As they went down Cooper’s Creek on their way back, they found that the water was drying up so rapidly that grave fears were entertained lest Strzelecki’s Creek, their main resource in getting back to Fort Grey, should be dry.  Fortunately they were in time to find a little muddy fluid left, just enough to serve their needs.  Here, though most anxious to get on, they were forced to camp the whole of one day, on account of an extremely fierce hot wind.

Sturt’s vivid account of the day spent during the blast of that furnace-like sirocco has been oft quoted.  But the reader should remember when reading it that the man who wrote it was in such a weakened condition that he had not sufficient energy left to withstand the hot wind, whilst the shade under which the party sought shelter was of the scantiest description.

They had still a distance of eighty-six miles to cover to get back to Fort Grey, with but little prospect of finding water on the way.  After a long and weary ride they reached it, only to find the tents struck, the flag hauled down, and the Fort abandoned.  The bad state of the water and the steady diminution of supply had forced Browne to fall back to Depot Glen, riding day and night Sturt reached the old encampment, so exhausted that he could hardly stand after dismounting.

The problem of their final escape had now to be resolved.  The water in Depot Creek was reduced so low that they feared there would be none left in Flood’s Creek.  If this failed, they were once more imprisoned.  Browne, now much recovered, undertook the long ride of one hundred and eighteen miles which would decide the question.  Preparations had been made for his journey by filling a bullock skin with water, and sending a dray with it as far as possible.  On the eighth day he returned.

“Well, Browne,” asked Sturt, who was helpless in his tent, “what news?  Is it good or bad?” “There is still water in the creek,” replied Browne, “but that is all I can say; what there is is as black as ink, and we must make haste, for in a week it will be gone.”

The boat that was to have floated over the inland sea was left to rot at Depot Glen.  All the heaviest of the stores were abandoned, and the retreat of over two hundred miles commenced.

More bullock-skins were fashioned into water-bags, and with their aid and that of a scanty but kindly shower of rain, they crossed the dry stage to Flood’s Creek in safety.  Here they found the growth of the vegetation much advanced, and with care, and constant activity in searching ahead for water, they gradually increased the distance from the scene of their sufferings, and approached the Darling.  Sturt had to be carried on one of the drays, and lifted on and off at each stopping-place.  On the 21st of December, they arrived at the camp of the relief-party under Piesse, at Williorara, and Sturt’s last expedition came to an end.

In taking leave of this explorer, we quote a short extract from his Journal to show the exalted character of the man whom Australians should ever regard with the greatest of pride:—­