my readers as may not have read the preceding portions of the narrative,
that Cardwell is the name of a small township situated on the shores of
Rockingham Bay; and that Townsville is a settlement some hundred miles
further south, known also as Cleveland Bay.


HOW WE EXPLORED GOULD AND GARDEN ISLANDS.

We were all much pleased at a piece of intelligence brought up by the
'Daylight', to the effect that a party of volunteers had been assembled at
Cleveland Bay, and intended coming up in a small steamer to the south end
of Hinchinbrook, to assist in the search for the missing crew. As it would
be of the utmost importance that both parties should co-operate, I sent my
boat down to the mouth of the channel, with a note to the leader of the
expedition announcing our intention of landing on the north end of the
island and working towards the centre; and requesting them to scour their
end, and then push northward, when we should most probably meet in the
middle of the island. The boat had orders to wait at the bar until the
arrival of the steamer, and then to return with all speed. In the
meanwhile, the 'Daylight' was discharging her cargo, and we were making
preparations for what we well knew would prove a most arduous undertaking;
the sequel will show that we did not overrate the difficulties before us.

At the risk of being tedious, I must explain to the reader some of the
peculiarities of Hinchinbrook Island. Its length is a little short of
forty miles, and its shape a rude triangle, the apex of which is at the
south, and the north side forming the southern portion of Rockingham Bay.
Now this north side is by no means straight, but is curved out into two or
three bays of considerable extent, and in one of them stand two islands
named Gould and Garden Islands. The latter of these was our favourite