HIGHER AND HIGHER--I NEARLY
GIVE IN--REACH THE HIGHEST RIDGE--DESCEND BY A RUGGED VALLEY--
BENIGHTED--TAKE SHELTER IN A CAVERN--VISIT FROM DINGOS--DISCOVER A
PITCHER-PLANT--KILL A ROCK KANGAROO--JOURNEY CONTINUED FOR A MONTH--
POWDER AND SHOT EXPENDED--MUDGE SINGS TO KEEP UP OUR SPIRITS--FOUND BY A
SHEPHERD'S HUT-KEEPER--NIGHT AT THE HUT--ARRIVE AT CAPTAIN HUDSON'S
STATION--WELCOMED--HIS FATHER'S JOY AT HEARING THAT HARRY IS ALIVE--I
BECOME ILL--LILY'S FATHER--EXPEDITION UNDER HIM TO ASSIST OUR PARTY--
NURSED BY LILY--I RECOVER--ARRIVAL OF OUR PARTY--MY FATHER SETTLES NEAR
CAPTAIN HUDSON--MUDGE AND I LEAVE THE NAVY--WE BECOME PROSPEROUS
SETTLERS--CONCLUSION.

We had not as yet undergone any intolerable physical sufferings from
want of food or water since we landed in Australia; we had always found
sufficient water to drink, and an abundance of game. But as we trudged
on during the next day, we began to fear that our endurance might be put
to a severe trial. Our bottles were empty, our fresh animal food
exhausted; and we were afraid to eat the salt pemmican, for fear of
still further increasing the thirst from which we were suffering.

Wild, rocky ridges alone appeared before us, rising higher and higher.
Still we went on, cheered with the hope that we should soon reach the
highest ridge, and that then we might descend to a more fertile region.
Sometimes we had to make our way along the summit of precipices;
sometimes to descend into rocky valleys; and then, again, to mount up
rugged heights. Still, it was our belief that for the whole of the
distance a sure-footed steed would be able to make its way. We
ourselves might possibly have taken a shorter route; but even though
sore pressed we kept our main object steadily in view. We looked about
on every side for patches of verdure, a sure sign of the neighbourhood
of water; but we could see none to tempt us to swerve from our course.

"I suppose that the bushranger must have been making his way to the
northward, and had already passed over this barren region, when he
perished," observed Mudge. "Were it of any great extent, he would not
have attempted it; and I hope that before long we shall meet with water,
and some four-footed beasts or feathered fowl to afford us food."

"But how do you account for his powder-flask being empty?" I asked.

"He probably had gone to the south," answered Mudge; "and having made an
unsuccessful raid on some of the out-settlers, had