he general belief was that Gibson had merely gone back to the Spirit
Land from whence he had come, and that, as he was a great and good man,
he would return to earth in the form of a bird--perhaps an ibis, which
was very high indeed. I must say I never attached very much importance
to what he said, even in his sane moments, because he was obviously a man
of low intelligence and no culture. If I remember rightly, he told me
that the expedition to which he was attached left Adelaide with the
object of going overland to Fremantle. It was thoroughly well equipped,
and for a long time everything went well with the party. One day, whilst
some of them were off exploring on their own account, he lost himself.

He rather thought that the sun must have affected his brain even then,
because he didn't try to find his companions that night, but went to
sleep quite contentedly under a tree. He realised the horror of his
position keenly enough the next morning, however, and rode mile after
mile without halting for food or water, in the hope of quickly regaining
his friends at the chief camp. But night stole down upon him once more,
and he was still a lonely wanderer, half delirious with thirst; the
supply he had carried with him had long since given out.

Next morning, when he roused himself, he found that his horse had
wandered away and got lost. After this he had only a vague recollection
of what happened. Prompted by some strange, unaccountable impulse, he
set out on a hopeless search for water, and went walking on and on until
all recollection faded away, and he remembered no more. How long he had
been lost when I found him he could not say, because he knew absolutely
nothing whatever about his rescue. So far as I remember, he was a
typical specimen of the Australian pioneer--a man of fine physique, with
a full beard and a frank, but unintelligent, countenance. He was perhaps
five feet nine inches in height, and about thirty years of age. When I
told him the story of my adventures he was full of earnest sympathy for
me, and told me that if ever I intended leaving those regions for
civilisation again, my best plan would be to steer more south-east, as it
was in that direction that Adelaide lay.

He also informed me that the great trans-Continental telegraph wire was
being constructed from north to south. This he advised me to strike and
follow to civilisation.

I may be permitted a little digression here to give a fe