THE ANDES. 



29 



step^ and with their noses almost down to the 

 water^ appeared to be smeUing out a good foot- 

 ing. They often paused, and felt with one 

 foot in advance, to be sure of a firm hold, 

 before they ventured to plant it on the 

 ground. Having gained a step forward in 

 this way, they repeated the operation at the 

 next, quite indifferent to the noise of the tor- 

 rent, or to the kick of the anxious and impa- 

 tient rider. 



After clearing the bed of the torrent, we 

 moved along a wider and more serpentine 

 valley. Here was scarcely any vegetation, 

 for, the evening before, we had only descended 

 just without the region of eternal snow, and 

 my thermometer stood below the freezing-point 

 when I rose in the morning. The day was 

 lovely, and as our courage was fortified by the 

 experience of past success, we bore cheerfully 

 all the toils and short breathings of this second 



