cured. At half-past
two I pulled up, to consider whether or not it would be prudent to push
on any farther. I calculated that we were now 34 miles from the creek,
our only place of refuge. The horses had not tasted water from the early
part of the day before, and we could not reasonably expect to get back to
the salt lagoon under a day and a half. Our poor animals were not in a
condition to endure much fatigue, although by going on steadily we had
managed to get over a good deal of ground. It is, however, probable that
I should not have had much consideration for them on this occasion, if
other matters had not weighed on my mind and influenced my decision. My
men were all three unwell, and had been so for some days prior to this,
and Mr. Browne's sufferings were such that I hesitated subjecting him to
exertions greater than those he was necessarily obliged to submit to, and
by which I felt assured he would ultimately be overcome. The treacherous
character of the disease by which he had been attacked was well
understood. I had no hope of any improvement in his condition until such
time as he could procure change of food. So far from this I dreaded every
day that he might be laid prostrate as Mr. Poole had been, that I should
have to carry him about in a state of helplessness, and that he would
ultimately sink as his unfortunate companion had done. Had other
considerations, therefore, not influenced me, I could not make up my mind
to persevere, and see my only remaining companion perish at my side, and
that, too, under the most trying, I had almost said the most appalling
circumstances, for no one who has not seen the scurvy in its worst
character can form an idea of it. I could not run the risk of being
obliged to lay and leave one, in that gloomy desert, whose attention and
kindness to me had been uniform, and whose life I knew was valuable to
very many. The time has now passed, and I thank God that Mr. Browne, who
embarked in this expedition in reliance on my discretion, is now restored
to health and strength; but although he has regained his elasticity of
spirits, and would, I have no doubt, again encounter even the same risks,
he will yet remember Central Australia, and all that both of us there
suffered.

The question for me however was, how far I should be justified in pushing
forward under the almost certainty of inextricable embarrassment. I was
now within reach of water, but another fifteen miles would have put i