They were then seven days out from Woodhouse Lagoon, and during the last days of the stage they had been travelling across most distressing parallel sand-ridges.
*[Footnote.] A ground plant which camels eat, and which assuages their thirst.
From Helena Spring Carnegie struggled on, intending to strike the northern settlements at Hall's Creek where there is a small mining township.

On the way there, while still in unexplored country, they discovered one more oasis, in a rock hole, which was called Godfrey's Tank, after Godfrey Massie, one of the party.

On November 25th, 1896, they congratulated themselves that they were at last clear of the desert and its desolation, having come out on to a well-watered shady river, running towards the northern coast.

But a sad accident turned their rejoicing into mourning.

Charles Stansmore accidentally slipped on a rock when out shooting, and his gun going off, he was shot through the heart and died instantly.