Having abandoned his intention to penetrate to the interior on a northern course, he now determined to push out westward, to King George's Sound, finding, perhaps, on the way across, some inducement that would lead him north.
At Port Lincoln he could not obtain the extra supplies he wanted without sending to Adelaide; it was therefore the 24th of October when he finally started for Streaky Bay.

He found that Baxter had arrived there safely, and was anxiously awaiting him.
He now camped for many weeks at Fowler's Bay, which was as far as the cutter they now had, the Hero, could act as convoy, her charter not extending beyond South Australian waters.

The Waterwitch having sprung a leak, the Hero had taken her place.

During the time that they remained there, Eyre made many journeys ahead to estimate his chances of getting across the dry and barren country intervening between him and the Sound, but the outlook was disheartening.

He met some natives, who all assured him that there was no water ahead; nor could he find any but some brackish water obtained by digging in some sandhills.