without success.

Twelve hours' almost incessant walking, on a scanty breakfast and without water, with the thermometer over a hundred degrees of Fahrenheit, began to tell upon me severely; so much so that by the time I had tracked up my companions (who had reached the hills by 1 p.m.

and were anxiously waiting for me) it was as much as I could do to carry my rifle and accoutrements.

The horses were looking truly wretched, and I was convinced that the only chance of saving them, if water was not found, would be by abandoning our pack-saddles, provisions, and everything we could possibly spare, and try and recover them afterwards if practicable.

We therefore encamped for the night on the last plot of grass we could find, and proceeded to make arrangements for an early start in the morning.