h naturally much distressed (being
bereft of home, kindred, and all they possessed), they bore their
misfortunes with the uncomplaining stoicism so characteristic of their
race.

The immediate question was how to dispose of these unfortunates. I could
not take them away in the sloop, and I knew that they would prefer to
remain in the neighborhood where they were born. But the oasis was
uninhabitable. A few weeks and it would be merged once more in the desert
from which it had been so painfully won. Therefore I proposed that they
should settle at Alta Vista under charge of the priest. Alta Vista being
above the volcano no outburst of lava could reach them, and the _azequia_
being intact beyond that point they could easily bring more land under
cultivation and live in comfort and abundance.

To this proposal the survivors and the priest gladly and gratefully
assented. They were very good, those poor Indians, and seemed much more
concerned over our approaching departure than their own fate, beseeching
us, with many entreaties, not to leave them. Angela would have yielded,
but I was obdurate. I could not see that it was in any sense our duty to
bury ourselves in a remote corner of the Andes for the sake of a score or
two of Indians who were very well able to do without us. What could be the
good of building up another colony and creating another oasis merely that
the evil genii of the mountains might destroy them in a night? Had the
abbe, instead of spending a lifetime in making Quipai, devoted his
energies to some other work, he might have won for himself enduring fame
and permanently benefited mankind. As it was, he had effected less than
nothing, and I was resolved not to court his fate by following his
example.

Those were the arguments I used to Angela, and in the end she not only
fully agreed with me that it was well for us to go, but that the sooner we
went the better. The means were at hand. Yawl could have the yacht ready
for sea within twenty-four hours. There was little more to do than head
the sails and get water and provisions on board. I had the casks filled
forthwith--for the water in the channels was fast draining away--set some
of the people to work preparing _tasajo_, and sent Ramon with the mules
and two _arrieros_ to Alta Vista for the remainder of our clothing,
bedding, and several other things which I thought would be useful on the
voyage.

Ramon, I may mention, was my own personal attendant. He ha