Page:Papers of William Shakespeare Hall, 1861–1895.pdf/36

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Mr Gregory informed us, we were about 40 - by no means a very pleasant surprise, as we had but little water with us & that blazing hot; some of the party did not expect to find water between this and the Yule; for what reason I could not tell - at 3.30 found water in gully by digging; we watered our six horses in a hat; & I drank 5 quarts in about ½ an hour. -

Mr. Gregory would not allow the other horses to have water, though they had had none since 10 a.m., & we did not know where we should get any more, went on till after dark, without water, Mr. G. makes us about 20 miles from the Yule. Always receding it should be called the phantom river. Camp 96. Lat 21° 4'.

OCTOBER 5.

21 miles W. We started at 6.5 a.m. & travelled nearly 12 miles in 3 hours, when Lucy (the mare) knocked up, she was stripped & 2 hands & a horse left to bring her on. Bob gave up soon after & his load was put on Turner's horse & I lent mine to Turner as he was ill.

Many of the horses had not drunken since Thursday night & none since Friday at 10 a.m.

Soon after we reached the Yule the horses came up and dashed headlong into the pool, & it was a much as we could do to drag them out. - As is generally the case when many are in fault every one blamed every one else, & the affair terminated very satisfactorily in a general row. Bob was