38 



THE ANDES* 



left only a narrow channel in the shallow part 

 where we were cautiously creeping along, 

 looking at the torrent raging close to us, and 

 here bursting madly on, as if to sweep down 

 all things in its track. Just at this juncture, 

 a white horse which was loose, and following 

 the drove of mules by himself, suddenly lost 

 his footing, and was swept into the middle of 

 the channel, where he disappeared. He rose 

 afterwards several times, and at last struggled 

 out on the opposite bank, but so crushed by 

 the rocks that he immediately folded his legs 

 under him and laid down. We could not 

 cross over at that part of the stream, and it 

 was too late to seek for any other, so we were 

 forced to bid him adieu, and abandon him to 

 the condors. 



We had been riding several hours in the 

 dark before the barking of dogs announced 



