1 68 THROUGH THE HEART OF PATAGONIA 



caught our little friend, and, liking- his pace, let him stretch himself 

 a little on the way back over the edge of the marsh. He stretched 

 himself to such good purpose that he was ridden in the next day's 

 races and won the three events, although he was carrying a stone 

 and a half more than the others! Our course lay through a belt 

 of thick bushes, but, barring these, was good enough. At an\- 

 rate, it turned out excellent fun, and we all enjoyed our races. 



The only one of us who did not get a prize was riding a horse 

 which came to us with rather a bad name, and which, immediately 

 the others started, dashed back to the troop. 



During the afternoon we made up our cargoes ready for the 

 morrow's start, after our Christmas dinner, of which I print the 

 menu : 



LAGO BUENOS AIRES, igoo. CHRISTMAS DAY. 



At 5 o'clock P.M. 



Notice. — Come early to get a good helping. 



Menu. 



Common or Garden Duff a la Azulejo. Condiment an lait Suisse. 



GRAND DUFF k la H. Jones avec muscatelles. 



Bceuf. 



Ostrich k la Patagonie. 

 (If you want it.) 



Gigot de Guanaco. 

 (Order beforehand.) 



Cocao au lait-| 



Tu ' ^ u. r Suisse. 

 1 he au lait j 



Vieux Cognac avec vulcanite. 



Plug Tobacco. 



God Save the Queen. 



In the eveninor after dinner we induloed in some shootirjo" 

 matches — with the damaged Colt — which Barckhausen won. 



On December 26 we bade good-bye to Horsham Camp. After 

 a long interval the cargiiei^os were once more loaded up, and the 

 whole troop tailed away to the eastward. Is any sight sadder 

 than a deserted camp } The dead or dying camp-fire, the broken 

 remains of food surprised by the sun. the litter, the bare rubbed 



