fficers of the successive sections
along the coast I created somewhat of a sensation. I was not surprised. I
presented a sorry figure, at any rate as far as my face was concerned.
However, I satisfied myself that they had mastered their instructions,
and that they would carry them out to the best of their ability.

When nearing Fort Glanville I left the main road, which ran just inside
the sand-dunes and was in a very bad condition, for the beach. The beach
was good going. Arriving close to the fort I struck inland by a track
between the dunes. I felt happier; in a few minutes I would reach the
Fort. But my troubles were not over by any means. The young fellow who
was driving me was a stranger to those parts. I was not sure myself of
the track we were taking. It was the custom to spread seaweed on the
track over places where the sand was too loose and the going too heavy.
As we moved along it we came to a particularly dark spot. The lad
hesitated to drive on. I couldn't see very well. I took the dark spot to
be a patch of seaweed, and told him to go on. We had taken the wrong
track. It was not a patch of seaweed, but a big dark hole, and into it
horse, buggy and our precious selves fell. Extricating ourselves from the
mess, satisfying ourselves that no bones were broken, shaking out the
sand from our ears and hair and off my poor nose and face, I walked off
to the Fort to get assistance for my mate and the horse and buggy. I
hadn't been long in my quarters when the bugles sounded the alarm, and
the commanding officer of the troops attached to the Fort, who had been
kindly attending to my numerous bruises, left me to carry out his duty. I
got my old Irish servant to mix me a strong whisky toddy (I don't
remember ever in my life having a drink which I enjoyed so much) and went
to bed.

I was glad to hear next morning from Major Jervois, who came to see me,
that the commanding officers had successfully carried out the task set
them. He was much amused at my personal appearance. Two days afterwards
Colonel Owen arrived. I was patched up enough to be able to ride, and
accompanied him on his first tour of inspection. He had the unique
experience of arriving in his command and finding the whole of the forces
of the colony assembled together in the vicinity of his headquarters,
Adelaide. Two more days and the scare was over. The troops dispersed to
their respective districts.

It was about this time that an event happened whi