Part 9 (1/2)

I pointed through theof the hotel

”Bah! And you call yourself a traveler? Look! The snow! My friend Paul, ain we tossed a coin

Ah, if Le Mire had only seen the future! And yet--I often wonder--would she have turned her back? For the woameness of centuries was in her blood--well, she had her experience, which was shared only in part by Harry and uess what they held for us

We were laughing, I ree of civilization represented by Cerro de Pasco

We found it i town, and were forced to despatch a er to Lis, boots, leather leggings, knickerbockers, woolen ponchos, and scores of other articles which he assured us were absolutely necessary for any degree of coood-sized pack-train on our hands

The proprietor of the hotel found us an arriero, whouide in all the Andes--a long, loose-jointed felloith an air of co on his yellow, rather sinister-looking face Le Mire did not like him, but I certainly preferred the hotel proprietor's experience and knowledge to her volatile fancy, and engaged the arriero on the spot

Our outfit was co in readiness, when Harry suddenly announced that he had decided not to go, nor to allow Le Mire to do so

”I don't like it,” he said in troubled tones ”I tell you, Paul, I don't like it I've been talking to so is foolhardy and dangerous”

Then, seeing the expression on my face, he continued hastily: ”Oh, not forthat any one else will do, andhappened to her I--well--”

I cut him short:

”My dear boy, the idea is Desiree's own And to talk of danger where she is concerned! She would laugh at you”

”She has,” Harry confessed with a doubtful shly on the shoulder

”Come, brace up! Our caravan awaits us--and see, the fairy, too Are you ready, Desiree?”

She ca, radiant

I shall never forget the picture she presented She hite knickerbockers, a white jacket, tan-leather boots and leggings and a khaki hat

Her golden hair, massed closely about her ears and upon her forehead, shi+ly; her eyes sparkled; her little white teeth gleamed in a happy, joyous smile

We lifted her to the back of her mule, then h my brain with remarkable clearness, and I turned to Le Mire:

”Desiree, do you know the first tiham at the Gare du Nord This is somewhat different, ,” she answered ”Are you ready? See that stupid arriero! Ah! After all, he knehat he was about Then,h his teeth The mules pricked up their ears, then with one common movement started forward

”Adios! Adios, senora! Adios, senores!”

With the cry of our late host sounding in our ears we passed down the narrow little street of Cerro de Pasco on our way to the snow-capped peaks of the Andes