days ahead, Mrs. Jackson, whom I
have mentioned as having met some years previously in the Peak Downs
district, asked me to take 200 ounces of gold down to the bank. I agreed
to do so, carrying it in my valise on the saddle. I was very glad when I
reached the waggons to get rid of the gold, as it proved a very dead
weight on my legs.

During this wet season (1876), the Government had sent a boat to the
Laura River to carry travellers across. These were very few. The boatman
was very much alone, and I found that the blacks had taken the
opportunity of eating him. While driving the leading team up the bank, I
saw numbers of blacks' tracks all around the boat. We drew up a short
distance from the bank, and after unyoking, I made my customary visit to
water, with towel and bucket, which latter was filled for the cook. The
water in the river was running in a channel on the opposite side, and
when I was close to it, I heard a chuckle such as the blacks make.
Looking towards the crossing I saw a mob of blacks bathing, and one
running towards the bank. Without a second look, I dropped the bucket,
and sprinting across the sand and up the bank to the waggons, I called
out, "Get the rifles ready! The blacks are at the crossing." After
waiting some little time we saw Sub-Inspector Townsend and his black
troopers riding towards us. He stayed for dinner, and from mutual
explanations I learnt it was his troopers' tracks I had seen. They were
returning from an inspection down the river, and had camped at the
crossing over night. They decided to have a bogey before dinner, and the
boy I saw running, went to get his uniform cap to denote a trooper. Had
I taken a second look, I should have seen Mr. Townsend with them. He
laughingly described me racing, hidden with sand which my feet were
scooping up, in my haste to get the firearms.

Up to now, carrying had been so remunerative that one would have seen
one-time station managers, ex-inspectors of police, old naval men, and
all sorts and conditions of other men wielding the bullock-whip and
making good earnings, but as competition became keener, carriage fell
much lower and more difficult to obtain. The goldfield was falling off,
and more in the hands of the Chinese. I had a very hard time to keep my
three teams in employment during the year.

In December, 1877, I again suffered severely from malaria, and having
previously sold one of my teams, I decided to make another trip to
Sydney,