being reduced to the waist-bands and pockets, the legs having for a long time been matters of remembrance only.  However, they were hearty and well, in high spirits, and in good case.  During the hubbub caused by the tumultuous demonstrativeness of the natives, an amusing episode occurred, which is worthy of record.  The attendant of Mrs. McClintock, a fine strapping girl from the Emerald Isle, whose good humour and light-heartedness in the discomforts of a new Settlement had earned her the name of cheerful Ellen, hearing the tumult outside, and seeing Mr. Jardine rush out gun in hand, imagined also that they were about to have another attack.  Seizing her mistress in her arms, with more kindness than ceremony, she bore her away to her own room, where, having deposited her burden, she turned the key on her, saying, “that was no place for her whilst fighting was going on.”  Nor was it until she was well assured that there had been a false alarm that the kind-hearted wench released her mistress from durance.

It must be left to the imagination of the reader to realize the swelling feelings of joy and pride with which the Father grasped the hands of his gallant sons.  After a separation of more than ten months, his boys had found their way to him at the extremity of the Australian Continent, by a journey of over 1600 miles, whose difficulties, hardships, dangers, and escapes, have seldom been parallelled, and never been surpassed in the whole annals of exploration.  Had they, like poor Lichhardt, Kennedy, or Burke and Wills, perished in the attempt, they would have been honored as heroes, and a tablet or monument would been handed down their names to posterity.  As it was, thanks to a kind Providence, they were living heroes, who had sturdily accomplished their work, and brought their companions through without hurt or casualty.  The modesty which is ever the attribute of true merit, will probably cause their cheeks to tinge in finding their exploits thus eulogized, but assuredly it is no exaggeration of praise to say, that they have won for themselves a lasting and honorable name in the records of Australian Exploration.

CHAPTER VI.

Chose Site for Station—­Native Method of Using Tobacco—­Return for the Cattle—­The Lakes—­Reach the Camp—­Another Horse Dead —­The Whole Party Cross the Jardine—­Raft Upset—­Cargo Saved—­ Deserted by Guides—­Final Start for Settlement—­Another Horse Abandoned—­Horses Knocked Up—­Cattle Missing—­Choppagynya—­ Reach Vallack Point—­Conclusion.

On the afternoon of their arrival in Somerset, the Brothers, after a “slight” luncheon, in which Mr. Jardine’s preserved vegetables received very particular attention, manned the whale-boat belonging to the Settlement, and pulled over the Straits to Albany Island to get fresh horses.  Two were got over, but night coming on, the crossing of the rest was deferred until the next day.  The Strait is three-quarters-of-a-mile