By the time they reached the high Andes, Smith felt extremely saddle sore. His bony-backed burro was even worse than the wild buckskin stallion back at the Miraflores hacienda. The creature’s fur bristled out like a scrubbing brush, and the alpaca blanket underneath did little to pad the thin saddle.
Smith and Yaquita made their way up a steep mountainside trail on flat, rocky pavement laid down by slaves of the Incan Empire several centuries before. Sheep and llamas had passed this way many times on their way up to the high pastures, led by Indian shepherds and their dogs.
Finally, the trail became steep enough and treacherous enough that they were forced to dismount and lead the burros; Smith was relieved to give his hindquarters a rest. He hobbled along bowlegged and sore, as he guide
