Providence Was With Us As Guide, And Across The
Lake We Dodged From Sand-Spit To Sand-Spit Until We Had Beaten It, And Not
One Animal Was Bogged.
The night of the 10th our supply was down to three gallons.
None could be
spared for the horses now, none could be spared for beef-boiling, only a
little for bread, and a drop each to drink. Every rock-hole we had
seen - but one - was dry. Alexander Spring would be dry. We should have to
make for the Empress Spring, fifty miles beyond. Every thing pointed to
the probability of this sequence of events, therefore the greatest care
must be exercised. The horses would die within a few miles, but the
camels were still staunch in spite of the weakening effect of the
sand-ridges, so there was no need for anxiety. Yet we could not help
feeling anxious; one's nerves get shaky from constant wear and tear, from
want of food and rest. We had been in infinitely worse positions than
this; in fact, with health and strength and fresh camels no thought of
danger would have been entertained, but it is a very different matter
after months of constant strain on body and mind. Faith - that is the
great thing, to possess - faith that all is for the best, and that all
will "pan out" right in the end.
The days were closing in now, the nights were cold, so we were away
before sunrise, and, leaving the rolling sand, came again into mulga
thickets, with here and there a grassy flat, timbered with bloodwoods - the
tail end of a creek no doubt rising in the sandstone cliffs we had seen
ahead of us.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 437 of 468
Words from 118746 to 119032
of 127189
