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           ThreehundredmilesandmorefromChimborazo,onehundredfromthesnowsofCotopaxi,inthewildestwastesofEcuador’sAndes,thereliesthatmysteriousmountainvalley,cutofffromtheworldofmen,theCountryoftheBlind. Longyearsagothatvalleylaysofaropentotheworldthatmenmightcomeatlastthroughfrightfulgorgesandoveranicypassintoitsequablemeadows; andthitherindeedmencame,afamilyorsoofPeruvianhalf-breedsfleeingfromthelustandtyrannyofanevilSpanishruler. ThencamethestupendousoutbreakofMindobamba,whenitwasnightinQuitoforseventeendays,andthewaterwasboilingatYaguachiandallthefishfloatingdyingevenasfarasGuayaquil; everywherealongthePacificslopestherewereland-slipsandswiftthawingsandsuddenfloods,andonewholesideoftheoldAraucacrestslippedandcamedowninthunder,andcutofftheCountryoftheBlindforeverfromtheexploringfeetofmen. Butoneoftheseearlysettlershadchancedtobeonthehithersideofthegorgeswhentheworldhadsoterriblyshakenitself,andheperforcehadtoforgethiswifeandhischildandallthefriendsandpossessionshehadleftupthere,andstartlifeoveragaininthelowerworld. Hestarteditagainbutill,blindnessovertookhim,andhediedofpunishmentinthemines; butthestoryhetoldbegotalegendthatlingersalongthelengthoftheCordillerasoftheAndestothisday.