LEAVING THE RIVER PLATE 317 



We had a pilot on board as far as Montevideo, where 

 we arrived on the afternoon of the 9th; but on account 

 of an increasing wind (pampero) we had to lie at 

 anchor here for a day and a half, as the pilot could not 

 be taken off. On Saturday afternoon, the 10th, he was 

 fetched off by a big tug-boat, on board of which was the 

 Secretary of the Norwegian Consulate. This gentleman 

 asked us if we could not come into the harbour, as 

 "people would like to see the sliip." I promised to 

 come in on the way back, " if we had time." 



On Sunday morning, the 11th, we weighed anchor, 

 and went out in the most lovely weather that can be 

 imagined. Gradually the land disappeared, and in the 

 course of the evening we lost the lights; we were once 

 more out in the Atlantic, and immediately everything 

 resumed its old course. 



In order to save our supply of preserved provisions as 

 much as possible, we took with us a quantity of live 

 poultry, and no fewer than twenty live sheep, which were 

 quartered in the " farmyard " on the port side of the 

 vessel's fore-deck. Sheep and hens were all together, and 

 there was always a most beautiful scent of hay, so that 

 we had not only sea air, but " country air." In spite of 

 all this delightful air, three or four of the crew were 

 down with influenza, and had to keep their berths for 

 some days. 



I reckoned on being back at Buenos Aires by the 

 beginning of September, and on getting, if possible, one 



