CHAP. III. " THE THING IS CERTAIN:' 59 



at the ridge in full front from Guaranda, I did not know what 

 was behind. The Carrels had disappeared amongst the craggy lavas, 

 and as I had selected this as the line of ascent, and could not see 

 a practicable route either to the right or left, I awaited the return 

 of my assistants with some anxiety. Night had almost set in 

 before they were descried coming down the slope that rose from 

 the camp, and it was quite dark when they arrived at the tent, 

 almost breathless, scarcely able to keep on their legs, staggering 

 under their own weight ! They threw themselves down and went 

 to sleep without either eating or drinking, and I did not hear 

 their report until the next day. 



Misled by the time that had been occupied, they believed 

 they had reached a very great height. [I found subsequently 

 that they had got to about 19,300 feet above the sea.] ^^ The 

 thing is certain,'^ said Jean-Antoine joyously, by which he meant 

 Chimborazo could be ascended. However that might be, their 

 condition, and the length of time they had been absent, led me 

 to the conclusion that our present location was not high enough 

 as a starting-point, and that another move upwards must be 

 made, though they said that there was no other place at which 

 we could properly encamp. 



On the morning of the 30th Jean-Antoine was crippled by 

 inflammation of the eyes, and had to submit to be doctored with 

 a solution of sulphate of zinc, but his cousin was sufficiently re- 

 vived in the afternoon to be sent with Perring down to the depot 

 to fetch the tent which was to be advanced to the third camp. 

 They returned at nightfall, having found it as much as they could 

 carry, though it weighed only 35 lbs., a load which the athletic 

 Louis would have thought a trifle at lower elevations (higher press- 

 ures). The minimum at our camp this night was 20° '5 Faht. 



On the 31st, the Carrels and I (each carrying a few small 

 things) went up the ridge to select a camping-place ; and, finding 

 that no protection could be obtained at a higher point, decided 

 to plant ourselves amongst the broken lava, close to the crest 



