PASSAGE ACROSS 



SO partly to put an end to the animars fears, and 

 partly because I was very hungry, I put a pistol 

 to his ear, and in a short time he was roasting on 

 the burning embers. 



At this moment an English lady, a child about 

 seven years old, two or three younger ones, and a 

 party of peons arrived. They had, with no other 

 protection, passed the Cordillera, and had ridden 

 for twelve or fourteen hours that day in order to 

 get to Uspallata. 



The situation of a country-woman with a family 

 of little children interested us very much, and it 

 was pleasing to hear that they had crossed the Cor- 

 dillera without any accident. The eldest child, 

 who was a very fine boy, had ridden the whole 

 way, but the other little chubby-faced creatures 

 had each been carried upon a pillow in front of the 

 peons' saddles. 



In the history of the hut of Villa Vicencia I had 

 often heard that, in spite of its desert situation and 

 want of comfort, an English lady, who was passing 

 with her husband to Chili about seven or eight 

 years ago, had been confined there, and had re- 

 mained there until she and her little infant were 



