nning the pumas.
As soon as we had secured the skins of the wild beasts, and the best
joints from the deer, we loaded the doctor's mule with them,--as he
volunteered to give it up for the purpose, and to proceed with us on
foot.

Though game was abundant, our guide did not consider it safe for us to
remain in the valley. We had still some hours of daylight; and before
we could hope to rest in safety, we had, he told us, many
mountain-heights and deep valleys to traverse.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

PARAMOS DESCRIBED--SUFFER FROM WANT OF WATER--REACH A STREAM--ENCAMP--
INDIAN LEGENDS--A CAPYBARA--ENEMIES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD--ASCEND A STEEP
MOUNTAIN--DESCEND AND REACH A BEAUTIFUL VALLEY--TAKE UP OUR ABODE IN A
MAGNIFICENT CAVERN--EXPLORE THE CAVERN--STRANGE BIRDS--KANIMAPO SHOWS US
ANOTHER CAVERN--CONSTRUCTS A ROPE-BRIDGE--HAZARDOUS PASSAGE--KILL A
JAGUAR AND CAPTURE TWO DEER--TIM AND CHUMBO APPEAR--CHUMBO'S ADVENTURE
WITH KING-VULTURES--NORAH AND KATHLEEN IN DANGER FROM A JAGUAR--SAVED BY
KANIMAPO--GOOD NEWS--PREPARATIONS FOR OUR DEPARTURE.

The fresh air of that elevated region--a contrast to the heavy, damp
atmosphere of the plain below--so revived our spirits and strengthened
our muscles, that all were eager to push on.

We were, it must be remembered, travelling over a series of
mountain-heights forming a chain considerably to the eastward of the
true Cordilleras, which are of much greater elevation; but even here the
cold on the more lofty mountains is excessive, as it is in some of the
valleys between them. These valleys are uninhabitable deserts known as
paramos, in which no human being can exist without keeping in unceasing
and violent motion. No artificial means appears sufficient to sustain
life while a person is exposed to their chilling atmosphere; the
strongest spirits have no effect--and, indeed, increase the direful
consequences. They are usually long deep valleys, so shut in by
neighbouring heights that scarcely a single ray of the sun sheds its
genial influence through them. If a person attempts to remain in them
unsheltered at night, death will certainly overtake him. Some of them,
however, are so extensive that it requires two or three days to cross
them. To enable this to be done, small houses have been erected at
certain distances, in which cooking utensils, wood for firing, and other
articles of convenience, are kept for the accommodation of travellers;
as well as stabling for their mules. B