At five in the evening they stopped in a gorge of no great depth,
some miles above the little town of Loja, and encamped for the night
at the foot of the Sierras, the first steppes of the great Cordilleras.


CHAPTER XII ELEVEN THOUSAND FEET ALOFT


NOTHING of importance had occurred hitherto in the passage through Chili;
but all the obstacles and difficulties incident to a mountain journey
were about to crowd on the travelers now.

One important question had first to be settled. Which pass would take
them over the Andes, and yet not be out of their fixed route?

On questioning the CATAPEZ on the subject, he replied:

"There are only two practicable passes that I know of in this
part of the Cordilleras."

"The pass of Arica is one undoubtedly discovered by Valdivia Mendoze,"
said Paganel.

"Just so."

"And that of Villarica is the other."

"Precisely."

"Well, my good fellow, both these passes have only one fault;