Cresswell Creek was followed down until, like its fellow creek the Buchanan, it too was absorbed in dry, parched flats.

The last permanent water on Cresswell Creek was named the Adder Waterholes, on account of the large number of death-adders that were killed there.

A dry stage of ninety miles now intervened between the party and the telegraph line, and the first attempt to cross, on a day of terrible heat, resulted in a return to the Adder Camp, three horses having succumbed to the heat, thirst, and the cracked and fissured arid plains.

It being the height of the summer season, and no water within a reasonable distance, it was evidently useless to sacrifice any more horses.

There was nothing to do, therefore, but to await at the last camp the fall of a kindly thundershower, by means of which they might bridge the dry gap between them and the line.
The long delay exhausted the supply of rations, but by means of birds -- ducks and pigeons -- horseflesh, and the usual edible bush plants -- blue-bush and pigweed -- the party fared sufficiently well.
During their detention at this camp, many short excursions were made, and the country traversed was found to be mostly richly grassed downs.