16 INTRODUCTION. 



forwai-d, Lucien was constantly running and climbing about 

 all the rooms and the yards round the house, to accustom 

 himself, as he said, to the fatigue of a long journey. At 

 dinner-time he would take nothing but bread and water, in 

 order to prepare his system for the meagre fare of the biv- 

 ouac. In fact, I had to quiet him down by recommending 

 more coolness to his excited little brain. 



The eve of our departure arrived, and several friends 

 came to bid me farewell. My son told them of all the 

 great things he had determined to achieve how he would 

 crush the heads of scorpions, and with his sword cut down 

 trees or kill serpents. 



" If I tumble over the rocks," said he, " I shall only laugh 

 at my bruises ; and if we meet with any tigers "* 



An extremely warlike attitude terminated this sentence. 



Ceasing at length from want of further words, he would 

 very willingly have reduced to silence, with his sword, 

 those who disapproved of my project of taking into the 

 forests and savannahs my child of nine years old, and ex- 

 posing him to all the unknown dangers of savage life to 

 fatigue, rain, and all kinds of maladies ! Why, it appeared 

 like tempting Providence, and risking, for mere amusement, 

 the life, or at least the health, of my child. The unanimity 

 of these reflections began to shake my resolution, and I ex- 

 pressed myself to that effect. 



" Oh father !" cried Lucien, " are you going to break your 

 word to me ?" 



" No," I replied ; " neither now nor ever. I want you to 

 become a man, so you shall go. But be off to bed, for you 

 must be ready to start by four o'clock in the morning." 



I had given notice of my intended tour to my friend 



* The jaguar (Leopardits onca, Linn.) is frequently called a tiger in 

 America. The tiger (Tigris regaUs) is not found on that continent. ED. 



