64 



THROUGH THE HEART OF PATAGONIA 



That night the men slept inside the hut, but it was too warm 

 for my sleeping-bag, so I took up my bed and went out, passing 

 the night on the lee side of the hut. Perhaps what delio^hted us 



SETTI.KMKNT OK COI.OHUAPI 



most was the fact that in the shelter of the hut we were able to 

 smoke our pipes in peace, safe from the buffeting of the wind. 



At dawn Mrs. Jones kindly sent her children over with a pail 

 of milk. It would be impossible to imagine any more healthy 

 specimens of the Welsh race than these sun-kissed, clear-eyed 

 youngsters. Ruddy and brown and strong, the air of the wilder- 

 ness had need of no better proof of its splendid health-giving 

 qualities. I gave the children chocolate from our store, a luxury to 

 which they were not accustomed, and which they enjoyed immensely. 



William Jones had brought his wife and family to Colohuapi in 

 a wasfoon, following- the banks of the River Chico from Trelew. 

 His journey had, however, been made late in the year, when the 

 marshes were dry, and his waggon had been more suited to the 

 hardships of the way than was ours. 



