They had lived on the flesh of the worn-out horse for fifteen days, and once or twice were forced to camp without water. Though the sun was always hot, at night a gusty wind blew from the south with an edge like a razor, which made their fire so irregular as to be of little use to them. The sudden and cruel extremes of heat and cold racked the exhausted frames of the explorers with pain, and Burke and King were hardly able to walk. They pushed on, only sustained by the thought that but a few hours, a few miles, now separated them from the main party, where the first felicitations on the success of their exploit awaited them, and, what was of greater importance to men shattered by hardships and privation, wholesome food, fresh clothing, and the comfort of a properly organised camp.
On the morning of April 21, with every impatient nerve strung to its utmost tension, and full of hope, they urged their two remaining camels forward for the last thirty miles; and Burke, who rode a little in advance of the others, shouted for joy when they struck Cooper's Creek at the exact spot where Brahé had been left in charge of the depôt.
'I think I see their tents,' he cried, and putting his weary camel to its best speed, he called out the names of the men he had left there.
'There they are! There they are!' he shouted eagerly, and with a last spurt left the others far behind.
When Wills and King reached the depôt they saw Burke standing by the side of his camel in a deserted camp, alone.
He was standing, lost in amazement, staring vacantly around. Signs of recent departure, of a final packing-up, everywhere met the eye: odd nails and horseshoes lay about, with other useful things that would not have been left had the occupants merely decamped to some other spot. Then, as one struck by some terrible blow, Burke reeled and fell to the ground, overcome by the revulsion of feeling from exultant hope to sudden despair.
Wills, who had ever the greater control of himself, now walked in all directions to make a careful examination, followed at a little distance by King.
Presently he stopped, and pointing to a tree, into the bark of which had been newly cut the words—
'Dig.
'April 21, 1861'
he said:—