By the 23rd of February our preparations for entering upon our journey were nearly all completed, the horses had eaten up all their bran and corn, and were now in good condition; all our pack-saddles, saddles, and harness were ready, our provisions were all packed, and every thing in order for commencing the undertaking; there remained but to bury our surplus stores, and for this the hole was already dug.  On the afternoon of the 24th I intended finally to evacuate the depot, and on the evening of the 23rd, to amuse my natives, I had all the rockets and blue-lights we had, fired off, since we could not take them with us, our pack-horses being barely able to carry for us the mere necessaries of life.

Chapter XV.

Return of Mr. Scott in the Hero—­Mr. Scott again Sails for
Adelaide—­commence journey to the westward—­opportune arrival at the
sand-hills—­large flies—­take on the sheep—­leave the overseer with the
horses—­reach Yeerkumban kauwe—­joined by the overseer—­tormenting flies
again—­move on with the sheep—­leave overseer to follow with the
horses—­character of country along the bight—­scenery of the
cliffs—­leave the sheep—­anxiety about water—­reach the termination of
the cliffs—­find water.

February 24.—­This being the day I had appointed to enter upon the arduous task before me, I had the party up at a very early hour.  Our loads were all arranged for each of the horses; our blankets and coats were all packed up, and we were in the act of burying in a hole under ground the few stores we could not take with us, when to our surprise a shot was heard in the direction of Fowler’s Bay, and shortly after a second; we then observed two people in the distance following up the dray tracks leading to the depot.  Imagining that some whaler had anchored in the bay, and being anxious to prevent our underground store from being noticed, we hastily spread the tarpaulins over the hole, so that what we were about could not be observed, and then fired shots in reply.

As the parties we had seen gradually approached nearer I recognised one of them with the telescope as being Mr. Germain, the master of the Hero; the other I could not make out at first from his being enveloped in heavy pilot clothes; a little time however enabled me to distinguish under this guise my young friend Mr. Scott, and I went anxiously to meet him, and learn what had brought him back.  Our greeting over,