immediately turned out in pursuit.  To protect the carbines from the coming storm, Alexander Jardine and Scrutton arrayed themselves the one in a black and the other a white mackintosh, which reached to their heels, whilst the Leader having a short coat on, a revolver in each pocket, jumped on to the bare-back of one of the horses.  This time it was not a “blank run.”  The horses were scuttling about in all directions, and the natives waited for the whites, close to a mangrove scrub, till they got within sixty yards of them, when they began throwing spears.  They were answered with Terry’s breech-loaders, but whether fascinated by the strange attire of the three whites, or frightended by the report of the fire-arms, or charge of the horse, they stood for some time unable to fight or run.  At last they slowly retired in the scrub, having paid for their gratuitious attack by the loss of some of their companions.  Some of them were of very large stature.  The storm broke with great violence accompanied with thunder and lightning and scattered the cattle off the camp in spite of the efforts of the party to keep them.  The thunder caused them to rush about, whilst darkness caused the watchers to run against them, and add to their fright.  So they were let go. (Camp LIV.) Distance 11 or 12 miles north.

‘December’ 29.—­The cattle were all gathered this morning, save 10, for which Frank Jardine left two of the black-boys to seek and then follow the party.  To his great annoyance they came on at night without them.  The course to-day was N.N.E. over boggy tea-tree flats, and low stringy-bark ridges.  At three miles a large running creek, one hundred yards wide, was struck, and had to be followed up for four miles before a crossing was found.  Four miles further brought them to a small creek, well supplied 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