THE ANDES. 



17 



night we passed a shed with a couple of soldiers 

 in it, who demanded our passports. The light 

 had almost fled from the narrow gorge as we 

 arrived at some rocks, Aqui estamos por la 

 noche, senores^^ (Here we must remain for the 

 night, gentlemen), said Don Melchor ; and our 

 beasts were quickly unloaded by the attendants, 

 and turned out to wander for their food ; whilst 

 we made a blazing fire, with roots found on the 

 brink of the torrent. During the process of 

 making tea, and roasting our beef, we pulled up 

 a quantity of long grass, and spread it under the 

 shelter of the rocks, to soften our beds. By 

 the help of two portmanteaus I made a snug 

 birth for myself and another for my companion, 

 and I slept quite soundly until the madrina^ 

 which, happening to be grazing at my head, 

 tinkled her bell in my ear, and awoke me with 

 the sound. The madrina is the name of a mule 



