Coote ties up his equipment in two packs and heads off to the Rock, it is a very hot morning and the load has to be carried in relays, using precious water and energy. Three miles from water and shade Coote drops his bundles and runs and staggers to waterhole seen on the 29th. Panic, only damp earth remains and he crams his mouth trying to suck moisture from the mud. Calms down and follows the moist ground to the base of the Rock and discovers thousands of gallons of the stuff in a clear pool, drinks deeply then another panic, the water is alive with tiny red leeches. Coote is convinced he'll die of internal bleeding. Blakeley is right, this bloke is not fitted for the bush.

Taylor and Paddy Tucker arrive at Mount Connor early, climb the Mount to check their bearings and discover they have come too far south and east, sight Ayers Rock, 50 miles to the west. They put some miles in then decide to rest up for the day and will move on in the cool of the afternoon. Water supplies very low.

A hundred and sixty miles to the south east at Moorilyara the final cleanup of the camp for the Bailey and Terry, Terry wants the surrounds left spotless, repairs to the truck finished and loaded ready for a first light start tomorrow morning. A pleasant day with a fresh wind from the east.

Mid afternoon at Ayers Rock and Coote decides he will live, rests up in the shade of a rock shelter and ponders his misfortune and the voracious insect and reptile life, drinking medicated wine and enjoying his last smoke. Perhaps Smithy will save him. Meanwhile for his services to aviation and the country, cabinet decides to promote Kingsford Smith to Air-Commodore, which is a little ironic seeing as how Smithy and the Government don't see eye to eye on politics.

Late afternoon and Paddy Tucker pushes on towards the Rock, hoping to find water to bring back to Taylor and the rest of the team who should be following, has some luck with scant supplies in a clay pan and pushes on, arriving at Maggie Spring just before sundown, spots the pilots tracks but the fool does not respond to Tuckers calls. Coote is terrified they might be those infamous Myalls that he has been hiding from for the last week, so lurks in the rocks, scared witless during the night by wallabys bouncing around.

Taylor and the rest of the camel team arrive at the rock at about midnight, a very creditable effort for a new chum thinks Tucker.