in search of the castaways-第19章

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ot　have　gone　on。　　Glenarvan　never　lost　sight　of　young　Robert；　for　his　age　and　vivacity　made　him　imprudent。　　Paganel　was　a　true　Frenchman　in　his　impetuous　ardor；　and　hurried　furiously　along。　The　Major；　on　the　contrary；　only　went　as　quick　as　was　necessary；　neither　more　nor　less；　climbing　without　the　least　apparent　exertion。　Perhaps　he　hardly　knew；　indeed；　that　he　was　climbing　at　all；　or　perhaps　he　fancied　he　was　descending。　The　whole　aspect　of　the　region　had　now　completely　changed。　　Huge　blocks　of　glittering　ice；　of　a　bluish　tint　on　some　of　the　declivities；　stood　up　on　all　sides；　reflecting　the　early　light　of　morn。　The　ascent　became　very　perilous。　　They　were　obliged　to　reconnoiter　carefully　before　making　a　single　step；　on　account　of　the　crevasses。　Wilson　took　the　lead；　and　tried　the　ground　with　his　feet。　His　companions　followed　exactly　in　his　footprints；　lowering　their　voices　to　a　whisper；　as　the　least　sound　would　disturb　the　currents　of　air；　and　might　cause　the　fall　of　the　masses　of　snow　suspended　in　the　air　seven　or　eight　hundred　feet　above　their　heads。　They　had　come　now　to　the　region　of　shrubs　and　bushes；　which；　higher　still；　gave　place　to　grasses　and　cacti。　At　11；000　feet　all　trace　of　vegetation　had　disappeared。　They　had　only　stopped　once；　to　rest　and　snatch　a　hurried　meal　to　V。　IV　Verne　recruit　their　strength。　　With　superhuman　courage；　the　ascent　was　then　resumed　amid　increasing　dangers　and　difficulties。　They　were　forced　to　bestride　sharp　peaks　and　leap　over　chasms　so　deep　that　they　did　not　dare　to　look　down　them。　　In　many　places　wooden　crosses　marked　the　scene　of　some　great　catastrophes。　About　two　o'clock　they　came　to　an　immense　barren　plain；　without　a　sign　of　vegetation。　　The　air　was　dry　and　the　sky　unclouded　blue。　At　this　elevation　rain　is　unknown；　and　vapors　only　condense　into　snow　or　hail。　　Here　and　there　peaks　of　porphyry　or　basalt　pierced　through　the　white　winding…sheet　like　the　bones　of　a　skeleton；　and　at　intervals　fragments　of　quartz　or　gneiss；　loosened　by　the　action　of　the　air；　fell　down　with　a　faint；　dull　sound；　which　in　a　denser　atmosphere　would　have　been　almost　imperceptible。　However；　in　spite　of　their　courage；　the　strength　of　the　little　band　was　giving　way。　　Glenarvan　regretted　they　had　gone　so　far　into　the　interior　of　the　mountain　when　he　saw　how　exhausted　his　men　had　become。　Young　Robert　held　out　manfully；　but　he　could　not　go　much　farther。　At　three　o'clock　Glenarvan　stopped　and　said：　〃We　must　rest。〃　He　knew　if　he　did　not　himself　propose　it；　no　one　else　would。　〃Rest？〃　rejoined　Paganel；　〃we　have　no　place　of　shelter。〃　〃It　is　absolutely　necessary；　however；　if　it　were　only　for　Robert。〃　〃No；　no；〃　said　the　courageous　lad；　〃I　can　still　walk；　don't　stop。〃　〃You　shall　be　carried；　my　boy；　but　we　must　get　to　the　other　side　of　the　Cordilleras；　cost　what　it　may。　　There　we　may　perhaps　find　some　hut　to　cover　us。　　All　I　ask　is　a　two　hours'　longer　march。〃　〃Are　you　all　of　the　same　opinion？〃　said　Glenarvan。　〃Yes；〃　was　the　unanimous　reply：　　and　Mulrady　added；　〃I'll　carry　the　boy。〃　The　march　eastward　was　forthwith　resumed。　　They　had　a　frightful　height　to　climb　yet　to　gain　the　topmost　peaks。　The　rarefaction　of　the　atmosphere　produced　that　painful　oppression　known　by　the　name　of　PUNA。　　Drops　of　blood　stood　on　the　gums　and　lips；　and　respiration　became　hurried　and　difficult。　However　strong　the　will　of　these　brave　men　might　be；　the　time　came　at　last　when　their　physical　powers　failed；　and　vertigo；　that　terrible　malady　in　the　mountains；　destroyed　not　only　their　bodily　strength　but　their　moral　energy。　Falls　became　frequent；　and　those　who　fell　could　not　rise　again；　but　dragged　themselves　along　on　their　knees。　But　just　as　exhaustion　was　about　to　make　short　work　of　any　further　ascent；　and　Glenarvan's　heart　began　to　sink　as　he　thought　of　the　snow　lying　far　as　the　eye　could　reach；　and　of　the　intense　cold；　and　saw　the　shadow　of　night　fast　overspreading　the　desolate　peaks；　and　knew　they　had　not　a　roof　to　shelter　them；　suddenly　the　Major　stopped　and　said；　in　a　calm　voice；　〃A　hut！〃

