"It is lucky we are not very big, or we should not be able to hide ourselves so well," observed Jerry as we crept on.  The valley lay far below us, with steep precipices and a brawling torrent, with rocks and shrubs scattered about; and high above us wild jagged peaks and snow-covered mountain-tops.  The stillness of the air was most extraordinary.  Not a sound reached our ears.  Never have I been in a wilder or more magnificent scene.  I do not know what our four-footed companion thought of it, but he certainly enjoyed the idea of catching a guanaco--so did we, indeed, more than anything else.  We had got within five hundred yards of the nearest without being discovered.  Hitherto we had gone on very cautiously.  Our eagerness overcame our discretion.  We left cover and ran on exposing ourselves to view.