ocro_. Wooden spoons were served
to enable us to ladle up the soup, but our fingers had to be used for
the chicken, instead of knives and forks.

We seldom had an opportunity while on mule-back of exchanging thoughts
except at the top of our voices, as in most places we were compelled to
travel in Indian file, one following the other. We were once more
ascending the steep side of the mountain, when, on rounding a point, we
saw coming towards us a single traveller. As he caught sight of us he
stopped his mule, and made signs for us to come on toward the spot where
the greater width of the road would allow us to pass him. As we got up
to him I saw that he was a negro, dressed in the usual poncho and
broad-brimmed hat of the traveller in the Andes. Don Jose, John, and
Arthur had ridden by, when the stranger's eye fell on Maria.

"It must be, after all!" I heard him exclaim in Spanish. "Maria! yes,
it is you! Si, _si_, and I rejoice greatly."

"And you are Domingos; I am sure you are," exclaimed Maria.

"Yes, that is true," answered the old man. "I have come expressly to
find you. I have brought bad news; but it might be worse, so be not
alarmed."

"What is it?" I asked eagerly. "Are my father, or mother, or sister
ill?"

"No; they are all well," said Domingos; "but sad events have occurred at
Quito. There has been a great disturbance--a revolution--no new thing
unhappily; and your father's house has been burned down, and they have
had to fly, and try to escape from the country. They are safe by this
time, I hope. I came on to conduct you to them. I have been riding
fast to try and meet you to prevent you taking the direct road to Quito.
A body of troops are marching along the road, and if you were to fall
into their hands you would be ill-treated. We will descend some
distance by the way you have come, and take shelter in yonder forest
which clothes the side of the mountain. We shall be safe there, and I
doubt not obtain shelter in one of the huts of the chinchona gatherers."

Domingos had given me this account in a few hurried words. I instantly
called to the rest of our party who were ahead, and we were all soon
collected in a nook in the side of the mountain, where we held a
consultation as to what should be done. We quickly agreed to follow the
advice of Domingos. Don Jose was greatly agitated at hearing what had
occurred.

"They would treat me with but scant ceremony, were I to fall into