A PATAGONIAN GIANT. 



243 



no western outlet, that, had it not been for Magellan's confidence 

 and persistence, they would never have ventured to explore it. 

 The strait was found to vary in breadth from one mile to ten, 

 and to be four hundred and forty miles in length. During the 

 first night spent in the strait, the Santo Antonio, piloted by one 



CAPE VIRGIN-THE EAST ENTRANCE OF MAGELLAN'S STRAIT. 



Emmanuel Gomez, who hated Magellan, found her way back 

 into the Atlantic, and returned at once to Spain. The pilot's 

 object was principally to be the first to tell the news of the dis- 

 covery, and to carry to Europe a specimen of a Patagonian 

 giant, one of whom he had on board of his vessel. On his way 

 he stopped at Port Julian and took up two of the conspirators 

 who had been abandoned there. The Patagonian was unable to 

 bear the change of climate, and died of the heat on crossing the 

 line. 



One of Magellan's remaining four vessels was sent on in 

 advance of the others to reconnoitre a cape which seemed to 

 terminate the channel. The vessel returned, announcing that 

 the strait indeed terminated at this cape and that beyond lay 



