Gibson’s loss and my struggles formed the topic of conversation for most of the day, and it naturally shed a gloom over our spirits.  Here we were, isolated from civilisation, out of humanity’s reach, hundreds of miles away from our fellow creatures, and one of our small party had gone from us.  It was impossible for him to be still in existence in that fearful desert, as no man would or could stay there alive:  he must be dead, or he would have returned as I did, only much sooner, for the mare he had, would carry him as far in a day as I could walk in a week in this country.

The days had not lately been excessively hot, Mr. Tietkens said 96 to 98 degrees had been the average, but to-day it was only 90 degrees.  This afternoon it was very cloudy, and threatened to rain.  I was now, however, in hopes that none would fall.  That evil spirit of this scene—­Mount Destruction—­frowned upon us, and now that Gibson was dead, exploration was ended; we had but to try to find his remains, and any little trifling shower that fell would make it all the more difficult to trace him, while a thorough downpour would obliterate the tracks of our lost companion, entirely from the surface of the sandy waste into which he had so unfortunately strayed.  Before daylight on the 2nd we were awoke by the sprinkling of a light shower of rain, which was of not the slightest use; but it continued so long, making everything wet and clammy, that I felt sure we should have some trouble in following Gibson’s tracks.  The rain ceased about seven o’clock.  Mr. Tietkens and Jimmy got all the things we required, and the horses.  I was so weak I could do nothing.  We took three pack-horses to carry water, and two riding-horses, Blackie and Diaway, to ride, with Widge, Fromby, and Hippy.  Though Mr. Tietkens and Jimmy had not been attacked during my absence, the natives were always prowling about, and I did not like the idea of leaving Jimmy alone; but as he said he was willing to remain, we left him.  I had to be literally put on to my horse Blackie, and we rode away.  Not to worry my reader more than I can help, I may say we had to return to the Kegs, to get the bags left there, and some indispensable things; also Gibson’s saddle, which he left nine or ten miles beyond the Kegs in a tree.  Going all that distance to get these things, and returning to where Gibson’s tracks branched off, we had to travel 115 miles, which made it the third night the horses had been out.  We gave them some of the water we carried each night, and our supply was now nearly all gone.  It was on the 6th May when we got back to where Gibson had left the right line.  We fortunately had fine, cool weather.  As long as Gibson remained upon the other horse-tracks, following them, though not very easy, was practicable enough; but the unfortunate man had left them, and gone away in a far more southerly direction, having the most difficult sandhills now to cross at right angles.  He had burnt a patch of spinifex, where he left the other horse-tracks,