for
shelter before he could ask the meaning of the peculiar conduct of the
stranger. The guide soon cleared up the mystery by telling him, through
Bunco, that the traveller was an inhabitant of the town which had been
so recently destroyed by the earthquake. "I happened to know him by
name," continued the guide, "and am aware that his wife with every
member of his family was buried in the ruins. You saw how deeply he
took it to heart, poor fellow."

"Poor fellow indeed; God help him," said Will sadly, as he left the
shelter of the cliff, and continued the ascent.

They never saw the unfortunate man again, but it is worthy of remark
that, years after, Will Osten heard of him through a friend who happened
to cross the Andes at the same point. The blow had been so severe that
he never returned to claim his property; and there it lay for many a day
on the wild mountain pass--perchance there it lies still--far from the
abodes of men, and utterly useless, save as a ponderous monument and
memorial of the terrible catastrophe which had robbed its owner of home,
kindred, wealth, and earthly hope.

The storm had at last burst upon our travellers in all its fury--and
very different is the storm in these weird altitudes, where earth and
heaven seem to meet, than in the plains below. The wind came whistling
down the gorges as if through funnels, driving before it not only snow,
but sand and pebbles, so that for a time our travellers being unable to
face it, were compelled to seek shelter under a ledge of rock. After
the first burst there was a short lull, of which they availed themselves
to push on. Will, being mounted on the best mule, went considerably
ahead of his companions; but at last the falling snow became so thick as
to render objects almost invisible. The track, too, which ran
unpleasantly near the edge of a precipice, was almost obliterated, so he
thought it best to wait for the others. Just then another squall came
howling down the gorge at his right. His mule became restive and
frightened, and, slipping on the snow, came down on its knees. The
violence of the wind rendered it almost impossible to keep the saddle,
so this decided Will. He slid off. Scarcely had he done so when there
came a gust which fortunately threw him flat down; at the same time his
mule staggered over the edge of the precipice. One moment Will saw the
poor animal struggling to regain its footing--the next it was rolling
down into th