154 THE ADVENTURES OF 



halt. Jiow should we make our way over it? Upon ex- 

 amining the spot, we decided to incline towards the left, 

 which seemed to us the most accessible road. In parts the 

 wall diminished in height, but we tried in vain to climb it. 

 A more successful attempt, however, brought us nearly to 

 the top, but not without great fatigue, for sometimes the 

 rock appeared to hang over us. At length, by climbing on 

 to Sumichrast's shoulders, I managed to reach the flat sur- 

 face above. I hoisted up Lucien here with the lasso ; next I 

 drew up Gringalet, who was only too pleased to submit to 

 the operation, and lastly Sumichrast and 1'Encuerado. The 

 terrible obstacle was at last overcome ; beyond it the 

 ground was, comparatively speaking, level, but covered with 

 stones of a volcanic nature. 



We still kept on our way, although it was four o'clock, in 

 the hope of finding some tree at the foot of which we could 

 make our bivouac. L'Encuerado put down his load to 

 climb up a needle-shaped rock, the extraordinary position of 

 which reminded us of the celebrated leaning tower of Pisa. 

 When he had reached its top, the Indian called out to us 

 that he could see a clump of trees. The cold began to in- 

 convenience us and we wanted wood to make our fire, so, 

 plucking up fresh courage, we continued our journey. The 

 distance now traversed was inconsiderable; but the ups 

 and downs and circuits had quite wearied us. Gradually 

 the rocks decreased in size, and were more widely spread ; 

 a plain slightly depressed in the centre, dotted here and 

 there with thinly growing thickets, was reached. In the 

 background there was a clump of firs and a glittering lake, 

 quite a liquid oasis hidden in a desert. 



It now became highly necessary for us to seek shelter, 

 for our teeth were chattering with the cold. L'Encuerado, 

 having climbed a tree, cut down the wood that was neces- 

 sary for the construction of a hut ; while Lucien broke all 



