ACROSS UNKNOWN SOUTH AMERICA 
mained faithful, and on that occasion stood by my side. 
Unfortunately, Alcides, who had a most violent temper, 
quarrelled with Filippe over some paltry matter and drove 
him over to the inimical camp. 
So there I was — with only one man left. I am not 
much given to losing heart over anything. Alcides 
showed a strong heart on that occasion. He and I pro¬ 
ceeded for three days to rearrange the baggage and mend 
the saddles, etc., in order that we two alone might take 
along the entire caravan of animals. I did not at all look 
forward to the extra work of packing all the animals twice 
a day, and twice a day unpacking them. The loads 
weighed about fifty pounds each, and there were some 
thirty of them. Then we should have to hunt for the 
animals in the morning — a job which meant that one had 
to ride sometimes for miles to track them and bring them 
all back to camp. This prospect, on top of the work I 
had already in hand of writing, taking astronomical 
and meteorological observations, photography, developing 
negatives, drawing, collecting, and classifying botanical 
and geological specimens, which occupied all day and the 
greater part of the night, was a little too much for me. 
But such was my joy at having got rid of my unpleasant 
companions that I would have put up with any additional 
discomfort and inconvenience in order to get on. Alcides 
behaved splendidly on that occasion. 
June eighth and ninth were absolutely wasted. The 
relief from the mental strain of constantly looking after — 
and being on my guard against —my companions was 
great. They were days of great happiness to me. 
On June tenth Alcides and I were making ready to 
depart, with all the animals and baggage, when the four 
mutinous followers and Filippe the negro, most penitent, 
begged to be re-employed. Under ordinary circumstances 
I should certainly never have taken them back; but when 
one was hundreds of miles from everywhere, and had no 
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