anxiety, when the dread of danger is succeeded by the certainty of escape."
The natives looked with suspicion upon this invasion, and began to gather in force upon the banks. The party escaped from attack upon one occasion by a singular circumstance. As they proceeded, it was with considerable apprehension that Sturt observed the river to be shoaling fast, more especially as a large sand-bank, a little below, and on the same side on which the natives had gathered, projected nearly a third way across the channel. To this sand-bank these natives ran with tumultuous uproar, and covered it over in a dense mass. Some of the chiefs advanced to the water to be nearer their victims, and turned from time to time to direct their followers. With every pacific disposition, and an extreme reluctance to take away life, Sturt foresaw that it would be impossible any longer to avoid an engagement; yet with such fearful numbers against them, he was doubtful of the result. The spectacle they had witnessed had been one of the most appalling kind, and sufficient to shake the firmness of most men; but at that trying moment his little band preserved their temper and coolness; and if anything could be gleaned from their countenances, it was that they had determined on an obstinate resistance. He now explained to them that their only chance of escape depended, or would depend, on their firmness. He desired that after the first volley had been fired, McLeay and three of the men would attend to the defence of the boat with bayonets only, while he, Hopkinson, and Harris would keep up the fire, as being more used to it. He ordered, however, that no shot was to be fired until after he had
