting for water. Billy himself had pushed his cause as bravely as
possible, and had in fact visited the Little Black Billabong, where--he
always maintains--he had seen the great Bunyip. But after watching
one night, they tried to push on to the Debil-debil Waterhole. Old
Eversofar, being weak and old, gave in, and Billy became a little
delirious--he has denied it, but Bingong says it is so; yet he pulled
himself together as became the leader of an expedition, and did what he
could for Eversofar until the rouseabout came with food and water. Then
he broke down and cried--he denies this also. They tied the sick man on
the horse and trudged back to the station in a bad plight.

As I came near the group I heard my wife say to Billy, who looked sadly
haggard and ill, that she was sure he would have got the Bunyip if it
hadn't been for the terrible drought; and at that, regardless of my
presence, he took her by the arms and kissed her, and then she kissed
him several times.

Perhaps I ought to have mentioned before th