CHAPTER　XIII　A　SUDDEN　DESCENT

ANYONE　else　but　McNabbs　might　have　passed　the　hut　a　hundred　times；　and　gone　all　round　it；　and　even　over　it　without　suspecting　its　existence。　It　was　covered　with　snow；　and　scarcely　distinguishable　from　the　surrounding　rocks；　but　Wilson　and　Mulrady　succeeded　in　digging　it　out　and　clearing　the　opening　after　half　an　hour's　hard　work；　to　the　great　joy　of　the　whole　party；　who　eagerly　took　possession　of　it。　They　found　it　was　a　CASUCHA；　constructed　by　the　Indians；　made　of　ADOBES；　a　species　of　bricks　baked　in　the　sun。　Its　form　was　that　of　a　cube；　12　feet　on　each　side；　and　it　stood　on　a　block　of　basalt。　　A　stone　stair　led　up　to　the　door；　the　only　opening；　and　narrow　as　this　door　was；　the　hurricane；　and　snow；　and　hail　found　their　way　in　when　the　TEMPORALES　were　unchained　in　the　mountains。　Ten　people　could　easily　find　room　in　it；　and　though　the　walls　might　be　none　too　water…tight　in　the　rainy　season；　at　this　time　of　the　year；　at　any　rate；　it　was　sufficient　protection　against　the　intense　cold；　which；　according　to　the　thermometer；　was　ten　degrees　below　zero。　Besides；　there　was　a　sort　of　fireplace　in　it；　with　a　chimney　of　bricks；　badly　enough　put　together；　certainly；　but　still　it　allowed　of　a　fire　being　lighted。　〃This　will　shelter　us；　at　any　rate；〃　said　Glenarvan；　〃even　if　it　is　not　very　comfortable。　　Providence　has　led　us　to　it；　and　we　can　only　be　thankful。〃　〃Why；　it　is　a　perfect　palace；　I　call　it；〃　said　Paganel；　〃we　only　want　flunkeys　and　courtiers。　　We　shall　do　capital　here。〃　〃Especially　when　there　is　a　good　fire　blazing　on　the　hearth；　for　we　are　quite　as　cold　as　we　are　hungry。　　For　my　part；　I　would　rather　see　a　good　faggot　just　now　than　a　slice　of　venison。〃　〃Well；　Tom；　we'll　try　and　get　some　combustible　or　other；〃　said　Paganel。　〃Combustibles　on　the　top　of　the　Cordilleras！〃　exclaimed　Mulrady；　in　a　dubious　tone。　〃Since　there　is　a　chimney　in　the　CASUCHA；〃　said　the　Major；　〃the　probability　is　that　we　shall　find　something　to　burn　in　it。〃　〃Our　friend　McNabbs　is　right；〃　said　Glenarvan。　　〃Get　everything　in　readiness　for　supper；　and　I'll　go　out　and　turn　woodcutter。〃　〃Wilson　and　I　will　go　with　you；〃　said　Paganel。　〃Do　you　want　me？〃　asked　Robert；　getting　up。　〃No；　my　brave　boy；　rest　yourself。　　You'll　be　a　man；　when　others　are　only　children　at　your　age；〃　replied　Glenarvan。　On　reaching　the　little　mound　of　porphyry；　Glenarvan　and　his　two　companions　left　the　CASUCHA。　　In　spite　of　the　perfect　calmness　of　the　atmosphere；　the　cold　was　stinging。　Paganel　consulted　his　barometer；　and　found　that　the　depression　of　the　mercury　corresponded　to　an　elevation　of　11；000　feet；　only　910　meters　lower　than　Mont　Blanc。　　But　if　these　mountains　had　presented　the　difficulties　of　the　giant　of　the　Swiss　Alps；　not　one　of　the　travelers　could　have　crossed　the　great　chain　of　the　New　World。　On　reaching　a　little　mound　of　porphyry；　Glenarvan　and　Paganel　stopped　to　gaze　about　them　and　scan　the　horizon　on　all　sides。　They　were　now　on　the　summit　of　the　Nevadas　of　the　Cordilleras；　and　could　see　over　an　area　of　forty　miles。　　The　valley　of　the　Colorado　was　already　sunk　in　shadow；　and　night　was　fast　drawing　her　mantle　over　the　eastern　slopes　of　the　Andes。　　The　western　side　was　illumined　by　the　rays　of　the