2 IDLE DAYS IN PATAGONIA 



To make matters worse our captain, a man over 

 eighty years old, was lying in his cabin sick unto 

 death, for, as a fact, he died not many days after 

 our mishap; our one mate was asleep, leaving 

 only the men to navigate the steamer on that 

 perilous coast, and in the darkest hour of a tem- 

 pestuous night. 



I was just dropping into a doze when a succes- 

 sion of bumps, accompanied by strange grating 

 and grinding noises, and shuddering motions of 

 the ship, caused me to start up again and rush to 

 the cabin door. The night was still black and 

 starless, with wind and rain, but for acres round 

 us the sea was whiter than milk. I did not step 

 out ; close to me, half-way between my cabin door 

 and the bulwarks, where our only boat was fas- 

 tened, three of the sailors were standing together 

 talking in low tones. "We are lost," I heard one 

 say; and another answer, "Aye, lost for ever!" 

 Just then the mate, roused from sleep, came run- 

 ning to them. "Good God, what have you done 

 with the steamer!" he exclaimed sharply; then, 

 dropping his voice, he added, "Lower the boat- 

 quick ! ' ' 



I crept out and stood, unseen by them in the 

 obscurity, within five feet of the group. Not a 

 thought of the dastardly character of the act they 

 were about to engage in for it was their inten- 

 tion to save themselves and leave us to our fate- 

 entered my mind at the time. My only thought 

 was that at the last moment, when they would be 



