Even mountain people did not dare venture out casually to conduct rescues during a snow storm. They had to wait until the snow stopped before leaving.
Mountain weather was unpredictable, and sometimes tourists who did not know how to read the changing skies became trapped in the mountains and desperately needed rescue.
At such times, the monastery would send out the Saint Bernard rescue dogs. They did not act alone: one would stay behind to warm the stranded climber with its body heat, while another returned to the monastery to raise the alarm. They could also keep each other warm—if they could not protect themselves, how could they save anyone?
Georgiana rode her broomstick down to the entrance of the underground lake she had passed by during the day without entering.
According to Alexander von Humboldt's observations, when volcanoes in the Andes erupted, the snow above the snow line would suddenly melt, causing floods. Heavy masses of snow carried fallen volcanic debris along in the current, spewing steam all the way amid swirling mist.
Once the volcano quieted, the pooled water would seep into cracks in the trachyte. Caves on the slopes or at the foot of the mountain gradually evolved into underground reservoirs. Narrow openings connected them to streams on the Quito Plateau, allowing the water to circulate. Fish in the streams preferred to breed in dark caves filled with water.
There was indeed a river near this underground lake, but the rocks of the Alps were not trachyte.
Though it was a place rarely visited by people, tourists had already come here and worn a path through it. Georgiana followed that path inside.
It was pitch-black within. She used Lumos, and by its light, she could finally see what the underground lake looked like.
It was far lower