But I had stayed too long as it was.

The mules were already suffering for want of water; all three perished before we reached Quipai, and the arriero and myself got home only just alive.
Nevertheless, had not Angelo put her veto on the project, I should have made another visit to the place, provided with a sufficiency of water for the double journey.

I, moreover, thought that with time and proper tools I could find water on the spot.

However, I went not again, and I renounced my design all the more willingly as I knew that the diamonds I had already found were a fortune in themselves.

I added them to my collection of minerals which I kept in my cabinet at Alta Vista.