A trifle of money supplied us with eggs and milk, ham and garlic. At night our canoe was secured to its pole a few yards from the bank, which saved us visits from an occasional alligator. From the haciendas we got a variety of deer’s horns merely for taking them away; and though neither of us spoke Spanish, it was wonderful how soon our “crew” understood what we wanted. By the time we got back to the ship we had exceeded our leave by two days. [Sidenote: Mar. 4.] We found in our absence the Prince of Würtemburg had visited the ship, and been received with royal honours. [Sidenote: Mar. 26.] A bar at the mouth of a large river is more than a seaman can manage; the fresh water, trying to force its way into the sea, meets resistance at points which vary and cause change and position of shoals. River and sea meeting cause a rise which the occupants of boats cannot see over. I was sent with the next water-party, consisting of launch, pinnace, and cutter, myself in a gig. We were clear of the ship just before daybreak. A nice sea-breeze had set in; not fresh enough to carry a heavy boat through surf under sail, but sufficient to render pulling easy. Before nearing the breakers we assembled within hail, that I might let the officers in charge know what I had noticed during the weeks we were here in the _Tweed_, as I wished each to use his own discretion before entering a surf through which no one could see. “When a wave is rolling in, do not follow close. Directly the crest of a high wave breaks, its strength diminishes. On entering breakers keep well clear of one another. The most treacherous of all is a dark wall of water, which forms at some distance to seaward--say a cable’s length. It increases in speed and height without apparent cause. Get to sea beyond the low ends without delay.” After this sermon I saw the boats separate to select their points of entrance, and observed young Carrington, in the cutter, select a place I should have chosen myself, then lost sight of him. On casting a look to seaward, I found myself caught in the same sort of trap of which I had given them warning. There was the dark ridge of unbroken water approaching, and increasing in speed. No time to be lost; head, luckily, in-shore, mast stept, sail hoisted, halyards and sheet led aft, which passed under the thwart I held with one hand, tiller ropes in the other: crew on either side dropped in the water, holding on with one hand. [Illustration: _Crossing Tampico Bar._] Directly I found the wave was carrying us as fast as the wind, I let go the halyards. The next moment we were over the bar. A heavier boat must have been lost. Our danger was past, but the cutter had been upset. Three of her crew on shore, were holding the legs of young Carrington up to let the water run out,--and I too late to save the brightest youngster we had in the ship.