it.
It was composed of the tough fibres of the maguey, a sort of osier of
great tenacity and strength, woven into cables. Several of these cables
forming the roadway were stretched over buttresses of stone on either
side of the bank, and secured to stout timbers driven into the ground
beyond them. The roadway was covered with planks, and on either side
was a railing of the same sort of rope as the rest of the bridge. Light
as it appeared, the mules one by one were led over. We followed, not
venturing to look down into the foaming torrent, rushing impetuously
along a hundred feet or more below us. Soon after this a ladder of
rocks appeared in front of us. We were here compelled to dismount, Don
Jose and John helping up Ellen, Domingos assisting Maria, Arthur and I
scrambling up by ourselves while the Indians, waiting till we had
reached the summit, remained behind to drive on the mules. Every
instant I expected to see one of them roll over; but they climbed up
more like monkeys than quadrupeds, and at length joined us on a small
level spot at the summit.

"A dozen bold men might hold this pass against a thousand enemies,"
observed our friend. "Few but our people know it, though. We will
proceed yet higher, and cross the most elevated pass before we stop for
breakfast, if your sister can endure hunger so long."

"Oh yes, yes!" exclaimed Ellen. "I would not have you delay on my
account. The chocolate I took prevents me feeling any hunger, even
though this pure air is calculated to give an appetite."

On and on we went, at as rapid a rate as our mules could move, upwards
and upwards, the scenery if possible growing wilder and wilder at every
step. Huge masses of rock rose above our heads, with snow-topped
pinnacles peeping out at each break between them. We had gone on some
way further, when at a short distance on our left I saw perched on the
top of a rock a huge bird, its head bent forward as if about to pounce
down upon us. Presently we saw its wings expand. It was of great size,
with huge claws, a pointed, powerful beak, a neck destitute of feathers,
and a huge comb on its forehead. The feathers were of a glossy black
hue, with a white ruff at the base of the neck.

"Do you think he will attack us?" I said to Don Jose.

He laughed. "No; he is a coward! We can easily drive him off if he
make the attempt."

He shouted loudly. At that instant the condor, for such was the bird
near us, spreading