on
of drawing himself from the water, and alighting on the ground; where he
sank in a state of utter insensibility. How long he remained in that
state, he was unable to conjecture; but he awoke with a feeling of
sickness, which weighed heavily on his heart; and with his limbs
perfectly benumbed and almost paralysed (thankful for the manifest
interposition of providence), with a painful effort he arose. He then
went to search for his horse, to see if the faithful animal had been as
fortunate as himself; and had not proceeded far ere he espied him, still
standing trembling from the fear, from which he had hardly recovered.

To reach the inn that night was hopeless; in fact, to proceed at all,
William felt was almost impossible, for both he and his horse were
perfectly knocked up; while he was so unnerved and dispirited, that he
hardly knew which way to turn. To remain where he was, however, was not
to be thought of; for setting aside the discomfort of his position, the
danger was imminent. The rain continued to fall in a deluge, and the
land on which he stood being low, if the creek rose much more (which was
very probable), the flat would be soon covered with water. He had no
alternative, then, but to drag on his weary limbs, and lead his worn-out
horse, to either some hospitable shelter, or a more auspicious locality
to camp in. Before resuming his journey, he gave two or three
vociferous "cooeys," but without hearing any answering sound, save the
echo of his own voice. He then crawled along, in the direction which he
imagined the road must be in, in the hope of falling in with some
cheering prospect; but after toiling for about half an hour, the
consternation with which he witnessed the effectual stoppage of his
further progress, by another stream, fairly overcame him; and he sank
exhausted to the ground.

The sagacious animal, that had borne the young man through many a
difficulty, and who stood over the prostrate body of his master, showed
his concern for him by many little signs of emotion, and at last brought
William to an application of his energies, by causing him to notice his
movements. William then raised his languid frame; and with drooping
spirits, gazed on the fresh obstacle before him. He perceived it had a
current, running opposite to that which he had lately crossed; and then
the truth flashed across his mind, that it must be another bend of the
same creek, forming a pocket of the land on which he was st