CUAP. XVIII. PEDRO DECLINES AN ASCENT. 321 



avalanches, I kept the camp about three miles from the base of 

 the cliffs. 



The north-west ridge led up to the western end of ' the 

 Northern Walls/ ^ and the tent might have been placed upon it 

 even higher than the third camp on the south-west ridge (17,285 

 feet). To have done this would have cost much labour in 

 porterage, and, balancing things, it seemed preferable to stop 

 beloAV, closer to things burnable ; although the starting-point 

 would be nearly fifteen hundred feet lower than upon the first 

 occasion, and the ascent, consequently, would be that amount 

 longer. We had come to our very last day. In one way and 

 another all our margin of time had been dissipated, and unless the 

 ascent was effected on the 3rd of July it could not be made at all. 

 This was in no sense the fault of my people. Each man had his 

 allotted tasks, knew them, and did them ; and during these last 

 days every one worked with a cheerfulness and alacrity beyond 

 praise. Without bidding, Jean-Antoine now went to reconnoitre 

 the ridge ; Louis, David, and Campana made things comfortable ; 

 Cevallos and Domingo drove away the animals to pasturage ; and 

 on the 3rd, while it was still night, all were in readiness, booted 

 and gaitered, waiting for the signal to start. 



Whilst chafing hands around the camp-fire,^ Domingo and our 

 four-footed friend appeared out of the darkness. The arriero-lad 

 came to volunteer his services. I said ''^ No ; a couple of tyros are 

 enough on a rope." Then a sudden idea seized. us. Let us take 

 Pedro. He was already entitled to bow-wows from all dogs who 

 had stood on inferior eminences, — let us enable him to take pre- 

 cedence over the entire canine race. '' Ha ! Pedro ; good dog, 

 come here ! " Pedro was sociable, and came willingly so long as we 

 were round the fire ; but moved away when we began to load, and 



^ I conjecture this was the ridge by which Dr. Stiibel endeavoured to ascend 

 Chimborazo. On the 3rd of July, from 17,000 feet upwards, it was entirely covered 

 with snow, and down to 16,000 feet there were many patches upon it. 



2 The minimum this night was 25° Faht. 



2 T 



