714 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



rambles inland were geological excursions of 

 great interest. Here he had the first sight of 

 the guanaco of the Patagonian plains. The 

 weather was fine, and at night-fall, to the 

 golden light of sunset succeeded the fitful 

 glow, over land and water, of the bonfires 

 built by the sailors on the beach. Returning 

 to the ship after dark, the various parties as- 

 sembled in the wardroom, to talk over the 

 events of the day and lay out plans for the 

 morrow. These are the brightest hours in 

 such a voyage, when the novelty of the lo- 

 cality gives a zest to every walk or row, and 

 all are full of interest in a new and exciting 

 life. One is more tolerant even of monoto- 

 nous natural features in a country so isolated, 

 so withdrawn from human life and occupation. 

 The very barrenness seems in harmony with 

 the intense solitude. 



The Hassler left her anchorage on this des- 

 olate shore on an evening of singular beauty. 

 It was difficult to tell when she was on her 

 way, so quietly did she move through the 

 glassy waters, over which the sun went down 

 in burnished gold, leaving the sky without a 

 cloud. The light of the beach fires followed 

 her till they too faded, and only the phospho- 

 rescence of the sea attended her into the 



