men watched, the more dispirited did they become; each returning day found them more weak and wan, more gloomy and petulant, than the preceding one; and when the eighth day of constant and fruitless expectation slowly closed upon us, I too felt a gloomy foreboding creeping Over me. March 16.-A great part of Friday night had been passed by me in walking up and down the beach, anxiously looking out seaward; and it appeared to me, about three o'clock A.M., that the wind had much abated. From this period until dawn it continued gradually to subside, and as daylight stole in, I saw that the surf had somewhat fallen. I resolved, at all events, to lose no single chance that offered itself in our favour; so I turned all hands out, and in a few minutes the boats rode triumphantly beyond the surf, which, indeed, was much heavier than I expected to have found it, and my boat was nearly filled in passing the outer bar; but now the surf was behind us, and it is the nature of man to laugh at perils that are past. Our thoughts, too, were soon called to present difficulties; for a tremendous sea was running outside, the wind directly in our teeth, and every moment freshening again. Throughout the whole of Saturday the men toiled incessantly at their oars; and when it wanted about an hour to sunset, we had only made about seven miles and a half of southing. The wind had again increased to such a degree as to imperil our safety, and it appeared to freshen as the night came on, I therefore had no other resource left but to beach the boats again on this dangerous coast. Once more, then, was the scene repeated of dancing in a boat, with maddening speed, upon furious rollers, until these breaking, it is borne in, followed by a mass of foam, far higher than the stern, which appears in eager pursuit, as with intent to engulph it. There is no scene in nature more exciting, or which in a greater degree calls forth all one's energy and selfcommand, than the beaching of a boat in a dangerous surf. Never did I, on such occasions, take the steer-oar for the purpose of running the boat in, but many contending feelings rushed through my mind, and after a few moments, settled down into the calm which springs from the conviction that the general safety in coming dangers depends altogether upon the coolness and resolution with which they are met. When once you are among the foaming waters, in you must go; to retreat is impossible, and nothing is left but for each one silently and steadily to do his duty, regardless of the strife and din of raging waves around. The only plan to adopt is for all to give way strongly and steadily, let what will take place, whilst the boat-steerer keeps the boat's head straight for the beach. A huge roller breaks right into the boat, and nearly swamps it; a man is knocked over and loses his oar. Heed not these things; let each man mind his own oar and naught else, and give way-give way strongly, until the boat grounds; then in a moment each quits his oar and springs into the water, and ere the wave has retired, the boat is partially run up. Another wave succeeds, and the operation of running up is repeated until she is high and dry. Had our boats been swamped in the surf, even if we had escaped with our lives, our position would have been fearful; left without food or resources in an unknown and savage country, so far beyond the reach of man's assistance. When, therefore, I again saw the boats safely beached, and my little party drying themselves over a fire, my breast filled with thankfulness to that Providence who had again watched over our safety. DEATH OF BURKE AND WILLS, THE SUCCESSFUL EXPLORERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN THE Exploring Expedition of 1860, in which these devoted travellers came to an untimely end, originated in a patriotic offer made by a gentleman, who has concealed his name, to contribute £1000 towards a fund for the exploration of the interior of that unknown continent. Public and private subscriptions soon augmented that sum to the amount of £9000. An enterprising committee was appointed in Melbourne; camels for the use of the expedition were sent for from India; and R. O. Burke, Esq., was appointed to the command of the exploring party. The second in command was a Mr Landells, who left the expedition at a very early date, and was succeeded by Mr W. J. Wills, who had already joined it in the capacity of surveyor and astronomical observer. Monday the 20th of August will be a memorable day in the annals of Melbourne, as recalling the date of the commencement of the expedition. Cooper Creek was reached in the middle of November; about one-half of the party were left there in charge of a depôt of provisions, while the remaining portion, including, of course, Mr Burke and Mr Wills, started northward, with the intention of reaching the shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria. This they successfully accomplished, after many difficulties and much hardship, in the month of February 1861 and on the 13th of that month the party turned their faces to the south, and commenced their long and toilsome march back, hoping to rejoin those whom they had left in charge of E the depôt at Cooper Creek, and looking forward to their arrival there for a temporary repose from their arduous labours, as well as for a better and more ample supply of food and clothing. One of their party, named Gray, died upon the way, and the others were so worn out by hardship and fatigue, that they had hardly strength sufficient to bury him. On the 21st of April, the survivors, Mr Burke, Mr Wills, King, and two camels, reached Cooper Creek, at the exact place where the depôt party had been left by them. There was no one there! During the last few days every effort had been put forth, every nerve strained to reach this goal-the spot where they expected to find rest, clothing, and provisions in abundance. King has described in vivid language the exertions of that last ride of thirty miles, and Burke's delight when he thought he saw the depôt camp. "There they are!" he exclaimed ; "I see them!" Lost and bewildered in amazement, he appeared like one stupefied when the appalling truth burst on him. King has often pictured to me the scene. "Mr Wills looked about him in all directions. Presently he and pointing to a spot a there are the thingst hey said, 'King, they are gone!' short way off, he resumed, have left.' Then he and I set to work to dig them up, which we did in a short time. Mr Burke at first was quite overwhelmed, and, in the helplessness of his dismay, flung himself on the ground; but soon recovering, all three set to work to cook some victuals." The following is Mr Wills' entry in his journal : "Sunday, April 21.-Arrived at the depôt this evening, just in time to find it deserted. A note left in the plant communicates the pleasing information that they have started to-day for the Darling; their camels and horses all We and our camels being well and in good condition. just done up, and scarcely able to reach the depôt, have very little chance of overtaking them. Flour, 50 lb. ; rice, 20 lb. ; oatmeal, 60 lb.; sugar, 60 lb. ; and dried meat 15 lb. These provisions, together with a few horse-shoes and nails, and some odds and ends, constitute all the articles left, and place us in a very awkward position in respect to clothing. Our disappointment at finding the depôt deserted may easily be imagined; returning in an exhausted state, after four months of the severest travelling and privation, our legs almost paralysed, so that each of us found it a most trying task to walk only a few yards.” On the morning of Thursday the 23d of April 1861, Mr Burke, Mr Wills, and King, being refreshed and strengthened by the provisions they found at Cooper Creek, again resumed their journey homewards. Mr Burke un fortunately determined to strike off for the neighbourhood of some South Australian settlers, who, he understood, were located only a hundred miles distant, instead of returning by the route by which they had come from Melbourne, from which, as it happened, a search-party was to start in quest of them, and with whom, had he taken it, he would in all probability have fallen in. He made two attempts to strike in the direction of the settled districts of which he had heard, but was both times driven back from want of water. The story of their unfortunate wanderings may be best narrated in the unaffected language of John King, the only survivor of the party. "Mr Burke, Mr Wills, and I, reached the depôt at Cooper Creek, on April 21st, about half-past seven in the evening, with two camels; all that remained of the six which Mr Burke took with him. All the provisions we |