me swallow about
a tea-spoonful of brandy, and, recruited by this, I was sufficiently
recovered to wait upon His Excellency the Governor in order to have
immediate steps taken to send off a party in search of my missing
comrades.

The Governor could scarcely credit his sight when he beheld the miserable
object that stood before him; but in this as in all other instances in
which I have known him the goodness of his heart shone conspicuous; not
only was every kindness shown me but immediate steps were taken to
forward assistance to those who were still in the bush. Having thus far
performed my duty I retired to press a bed once more, having for nearly
three consecutive months slept in the open air, on the ground just at the
spot where my day's hardship had terminated. So changed was I that those
of my friends who had heard of my arrival and were coming to congratulate
me passed me in the street, whilst others to whom I went up and held out
my hand drew back in horror and said, "I beg your pardon, who are you?"

Ere I was in bed the remainder of the men who were journeying with me
arrived, and it had thus pleased Providence to conduct six of us through
great suffering and want to the termination of our miseries.

CHAPTER 5. FROM WATER PEAK TO PERTH.

(MR. WALKER'S PARTY.)

PARTY SENT IN SEARCH FROM PERTH.

I arrived at Perth on the 21st of April and not a moment was lost in
preparing a party to go in search of the men I had left with Mr. Walker,
and who, it will be recollected, were instructed to proceed along the
coast until they made the Moore River, where assistance was to be sent
out to them from Perth.

SEARCH FOR THE OTHER PARTY.

Accordingly on the 23rd of April Lieutenant Mortimer of the 21st regiment
and Mr. Spofforth, with four soldiers, left Perth and arrived on the
Moore River in two days; but after traversing its banks in vain for two
days more they abandoned all hope of finding those they were in search of
there, and pursued a straight course about 25 miles further north, when
they fell in with another river where they formed a depot, and detours
were made in various directions for several days without any avail.

RETURN WITH CHARLES WOODS.

At length, on one of these excursions, the seaman Charles Woods, one of
my party, was found by Mr. Spofforth, lying on the beach, wrapped in his
blanket and fast asleep. He soon awoke and was not a little delighted to
recognise Mr. Spofforth whom he had se