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 Brahe had been left in charge of the depot. '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 depot 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:-- '_King, they are gone!_ They have only gone to-day--there are the things they have left!' The two men immediately set to work to uncover the earth, and found a few inches below the surface a box containing provisions and a bottle. In the bottle was a note, which was taken to Burke at once, who read it aloud:-- 'Depot, Cooper's Creek, 'April 21, 1861. 'The depot party of the Victorian Exploring Expedition leaves this camp to-day to return to the Darling. 'I intend to go S.E. from Camp 60, to get into our old track near Bulloo. Two of my companions and myself are quite well; the third--Patten--has been unable to walk for the last eighteen days, as his leg has been severely hurt when thrown by one of the horses. 'No person has been up here from the Darling. 'We have six camels and twelve horses in good working condition. 'WILLIAM BRAHE.' When the leader had finished reading it, he turned to the others and asked if they would start next day to try to overtake Brahe's party. They replied that they could not. With the slightest exertion all felt the indescribable languor and terrible aching in back and legs that had proved fatal to poor Gray. And, indeed, it was as much as any one of them could do to crawl to the side of the creek for a billy of water.