les from the coast
of Tierra del Fuego, and the passengers examined the inhospitable-looking
coast through their glasses. At one or two points light wreaths of smoke
were seen curling up, telling of encampments of the natives.

"I think, Mr. Ryan," the captain said, "I will take her in and anchor in
one of the bays This breath of air might be enough to move her through
the water if she were going free, but it is nearly dead ahead of us now.
I do not like the idea of drifting all night along this coast. Besides,
we may be able to get some fish from the natives, which will be a change
for the passengers."

The vessel's head was turned towards the shore, and now that the light
air was well on the beam it sufficed to enable the vessel to steal
through the water at the rate of about a knot an hour. At about four
o'clock the anchor was dropped in a bay at a distance of half a mile
from land, the sails were furled, and the passengers watched the shores
in hopes that some native craft might make its appearance; but there was
no sign of life.

"Either the natives have no fish to sell, or rather exchange," the
captain said, "for, of course, money is of no use to them, or they are
afraid of us. Maybe they have been massacring some shipwrecked crew, and
believe we are a ship-of-war come down to punish them. At any rate, they
seem determined not to show."

The next morning the sea was as smooth as glass, and there was not a
breath of air.

"Would you let us have a boat, captain?" Mr. Atherton asked. "It will
make a pleasant change, and perhaps some of the natives might come off
and sell us fish, as they would not be afraid of us as they might be of
the ship."

"Yes, if you like to make up a party, Mr. Atherton, you can have a boat;
but you must not land. The natives are very treacherous, and it would
not be safe to set foot on shore. Mr. Ryan, will you get the cutter into
the water after breakfast? You had better take with you two or three
muskets. I do not think there is any fear of an attack, and besides you
could out-row the native craft, still it is always as well to be
prepared."

Mr. Atherton soon made up his party. Wilfrid and the two Allens were
delighted at the offer, and Marion and the Miss Mitfords also petitioned
to be allowed to go, although Mr. Atherton had not intended to take
ladies with him. Two other young men named Hardy and Wilson were also
invited to join, and this made up the complement that the cutter