"I can afford to doze," he thought. "I'm pretty uncomfortable, so I sha'n't sleep long."
His head fell back on his saddle, and he was soon fast asleep. He awoke suddenly, feeling stiff and unrefreshed. Springing to his feet, he listened for the sound of his horse; but everything was still.
"What a fool I was to go to sleep!" he thought. "I expect my old prad has made back up the creek, and I shall have to stump it to the camp. Wonder what the time is."
He took his watch out of his pouch, and, the starlight not being strong enough, struck a match. Instantly he was agreeably startled by a loud snort of surprise close to him, and his horse, who had been lying down asleep, got on his legs and shook himself. Brown felt so relieved that he went over and patted and stroked him.
"I thought you had left me in the lurch, old fellow," he said, as he slipped the bridle over his head, for it was nearly midnight, and he thought he might as well make a start. As he stood up after stooping to take the hobbles off, his attention was attracted by a brightness in the eastern sky. "Moon rising," he thought, and led his horse to the tree where his saddle was.
He saddled his horse and was about to mount, when he noticed that the sky was no brighter, and the glow was reddish in colour.
"Moon's rather long-winded," he muttered, and stood there watching for its appearance; but it obstinately refused to appear.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Fire to the East—Brown returns to the Spring—More Dry Creeks Discovered.