Mr. Butterworth from the Vacuum Oil Company writes to Coote in Alice Springs, too late the wayward pilot has returned to Sydney and he has to face the Baileys this morning.

Taylor receives instructions from C.A.G.E. to make preparations to return to Illbilla and set up camp for the arrival of pilots Pittendrigh and Hamre who will continue the search for Lasseter from there, they intend to leave Alice Springs on 20/12/30.

Only light rain last night at Mount Davies and the Endeavour team now has six Aboriginal escorts who hang about the camp much too close for Terry's liking. One guides Colson to water that morning but poor Ted Colson and Mick have a bad day of it, they are drenched by thunderstorms for almost four hours that afternoon and return to camp somewhat the worse for wear, Terry prescribes six grains of quinine and a tot of rum to ward of the chills. After breakfast he and Bird prospect the outcrop in detail but there are only heavy ironstone tails in the dolly and pan,  but they do find Worman's marked claims from thirty years ago. the lone Bailey has cook and camp guard duties for the day. A continuous roll of thunder all afternoon with nearly two and a half inches of rain that night. Colson does not sight any tracks from the Quest expedition.