hich I might make my escape. In my rage I bawled out lustily, when I
heard a step approaching, which might, by its sound, have been the foot
of a young elephant. It was, however, that of the young lady who had
made me prisoner. When she saw that I was awake she sat herself down by
my side, and taking my hand slobbered it over with kisses, and when I
rated her pretty roundly for what she'd done, she almost drowned me with
her tears. They came down in whole buckets full, like a heavy shower in
the tropics: it wasn't pleasant, I can assure you. What was the matter
with the woman I could not tell; in fact, I've found very little
difference in 'em from one end of the world to the other; they are
complete mystifications; when you wants 'em to love you they won't, and
when you don't want 'em they will. What I now wanted was to get my legs
and arms loose to be able to run away. After making a number of signs
to the lady, she comprehended my wishes, and to my great satisfaction
cast off the thongs of hide with which I found she had bound me to
prevent me escaping, should I awake during her absence. She then asked
me my name, when she let me understand that hers was Oilyblubbina,
which, I afterwards learned, means, in the Patagonian tongue, softener
of the soul. I heard her pronouncing my name over and over again to
herself, so I repeated hers, Oilyblubbina, Oilyblubbina, Oilyblubbina,
several times, which pleased her mightily. She then produced from a
basket a few rounds of beef and some loaves a yard long, of which she
pressed me to partake. I did so gratefully, for I was in want of my
breakfast. She next pulled out a bottle of schiedam, but I remembered
the effects of what I took the day before, and was cautious. Having
satisfied my hunger, I made signs to her that I was anxious to wish her
a very good morning, and to return to my ship, but not one of my hints
would she take. I shook her warmly by the hand, told her that I was
much obliged to her for her hospitality, and then walked away, but
wherever I went she dodged my steps and would not let me out of her
sight for a minute. I did my best in every way to escape, but it was no
go; in fact, young gentlemen, I found myself the slave of this monster
of fat and ugliness, for I am sorry to say that I cannot speak in more
flattering terms of the fair Oilyblubbina. Seeing that for the present
it was hopeless to attempt to escape, I pretended to be reconciled to my
lo