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But the grandeur； the novelty； and the variety of the scenery repaid us； and Le Mire loved the danger for its own sake。 Time and again she swayed far out of her saddle until her body was literally suspended in the air above some frightful chasm； while she turned her head to laugh gaily at Harry and myself； who brought up the rear。
〃But Desiree！ If the girth should break！〃
〃Oh； but it won't。〃
〃But if it should？〃
〃Tra…la…la！ e； catch me！〃
And she would try to urge her mule into a trot…a futile effort； since the beast had a much higher regard for his skin than she had for hers； and the mule of the arriero was but a few feet ahead。
Thus we continued day after day； I can't say how many。 There was a fascination about the thing that was irresistible。 However high the peak we had ascended； another could be seen still higher； and that； too； must be scaled。
The infinite variety of the trail； its surprises； its new dangers； its apparent vanishings into thin air； only to be found； after an all but impossible curve； up the side of another cliff； coaxed us on and on； and when or where we would have been able to say； 〃thus far and no farther〃 is an undecided problem to this day。
About three o'clock one afternoon we camped in a small clearing at the end of a narrow valley。 Our arriero； halting us at that early hour； had explained that there was no other camping ground within six hours' march； and no hacienda or pueblo within fifty miles。 We received his explanation with the indifference of those to whom one day is like every other day； and amused ourselves by inspecting our surroundings while he prepared the evening meal and arranged the camp beds。
Back of us lay the trail by which we had approached…a narrow； sinuous ribbon clinging to the side of the huge cliffs like a snake fastened to a rock。 On the left side； immediately above us； was a precipice some thousand feet in height； on the right a series of massive boulders； of quartzite and granite； misshapen and lowering。
There were three； I remember； placed side by side like three giant brothers； then two or three smaller ones in a row； and beyond these many others ranged in a mass unevenly； sometimes so close together that they appeared to be jostling one another out of the way。
For several days we had been in the region of perpetual snow； and soon we gathered about the fire which the arriero had kindled for our camp。 Its warmth was grateful； despite our native woolen garments and heavy ponchos。
The wind whistled ominously； a weird； senseless sound that smote the ear with madness。 The white of the snow and the dull gray of the rocks were totally unrelieved by any touch of green or play of water； a spot lonely as the human soul and terrifying as death。
Harry had gone to examine the hoofs of his mule； which had limped slightly during the afternoon； Le Mire and I sat side by side near the fire； gazing at the play of the flames。 For some minutes we had been silent。
〃In Paris； perhaps…〃 she began suddenly； then stopped short and became again silent。
But I was fast dropping into melancholy and wanted to hear her voice； and I said：
〃Well？ In Paris…〃
She looked at me； her eyes curiously somber； but did not speak。 I insisted：
〃You were saying； Desiree； in Paris…〃
She made a quick movement and laughed unpleasantly。
〃Yes； my friend…but it is useless。 I was thinking of you。
'Ah！ A card！ Mr。 Paul Lamar。 Show him in； Julie。 But no； let him wait…I am not at home。' That； my friend； would be in Paris。〃
I stared at her。
〃For Heaven's sake； Desiree； what nonsense is this？〃
She disregarded my question as she continued：
〃Yes； that is how it would be。 Why do I talk thus？ The mountains hypnotize me。 The snow； the solitude…for I am alone。
Your brother； what is he？ And you； Paul； are scarcely aware of my existence。
〃I had my opportunity with you； and I laughed it away。 And as for the future…look！ Do you see that waste of snow and ice； glittering； cold； pitiless？ Ha！ Well； that is my grave。〃
I tried to believe that she was merely amusing herself； but the glow in her eyes did not proceed from mirth。 I followed her fixed gaze across the trackless waste and； shivering； demanded：
〃What morbid fancy is this； Desiree？ e； it is scarcely pleasant。〃
She rose and crossed the yard or so of ground between us to my side。 I felt her eyes above me； and try as I would I could not look up to meet them。 Then she spoke； in a voice low but curiously distinct：
〃Paul； I love you。〃
〃My dear Desiree！〃
〃I love you。〃
At once I was myself； calm and smiling。 I was convinced that she was acting； and I dislike to spoil a good scene。 So I merely said：
〃I am flattered； senora。〃
She sighed； placing her hand on my shoulder。
〃You laugh at me。 You are wrong。 Have I chosen this place for a flirtation？ Before； I could not speak； now you must know。
There have been many men in my life； Paul； some fools； some not so； but none like you。 I have never said； 'I love you。' I say it now。
Once you held my hand…you have never kissed me。〃
I rose to my feet； smiling； profoundly fatuous； and made as if to put my arm around her。
〃A kiss？ Is that all； Desiree？ Well…〃
But I had mistaken her tone and overreached。 Not a muscle did she move； but I felt myself repulsed as by a barrier of steel。 She remained standing perfectly still； searching me with a gaze that left me naked of levity and cynicism and the veneer of life； and finally she murmured in a voice sweet with pain：
〃Must you kill me with words； Paul？ I did not mean that…now。
It is too late。〃
Then she turned swiftly and called to Harry； who came running over to her only to meet with some trivial request； and a minute later the arriero announced dinner。
I suppose that the incident had passed with her； as it had with me； little did I know how deeply I had wounded her。 And when I discovered my mistake； some time later and under very different circumstances； it very nearly cost me my life； and Harry's into the bargain。
During the meal Le Mire was in the jolliest of moods apparently。 She retold the tale of Balzac's heroine who crossed the Andes in the guise of a Spanish officer； performing wondrous exploits with her sword and creating havoc among the hearts of the fair ladies who took the dashing captain's sex for granted from his clothing。
The story was a source of intense amusement to Harry； who insisted on the recital of detail after detail； until Desiree allowed her memory to take a vacation and substitute pure imagination。 Nor was the improvisation much inferior to the original。
It was still light when we finished dinner； a good three hours till bedtime。 And since there was nothing better to do； I called to the arriero and asked him to conduct us on a tour of exploration among the mass of boulders； gray and stern； that loomed up on our right。
He nodded his head in his usual indifferent manner； and fifteen minutes later we started； on foot。 The arriero led the way； with Harry at his heels； and Desiree and I brought up the rear。
Thrice I tried to enter into conversation with her； but each time she shook her head without turning round； and I gave it up。
I was frankly p