I08 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS: NARRATIVE. 



and poles from the bits of lumber, and in an excursion to the pampa 

 above in quest of wild cattle from which we secured a bountiful supply 

 of most excellent beef On the morning of the thirteenth we baled the 

 boat out and found that, though still leaking badly, she could be made to 

 float long enough to cross to the other side. Having previously selected 

 an advantageous place for loading, we had taken our cart to pieces and 

 stored it along with our other effects on the shore, conveniently arranged 

 in the order we had decided that each should be placed in the boat, so as 

 to insure against damage such articles as were likely to receive injury 

 from getting wet. We next hauled the boat up alongside and made her 

 fast. Our horses were then brought down and driven into the river. 

 They took to the water with some reluctance, but by yelling at them with 

 all our might and pelting them with stones, we at last succeeded in get- 

 ting them headed for the opposite shore, where they finally landed, though 

 at a considerable distance below. It was now our turn. With our motive 

 power on one side of a stream three hundred yards wide and seventeen 

 feet deep, and ourselves and equipment on the other, something had to 

 be done. We again baled out our boat, hastily embarked ourselves, 

 cast loose and pushed her off into the current. With Mr. Peterson pull- 

 ing with all his might at the oar on the lower side and myself at the rud- 

 der we succeeded in keeping her headed up stream and for the opposite 

 shore, until she struck and grounded on a bar distant some two or three 

 rods from the north bank. All our efforts to get her off were futile, and we 

 were compelled to carry our belongings to shore through the water rising 

 about us to our waists. However, we were now safely across the most 

 considerable river of southern Patagonia and with little or no loss to our 

 equipment. We remained on the bank of the river for the rest of the 

 day, setting up our cart, drying such articles as had become wet in cross- 

 ing and making such other preparations as were necessary for our start 

 on the following morning. 



