CHAP. III. FLIGHT OF THE GUARD. 63 



an introduction to the others, and found that Mr. Perring had 



suspected that F was the thief, and had thoughtfully engaged 



a fresh arriero as courier, before arresting our late one, who was 

 now a prisoner and on his way to Guaranda in charge of two 

 of my guards ; ^ whilst the other pair had taken the earliest oppor- 

 tunity to wait upon me, not to pay their respects, but to state 

 that unless they were paid eightpence each per day, lymictuallij 

 every day, they would take themselves oif. I assured them that 

 it would give us the greatest pleasure to see one of them every 

 day, punctually, at the third camp, to receive the four eight- 

 pences, and appointed Mr. Perring paymaster ; but they took 

 themselves off, I neither know when nor where, and relieved 

 us from all trouble on their account, except the settlement of a 

 bill from the authorities at Guaranda for services which had not 

 been rendered. 



They did not, however, depart from the second camp until 

 we had shewn them the way to the third one. Their unexpected 

 visit was too good an opportunity to be lost. I impressed every 

 one to assist in the move, and at the end of the afternoon we 

 had got three weeks' provisions at the U2)2ier station. The second 

 camp was then left to take care of itself, with the tent standing, 

 and a good supply of food and firing alongside. A line of com- 

 munication was now fairly established. However bad the weather, 

 we could always retreat upon the second camp, and from it to 

 the depot near the first one, scarcely more than two hours from 

 Tortorillas, where we could communicate with Guaranda ; and 

 the word was given the same afternoon that Chimborazo was 

 to be assaulted on the next morning. 



At 5.35 a.m.^ on Jan. 3, we left the tent, and, scrambling 



^ This was done without my approval or knowledge. There did not seem to 

 be any evidence against this man ; and, if there had been, we could not have 

 obtained his conviction without the witnesses which were necessary (according to 

 Mr. Perring) to satisfy the law of Ecuador. 



2 There was seldom light enough for travelling over unfamiliar ground earlier 

 than 5.30 a.m. 



