"I am the muleteer," was the reply.

"As you please," said Glenarvan.

"We can do without him," said Paganel. "On the other side we
shall get back into the road to Antuco, and I'm quite sure I'll
lead you to the foot of the mountain as straight as the best
guide in the Cordilleras."

Accordingly, Glenarvan settled accounts with the CATAPEZ,
and bade farewell to him and his PEONS and mules.
The arms and instruments, and a small stock of provisions were
divided among the seven travelers, and it was unanimously agreed
that the ascent should recommence at once, and, if necessary,
should continue part of the night. There was a very steep winding
path on the left, which the mules never would have attempted.
It was toilsome work, but after two hours' exertion, and a great
deal of roundabout climbing, the little party found themselves
once more in the pass of Antuco.

They were not far now from the highest peak of the Cordilleras,
but there was not the slightest trace of any beaten path.
The entire region had been overturned by recent shocks of earthquake,
and all they could do was to keep on climbing higher and higher.
Paganel was rather disconcerted at finding no way out to the other
side of the chain, and laid his account with having to undergo
great fatigue before the topmost peaks of the Andes could be reached,
for their mean height is between eleven and twelve thousand six
hundred feet. Fortunately the weather was calm and the sky clear,