Only the tallest trees stood with their higher boughs glowing with the gold of the departing day, and we stood undetermined which route to pursue, and half inclined to camp at the next waterhole we should see.

We had lost some cattle, and among others a valuable imported bull, which we were very anxious to recover.

For five days we had been passing on from run to run, making inquiries without success, and were now fifty long miles from home in a southerly direction.

We were beyond the bounds of all settlement; the last station we had been at was twenty miles to the north of us, and the occupiers of it, as they had told us the night before, had only taken up their country about ten weeks, and were as yet the furthest pioneers to the southward.
At this time Stockbridge and I had been settled in our new home about two years, and were beginning to get comfortable and contented.

We had had but little trouble with the blacks, and, having taken possession of a fine piece of country, were flourishing and well to do.
We had never heard from home but once, and that was from Tom Troubridge, soon after our departure, telling us that if we succeeded he should follow, for that the old place seemed changed now we were gone.