LieutenantAbbot,andensignPrentice,oftheNewSouthWalescorps,werethetwoofficersundermycommand,andwiththreesergeants,threecorporals,andthirtyprivates,completedthedetachment.
WeproceededdirectlytothefordsofthenortharmofBotanyBay,whichwehadcrossedinourlastexpedition,onthebanksofwhichwewerecompelledtowaituntilaquarterpasttwointhemorning,fortheebbofthetide.Asthesepassing-placesconsistonlyofnarrowslipsofground,oneachsideofwhicharedangerousholes;andasfordingriversinthenightisatalltimesanunpleasanttask,Ideterminedbeforeweenteredthewater,todisburthenthemenasmuchaspossible;thatincaseofsteppingwrongeveryonemightbeasready,ascircumstanceswouldadmit,torecoverhimself.
Thefirelockandcartouche-boxwereallthatwecarried,thelattertiedfastonthetopofthehead,topreventitfrombeingwetted.Theknapsacks,etc.Ileftinchargeofasergeantandsixmen,whofromtheirlowstatureandothercauses,weremostlikelytoimpedeourmarch,thesuccessofwhichIknewhingedonourability,byarapidmovement,tosurprisethevillagebeforedaybreak.
Thetworiverswerecrossedwithoutanymaterialaccident:andinpursuitofmyresolution,Iorderedtheguidestoconductusbythenearestroute,withoutheedingdifficulty,orimpedimentofroad.Havingcontinuedtopushalongtheriver-bankverybrisklyforthreequartersofanhour,weweresuddenlystoppedbyacreek,aboutsixtyyardswide,whichextendedtoourright,andappeareddryfromthetidebeingout:Iaskedifitcouldbepassed,orwhetheritwouldbebettertowheelroundtheheadofit.
Ourguidesansweredthatitwasbadtocross,butmightbegotover,whichwouldsaveusmorethanaquarterofamile.Knowingthevalueoftime,Idirectlybadethemtopushthrough,andeveryonebegantofollowaswellashecould.Theywhowereforemosthadnot,however,gotabovehalfoverwhenthedifficultyofprogresswassensiblyexperienced.Wewereimmersed,nearlytothewaistinmud,sothickandtenacious,thatitwasnotwithoutthemostvigorousexertionofeverymuscleofthebody,thatthelegscouldbedisengaged.Whenwehadreachedthemiddle,ourdistressbecamenotonlymorepressing,butserious,andeachsucceedingstep,buriedusdeeper.Atlengthasergeantofgrenadiersstuckfast,anddeclaredhimselfincapableofmovingeitherforwardorbackward;andjustafter,EnsignPrenticeandIfeltourselvesinasimilarpredicament,closetogether.