2i6 THROUGH THE HEART OF PATAGONIA 



over the boat. The reason of these sudden changes is not far to 

 seek.* 



" Here, encircled by snow-capped mountains and bounded by 

 high cHiTs, the waters of Argentino are often struck by swift squalls 

 descending from, the gorges. The voyager may be, as we were, 

 many miles distant from the actual spot where the storm first 

 strikes, but the squall rushes down the funnel-like openings, bring- 

 ing a heavy sea with it. The seas are also very short, which more 

 than doubles the difficulty of navigation. 



"On this occasion the sun was obscured and the outlook 

 to the westward became more and more menacing. The launch 

 began to creak and groan as usual, and to make but slight 

 headway. Far away glimmered an iceberg, which lay at the 

 entrance of the bay that marked our next harbourage. Soon it 

 became clear that we should never be able to reach its friendly 

 shelter without gathering a fresh supply of fuel. There was only 

 one alternative left to us, and that was to put in close to the shore, 

 and either wade or swim off to get more. 



" The squall had now more or less spent itself, so we ran in 

 close, gaining some small shelter from a promontory which ended 

 in a big boulder. 



" To attain such shelter as the promontory offered it was neces- 

 sary to make our way through a group of rocks. This we did, and 

 the wind sinking, Cattle and I scrambled ashore with the axes and 

 tell to work while Bernardo remained on board. 



" Before, however, we had gatheredhalf the required quantity of 

 wood a second squall, more heavy than the first, came screaming 

 across the lake, tearing the launch from her anchorag-e and almost 

 driving her upon the beach. We stripped off some of our clothes 

 and waded down into the water, and after a ten-minutes hard 

 struggle we succeeded in getting her back into deep water, where 

 she again dropped anchor. 



" We returned to our work ashore, and cut and piled a good 

 store of fuel, almost as much as we needed, on the shingle ready to 

 carry aboard, but the violence of the waves put all hope of 



- This we came to understand very thoroughly at a later date, when v/e penetrated 

 to the end of the long twisting arms oi the lal<e. 



