now, bright warm days and frosty nights; unfortunately this tends to sharpen the appetite, which we had small means of satisfying.  For the last ten days we had had nothing but damper, and not much of that, on which we spread tinned milk which had previously been discarded as unfit for use, being dark brown instead of white, and almost solid.  Nevertheless it was better than nothing; a ten hours’ march, begun on an empty stomach, and finished on a slice of bread, cannot be indulged in for many days before it leaves its mark.  We were not sorry, therefore, to reach Lake Darlot township on July 15th, and, choosing a nice spot, made camp.  This day we saw the first white face since April 9th, and our journey was practically over.

The excellent feed growing all over the flats near Lake Darlot gave us a good opportunity of recruiting our animals’ strength.  For nearly a month we moved slowly about between Lake Darlot and Lawlers prospecting in a desultory sort of way.  Our departure from the former place was deeply regretted—­by the butcher, whose trade had increased by leaps and bounds during our stay.  “I never see’d coves as could stack mutton like you chaps,” he said, in satisfied wonder; “why, a whole blooming sheep don’t seem to last you a day; can’t ye stop until I get some bullocks up the track?” Certainly that was the best fresh mutton I have ever tasted, and no doubt we did do our duty by it.

By degrees the camels fattened and fattened, until the combination of flesh and the hard muscles their work had formed, made it difficult to believe how great the trials were they had been through.  The horses were also getting less like skeletons, though they take far longer than camels to regain their strength; as a rule, if they have been through great hardships they never do regain it and are, practically, useless afterwards.  Stoddy, whose back had been bad, was also recovering—­this the only sore back amongst them after so many miles of country well calculated to knock both packs and backs to pieces.

CHAPTER X

THE END OF THE EXPEDITION

By easy stages and frequent halts we eventually reached Coolgardie, after an absence of thirteen months.  Of these, ten and a half months were occupied in travelling, during which we traversed a little over three thousand miles.  Of this, 550 miles was traversed by roads and tracks, whilst the remainder was through country beyond the limits of any settlements.

Sources of water supply. 
Found on upgoing and return journeys between the limits of settlement.
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Holding Nearly Quite
Water.  Dry.  Dry.