A RAGAMUFFIN AT CHUQUIPOQUIO. 



CHAPTER IV. 



FROM CHUQUIPOQUIO TO AMBATO, LATACUN^GA AND MACHACHI. 



Early on the next morning, the mystery was solved. Louis 

 was found to be a cripple, quite unable to walk, through his 

 feet having been severely frost-bitten. They were frightfully 

 swollen, blistered and discoloured. Jean-Antoine, however, was 

 restored ; his dysentery having yielded to frequent internal appli- 

 cations of hot wine and cognac. 



It appeared that they were somewhat shamefaced about these 

 frost-bitten feet, and when they found that serious mischief had 

 been done they were half afraid to confess it, expecting that a 

 storm would be raised by this result of their negligence.^ It 



^ Louis Carrel did not wear gaiters on Jan. 4, and as his shoes were of the 

 ill-fitting kind usually worn by Alpine peasants, snow worked down into them, 

 and his feet got wet. Both men were in fault. It was a part of their contract 

 that they were to bring gaiters, and it was the business of Jean-Antoine to see 

 that everything requisite was provided. 



M 



