Our troubles were at an end for the day. A dozen miles still lay before us, but in fair and open water. In due time we recognised a big stone which marked the site of our old camp where we had rested on the way up. We secured the launch a little way below it, where the Leona enters Lake Argentino.
After landing we pitched the tent and sat down to talk it all over. In the meantime we cooked and ate an armadillo, which Burbury had caught on the previous day. It tasted very like sucking-pig.
Then a curious thing happened. The launch, which was bumping slightly at her anchorage, had to be moved, and going on board we found that the pump had again struck work, as it did on many subsequent occasions. One could not help thinking what the result might have been if it had broken down a little earlier in the day. What a wonderful word that little "if" is! Two letters long, but it may mark the distance from pole to pole, the difference between life and death.
That night a series of heavy squalls blew out of the west. We lay in the tent and listened to the wind with the luxurious feeling that comes of good shelter.
Running an ostrich with dogs -- Crossing Santa Cruz River -- Horses troublesome -- Lose my way -- Launch refitted -- Diary of rough days -- Crossing the bar -- Nasty predicament -- Wreck imminent -- Storm -- Ascensio's Bay -- Changeable weather -- Dangerous lakes -- Squalls rushing down from gorges of the Cordillera -- Icebergs -- Ashore for fuel -- Squall comes on -- Cut off from launch -- Miserable night -- Wind lulls -- Aboard again -- Crossing Hell-gate -- Cow Monte harbour -- Bernardo's fire -- Fighting the fire -- News of the world -- Rumours of war -- Death of the Queen.
Late in the evening of the same day Burbury arrived with the horses, and upon the following morning I rode on with him to pass the troop over the Santa Cruz River. We took with us one of Cattle's hounds, and sighting some ostriches on the way we gave chase. The dog had a rope affixed to his collar, by which Burbury had been leading him, and I had no time to take it off before letting him go. In spite of this disability, with the rope trailing behind him, the big black hound pulled down one of the birds. I did not then know how valuable that ostrich was to be to us.