fore, contented himself with cutting off the
head and talons of the condor, and then resumed his toilsome upward
journey.

According to the arriero's prophecy, the storm burst upon them in less
than two hours, while they were still some distance from the top of the
pass.

Although they had now reached the region of snow, the zig-zag track by
which they ascended was tolerably visible, but, as they proceeded, dark
clouds overspread the sky, and snow fell heavily, while peals of
muttering thunder came from afar, echoing among the mountain peaks and
betokening the rapid approach of the storm. The arriero looked anxious,
and urged the mules on with whip and voice, turning his eyes furtively,
now and then, in the direction of the dark clouds. Presently, on
turning one of the bends in the track, they came upon a singular party
travelling in the opposite direction. Their singularity consisted
chiefly in this, that instead of mules they had a train of
bullock-waggons, which were laden with ponderous mill-machinery. At
their head rode a fine-looking man of middle age, who addressed Will in
Spanish. Bunco's services as interpreter being called into requisition,
the traveller told them that the pass was pretty clear, but advised them
to make haste, as the storm would soon break, and might render it
impassable. On the same ground he excused himself for not staying to
exchange news with them.

"Your cargo is a strange one," said Will, as they were about to part.

The traveller admitted that it was, and explained that he meant to erect
a flour-mill in his native town, towards which he was hastening.

At these words the arriero seemed peculiarly affected. He advanced to
the traveller and said a few words. The latter started, turned pale,
and asked a few hurried questions. While the arriero was replying, the
pallor of the traveller's countenance increased; a wild fire seemed to
shoot from his eyes, and his hands clutched convulsively the poncho
which covered his breast. Suddenly he returned to his followers and
gave them a few hurried orders, then, without noticing any one, he put
spurs to his mule, and galloping down the track like a madman, was out
of sight in a moment. His men at once unharnessed the cattle and
followed him, leaving the waggons and the ponderous machinery in the
snow.

The first gust of the storm burst upon the travellers at this moment,
and Will with his friends had to ride to a neighbouring cliff