SNOW STORM COMES ON. 



135 



below the freezing point. We immediately 

 commenced a steep ascent^ the snow laying 

 hard and slippery, consequently very dan- 

 gerous; on arriving at the top of it, another 

 most stupendous mountain lay before us, all 

 a mass of snow, and as slippery as ice; the 

 gale blew tremendously, and snow began to 

 fall. Such masses were swept from the top 

 by the force of the wind, that it was utterly im- 

 possible to face it. When it came to this, our 

 peons' courage began to fail them ; it was evi- 

 dent a snow-storm was coming on, and it was 

 our most anxious object to get on to the next 

 casucha, situated at the foot of the Cumbre; so 

 that we might be ready to start over as oppor- 

 tunity offered ; for when once across, the descent 

 becomes so very rapid, that ail fear of being 

 overtaken by storms is at an end ; at least, they 

 are easier to be escaped from, and this casucha 

 being only a league and a half from us, it was 

 very desirable we should reach it, particularly 



