course, his chance of reaching the road before night would be very
remote; and, if he did not succeed in doing that, he saw no option but
to make a nocturnal sojourn in the bush; the idea of which, all things
considered, he did not much like. To extricate himself from this
difficulty, he skirted the scrub, both up and down, for an opening
through which to penetrate; until at last he perceived an aperture, into
which he darted, though only to find after a short progress, a still
further stoppage; and this time one of a more unpleasant nature.

At his feet ran a creek, swollen by the rains into a deep and rapid
stream. To skirt its banks, to ascertain the direction in which it
flowed, was impossible; for, with the exception of the spot on which he
stood (and where it seemed broader and shallower than elsewhere), it was
lined by the scrub. Beyond the stream was the direction he wished to go
to reach the road, but this fluvial barrier stopped his progress; and he
saw no other course, if he wished to attain his goal, than to swim the
flood. For a few moments he gazed upon the dark waters of the creek, as
they hurried on their turbid volume sullenly and quietly; and knew that
to cross them, he had to swim a current that might prove too strong for
him to stem; besides the numerous eddies and hidden dangers that they
might contain. His heart had some misgivings at the venture;
nevertheless, he was aware, if he was to reach shelter that night, the
passage of the creek had to be effected. The momentary sensation of fear
gave place to the excitement of braving hazard; and its danger was
speedily forgotten in the contemplation of a night's bivouac under a
tree; and with the consciousness of being a good swimmer, and a
familiarity with such predicaments, he rode his horse to the edge of the
stream, and urged him into it.

Often do the instincts of the lower animals prompt them to an avoidance
of danger, where the rasher nature of man impels him towards his doom.
For some time the animal which William rode--standing on the margin of
the water, with his nose close to it, seemingly to ascertain the nature
of the element into which his master wished him to plunge--snorted and
paced the ground with a degree of impatience, that plainly showed he did
not like the task required of him. He was not long, however, permitted
to hesitate; there was no escape from the passage; the creek had to be
crossed, while no other way presented itself but