106 FROM THE ALPS.TO THE ANDES 
When the coolies and the cook, with the pro- 
visions and cooking apparatus, arrived, we 
had supper and then retired to bed. About 
nine o’clock, we went out to see what sort 
of weather it was, but snow was still falling 
and, the next morning, lay on the ground to 
the depth of four inches. Such a high wind 
now arose that it was quite impossible to 
kindle a fire, and we could hardly recognise 
the site of our kitchen. The snow was blown 
hither and thither by the blast and made 
quite a cloud. 
I had to go in search of the coolies who 
were without tents and had gone to find some 
better shelter when the hurricane came on. 
The poor fellows were huddled together in 
little scattered groups of twos and threes, 
nearly benumbed with the cold, but finding 
some wood under the snow, I lit a fire for 
them. 
We made a good breakfast and then 
resumed our march. It was already 2 p.m., 
and for half an hour, we followed the route 
we had taken in coming, but then diverged 
to the left, to feast our eyes on new beauties. 
Here, likewise, huge and perilous crevasses 
confronted us. Then I went on in advance 
to find a safe passage, and seeing it was