CHAPTER IX.
FLOOD'S QUICK SIGHT--FOREST FULL OF BIRDS--NATIVE WELL--BIRDS COLLECT TO DRINK--DANGEROUS PLAIN--FLOOD'S HORSE LOST--SCARCITY OF WATER--TURN NORTHWARD--DISCOVER A LARGE CREEK--BRIGHT PROSPECTS--SUDDEN DISAPPOINTMENT--SALT LAGOON--SCARCITY OF WATER--SALT WATER CREEK--CHARACTER OF THE INTERIOR--FORCED TO TURN BACK--RISK OF ADVANCING--THE FURTHEST NORTH--RETURN TO AND EXAMINATION OF THE CREEK--PROCEED TO THE WESTWARD--DREADFUL COUNTRY--JOURNEY TO THE NORTH--AGAIN FORCED TO RETURN--NATIVES--STATION ON THE CREEK--CONCLUDING REMARKS.
Reflecting on the singular character of the country below me, as I stood on the pointed termination of the ridge the party had just ascended, I could not but think how fortunate it was we had not found it in a wet state, for in such a case to cross it would have been impossible.

I felt assured indeed, from the moment we set foot on it, that in the event of rain, while we should be in the more distant interior, return would be altogether impracticable, but we had neither time to pause on, or provide against, the consequences of any heavy fall that might have set in.

I do not think that this flashed across the minds of any of the party excepting my own, who would not have been justified in leading men forward as I was doing, without weighing every probable chance of difficulty or success.
As the line of the sand ridges was nearly parallel to that of our course, we descended to a polygonum flat, and keeping the ridge upon our left, proceeded on a bearing of 342 degrees, or on a N.N.W.course, up a kind of valley.

Whilst thus riding leisurely along, Flood, whose eyes were always about him, noticed something dark moving in the bushes, to which he called our attention.

It was a dark object, and was then perfectly stationary; as Flood however insisted that he saw it move, Mr.Browne went forward to ascertain what it could be, when a native woman jumped up and ran away.