But the undertaking, besides proving much more arduous than I had anticipated, came near to costing me my life.

I took with me an _arriero_ and three mules, one carrying an ample supply of food, and, as I thought, of water, for the abbe had told me that a mountain-stream ran through the valley where I was to look for the diamonds.

As ill-luck would have it, however, the stream was dried up.

Had it not been that I did not like to return empty-handed I should have returned at once, for our stock of water was exhausted and we were two days' journey from Quipai.
I spent a whole day seeking among the stones and pebbles, and my search was so far successful that I picked up two score diamonds, some of considerable size.

If I could have stayed longer I might have made a still richer harvest; and I had an idea that there were more under than above ground.