64 IDLE DAYS IN PATAGONIA 



he struggled hopelessly for a little while, and then 

 floundered back to me. There was, however, noth- 

 ing else to be done. * ' Major, come here, ' ' I called, 

 and, taking a lump of clay I threw it as far as I 

 could towards the floating bird. He raised his 

 ears, and listened to get the right direction, and 

 when the splash of the stone reached us he dashed 

 in and against the rushes once more. After a vio- 

 lent struggle he succeeded in getting through 

 them, and, finding himself in deep water, struck 

 straight out, and then began swimming about in 

 all directions, until, getting to windward of the 

 bird, he followed up the scent and found it. This 

 was the easiest part of the task, as the bird was 

 very large, and when Major got back to the rushes 

 with it, and I heard him crashing and floundering 

 through, snorting and coughing as if half -suffo- 

 cated, I was sure that if I ever got my flamingo 

 at all it must be hopelessly damaged. At length 

 he appeared, so exhausted with his exertions that 

 he could hardly stand, and deposited the bird at 

 my feet. Never had I seen such a splendid speci- 

 men! It was an old cock bird, excessively fat, 

 weighing sixteen pounds, yet Major had brought 

 it out through this slough of despond without 

 breaking its skin, or soiling its exquisitely beauti- 

 ful crimson, rose-colored, and faintly-blushing 

 white plumage ! Had he not himself been so plas- 

 tered with mud and slime I should, in gratitude, 

 have taken him into my arms; but he appeared 

 very well satisfied with the words of approval I 



