PACIFIC STEAMER DELAYED. 269 



mised the prevalence of such thick weather about the 

 western entrance to the Straits as might have led her 

 commander to make the circuit by Cape Horn. In 

 the latter case, I should be detained for another fort- 

 night, and although I should have gladly seen some- 

 thing more of the country, and found myself meantime 

 fortunate in pleasant society, I did not in this season 

 desire so long a delay. Once more I betook myself 

 at night to the sofa in Dr. Fenton's hospitable house, 

 and at length, about four in the morning, a tapping 

 at the window announced that the lights of the steamer 

 were in view. Dr. Fenton, who wished to go on 

 board, was speedily ready, and we went to the landing- 

 place where, until the jetee, still in construction, should 

 be finished, the boats are run up on the sandy beach. 

 There was some delay in finding the key of the store 

 where my luggage was housed, but at last we were 

 ready to start. The boat, however, was fast aground 

 on the flat margin of the bay ; in vain the four boat- 

 men shoved with their oars, until the taciturn port 

 captain barked out the order to get into the water 

 and shove her off. It was freezing hard, and I fear 

 the poor fellows wished me and my luggage no good 

 when, after much striving, we were finally afloat, and 

 they resumed their places at the oars. In the dark 

 the great hull loomed gigantic as, about five a.m., we 

 pulled alongside of the steamer, which turned out to 

 be the Iberia, one of the largest and finest vessels 

 of the Pacific Company, commanded by Captain 

 Shannon. 



Having learned that the steamer had been detained 

 by very heavy weather in the South Pacific, and had 



