As they followed down, they passed an encampment of natives, but kept steadily on their course without interfering with them.

Not finding any water lower down the creek, the party had to return, and when close to the creek at the point where they had crossed that morning, they were suddenly surrounded by a mob of armed and painted savages, who had emerged unexpectedly from concealment in a clump of scrub.

To all attempts at peaceful parley they returned showers of boomerangs and clubs, until the whites were compelled in self-defence to fire on them.

Even then they were not deterred from following the party, even up to the camp of the night before.

This incident caused Stuart to hesitate.