plied with water from the
recent rains, and what was even more acceptable, plenty of green
feed, of which the cattle and horses stood in great need. The Leader
determined to halt here one day, to try and recover the lost cattle,
but felt anything but easy in doing so, for the flood-marks were six
feet high on the camp, which was high ground compared to the level
waste around them, and the rains seemed fairly to have set in.
Another heavy storm poured down on them at night. (Camp LV.)

'December' 30.--The cattle remained here to-day, whilst Scrutton and
Eulah were sent back for the lost cattle. The Brothers went forward
a day's stage to try and find some high ground. In this they did not
succeed. The country was all alike, and they were satisfied beyond
doubt that it must be one sea during the rains; not a very comforting
discovery. They found a creek four miles on, which received the name
of Macleod Creek. It was large and deep, with a strong current
running, and chose a place at which they would have to cross, between
two high banks of red sandstone. They then returned to camp, and
spent the rest of the day in "sugar bag" hunting, in which they were
very successful, bringing in as much as made a feed for the whole
camp, which was no small quantity. Scrutton and Eulah returned at
dark, without having seen any traces of the missing cattle, so it was
determined to go on without them, as it would have been madness to
have remained longer in such dangerous country. At night they
experienced a heavy storm, which is thus described in Frank Jardine's
journal:--"We had one of most severe wind and thunder storms this
evening that I ever saw. The largest trees bent like whip-sticks,
and the din caused by the wind, rain, thunder, and trees falling,
beyond description. People looking at it from under a snug roof
would have called it 'grand,' but we rhymed it with a very different
word." This may be called a "joke under difficulties."

'December' 31.--Macleod Creek was reached by half-past eight o'clock
this morning, and cattle, horses, and packs were all safely crossed
by 9.15. The journey was then continued over, or rather, through
very boggy tea-tree flats, and undulating stringy-bark, nonda, and
bloodwood country, to a large flooded creek, coming from the
eastward, which received the name of "Kendall Creek," after a friend
of Mr. Richardson's. There was a little rising ground on its banks,
on which the party cam