TIW rOVNG NATURALISTS. 171 



from the wares of the hawkers at the fair a few gaudy 

 ribbons and perhaps some jewellery of brass or gilt. 



Here and there, in the distance, might be distin- 

 guished some rather denser cloud of dust, and as it 

 was approached it proved to be a herd of oxen, driven 

 probably by a boy in a serge blouse and wooden shoes, 

 and armed with a large stick. Now and again the 

 weapon would fall with a dull thud on one of the 

 tawny rumps, and the enormous beast, shaking his head 

 and neck, would break for a few seconds into a lumber- 

 ing trot and again relapse into his lazy progress. 



The heat was stifling ; occasionally the horse would 

 shake its mane and neck with impatience, hoping to 

 get rid of some of the flies that harassed it; and 

 under the burning rays of the sun the varnish of the 

 vehicle cracked and melted, burning and staining the 

 fingers that touched it. 



Under such conditions conversation was not likely 

 to be very animated ; the travellers wiped their brows, 

 the dog panted and hung out its tongue. 



Rene was the first to break the silence. Turning 

 round to Leon : 



" Do you still believe in your 



" Reptile," replied his cousin who was dropping off 

 to sleep. 



u Reptile ! So be it. I thought, however, that 

 reptiles had no legs. Probably you will tell me that 

 there are- several classes of them?" 



