A THREATENED ATTACK. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



THE FIRST ASCEN^T OF CARIHUAIRAZO. 



Although compelled by force of circumstances to leave Chim- 

 borazo for a while (see pp. 78-80)^ nothing had occurred to alter 

 my determination to ascend that mountain again ; and indeed it 

 was strengthened, because I perceived that a repetition of baro- 

 metric observations would have, for the measurements of pressure 

 which had been made since the first ascent, much the same value 

 as a ' base of verification ' in a triangulation. There was no longer 

 reluctance on the part of my assistants — they were my most 

 willing and obedient servants — and we expected to have the com- 

 pany of Campana and David, both of whom had shewn some 

 aptitude in keeping on their legs. When preparations were com- 

 pleted at Riobamba, I proposed first to execute a measurement on 



