Page:Tex; a chapter in the life of Alexander Teixeira de Mattos (IA texchapterinlife00mcke).pdf/153

 Teixeira comments on this change of plans in his letter of 16. 11. 20:

''They have had a cyclone, I see, at "Baires," as the wireless used to have it at the W. T. I. D; but, as we had a gale y'day at Ventnor, there's not much in that. On the other hand, how do you propose to travel from Baires to Paradise Valley? I ask in all ignorance: is there a rail-*way? I know there are Argentine Rails; but are the Andes tunnelled? If not, what about it? You can travel from London to Ventnor via Cowes but also via Ryde; in my days, the route from Baires to Valparaiso knew but one method: to Ride, if you like, but to Ride via Llamas. Let me warn you, a llama would spit in your eye as soon as look at you. And you not knowing a word of the language! How's it to be done, Stephen, how's it to be done? There are bits of the Andes where you cross a crevasse, llama and all, in a basket slung on a rope which stretches from precipice to precipice. Of all the cinematographic stunts! Well, there! Have you a nice revolver?''

'' Tell me what you think that you are going to eat between Baires and Valparaiso, ''he adds next day''. They grow comparatively few fish on''