Idle Days in Patagonia. 



now fast-breaking clouds ahead of us appeared the 

 first welcome signs of dawn. By degrees the dark- 

 ness grew less intense ; only just ahead of us there 

 still remained something black and unchangeable 

 a portion, as it were, of that pitchy gloom that a 



short 

 time 

 before 

 had 

 made 

 sea and air 



appear one 

 and indis- 

 tinguishable; 

 1 1 but as the light 

 I increased it 

 changed not, 

 and at last it 

 was seen to be 

 a range of low 

 hills or dunes of 

 sand scarcely a 

 stone's throw from 

 the ship's bows. It 

 was true enough 



Our Captain. 



fast in the sand; and although this was a safer 

 bed for the steamer than the jagged rocks, the 

 position was still a perilous one, and I at once de- 

 termined to land. Three other passengers resolved 

 to bear me company ; and as the tide had riow gone 



